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.

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744219922921.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Riley County Arrest Report April 9

WASHINGTON - The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has played a crucial role in helping millions of low-to-moderate income workers out of poverty. Saturday, March 29, 2025, marked the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.eitc.irs.gov%2Feitc-central%2F50-years-of-earned-income-tax-credit/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/HuBn60ZM3XOet8hA-i8VAiSGHKIxwJ2SI-ffVwalrCM=398">50th&nbsp;anniversary</a>&nbsp;of this important credit.&nbsp;

A component of the Tax Reduction Act, EITC was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on March 29, 1975. What began as a modest means to provide financial help to working families has evolved through a series of legislative changes into one of the federal government’s largest anti-poverty programs.&nbsp;

Over the past 50 years, the EITC has had a significant impact in the lives of eligible taxpayers claiming the credit. As of Dec. 2024, approximately 23 million workers and families received about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fearned-income-tax-credit-statistics/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/-DVvBu1ZBbKp5MZ1ZEamMMzTEtupShjKIwoTYhlb8kw=398">$64 billion</a>&nbsp;from EITC.&nbsp;

In 1975, the maximum credit amount for EITC was $400. For tax year 2024, the EITC can be up to $7,830. Today, the EITC continues to provide financial assistance to low-to-moderate income working families and individuals, with or without children, by helping them cover essentials, save for the future and build financial stability.&nbsp;

Taxpayers can use the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fuse-the-eitc-assistant/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/pdoykEv93JaOKWttMWwecwiyDXc9Opud2PGuarPA-BA=398">EITC Assistant</a>&nbsp;to determine their eligibility. Those that are eligible can learn&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fhow-to-claim-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/HT7u4ydNwDSaLVw8OpbpE7LloUAlBk4DpJ7dVc6Zu4w=398">how to claim the credit on IRS.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600360924825.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON - The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has played a crucial role in helping millions of low-to-moderate income workers out of poverty. Saturday, March 29, 2025, marked the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.eitc.irs.gov%2Feitc-central%2F50-years-of-earned-income-tax-credit/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/HuBn60ZM3XOet8hA-i8VAiSGHKIxwJ2SI-ffVwalrCM=398">50th&nbsp;anniversary</a>&nbsp;of this important credit.&nbsp;A component of the Tax Reduction Act, EITC was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on March 29, 1975. What began as a modest means to provide financial help to working families has evolved through a series of legislative changes into one of the federal government’s largest anti-poverty programs.&nbsp;Over the past 50 years, the EITC has had a significant impact in the lives of eligible taxpayers claiming the credit. As of Dec. 2024, approximately 23 million workers and families received about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fearned-income-tax-credit-statistics/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/-DVvBu1ZBbKp5MZ1ZEamMMzTEtupShjKIwoTYhlb8kw=398">$64 billion</a>&nbsp;from EITC.&nbsp;In 1975, the maximum credit amount for EITC was $400. For tax year 2024, the EITC can be up to $7,830. Today, the EITC continues to provide financial assistance to low-to-moderate income working families and individuals, with or without children, by helping them cover essentials, save for the future and build financial stability.&nbsp;Taxpayers can use the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fuse-the-eitc-assistant/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/pdoykEv93JaOKWttMWwecwiyDXc9Opud2PGuarPA-BA=398">EITC Assistant</a>&nbsp;to determine their eligibility. Those that are eligible can learn&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fcredits-deductions%2Findividuals%2Fearned-income-tax-credit%2Fhow-to-claim-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc/1/01000195dce0cf0e-88de1671-08d9-40dc-b8a0-82d465548950-000000/HT7u4ydNwDSaLVw8OpbpE7LloUAlBk4DpJ7dVc6Zu4w=398">how to claim the credit on IRS.gov</a>.

Earned Income Tax Credit celebrates 50 years of helping working families 

TOPEKA – The <a href="https://www.kansaspoisoncenter.com/">Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System</a> and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind Kansans that when the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you 24/7 with fast, free treatment advice by calling Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).

Whether it’s a question or an emergency, Poison Help can provide life-saving information when people need it most. Calling a Poison Center is faster and more accurate than an internet search. 

On average, 90 percent of poisonings happen in homes in America each year, and nearly 70 percent of people who call Poison Help get the help they need right where they are—saving the cost of a trip to a healthcare professional or hospital.

Not everyone realizes that Poison Centers are for everyone. While poison centers get a lot of calls about children, calls about teens, adults and older adults tend to be more serious. 

More than 60 percent of calls to the Kansas Poison Center in 2024 involved medicines or pharmaceuticals. However, other common poisons include household products, plants, mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide and many other types of nonpharmaceutical substances.

“The best piece of advice we can give is to program the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home,”&nbsp;said Stefanie Baines, education coordinator for the Kansas Poison Center.&nbsp;“This way you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or if you simply have questions.”

Here are the ways Poison Centers save time, worry, lives and money:

When seconds count, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than a confusing internet search.

Nurses, pharmacists and doctors answer calls. We can help in more than 150 languages. Doctors and hospitals turn to us for help every day.

Whether it is a question or an emergency, Poison Centers are there with life-saving information when you need it the most.

All calls are free. Nearly 70 percent of people who call get the help they need right where they are – saving the cost of a trip to the doctor or hospital.

“Curious kids can get into everything. That’s why you can ask Poison Centers anything,”&nbsp;said Cherie Sage, state coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas.&nbsp;“When your child is curious, Poison Help is here for you 24/7. No judgment – just fast, free, confidential and expert advice.”

