KSU Division of Communications and Marketing

MANHATTAN — Nearly 50 years after it was built, Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksvhc.org/">Veterinary Health Center</a>&nbsp;has renovated and enlarged its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksvhc.org/services/specialty-services/surgery/">small animal surgery</a>&nbsp;center. The construction efforts occurred with relatively swift surgical precision thanks to a concerted team effort. The results will increase the surgical capabilities at K-State while enhancing its educational mission.

Elizabeth Davis, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony where she acknowledged all those who participated in the renovation."We've had the dream to upgrade our small animal surgery center for a long time, and it took a dream team to make this happen," Davis said. "It began with a design drawn up by Dr. Walter Renberg, the section head for small animal surgery, and turned into actual blueprints by Hadley Stolte, the lead architect and K-State alumnus, at Clark and Enerson. BHS Construction turned it into a reality at lightning speed."

Renberg said the renovation of the surgical suites is a huge step forward for the hospital. The construction took the center from three small operating rooms to five large ones, with centralized induction and recovery rooms that will increase efficiency.During construction, the small animal surgical services had to be temporarily rehoused in Mosier Hall. 

Davis said the flexibility of the college's faculty and staff during the period of nine months — from Nov. 25, 2024-Aug. 29, 2025 — allowed the Veterinary Health Center to provide uninterrupted service to clients."We anticipate the care for patients will be better, and we should be able to accommodate more, and different, cases," Renberg said. "Ophthalmologic surgery suite improvements and the nurses' workspace changes will benefit our mission tremendously."&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State Veterinary Health Center launches expanded, renovated small animal surgery center

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after noon Friday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2012 Chevy Traverse driven by Lesa Heiman, 34, of Riley, struck a 2024 Ford F-250 driven by Miguel Mercado-Soto, 35, of Clay Center near the intersection of Main Street and Madison Road in Riley.

EMS transported Heiman to Via Christi for treatment of her injuries. She was also issued a citation for failure to yield right of way at a stop sign.

Riley County woman hospitalized, cited after 2-vehicle crash

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.

Riley County Arrest Report September 15

TOPEKA — Phone and internet services are vital to accessing healthcare and community services, finding employment, and calling for help in an emergency. However, the cost to stay connected is out of reach for many Kansans.

In observance of National Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week, September 7-13, the Kansas Corporation Commission joins utility regulators nationwide in creating awareness of the program offerings and encourages those in need of assistance to apply.

Lifeline provides combined federal and state discounts of up to $17.02 per month to help pay for residential or wireless phone service, internet, or a bundled phone and internet plan. Subscribers living on tribal lands qualify for additional discounts. Currently, nearly 8.6 million Americans, including 19,500 Kansans, are enrolled in the program.

Eligibility&nbsp;is based on income&nbsp;(at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) or participation in certain assistance programs such as:

In addition, the Safe Connections Act (SCA) of 2022 helps survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and related crimes get discounted phone, internet or bundled services through the Lifeline program. Those who qualify under SCA can receive up to six months of emergency Lifeline support and their privacy will be protected. Details are available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.lifelinesupport.org%2Fsurvivor-benefit%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019929edb8d6-2119cd4d-a7ba-475f-b0d5-be85f806625c-000000/5Td5E8YN3_Hd8TJrGGm7M0bJYjXy3SRauGbs6e9U75I=421">https://www.lifelinesupport.org/survivor-benefit/</a>.

More information on income eligibility, participating Lifeline providers, and the enrollment process is available on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kcc.ks.gov%2Ftelecommunications%2Flifeline%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019929edb8d6-2119cd4d-a7ba-475f-b0d5-be85f806625c-000000/UTnfVCxzQie_DaSXazrvtv1_lwFtIyvd9HdLN5nDRF4=421">KCC’s website&nbsp;</a>or by calling 800-662-0027.

Lifeline program helps Kansans in need stay connected

Riley County Arrest Report September 13, 14

Popping a kernel of wheat in your mouth for a quick chew to test quality is almost instinctive, whether you are a Kansas farmer or the leader of a major East African conglomerate. Exploring a shared emphasis on wheat quality, as well as exploring the U.S grain production, handling and marketing systems, was the goal of a Tanzanian trade delegation that traveled to Kansas earlier this week.