If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Fast and free expert help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information about preventing accidental poisoning visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kansaspoisoncenter.com%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019590ab44f8-d8c9f770-7f5c-4d6b-85fc-22b6f5e4bdae-000000/QNt1VSBDCWzEFwp2lFtR-1vanJicIcvMPbD3wiMYCcA=396">Kansas Poison Center</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2Fpoison_prevention.htm%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019590ab44f8-d8c9f770-7f5c-4d6b-85fc-22b6f5e4bdae-000000/rjjfz4lXeyyVSbvjpjRqBngcperjrWTjxl8_jiCN7og=396">Safe Kids Kansas Poison Prevention.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742401498939.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA – The <a href="https://www.kansaspoisoncenter.com/">Poison Center at the University of Kansas Health System</a> and Safe Kids Kansas want to remind Kansans that when the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you 24/7 with fast, free treatment advice by calling Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).Whether it’s a question or an emergency, Poison Help can provide life-saving information when people need it most. Calling a Poison Center is faster and more accurate than an internet search. On average, 90 percent of poisonings happen in homes in America each year, and nearly 70 percent of people who call Poison Help get the help they need right where they are—saving the cost of a trip to a healthcare professional or hospital.Not everyone realizes that Poison Centers are for everyone. While poison centers get a lot of calls about children, calls about teens, adults and older adults tend to be more serious. More than 60 percent of calls to the Kansas Poison Center in 2024 involved medicines or pharmaceuticals. However, other common poisons include household products, plants, mushrooms, pesticides, animal bites and stings, carbon monoxide and many other types of nonpharmaceutical substances.“The best piece of advice we can give is to program the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone and post it visibly in your home,”&nbsp;said Stefanie Baines, education coordinator for the Kansas Poison Center.&nbsp;“This way you are prepared in the event of a poisoning emergency or if you simply have questions.”Here are the ways Poison Centers save time, worry, lives and money:TimeWhen seconds count, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than a confusing internet search.WorryNurses, pharmacists and doctors answer calls. We can help in more than 150 languages. Doctors and hospitals turn to us for help every day.LivesWhether it is a question or an emergency, Poison Centers are there with life-saving information when you need it the most.MoneyAll calls are free. Nearly 70 percent of people who call get the help they need right where they are – saving the cost of a trip to the doctor or hospital.“Curious kids can get into everything. That’s why you can ask Poison Centers anything,”&nbsp;said Cherie Sage, state coordinator for Safe Kids Kansas.&nbsp;“When your child is curious, Poison Help is here for you 24/7. No judgment – just fast, free, confidential and expert advice.”If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Fast and free expert help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.For more information about preventing accidental poisoning visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kansaspoisoncenter.com%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019590ab44f8-d8c9f770-7f5c-4d6b-85fc-22b6f5e4bdae-000000/QNt1VSBDCWzEFwp2lFtR-1vanJicIcvMPbD3wiMYCcA=396">Kansas Poison Center</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.safekidskansas.org%2Fpoison_prevention.htm%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019590ab44f8-d8c9f770-7f5c-4d6b-85fc-22b6f5e4bdae-000000/rjjfz4lXeyyVSbvjpjRqBngcperjrWTjxl8_jiCN7og=396">Safe Kids Kansas Poison Prevention.</a>

When the unexpected happens, poison centers are here for you

We're in a transition from gasoline combustible engines to electric vehicles. That was a message to the Manhattan City Commission during a work session on Tuesday evening.

There was a presentation from the Flint Hills MPO about an electric vehicle readiness plan. No action was required but there was good information for the public.&nbsp;

There are Level 2 charging stations for home, retail and office locations, and Level 3 gas station style facilities.The average electric vehicle travel range is 284 miles. EV's have about 30% less maintenance expense.

There wee 78 million vehicles sold around the world in 2024 with 22%&nbsp; electric. There were 88,000 vehicles oversll sold in Kansas in 2024 and approximately two percent of those in the Geary, Riley, Pottawatomie county region were electric.

There is a need for Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations along I-70. There is a gap from Maple Hill to Abilene. In Junction city there are none near the interstate,&nbsp; only two stations total and one of those is private. The MPO is working with the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce to get one. Manhattan is not eligible.

Investment will be required for charging stations but those funds will drive down costs for all EV's.

One recommendation is to ensure EV charging stations are included in all new parking lots.

We're in a transition from gasoline combustible engines to electric vehicles. That was a message to the Manhattan City Commission during a work session on Tuesday evening.There was a presentation from the Flint Hills MPO about an electric vehicle readiness plan. No action was required but there was good information for the public.&nbsp;There are Level 2 charging stations for home, retail and office locations, and Level 3 gas station style facilities.The average electric vehicle travel range is 284 miles. EV's have about 30% less maintenance expense.There wee 78 million vehicles sold around the world in 2024 with 22%&nbsp; electric. There were 88,000 vehicles oversll sold in Kansas in 2024 and approximately two percent of those in the Geary, Riley, Pottawatomie county region were electric.There is a need for Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations along I-70. There is a gap from Maple Hill to Abilene. In Junction city there are none near the interstate,&nbsp; only two stations total and one of those is private. The MPO is working with the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce to get one. Manhattan is not eligible.Investment will be required for charging stations but those funds will drive down costs for all EV's.One recommendation is to ensure EV charging stations are included in all new parking lots.

There will be a need for electric vehicle charging stations

By Vivienne Leyva Public Information Officer

&nbsp;Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched Monday afternoon&nbsp; to reports of a grass/brush fire near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road in the extreme northeastern corner of Riley County. The fire began after a permitted prescribed burn spread out of control, according to the initial 911 report.&nbsp;Upon arrival, volunteer firefighters found approximately 20 acres actively burning.

Riley County Commissioners issued a disaster emergency declaration due to the fire's size and potential impact. Mutual aid was requested, and firefighting resources from Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Nemaha counties responded. The State of Kansas also deployed contracted aircraft to assist with water drops and the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. A total of 66 personnel, 40 vehicles/apparatus, 2 planes, and 11 fire stations responded to this fire.&nbsp;

“After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We’ve learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone’s quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.”An estimated 650 acres were burned in the Harmony Road Fire. 

No injuries were reported and no livestock were lost. In addition, no structures were threatened by the fire and no evacuations were necessary.&nbsp;Today, crews RCFD#1 crews will continue to monitor conditions and watch for areas of flare up.&nbsp;Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are also in the area working with heavy equipment to move and consolidate piles of burning brush to isolate any remaining hot spots and prevent further spread.&nbsp;“We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,” said Russel Stukey, Fire Chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and Director of Riley County Emergency Management. “Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.”Responding Agencies include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744145631095.png" alt="Image from video of Kansas Forest Service crews working in Riley County Tuesday to monitor hot spots" />
 <figcaption>Image from video of Kansas Forest Service crews working in Riley County Tuesday to monitor hot spots</figcaption>
 </figure>By Vivienne Leyva Public Information Officer&nbsp;Riley County Fire District #1 was dispatched Monday afternoon&nbsp; to reports of a grass/brush fire near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road in the extreme northeastern corner of Riley County. The fire began after a permitted prescribed burn spread out of control, according to the initial 911 report.&nbsp;Upon arrival, volunteer firefighters found approximately 20 acres actively burning.Riley County Commissioners issued a disaster emergency declaration due to the fire's size and potential impact. Mutual aid was requested, and firefighting resources from Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Nemaha counties responded. The State of Kansas also deployed contracted aircraft to assist with water drops and the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. A total of 66 personnel, 40 vehicles/apparatus, 2 planes, and 11 fire stations responded to this fire.&nbsp;“After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We’ve learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone’s quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.”An estimated 650 acres were burned in the Harmony Road Fire. No injuries were reported and no livestock were lost. In addition, no structures were threatened by the fire and no evacuations were necessary.&nbsp;Today, crews RCFD#1 crews will continue to monitor conditions and watch for areas of flare up.&nbsp;Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are also in the area working with heavy equipment to move and consolidate piles of burning brush to isolate any remaining hot spots and prevent further spread.&nbsp;“We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,” said Russel Stukey, Fire Chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and Director of Riley County Emergency Management. “Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.”Responding Agencies include:<ul>
 <li>Blue Rapids Fire District #7</li><li>Dickinson County Wildland Task Force</li><li>Marshall County Emergency Management</li><li>Nemaha County Emergency Management</li><li>Nemaha County Fire District #3</li><li>Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire District #1</li><li>Riley County Emergency Management</li><li>Riley County Fire District #1</li><li>State of Kansas Agencies</li>
 </ul>

Harmony Road fire burns an estimated 650 acres in Riley County 

Party for the Planet will be held on Saturday, April 19th from noon to 4pm at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. This will be an Earth Day celebration showcasing the conservation efforts of Sunset Zoo and the community through interactive community booths, animal enrichment and scavenger hunt.

Regular zoo admission rates will apply during Party for the Planet. Friends of Sunset Zoo members receive free admission. Reciprocity memberships and Museums For All are valid during this event. Single-use admission coupons, passes, and FOSZ guest passes are not valid during this event.&nbsp;

This event is held rain or shine. Parking is available in the Zoo main lot, in the field (if not muddy) along Oak Street, and in the Manhattan High School side parking lot.



Party for the Planet will be held on Saturday, April 19th from noon to 4pm at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan. This will be an Earth Day celebration showcasing the conservation efforts of Sunset Zoo and the community through interactive community booths, animal enrichment and scavenger hunt.Schedule of Events:<ul>
 <li>Zoo-Wide Scavenger Hunt 12:00pm - 4:00pm</li><li>Interactive Community Booths from 12:00pm - 4:00pm</li><li>Education Ambassador Animal Presentations at 1:00pm and 3:00pm at Chautauqua Amphitheatre&nbsp;</li><li>Smokin' H's Meats from 11:30am - 4:30 pm near Australian Outback</li><li>Bounce House from 12:00pm - 4:00pm near the Historic Limestone Pavilion</li><li>Face Painting at the Historic Limestone Pavilion</li>
 </ul>Regular zoo admission rates will apply during Party for the Planet. Friends of Sunset Zoo members receive free admission. Reciprocity memberships and Museums For All are valid during this event. Single-use admission coupons, passes, and FOSZ guest passes are not valid during this event.&nbsp;This event is held rain or shine. Parking is available in the Zoo main lot, in the field (if not muddy) along Oak Street, and in the Manhattan High School side parking lot.

Party for the Planet

The First Thousand Members Club proudly announces the grand opening of The Harmony Center on April 15th, 2025, at 540 Grant Ave, Junction City, KS 66441. This groundbreaking multicultural community hub, strategically located near Fort Riley, is set to become a year-round catalyst for positive change, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, addressing food insecurity, and celebrating cultural diversity in the Flint Hills region.

The grand opening celebration, commencing at 5:00 P.M., and continuing throughout the evening, will offer a glimpse into the ongoing initiatives that The Harmony Center will champion. Attendees can expect captivating music, a tantalizing array of international cuisine, engaging family activities, and guided tours of the center's innovative spaces.

The Harmony Center is not just a gathering place. It represents our long-term commitment to promoting cultural diversity, fostering community connection, empowering food entrepreneurs, and addressing food insecurity in Junction City. The BMLOV (Business Mentorship, Low Overhead Venture) program, a cornerstone of the center's mission, will provide ongoing mentorship and training to aspiring food entrepreneurs throughout the year. Participants will gain valuable transferable skills and have the opportunity to launch their food businesses in the center's Incubator Kitchen, a perpetually available resource for culinary innovation.

Similarly, the Harmony Table program will operate as a continuous community meal initiative, providing nutritious and culturally diverse meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity on a regular basis. This program will leverage the resources of the Incubator Kitchen and the skills of BMLOV participants, ensuring a sustainable and impactful approach to addressing food security.

"The Harmony Center is a testament to our unwavering commitment to promoting cultural diversity and positively impacting our community. Our vision is to build a thriving and equitable community," stated Martine Chery-Hilaire. "While the grand opening is a celebration of our vision, it is merely the beginning of our year-round efforts to empower entrepreneurs, combat food insecurity, and foster cultural understanding. We are creating a sustainable ecosystem of support that will benefit Junction City for years to come."

The Harmony Center will maintain a vibrant calendar of programs and activities throughout the year, designed to foster cultural understanding and community engagement:

The Global Corner (Indoor Market): A year-round marketplace for vendors to showcase their unique products and other culturally significant items that represent diverse groups.

The Playful Globe (Indoor Playground): A consistently available space for children to have structured playtime and receive exposure to foreign languages while they explore our center.

Taste of the Globe (Pop-up Restaurants): A rotating selection of diverse culinary experiences throughout the year.

Family fun day (monthly activities): A continuous program of events celebrating the community's diverse heritage through food, cultural activities, and vendor showcases.

The Harmony Center (Event Venue Rental): A versatile space for community gatherings that is available year-round.