The team was organized by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) with support from Kansas Wheat. Team members included two members of the Bakhresa Group, a diversified, family-owned and operated business in East Africa that operates in agro-processing, food and beverages, packaging, logistics, media, marine transport and more. Bakhresa is the largest grain milling company in East Africa with operations in nine countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

After starting their mission in South Dakota, the team traveled to Kansas and visited the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS), the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, and the IGP Institute. They also met with grain suppliers, handlers and exporters. The team aimed to gather firsthand information on U.S. wheat production and to gain a deeper understanding of the U.S. grain marketing system.

East Africa relies on imports of wheat to produce a wide range of daily bread products, from traditional mandazi, a fried bread eaten for breakfast, to newly introduced products like instant noodles. Russia has historically supplied more than 50% of imports; however, companies like Bakhresa are exploring ways to diversify their suppliers.

The team went to Justin Knopf’s machine shop near Gypsum to discuss everything from tractors to the dynamics of working in a family-owned business. For Knopf, a fifth-generation farmer who works alongside his father and brother, connecting with customers not too far removed from himself in the grain supply chain gave him goosebumps.

“The relationships between U.S. farmers and these gentlemen running a family business providing flour and baked goods in East Africa are significant to me,” Knopf said. “It’s meaningful to know that they probably have very similar conversations on a day-to-day basis as my brother, dad and I have. Even though it’s a different type of business, the conversations and the values are the same.”

Of course, the Bakhresa team members eagerly reached into the bucket of U.S. hard red winter (HRW) wheat Knopf had ready, even chewing a kernel or two, and noting the wheat’s premium quality.

“They were very pleased with the wheat sample from my field and my farm,” Knopf said. “That’s very reaffirming, and it gives me more motivation and inspiration for that mindset of continuous improvement. We are making sure that we are producing this type of product that when a team like this visits our farm, they want to pop it in their mouth and sample it.”

That positive impression carried through to an immediate sale. At the end of their visit to Kansas, Bakhresa purchased 5,000 metric tons (MT) (nearly 184,000 bushels) of U.S. hard red winter (HRW) for use in their Durban, South Africa mill.

From Kansas, the team will continue on to visit export facilities in Houston before attending an international baking exposition in Nevada. The Bakhresa leaders will return home having gained valuable insights into U.S. wheat quality, production and marketing systems, which will foster new connections and future business partnerships. For farmers like Knopf, missions like this one underscore the importance of considering the needs of international customers when making decisions on his farm.

“I am grateful because I learn something every time that we host a trade team or international visitors on our farm,” Knopf said. “I like to hear about what’s on their mind, what’s important in their business and their values, because that matters to me.”

“The team members were very knowledgeable, incredibly intelligent and asked great questions. They are the type of people that I would like to learn from and do business with.”

Wheat Scoop: East African delegation explores U.S. wheat advantage in Kansas

Starting Friday&nbsp;(September 12), a portion of the 1100 block of Fremont Street will be closed by a local contractor as part of an adjacent construction project.

The closure is expected to last for&nbsp;4 weeks&nbsp;for the installation of residential water and fire protection infrastructure.

Access to City Park from 11th Street remains by way of a detour to Laramie Street and 12th Street, as pictured below.

Please drive safely in this area, follow signage and look out for construction workers.

Expect light to moderate traffic and some delays on 11th Street, 12th Street, 14th Street, Fremont Street, Laramie Street, and Poyntz Avenue. The estimate is about&nbsp;4 weeks&nbsp;to complete this work, depending on weather.

1100 block of Fremont closes

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has announced the members of his 2025 Service Academy Selection Board. The board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to the U.S. Service Academies.Applicants will be interviewed by the selection board on Saturday, September 27th, at Wichita State University.

The U.S. Service Academies include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.“Nominating Kansas students for service academies is one of my greatest honors as a U.S. Senator,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;

“I appreciate this year’s Service Academy Selection Board for their dedication in choosing to invest in the next generation of leaders who are stepping up to defend and serve our nation.&nbsp; &nbsp;

One member of the Board is from this region-&nbsp;&nbsp;Christian Bishop of Manhattan –&nbsp;Military Relations Manager, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

Sen. Moran announces 2025 Service Academy Selection Board

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Kelly Modlin of the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum in Augusta.

🎤 Forward Ever: Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum 

Riley County Arrest Report September 12

By KRISTI BIRCH <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/kansas-nursing-workforce-report.html">KU News Service</a>

The second report on the <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">state of nursing in Kansas</a> was released by the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, which is based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

The center formed in 2023 to address the shortage of nurses across the state. 

Compiled from 25 sources that include state and national databases and surveys, the report provides information on the supply and characteristics of nurses in Kansas.