The Harmony Center welcomes ongoing participation from vendors for the Global Corner and Taste of the Globe programs. We are actively seeking applicants for the BMLOV mentorship initiative, and volunteers to support the Harmony Table ( an upcoming community meal program). This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and impactful community initiative. Interested individuals are encouraged to inquire online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.firstthousandmember.org/">www.firstthousandmember.org</a>&nbsp;or contact &nbsp;Martine at 240-898-8120 or &nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:info@firstthousandmembers.org">info@firstthousandmembers.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744124871486.png" alt="Grand opening event on April 15" />
 <figcaption>Grand opening event on April 15</figcaption>
 </figure>By Martine Chery-HilaireThe First Thousand Members Club proudly announces the grand opening of The Harmony Center on April 15th, 2025, at 540 Grant Ave, Junction City, KS 66441. This groundbreaking multicultural community hub, strategically located near Fort Riley, is set to become a year-round catalyst for positive change, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, addressing food insecurity, and celebrating cultural diversity in the Flint Hills region.The grand opening celebration, commencing at 5:00 P.M., and continuing throughout the evening, will offer a glimpse into the ongoing initiatives that The Harmony Center will champion. Attendees can expect captivating music, a tantalizing array of international cuisine, engaging family activities, and guided tours of the center's innovative spaces.The Harmony Center is not just a gathering place. It represents our long-term commitment to promoting cultural diversity, fostering community connection, empowering food entrepreneurs, and addressing food insecurity in Junction City. The BMLOV (Business Mentorship, Low Overhead Venture) program, a cornerstone of the center's mission, will provide ongoing mentorship and training to aspiring food entrepreneurs throughout the year. Participants will gain valuable transferable skills and have the opportunity to launch their food businesses in the center's Incubator Kitchen, a perpetually available resource for culinary innovation.Similarly, the Harmony Table program will operate as a continuous community meal initiative, providing nutritious and culturally diverse meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity on a regular basis. This program will leverage the resources of the Incubator Kitchen and the skills of BMLOV participants, ensuring a sustainable and impactful approach to addressing food security."The Harmony Center is a testament to our unwavering commitment to promoting cultural diversity and positively impacting our community. Our vision is to build a thriving and equitable community," stated Martine Chery-Hilaire. "While the grand opening is a celebration of our vision, it is merely the beginning of our year-round efforts to empower entrepreneurs, combat food insecurity, and foster cultural understanding. We are creating a sustainable ecosystem of support that will benefit Junction City for years to come."The Harmony Center will maintain a vibrant calendar of programs and activities throughout the year, designed to foster cultural understanding and community engagement:The Global Corner (Indoor Market): A year-round marketplace for vendors to showcase their unique products and other culturally significant items that represent diverse groups.The Playful Globe (Indoor Playground): A consistently available space for children to have structured playtime and receive exposure to foreign languages while they explore our center.Taste of the Globe (Pop-up Restaurants): A rotating selection of diverse culinary experiences throughout the year.Family fun day (monthly activities): A continuous program of events celebrating the community's diverse heritage through food, cultural activities, and vendor showcases.The Harmony Center (Event Venue Rental): A versatile space for community gatherings that is available year-round.The Harmony Center welcomes ongoing participation from vendors for the Global Corner and Taste of the Globe programs. We are actively seeking applicants for the BMLOV mentorship initiative, and volunteers to support the Harmony Table ( an upcoming community meal program). This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and impactful community initiative. Interested individuals are encouraged to inquire online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.firstthousandmember.org/">www.firstthousandmember.org</a>&nbsp;or contact &nbsp;Martine at 240-898-8120 or &nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:info@firstthousandmembers.org">info@firstthousandmembers.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Grand opening event for The Harmony Center will be Tuesday, April 15

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744121259917.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Riley County Arrest Report April 8

The City Commission during its&nbsp;Tuesday, April 8&nbsp;work session will hear an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=7a00f7d629&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">update from Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e2bb3723da&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Parking Services Division</a>&nbsp;and the state of the City’s parking garages in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=43b5534b7f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Aggieville</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d769d59c1a&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Downtown</a>.

Part of this discussion will center on a request from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=a217e72b4f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Aggieville Business Association</a>&nbsp;(ABA) to provide free parking in the Aggieville Garage from&nbsp;May 19&nbsp;through&nbsp;June 20, while Moro is closed for construction adjacent to 12th Street.

In addition, City staff have been in discussion with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d49e8a7096&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">HCW</a>&nbsp;(which manages the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=002665ae2e&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Conference Center</a>) for 250 reserved stalls in the Downtown Garage.

Another discussion Tuesday will be held with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=6afc265fed&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization</a>&nbsp;(FHMPO), which will provide a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=460d1bbf8f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">presentation</a>&nbsp;on its recently completed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=04511f9b30&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Flint Hills Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan</a>.

Finally, commissioners will receive an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=c72978cd31&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">update on and discuss the upcoming Anderson Avenue reconstruction project</a>, as well a proposed new&nbsp; Anderson/College Avenue/Bellehaven Road intersection.

The Anderson project includes the complete street reconstruction of Anderson Avenue from Connecticut Avenue to Harris Avenue, new sidewalks on the south side, a new water main, and numerous storm sewer, street and water line improvements on adjacent side streets. Work is scheduled to begin in multiple phases this&nbsp;June&nbsp;and will last through&nbsp;summer 2027.

Staff also will present options to realign the intersection of Anderson Avenue and Bellehaven Road, and extend College Avenue to Anderson Avenue. The segment of Anderson Avenue from Bellehaven Road to Timberlane Drive has six access points, which lead to conflicting movements and driver confusion.

This corridor has a history of accidents, with 41 accidents in a five-year span and eight of those being injury accidents that required hospitalization. Possible improvements could include a roundabout or a signalized intersection that could be incorporated into the Anderson Avenue reconstruction project.

City releaseThe City Commission during its&nbsp;Tuesday, April 8&nbsp;work session will hear an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=7a00f7d629&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">update from Assistant City Manager Jared Wasinger</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e2bb3723da&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Parking Services Division</a>&nbsp;and the state of the City’s parking garages in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=43b5534b7f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Aggieville</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d769d59c1a&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Downtown</a>.Part of this discussion will center on a request from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=a217e72b4f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Aggieville Business Association</a>&nbsp;(ABA) to provide free parking in the Aggieville Garage from&nbsp;May 19&nbsp;through&nbsp;June 20, while Moro is closed for construction adjacent to 12th Street.In addition, City staff have been in discussion with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d49e8a7096&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">HCW</a>&nbsp;(which manages the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=002665ae2e&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Conference Center</a>) for 250 reserved stalls in the Downtown Garage.Another discussion Tuesday will be held with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=6afc265fed&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization</a>&nbsp;(FHMPO), which will provide a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=460d1bbf8f&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">presentation</a>&nbsp;on its recently completed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=04511f9b30&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Flint Hills Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan</a>.Finally, commissioners will receive an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=c72978cd31&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">update on and discuss the upcoming Anderson Avenue reconstruction project</a>, as well a proposed new&nbsp; Anderson/College Avenue/Bellehaven Road intersection.The Anderson project includes the complete street reconstruction of Anderson Avenue from Connecticut Avenue to Harris Avenue, new sidewalks on the south side, a new water main, and numerous storm sewer, street and water line improvements on adjacent side streets. Work is scheduled to begin in multiple phases this&nbsp;June&nbsp;and will last through&nbsp;summer 2027.Staff also will present options to realign the intersection of Anderson Avenue and Bellehaven Road, and extend College Avenue to Anderson Avenue. The segment of Anderson Avenue from Bellehaven Road to Timberlane Drive has six access points, which lead to conflicting movements and driver confusion.This corridor has a history of accidents, with 41 accidents in a five-year span and eight of those being injury accidents that required hospitalization. Possible improvements could include a roundabout or a signalized intersection that could be incorporated into the Anderson Avenue reconstruction project.

State of the City's parking garages will be addressed

&nbsp; &nbsp;Spring Cleanup Week kicks off Monday and continues through Friday. City crews will collect properly bagged and stacked yard waste, tree limbs, and branches from residential neighborhoods.

City crews will follow an assigned schedule (see map) and pass through each area once to pick up properly prepared yard waste. Please note: No construction debris, household trash, or other materials will be collected by the City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; &nbsp;Spring Cleanup Week kicks off Monday and continues through Friday. City crews will collect properly bagged and stacked yard waste, tree limbs, and branches from residential neighborhoods.City crews will follow an assigned schedule (see map) and pass through each area once to pick up properly prepared yard waste. Please note: No construction debris, household trash, or other materials will be collected by the City.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
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Spring Cleanup Week begins

&nbsp;The National Weather Service said that a FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...
...FREEZE WARNING IS CANCELLED.

Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 23 are possible in portions of central, east central, north central, and
  northeast Kansas from late tonight through Tuesday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
  sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
  plumbing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;The National Weather Service said that a FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...
...FREEZE WARNING IS CANCELLED.Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 23 are possible in portions of central, east central, north central, and
 northeast Kansas from late tonight through Tuesday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
 sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
 plumbing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Freeze Watch Monday night into Tuesday

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744035043309.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report April 7

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly announced in a press release on Friday that she has signed off on seven additional bills this week that will become new laws. These include the following:

• Substitute for Senate Bill 67 – authorizes certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with registered nurse anesthetist’s education and qualifications.

•Senate Bill 89 – authorizes the Kansas Department of Agriculture to assess a participant fee for poultry producers that wish to voluntarily participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a state-federal cooperative testing and certification program that seeks to eradicate disease in the poultry industry.

• Senate Bill 97 – requires vehicle dealers to apply for a dealer inventory-only title for certain used non-highway vehicles that a vehicle dealer obtains.

• Substitute for House Bill 2152 – shifts Kansas’ investment strategy for public funds to encourage those funds be deposited in Kansas financial institutions. This change will help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in local communities, increase economic activity in the state and give Kansans access to additional capital to finance investments in their homes, businesses or communities, according to the Office of the Governor.

• House Bill 2359 – enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act and the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and other Protective Arrangements Act.

• House Bill 2338 – authorizes the Kansas Board of Cosmetology to issue temporary location and temporary guest artist permits and establishes criteria therefor.

• House Bill 2307 – transfers the prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.

“By allowing health care providers to practice the full extent of their qualifications and capabilities, we are expanding opportunities for both providers and patients,” Kelly said when talking about Senate Bill 67. “This legislation will help address our health care workforce shortage and increase access to care.”&nbsp;

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly announced in a press release on Friday that she has signed off on seven additional bills this week that will become new laws. These include the following:• Substitute for Senate Bill 67 – authorizes certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with registered nurse anesthetist’s education and qualifications.•Senate Bill 89 – authorizes the Kansas Department of Agriculture to assess a participant fee for poultry producers that wish to voluntarily participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a state-federal cooperative testing and certification program that seeks to eradicate disease in the poultry industry.• Senate Bill 97 – requires vehicle dealers to apply for a dealer inventory-only title for certain used non-highway vehicles that a vehicle dealer obtains.• Substitute for House Bill 2152 – shifts Kansas’ investment strategy for public funds to encourage those funds be deposited in Kansas financial institutions. This change will help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in local communities, increase economic activity in the state and give Kansans access to additional capital to finance investments in their homes, businesses or communities, according to the Office of the Governor.• House Bill 2359 – enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act and the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and other Protective Arrangements Act.• House Bill 2338 – authorizes the Kansas Board of Cosmetology to issue temporary location and temporary guest artist permits and establishes criteria therefor.• House Bill 2307 – transfers the prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities.“By allowing health care providers to practice the full extent of their qualifications and capabilities, we are expanding opportunities for both providers and patients,” Kelly said when talking about Senate Bill 67. “This legislation will help address our health care workforce shortage and increase access to care.”&nbsp;

Gov. Kelly signs seven bills into law

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.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744027439710.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Riley County Arrest Report April 6

JACKSON COUNTY—Seven people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Jackson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Malibu driven by Carol A.&nbsp;Jacas, 56, St. Marys, was westbound on 214 Road on half mile east of U.S. 75.

The driver ran the stop sign at the intersection at Q Road. The car struck a northbound 2022 Kia Sorento driven by&nbsp; Sierra D.&nbsp; Phillips, 31, Holton.

EMS transported&nbsp;Jacas, Phillips and five children in the SUV including a 2-year-old boy; a 2-year-old girl; a 3-year-old girl; a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy all of Holton to Stomont Vail.&nbsp; Jacas was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

JACKSON COUNTY—Seven people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Jackson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Malibu driven by Carol A.&nbsp;Jacas, 56, St. Marys, was westbound on 214 Road on half mile east of U.S. 75.The driver ran the stop sign at the intersection at Q Road. The car struck a northbound 2022 Kia Sorento driven by&nbsp; Sierra D.&nbsp; Phillips, 31, Holton.EMS transported&nbsp;Jacas, Phillips and five children in the SUV including a 2-year-old boy; a 2-year-old girl; a 3-year-old girl; a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy all of Holton to Stomont Vail.&nbsp; Jacas was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

2 adults, 5 children hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities including Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, is requesting a meeting with the State Department, alarmed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the Trump administration’s widening crackdown</a>&nbsp;will persuade sought-after foreign students to stay away from the United States.