“We look at the data through different vantage points. We look at the demographics of nurses: Who are they? How were they educated? How old are they? Where (in what setting) do they practice? We look at the data geographically: Where are they located?” said Barbara MacArthur, M.N., FAAN, director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center and clinical associate professor at KU School of Nursing. “And we look at it in terms of access to care, because our mission is that wherever and whenever Kansans need care, they have access to it.”

The report helps hospitals, health care systems, long-term care facilities, nursing schools, government agencies and other stakeholders make informed decisions that increase and support the workforce in the state and ultimately improve the health of Kansans.

The first report, issued in September of 2024, provided a snapshot of the state of nursing in Kansas with one year of data from 2022. This second report is based on data covering 10 years, from 2015 to 2025.

The new report shows that the number of nurses in Kansas has declined since 2019, and the nursing workforce is aging — 22.1% of registered nurses (RNs) and 20.5% of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are 60 or older — with not enough younger nurses replacing them. And 25.9% of RNs and 23.4% of LPNs are planning to retire or leave the profession in the next five years. The report also notes that the population in Kansas is aging as well, and aging populations require more care.

Meanwhile, 85% of Kansas nurses are actively employed, which is lower than the national average. “If you look at nurses holding a license in Kansas, it doesn’t appear we have a crisis,” said Terry Siek, MSN, director of clinical services at the Kansas Hospital Association. “We need to be better at helping people see beyond that statistic to understand that we have quite a few nurses with a license that do not practice in Kansas, or do not practice at all.”

• The ratio of nurses to Kansans has not grown in the last 10 years, and the ratio of LPNs available to care for Kansans (currently, one LPN for every 322 Kansans) has decreased sharply. • Kansas has nursing care deserts, particularly in the western and southeast parts of the state. Five counties have fewer than 20 RNs and 41 counties have 20 or fewer LPNs. Five counties have no advanced practice nurses (APRNs), and 50 have fewer than 10 APRNs. • Kansas nurses work more jobs and longer hours. The percentage of Kansas RNs who hold two or more jobs rose from 15.7% in 2015 to 21.9% in 2024; during that period, the percentage who work more than 40 hours a week rose from 23.8% to 30.8%. • Wage gaps — between nurses who practice and those who teach — contribute to shortages of nursing faculty. These faculty are needed to train future nurses. • Multiple pathways are available to become a nurse. The report provides data on the different education levels that can lead to a career in nursing. Nearly 54% of RNs in Kansas began their career with a baccalaureate degree, 31% started with an associate degree and just 8% started their career as an LPN.

Making different pathways to a nursing career known to potential future nurses is part of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center’s work, MacArthur said. Earlier this year, the center received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to increase nursing school applications. In addition to creating a unified application for all schools that provide nursing education in the state, staff of the center plan to build a web-based tool for people interested in nursing education to show potential nursing students what the options are for a career in nursing.

“Nurses make a difference,” MacArthur said, noting that health outcomes are improved when there is a higher ratio of nurses for a population. “Kansans, wherever they are, need to have access to good nursing care.”

Report: 26% of Kansas nurses plan to leave profession in next 5 years

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Even before the killing of Charlie Kirk,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-shapiro">Gov. Josh Shapiro</a>&nbsp;of Pennsylvania was struggling with the emotional toll of political violence.

In the middle of the night just five months ago, someone broke into his home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arson-pennsylvania-governor-political-violence-388da01e84661fb12ac79c626b0004eb">set it on fire</a>. Shapiro, who is also a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, was asleep with his wife and children.

And in the weeks since his family fled the blaze, Shapiro has been forced to confront the vexing questions now consuming elected officials in both parties as they face the impact of Kirk's assassination on their own public lives.

“The emotional challenge for me that’s been the hardest to work through is that, as a father, the career I chose, that I find great purpose and meaning in, ended up putting my children’s lives at risk,” Shapiro, a father of four, told The Associated Press. “Make no mistake, the emotional burden of being a father through this has been something that continues to be a challenge for me to this day.”

Across the nation, it is much the same for Republican and Democratic officials after another stunning act of political violence. Politicians in both parties and at virtually every level of public service are suddenly being forced to deal with acute security concerns — and feelings of grief, anger and fear — as they move deeper into a fraught election season.

Some political leaders are canceling public appearances. Others are relying on a large police presence to keep them safe. And still others insist that the fallout from Kirk’s death won’t have any impact on their duties.