College officials say the new, harsher tactics and vague justifications being used to push some students out of the country will have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">much broader consequences</a>.

America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A crackdown on foreign students is alarming colleges, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country.

College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">wanting to study</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately — a break from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies.

Some students have been targeted over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-students-campus-gaza-protests-deportation-9e2d4abc1c158454da1f68c01062c9ef">pro-Palestinian activism</a>&nbsp;or criminal infractions — or even traffic violations. Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government.

At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch told the campus Wednesday that visas had been revoked for five international students for unclear reasons.

He said school officials learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-minnesota-graduate-student-detained-ice-f71f517521a2567c795343092ef4e0b2">detention of a Turkish student</a>&nbsp;at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The State Department said the detention was related to a drunken driving conviction.

“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch wrote in a letter to campus.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;campaigned on a promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and federal agents started by detaining Columbia graduate student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a green-card-holder and Palestinian activist who was prominent in protests at Columbia last year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week students are being targeted for involvement in protests along with others tied to “potential criminal activity.”

In the past two weeks, the government apparently has widened its crackdown. Officials from colleges around the country have discovered international students have had their entry visas revoked and, in many cases, their legal residency status terminated by authorities without notice — including students at Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas and the University of Colorado.

Some of the students are working to leave the country on their own, but students at Tufts and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-immigration-alireza-doroudi-alabama-ae498838deb04b22864ef485a71bac27">University of Alabama</a>&nbsp;have been detained by immigration authorities — in the Tufts case, even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rumeysa-ozturk-deportation-tufts-massachusetts-student-1dd330bef8fb44b05f9818c0020728a0">before the university knew</a>&nbsp;the student’s legal status had changed.

Feds bypass colleges to move against students

In this new wave of enforcement, school officials say the federal government is quietly deleting foreigners’ student records instead of going through colleges, as was done in the past.

Students are being ordered to leave the country with a suddenness that universities have rarely seen, said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

In the past, when international students have had entry visas revoked, they generally have been allowed to keep legal residency status. They could stay in the country to study, but would need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return. Now, increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated, exposing them to the risk of being arrested.

“None of this is regular practice,” Feldblum said.

At North Carolina State University, two students from Saudi Arabia left the U.S. after learning their legal status as students was terminated, the university said. N.C. State said it will work with the students to complete their semester from outside the country.

Philip Vasto, who lived with one of the students, said his roommate, in graduate school for engineering management, was apolitical and did not attend protests against the war in Gaza. When the government told his roommate his student status had been terminated, it did not give a reason, Vasto said.

Since returning to Saudi Arabia, Vasto said his former roommate’s top concern is getting into another university.

“He’s made his peace with it,” he said. “He doesn’t want to allow it to steal his peace any further.”

Database checks turn up students in jeopardy

At the University of Texas at Austin, staff checking a federal database discovered two people on student visas had their permission to be in the U.S. terminated, a person familiar with the situation said. The person declined to be identified for fear of retaliation.

One of the people, from India, had their legal status terminated April 3. The federal system indicated the person had been identified in a criminal records check “and/or has had their visa revoked.” The other person, from Lebanon, had their legal status terminated March 28 due to a criminal records check, according to the federal database.

Both people were graduates remaining in the U.S. on student visas, using an option allowing people to gain professional experience after completing coursework. Both were employed full time and apparently had not violated requirements for pursuing work experience, the person familiar with the situation said.

Some students have had visas revoked by the State Department under an obscure law barring noncitizens whose presence could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Trump invoked the law in a January order demanding action against campus antisemitism.

But some students targeted in recent weeks have had no clear link to political activism. Some have been ordered to leave over misdemeanor crimes or traffic infractions, Feldblum said. In some cases, students were targeted for infractions that had been previously reported to the government.

Some of the alleged infractions would not have drawn scrutiny in the past and will likely be a test of students’ First Amendment rights as cases work their way through court, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

“In some ways, what the administration is doing is really retroactive,” she said. “Rather than saying, ‘This is going to be the standard that we’re applying going forward,’ they’re going back and vetting students based on past expressions or past behavior.”

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is requesting a meeting with the State Department over the issue. It’s unclear whether more visas are being revoked than usual, but officials fear a chilling effect on international exchange.

Many of the association’s members have recently seen at least one student have their visas revoked, said Bernie Burrola, a vice president at the group. With little information from the government, colleges have been interviewing students or searching social media for a connection to political activism.

“The universities can’t seem to find anything that seems to be related to Gaza or social media posts or protests,” Burrola said. “Some of these are sponsored students by foreign governments, where they specifically are very hesitant to get involved in protests.”

There’s no clear thread indicating which students are being targeted, but some have been from the Middle East and China, he said.

“We should not take for granted that that’s just the way things are and will always be,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities including Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, is requesting a meeting with the State Department, alarmed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the Trump administration’s widening crackdown</a>&nbsp;will persuade sought-after foreign students to stay away from the United States.College officials say the new, harsher tactics and vague justifications being used to push some students out of the country will have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">much broader consequences</a>.America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — A crackdown on foreign students is alarming colleges, who say the Trump administration is using new tactics and vague justifications to push some students out of the country.College officials worry the new approach will keep foreigners from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-admissions-international-student-enrollment-trump-fd8b6b8f298629bbcc7339568b1c76f3">wanting to study</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.Students stripped of their entry visas are receiving orders from the Department of Homeland Security to leave the country immediately — a break from past practice that often permitted them to stay and complete their studies.Some students have been targeted over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-students-campus-gaza-protests-deportation-9e2d4abc1c158454da1f68c01062c9ef">pro-Palestinian activism</a>&nbsp;or criminal infractions — or even traffic violations. Others have been left wondering how they ran afoul of the government.At Minnesota State University in Mankato, President Edward Inch told the campus Wednesday that visas had been revoked for five international students for unclear reasons.He said school officials learned about the revocations when they ran a status check in a database of international students after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-minnesota-graduate-student-detained-ice-f71f517521a2567c795343092ef4e0b2">detention of a Turkish student</a>&nbsp;at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The State Department said the detention was related to a drunken driving conviction.“These are troubling times, and this situation is unlike any we have navigated before,” Inch wrote in a letter to campus.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;campaigned on a promise to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, and federal agents started by detaining Columbia graduate student&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a green-card-holder and Palestinian activist who was prominent in protests at Columbia last year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week students are being targeted for involvement in protests along with others tied to “potential criminal activity.”In the past two weeks, the government apparently has widened its crackdown. Officials from colleges around the country have discovered international students have had their entry visas revoked and, in many cases, their legal residency status terminated by authorities without notice — including students at Arizona State, Cornell, North Carolina State, the University of Oregon, the University of Texas and the University of Colorado.Some of the students are working to leave the country on their own, but students at Tufts and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-immigration-alireza-doroudi-alabama-ae498838deb04b22864ef485a71bac27">University of Alabama</a>&nbsp;have been detained by immigration authorities — in the Tufts case, even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rumeysa-ozturk-deportation-tufts-massachusetts-student-1dd330bef8fb44b05f9818c0020728a0">before the university knew</a>&nbsp;the student’s legal status had changed.<h2>Feds bypass colleges to move against students</h2>In this new wave of enforcement, school officials say the federal government is quietly deleting foreigners’ student records instead of going through colleges, as was done in the past.Students are being ordered to leave the country with a suddenness that universities have rarely seen, said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.In the past, when international students have had entry visas revoked, they generally have been allowed to keep legal residency status. They could stay in the country to study, but would need to renew their visa if they left the U.S. and wanted to return. Now, increasing numbers of students are having their legal status terminated, exposing them to the risk of being arrested.“None of this is regular practice,” Feldblum said.At North Carolina State University, two students from Saudi Arabia left the U.S. after learning their legal status as students was terminated, the university said. N.C. State said it will work with the students to complete their semester from outside the country.Philip Vasto, who lived with one of the students, said his roommate, in graduate school for engineering management, was apolitical and did not attend protests against the war in Gaza. When the government told his roommate his student status had been terminated, it did not give a reason, Vasto said.Since returning to Saudi Arabia, Vasto said his former roommate’s top concern is getting into another university.“He’s made his peace with it,” he said. “He doesn’t want to allow it to steal his peace any further.”<h2>Database checks turn up students in jeopardy</h2>At the University of Texas at Austin, staff checking a federal database discovered two people on student visas had their permission to be in the U.S. terminated, a person familiar with the situation said. The person declined to be identified for fear of retaliation.One of the people, from India, had their legal status terminated April 3. The federal system indicated the person had been identified in a criminal records check “and/or has had their visa revoked.” The other person, from Lebanon, had their legal status terminated March 28 due to a criminal records check, according to the federal database.Both people were graduates remaining in the U.S. on student visas, using an option allowing people to gain professional experience after completing coursework. Both were employed full time and apparently had not violated requirements for pursuing work experience, the person familiar with the situation said.Some students have had visas revoked by the State Department under an obscure law barring noncitizens whose presence could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Trump invoked the law in a January order demanding action against campus antisemitism.But some students targeted in recent weeks have had no clear link to political activism. Some have been ordered to leave over misdemeanor crimes or traffic infractions, Feldblum said. In some cases, students were targeted for infractions that had been previously reported to the government.Some of the alleged infractions would not have drawn scrutiny in the past and will likely be a test of students’ First Amendment rights as cases work their way through court, said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.“In some ways, what the administration is doing is really retroactive,” she said. “Rather than saying, ‘This is going to be the standard that we’re applying going forward,’ they’re going back and vetting students based on past expressions or past behavior.”The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities is requesting a meeting with the State Department over the issue. It’s unclear whether more visas are being revoked than usual, but officials fear a chilling effect on international exchange.Many of the association’s members have recently seen at least one student have their visas revoked, said Bernie Burrola, a vice president at the group. With little information from the government, colleges have been interviewing students or searching social media for a connection to political activism.“The universities can’t seem to find anything that seems to be related to Gaza or social media posts or protests,” Burrola said. “Some of these are sponsored students by foreign governments, where they specifically are very hesitant to get involved in protests.”There’s no clear thread indicating which students are being targeted, but some have been from the Middle East and China, he said.America’s universities have long been seen as a top destination for the world’s brightest minds — and they’ve brought important tuition revenue and research breakthroughs to U.S. colleges. But international students also have other options, said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, an association of international educators.“We should not take for granted that that’s just the way things are and will always be,” she said.<h2>___</h2>

College officials worry crackdown tactics will turn foreign students away

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.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report April 5

GEARY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Friday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 International semi driven by Marque E&nbsp;Benard, 24, Ridgeland, Mississippi, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Henry Drive in an active work zone and down to one lane in each direction. The semi struck a 2024 Toyota Highlander driven by Jeffrey A. Tanner, 64, Manhattan, who had&nbsp;swerved to avoid an animal crossing the road.

EMS transported Benard to&nbsp;Stormont Vail in Junction City. Tanner was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Friday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 International semi driven by Marque E&nbsp;Benard, 24, Ridgeland, Mississippi, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of Henry Drive in an active work zone and down to one lane in each direction. The semi struck a 2024 Toyota Highlander driven by Jeffrey A. Tanner, 64, Manhattan, who had&nbsp;swerved to avoid an animal crossing the road.EMS transported Benard to&nbsp;Stormont Vail in Junction City. Tanner was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Manhattan man avoids injury after I-70 construction zone crash

The City of Manhattan announced that the city commission has approved the purchase of new software,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=45cdca2f9c&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Oracle Permitting and Licensing</a>&nbsp;(OPAL). Over the next year, City staff will work with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=28cc9d2284&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Oracle</a>&nbsp;and the development community to design and implement an online system that will support residential and commercial developments with an intuitive online portal and application process. These processes will guide applicants through permit requirements or obtaining licenses.

The system will be designed to automate approval workflows and the scheduling of inspections in order to keep projects moving. Customers will have real-time access to status of developments, from pre-applications to plan review and the issuance of a building permit. This solution will help streamline development review and processing permits, licensing, inspections, and code enforcement. City staff anticipates the system to go live in the summer of&nbsp;2026.