Indeed, even as Shapiro offered prayers for Kirk's widow and children, the Democratic governor said he is undeterred in his duties as a leading figure in his national party and his state.

On that, he and President Donald Trump appear to agree.

The Republican president was asked during a Friday appearance on Fox News if he would cancel any public appearances of his own.

Bellicose rhetoric and even death threats have surged in the days since Kirk was killed.

"The left is the party of murder," Elon Musk, the tech titan and CEO of the social media platform X, wrote. “If they won't leave us in peace, then our choice is to fight or die."

To that, Fox News host Jesse Waters said during a broadcast, “They are at war with us. Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. What are we going to do about it?”

On Friday, a right-wing activist posted online a video outside Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's home, calling on followers to “take action.”

The charged environment prompted a number of public officials, largely Democrats, to postpone public appearances.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ruben-gallego">Sen. Ruben Gallego</a>, D-Ariz., canceled a Saturday town hall in Las Vegas “out of an abundance of caution for town hall participants, attendees, and members of the media.” Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alexandria-ocasio-cortez">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a>, D-N.Y., also postponed a weekend event in North Carolina due to security concerns.

Former Republican Wisconsin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/scott-walker">Gov. Scott Walker</a>, president of Young America’s Foundation, which works to attract young people to the GOP, said his group canceled a Thursday night event in California featuring conservative commentator Ben Shapiro out of respect for Kirk and his family.

And while officials in both parties acknowledged that new security precautions would be in place — for the short term, at least — cancelations have been rare.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wes-moore">Maryland Gov. Wes Moore</a>, another potential Democratic presidential prospect who recently announced his 2026 reelection campaign, said he would not change his public schedule because of the increased threat even as political violence will be on his mind.

“It’s never something that completely leaves you, but I don’t think it can be something that debilitates you," Moore told The Associated Press.

When asked if he expects a retaliatory attack against Democrats, the former Army captain insisted, "We are not at war with one another.”

“As someone who has seen war, as someone who knows what war looks like, as someone who will live with the realities of war for the rest of my life, I refuse to ever believe that we in the country are at war with one another," he said. "And I refuse to believe that that we as a country are devolving into some just kind of type of retaliatory tit for tat.”

“Resorting to violence is a remarkable sign of weakness," Moore added. “It means you can’t win a political argument.”

And yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shot-political-violence-history-5ce36193ede90a59a883662df16c6d6c">political violence is becoming more frequent</a>&nbsp;in the United States.

Former Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gabrielle-giffords">Rep. Gabby Giffords</a>&nbsp;was shot in the head as she met with constituents in 2011. Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e84732a7d594eedba6fae5dd10808b7">Steve Scalise was shot</a>&nbsp;at a congressional team baseball practice in 2017. Trump was grazed by a bullet last summer on the stump in Pennsylvania. And barely three months ago, the top Democrat in the Minnesota state house and her husband were gunned down at home.

Several uniformed police officers stood side by side along the entrance of a public park where the Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-governor-primary-election-trump-f257499bda21810eff087446f6105c91">candidate for New Jersey governor, Mikie Sherrill</a>, met voters Friday to discuss measures designed to bring transparency to the state budget process.

The significant security presence was a sharp shift from Sherrill's recent events.

In Illinois, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, Aaron Del Mar, said he and other GOP candidates are discussing new security precautions, such as bringing events indoors, enhanced use of metal detectors and background checks on those who attend their events.

“There’s a lot of concern right now,” he said.

Back in New Jersey, 35-year-old Democrat Maira Barbosa attended Sherrill's event with her 16-month-old son. She said she's never been more resolved to show up to a political event in person, even as she admitted she had second thoughts.

“We’re seeing so much hate speech and we’re seeing people advocate for violence, so of course it makes me concerned, especially to the point of bringing my son,” she said. “If we don’t participate, if we don’t get involved, who is going to represent us?"

In interviews, governors Shapiro and Moore largely avoided casting blame for the current era of political violence, although they were critical of Trump's immediate response to Kirk's shooting.

The Republican president highlighted only attacks against Republicans during his Oval Office address on Thursday and blamed “the radical left” for Kirk's shooting, even before the suspect was arrested.

Shapiro said Trump “misused the power of an Oval Office address."

“To be clear, the political violence has impacted Democrats and Republicans, and the rhetoric of vengeance and the language that has created division has come from both sides of the political divide,” Shapiro said. “No one party has clean hands, and no one party is immune from the threat of political violence.”