The City of Manhattan announced that the city commission has approved the purchase of new software,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=45cdca2f9c&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Oracle Permitting and Licensing</a>&nbsp;(OPAL). Over the next year, City staff will work with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=28cc9d2284&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">Oracle</a>&nbsp;and the development community to design and implement an online system that will support residential and commercial developments with an intuitive online portal and application process. These processes will guide applicants through permit requirements or obtaining licenses.The system will be designed to automate approval workflows and the scheduling of inspections in order to keep projects moving. Customers will have real-time access to status of developments, from pre-applications to plan review and the issuance of a building permit. This solution will help streamline development review and processing permits, licensing, inspections, and code enforcement. City staff anticipates the system to go live in the summer of&nbsp;2026.

 City Commission approves new software for licensing and permitting

The Aggieville Showdown is scheduled Friday and Saturday

&nbsp;The Grand Drives LLC event includes a full slate of activities on Saturday April 5th starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Riley County Fairgrounds where exhibitors will compete for the opportunity to show their market prospect cattle or breeding heifers in the streets of the Aggieville Business District.&nbsp;

The Grand Drive in the 'Ville is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. While in Aggieville, exhibitors will be awarded cash prizes, and the public can experience live music, a fashion show and shopping.

There is also a cattle show with showmanship competition at 6 p.m. Friday at the Riley County fairgrounds.

Cattle Show at Riley County Fairgrounds at 9:30AM&nbsp;​

​​​​Grand Drive at Aggieville Business District at 6:30PM Saturday.

The Aggieville Showdown is scheduled Friday and Saturday&nbsp;The Grand Drives LLC event includes a full slate of activities on Saturday April 5th starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Riley County Fairgrounds where exhibitors will compete for the opportunity to show their market prospect cattle or breeding heifers in the streets of the Aggieville Business District.&nbsp;The Grand Drive in the 'Ville is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. While in Aggieville, exhibitors will be awarded cash prizes, and the public can experience live music, a fashion show and shopping.There is also a cattle show with showmanship competition at 6 p.m. Friday at the Riley County fairgrounds.This is the 5th year for the eventSaturday, April 5, 2025Cattle Show at Riley County Fairgrounds at 9:30AM&nbsp;​<ul>
 <li>Ring A: Breeding Heifer Show, 9:30 AM (approx.)</li><li>Ring B: Market Beef Show, 10:00 AM (approx.)</li>
 </ul>​​​​Grand Drive at Aggieville Business District at 6:30PM Saturday.

Aggieville Showdown is this weekend

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>&nbsp;will feature the Paul Taylor Dance Company at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Kansas State University’s McCain Auditorium.Dancemaker Paul Taylor, who died in 2018, first showcased his choreography with five other dancers in New York on May 30, 1954.&nbsp; The company has appeared in over 600 cities across 66 countries, featuring significant tours and performances in North and South America, the Far East, Africa, Middle East, Eastern, Western and Northern Europe.

Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, individuals 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743785007528.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Division of Communications and MarketingMANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>&nbsp;will feature the Paul Taylor Dance Company at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Kansas State University’s McCain Auditorium.Dancemaker Paul Taylor, who died in 2018, first showcased his choreography with five other dancers in New York on May 30, 1954.&nbsp; The company has appeared in over 600 cities across 66 countries, featuring significant tours and performances in North and South America, the Far East, Africa, Middle East, Eastern, Western and Northern Europe.Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours. Tickets for youth 17 and younger are half price for this show. Discounted tickets to this show are also available for K-State faculty and staff, individuals 62 and older, and members of the military. Original IDs will be required to obtain discounts — third-party, photocopied or web-based IDs are not accepted.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company graces the stage at McCain Auditorium

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman discusses the Rock the Plains music festival with organizer Richard Jones.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Rock the Pains" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=cd8dd-186582c-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
Podbean Player
 </div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman discusses the Rock the Plains music festival with organizer Richard Jones.

🎤 Forward Ever: Rock the Plains

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting have arrested a Kansas teen.

On Thursday, police arrested 17-year-old Delron Tyree Jr, of Topeka on a warrant on requested&nbsp;charges that include two counts of Attempted Murder in the 1st degree, Criminal Use of Weapons, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, and three counts of Criminal Damage to Property, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

&nbsp;Tyree was already confined at the time of arrest for a previously released&nbsp;robbery arrest. &nbsp;This arrest stems from a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=591">shooting</a>&nbsp; that took place on November 30th.&nbsp; Tyree is being held on a $750,000 bond, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting have arrested a Kansas teen.On Thursday, police arrested 17-year-old Delron Tyree Jr, of Topeka on a warrant on requested&nbsp;charges that include two counts of Attempted Murder in the 1st degree, Criminal Use of Weapons, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, and three counts of Criminal Damage to Property, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp;Tyree was already confined at the time of arrest for a previously released&nbsp;robbery arrest. &nbsp;This arrest stems from a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=591">shooting</a>&nbsp; that took place on November 30th.&nbsp; Tyree is being held on a $750,000 bond, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.

Attempted murder: 17-year-old jailed in Manhattan

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.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report April 4

On April 3rd, the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force announced 100 Kansas schools that have been named recipients of the 2024 Challenge Awards. Herington Elementary was named a 2024 recipient. The Challenge Awards recognize schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments of students based on the Kansas Assessment Program results in math and reading, especially those students of ethnic minority group and who qualify for free and reduced-priced meals.

"Herington Elementary School is so proud to be named a 2024 Challenge Award recipient! Our talented students and staff work hard day in and day out. This recognition is another reflection of the commitment from our students, staff, and stakeholders to the educational priorities the USD 487 board of education and district leadership have established. Herington Elementary School was honored to be named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School previously this year and to now be recognized as a 2024 Challenge Award recipient is the icing on the cake. Great job and go Railers," said Dr. Nicholas Morgan, Principal, Herington Elementary School

On April 3rd, the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force announced 100 Kansas schools that have been named recipients of the 2024 Challenge Awards. Herington Elementary was named a 2024 recipient. The Challenge Awards recognize schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments of students based on the Kansas Assessment Program results in math and reading, especially those students of ethnic minority group and who qualify for free and reduced-priced meals."Herington Elementary School is so proud to be named a 2024 Challenge Award recipient! Our talented students and staff work hard day in and day out. This recognition is another reflection of the commitment from our students, staff, and stakeholders to the educational priorities the USD 487 board of education and district leadership have established. Herington Elementary School was honored to be named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School previously this year and to now be recognized as a 2024 Challenge Award recipient is the icing on the cake. Great job and go Railers," said Dr. Nicholas Morgan, Principal, Herington Elementary School

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