Moore called for everyone to tone down the rhetoric.

“I just think it’s important for the president and anyone else to understand that your words matter, and leadership is how you lift us up in darkness, not how you use it as a moment for opportunism and to introduce more darkness and finger pointing into into an already horrific situation,” he said.

“I’m praying for our country," Moore continued. "I’m praying that the legacy of this moment is we got better — not that we got worse.”

Associated Press writers Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix; Laura Bargfeld in Chicago; Chris Megerian in Washington; and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed.

Political leaders confront security concerns and fear after Kirk's assassination

OSAGE COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegaions.

Just before 5 pm Sept. 12, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic search warrant at 12544 South Topeka Avenue, near Carbondale, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

 As a result, two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.

Kristina D. Smith, 47, Carbondale, is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine, Distribution of drug paraphernalia, Distribution of marijuana, Possession of hallucinogenic, No drug tax stamp and Use of a communication facility in commission of a felony.

Troy S. Smith, 46, Carbondale is being held on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine, Distribution of drug paraphernalia, Distribution of marijuana, Possession of hallucinogenic, No drug tax stamp, Battery on a law enforcement officer and Felony obstruction.

Kansas couple accused of selling illegal drugs from their home

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Nebraska Corrections officials update McCook leaders on plans

McCOOK, Neb. — Business has slumped at the Carniceria CB mini market and Mexican restaurant, its owners said, since Gov. Jim Pillen’s announcement last month that Nebraska is bringing a federal immigration detention facility to town.

Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they’ve heard other area&nbsp;merchants describe similar commercial declines. Some Latinos they know have uprooted from southwest Nebraska, spurred by what the couple believes is fear and uneasiness over an increased ICE presence.

“And it’s not even open yet,” said Miguel Camacho, of the facility branded the “Cornhusker Clink” by federal officials. “Of all the 50 states, why here?”

Comments the Camachos made this week from their Carniceria — a few miles from where a state prison that holds up to 200 beds is being converted into a 300-bed ICE jail — reflected the sentiment of dozens who spoke against the project during a Friday hearing at the Capitol so full it required an overflow area.

The meeting was hosted by the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Chairman Terrell McKinney of Omaha offered the space after the chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee declined to hold a public hearing, calling the request premature.

McKinney, a member of both committees, said that while he had been offered a private briefing by the Pillen administration, he opted for a broader discussion open to the public.

He and other committee members said they were concerned about scant information shared about the state-federal plan to repurpose the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention center for migrants. The state is still trying to relocate the camp’s remaining 155 inmates to different state prisons. Officials said they expect to start housing federal detainees in October.

“Our people want to know, and they’re asking,” said State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, who also sits on both committees.&nbsp;

“What happens is that when there’s no information provided, negativity and misinformation run rampant,” said State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, the lone Republican committee member who attended the hearing.

On Friday afternoon, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services issued a statement saying that Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys had spoken Thursday with McCook Mayor Linda Taylor and City Manager Nate Schneider about public safety and community impact.

Among the answers Corrections said it provided:

A formal contract between Nebraska and the federal government is still being hammered out, Correctional Services officials said.&nbsp;

At the four-hour Urban Affairs hearing, about 40 people testified, none in support of the prison conversion that many worry could exacerbate state prison crowding elsewhere to accommodate the feds’ deportation push.&nbsp;

Many said they were embarrassed. Some choked back tears. Others said they were angry to learn in news reports that the state had invited the Trump administration to consider Nebraska for such a facility.

Not present were members of the Pillen administration, which told the committee in a Thursday letter it would not participate, arguing that the the Judiciary Committee and not the Urban Affairs Committee had the legal jurisdiction and oversight authority to examine the issues at hand.&nbsp;Pillen’s staff did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

McKinney said he plans to ask the Judiciary Committee chair once again to hold a public hearing that he hopes Pillen’s staff would attend.&nbsp;

Kenny Zoeller, Pillen’s policy research director, wrote in the Thursday’s letter that McKinney had wrongly suggested that the future migrant population at the center would trigger an overcrowding of the correctional system. Zoeller wrote that an emergency declaration is required when the prison population systemwide is over 140% of operational capacity. He said the average now is about 115%.

“We have flexibility within our current corrections facilities to accommodate this new mission,” Zoeller wrote.

Spike Eickholt, representing ACLU Nebraska, said Nebraska leaders for a decade have debated what to do about state prison crowding. Currently, Nebraska is building a new $310 million-plus prison in Lincoln.

“Why are we committing to an investment of a new prison while giving up a current one?” he asked.

Other speakers lamented the loss of the Work Ethic Camp’s rehabilitative focus and programming aimed at transitioning criminal offenders for successful re-entry into society.

But most of Friday’s testimony centered on Nebraska’s role in Trump’s push for mass deportations. Pillen has said he is proud to be part of the president’s effort to “make sure we keep our community safe.”

“This stuff hits close to home and hits every corner of this state and country,” the governor has said.

Holly Burns said her grandparents, Jose Flores Arsiaga and Margarita Martinez Arsiaga, farmed in Mitchell, Neb., and raised an extended family that’s part of the state’s rich history and multicultural landscape.

“Are we willing to risk that and be made a joke nationally as the ‘Cornhusker Clink’ — for money that we may or may not get — and that breaks all values of Nebraska?” she asked.

Guillermo Enrique Peña Valladares of Grand Island said he comes from a family of immigrants and that federal enforcement tactics have created anxiety and intimidation even among those legally in the country for generations.

“Should I fear saying my name?” he asked, voice cracking. He said his family works in meatpacking plants and his mom speaks broken English. “Every day we have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we going to be alright?’”

As his family’s first college graduate, Peña said, he felt a responsibility to speak out.

“You are trying to imprison the agricultural hands of Nebraska. They are already battered and bruised,” he said.

Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said a worry is the “lack of planning” and demeaning behavior by ICE toward migrants.

She said her nonprofit saw it first hand, representing several of the 78 workers detained in the June 10 immigration raid at Omaha’s Glenn Valley Foods. Wurth described, for example, the early 48 hours when some families did not know where relatives were being held and said some wounds went untreated.

“Their goal is to terrorize immigrants,” she said of the federal government. “They continue to demean and dehumanize a population that is integral to the state of Nebraska … We must not do this for them.”

Don Hooper, a retired educator, was among several who decried the politics. He said he does not want “Cornhusker Clink” to join Nebraska’s “good life” and “home of Arbor Day” signs on the highway.

If the facility comes, he said: “It should be named … ‘Pillen’s prison’ in honor of the individual who wants this in Nebraska.”

McKinney said he appreciated a petition opposing the immigration detention center coordinated by Nebraska Appleseed, as it reflected statewide opinions. Appleseed’s Ruby Mendez said the effort collected more than 18,000 signatures from people in nearly 400 Nebraska communities.

Faith Colburn said she drove in from North Platte with concerns about legal and other services that migrants would have available in McCook.&nbsp;

“I’m here representing 50 people,” she said. “Many of them are furious, pissed off grandmas.”

About 650 people also submitted written testimony to the Urban Affairs committee. Because it was for an interim hearing, McKinney said, the correspondence had not been categorized into opponents, proponents or neutral.

In McCook, Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they would not close shop, and hope that business picks up.

The family’s move six years ago from Kansas to the Nebraska community of about 7,200 people was calculated, they said. The area has a Walmart and other key stores that draw residents of surrounding towns.

Their two kids attend local schools, and have felt a sting from the proposed ICE facility. A classmate asked their daughter if she had seen her “new house,” said Camacho.

The small business owners said they are trying to form a group to provide information and support to Latinos in the community. They said they’ve enjoyed the McCook area and their patrons.&nbsp;

The couple rode out the COVID-19 slump, opening the Carniceria’s doors every day. Gesturing toward the empty store and restaurant, Camacho said the plan now is to do the same: “Stay here, protect it, survive.”

He added, ‘If the community tells me I’m not welcome, we’ll move.”

Conversion of Neb. facility into ICE detention hub draws overflow hearing, statewide concerns

COWLEY COUNTY —When Erica Petry accepted her new role as Animal Control Officer for the Arkansas City Police Department in April, she expected plenty of unusual calls. 

Nothing prepared her for the saga of Wade, a shy greyhound who had been living on the fringes of town for nearly two years. It began like any other call: a report of a stray dog lingering behind Walmart. 

For months, the sleek greyhound had been spotted by several employees and vendors at the big box store. “When I first heard about her, I thought I'd be able to catch her, pick her up, and take her to the Humane Society. I quickly realized it was not going to be the case,” Officer Petry said.

Far from routine, Petry quickly realized this stray—later identified as Wade—was no ordinary dog. Cautious and clever, the greyhound had managed to evade nets, leashes, and countless well-meaning hands.“She was super scared of getting close to people,” Petry said. “She would come pretty close, because the vendors and employees would toss her scraps, but she always stayed just far enough away so you couldn’t actually grab her.” 

Day after day, Petry showed up with food, earning Wade’s tentative trust. “She’s really smart,” Petry explained. “She realized sometimes I’d get another call and leave the food, so she started waiting me out.” Greyhounds are rarely abandoned, so Petry suspected there had to be more to the story. 

A dive into Facebook confirmed her hunch. In an old post, someone had spotted a greyhound loose in the area, and a man replied, “That’s my dog. Where is she?” Petry reached out to the man and learned that Wade had been purchased as a hunting dog from Texas. But within days of arriving at her new home, Wade slipped her leash on a hunting trip and vanished. 

Too skittish to recognize her new family, she had been surviving on her own ever since. That’s when Petry discovered that Wade hadn’t just been wandering for a few months — she had been surviving on her own for close to two years.

Not sure how to move forward, Petry turned to her supervisor, Captain Jason Legleiter, who suggested bringing in professionals. That’s when Beauties and Beasts, Inc., a volunteer-led rescue group based in Haysville, stepped in. Together, they tried everything — standard traps, a Snappy Snare, and finally an open-panel pen designed to feel less threatening. For weeks, Wade would dart in just far enough to grab food, then retreat.

 “She was so smart,” Petry said. “Every time we thought we had her, she figured out a way not to get caught.” 

Patience finally paid off. At sunrise on September 5, Petry and two volunteers from Beauties and Beasts positioned their trap, then took cover — two crouched beneath a semi-trailer while another watched from a nearby hill with binoculars. 

Minutes felt like hours until, at last, Wade stepped inside. The call came through: “Got her.” The moment was both exhilarating and terrifying, Petry said.

 Wade thrashed against the panels of the trap, desperate to escape. “We just tried to keep her calm,” Petry recalled. Slowly, Wade crawled toward Petry, recognizing the woman who had fed her for weeks. “It was surreal,” Petry said. 

“When I finally slipped a leash on her, I could breathe again.” That same day, Petry was finally able to reunite Wade with her family. No longer destined to be a hunting dog, she is now settling into her new role as a house pet — one with plenty of dog siblings and a family ready to give her the patience she needs. For Petry, the rescue was more than just another case. It was a crash course in determination, teamwork, and the quiet bond between people and animals. 

“It was kind of weird coming to work afterward,” she admitted with a laugh. “I’d spent so much time every day sitting out there with her. Now I drive past Walmart and think, ‘Oh, I don’t have to stop anymore.’

” The employees and drivers who fed Wade for months say they’ll miss seeing her perched on the hill behind the store, waiting for a handout. But they also know she’s finally where she belongs — home. “She’s a lucky girl,” Petry said. “To survive two winters on her own, and to finally get back to her family—it’s pretty amazing.”

Dog missing for two years finally home again in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — There's bipartisan support in Congress for extending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">tax credits</a>&nbsp;that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;pandemic. But the credits are in danger of expiring as Republicans and Democrats clash over how to do it.

Democrats are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/schumer-government-shutdown-budget-democrats-deadline-a0a24afe93f4a1d596fdf9093db58e3d">threatening to vote to shut down</a>&nbsp;the government at the end of the month if Republicans don't extend the subsidies, which were first put in place in 2021 and extended a year later when they controlled Congress and the White House. The tax credits, which are slated to expire at the end of the year, go to low- and middle-income people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Some Republicans who have opposed the health care law since it was enacted under President Barack Obama are suddenly open to keeping the tax credits. They acknowledge that many of their constituents could see steep hikes in coverage if the subsidies are allowed to lapse.

Still, the two sides are far apart. Republicans are divided, with many firmly opposed. GOP leaders in the House and Senate have been open but noncommittal on the extension, and many of those Republicans who say they support it argue that the tax credits should be reworked — potentially opening up a new health care debate that could take months to resolve.

Democrats would be unlikely to agree to any changes in the subsidies, increasing the chances of a standoff and mounting uncertainty for health insurers, hospitals, state governments and the people who receive them.

“In just a few weeks, unless Congress acts, millions of Americans will start getting letters in the mail telling them their health insurance costs are about to go through the roof — hundreds of dollars, thousands in some cases,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said this past week.

Millions of Americans could face higher health insurance rates

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obamacare-aca-health-care-coverage-biden-trump-0c73dcde4a19aea65cb83de01f2d5d2e">Enrollment in ACA plans</a>&nbsp;has surged to a record 24 million people in large part due to the billions of dollars in subsidies that have lowered costs for many people. The expanded subsidies allowed some lower income enrollees to access health plans with no premiums and capped the amount higher earners pay for premiums to 8.5% of their income. It also expanded eligibility for middle-class earners.

With expiration now just a few months away, some of those people have already gotten notices that their premiums — the monthly fee paid for insurance coverage — are poised to spike next year. Insurers have sent out notices in nearly every state, with some proposing premium increases of as much as 50 percent.

Lawmakers are facing pressure to act from some of the country’s biggest industries, including the insurers that cover people on the marketplace and hospital executives who say they’re already going to be squeezed by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-bill-medicaid-cuts-snap-ed0d2c7c20b43c54265dbc9cb215b647">Medicaid cuts</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;“big, beautiful" tax bill.

“There’s broad awareness that there’s a real spike and premiums coming right around the corner, both Republicans and Democrats,” said David Merritt, senior vice president of external affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield. “It’s certainly lining up for Congress to have an opportunity to head off this problem.”

Companies have said they’ll need to raise premiums without the subsidies because healthier and younger people are more likely to opt out of coverage when it gets more expensive, leaving insurers to cover older and sicker patients.

In Iowa last month, the state’s insurance commissioner weighed increases ranging from 3% to 37% against a stream of angry public comments. One woman who runs a garden center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, said she was considering dropping health insurance altogether.

“I am already living as frugally as I possibly can while working as hard as I possibly can, putting in as many hours as I am allowed to at my job, never missing a day of work,” the woman, LuAnn, wrote in a public comment published to the commissioner’s website.

Tug-of-war over Obamacare spending plays out on the Hill

On Capitol Hill, the issue has become entangled in a larger fight over government funding as a shutdown looms at the end of the month. Schumer and House Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;have said Democrats will not vote to keep the government open unless an extension of the health care tax credits is part of the deal. Republicans have said that they want more time to look at the subsidies and potentially scale them back. They will also have to wait for a signal from Trump, who has not yet weighed in.

Jeffries said this past week that “we will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to rip away health care from the American people.”

Republican leaders are eyeing a potential stopgap bill that would keep the government open for a few weeks and are unlikely, for now, to include the extension. But GOP leaders in both the House and Senate are also under pressure from some members who worry that premium increases will be a political liability before the midterm elections.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said he wants to see a proposal from Democrats on how to extend the subsidies since they are pushing the issue. “Maybe there is something we can do in the middle as a solution," he said in a Punchbowl News interview on Thursday, adding that his members are divided on the issue.

Still, Thune has ruled out quick action, even as he noted that premium notices will go out soon. He has said a short-term spending measure to fund the government for several weeks while Congress finishes its budget bills is not likely to include an extension of the benefits,

House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, R-La., has said that many of his members would oppose an extension, but has not ruled it out.

In recent days, 15 House Republicans in competitive political districts introduced legislation to extend the tax credits for one year. “While the enhanced premium tax credit created during the pandemic was meant to be temporary, we should not let it expire without a plan in place,” said Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., who led the effort with Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.

Middle-class and small business owners, like the ones who dot Kiggan's coastal Virginia district, will be especially vulnerable to big health insurance hikes if the subsidies are not extended.

Several Senate Republicans also said they'd favor an extension. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said that if Congress doesn't act, some premiums will "skyrocket, and not by a little bit. We’re looking at massive increases. People will not be able to afford it.”

Texas Sen. John Cornyn said he thinks Congress should scale back the subsidies for the highest income people who receive them. “I think we all know that access to health care is important and we take it very seriously,” he said.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who has jurisdiction over the tax credits, said he's working with his colleagues to figure out if there is a solution. “There are a lot of ideas being thrown out there," Crapo said. "I'm trying to find a solution, I'm not telling you what the solution is.”

Others were firmly against it. “It's costing us billions of dollars,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.

Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 and people will begin to see “real sticker shock,” as ACA plan prices are posted next month, said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

Millions face skyrocketing health insurance costs unless Congress acts

MEADE COUNTY —U.S. Highway 54 east of Plains was closed on Sunday due to a camper that was engulfed in flames, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Technical Trooper Parr was on scene and advised of propane tanks exploding from the trailer.

The KHP thanked everyone in Meade County for their tireless work to make sure the scene was secured, safe, and being able to get U.S. Highway 54 back open.

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