From Great Bend Economic Development...

Right across the street, something incredible is taking shape — the brand-new Innovation Center, a project set to transform the future of Great Bend. And who better to get a front-row seat to this exciting development than our own little learners?

On Wednesday, April 2, our Penguin Room explorers set out on a mini-adventure, trading crayons for hard hats (okay… pretend ones!) and stepping into the world of construction. This wasn't just any field trip — it was a real-life, hands-on journey into the future of their own community!

With the enthusiastic support of our amazing contractor partners — Eakin Enterprises, Brentwood Builders, Seaton Construction, and Innovative Groups — the children were welcomed onto the job site like VIPs. These pros didn’t just show off the tools of the trade… they helped ignite imaginations!

The excitement was contagious — with little voices shouting, “This is the best!” and “This is the biggest truck ever!” It was a day full of awe, adventure, and inspiration.

Our contractor partners were just as thrilled, taking time to answer questions, share stories, and show that the future of building isn’t just about bricks and beams — it’s about people, teamwork, and big dreams.

This is just the beginning of an ongoing collaboration. As the Innovation Center rises from the ground, our students will get to watch — and learn — every step of the way. Who knows? Someday, one of our Bright Beginnings graduates might be designing the next big thing in Great Bend!

Because when children are invited to imagine their place in the future, they build the confidence to shape it. And here at Bright Beginnings, that future is looking brighter than ever.

Great Bend childcare children get first look at Innovation Center

Daily Registration Locations:&nbsp; - Ehler Chevrolet - INA Alert - Equity Bank - Kelly's Garden Sense - Reborn Renovations &amp; Disaster Services - Jimlo Glass - Center for Counseling - T&amp;L Fireworks - GB Tires - Fireworks for Less (Windshields for Less)&nbsp; - Boone's&nbsp; - Eldridge Fencing - Westside Market/ UPS Store - Nex-Tech Wireless - Cornerstone Automotive - Straub's Powersports - Great Bend Appliance Furniture and Sleep Source - Nex-Tech - Hoisington Vet Hospital

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1. Complete entry in full. Please Print. Must Be Present To Enter.

2. The “Reef Blue Summer” promotion is open to all Kansas residents at least 21 years of age except employees of Eagle Communication, Hull Broadcasting, I.N.A. Alert, Equity Bank, Kelly's Garden Sense, and Ehler Chevrolet and their spouse/companion. Employees of other participating businesses and their families may enter; however, they may not register at their place of employment.

3. Listen to Eagle Radio Stations KVGB FM - “B104.3 The Point”...KHOK FM “100.7 Eagle Country”...KVGB “1590 AM/95.5FM”...and Hull Broadcasting Station KBGL FM “Hits 106.9” for details. Find the latest contest information and appearance calendar at GreatBendPost.com

4. Finalists for this promotion will be qualified from in-store registrations...and during special “Reef Blue Summer” Instant Finalist Days. Only one finalist per household may qualify. No purchase necessary to win.

5. Prize in non-transferable. Winner is responsible for all applicable taxes.

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7. No sponsor or their affiliates assume any liability in connection with this giveaway.

8. Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting reserve the right to disqualify any entry for violation of contest rules. The decision of Eagle Radio of Great Bend and Hull Broadcasting is final.

Reef Blue Summer

Medical Park Pharmacy, Mayo Money Management, Hazmat Response, Protective Equipment Testing Lab, R&amp;R Roofing, Freedom Claims Management, Inc., Rosencrantz-Bemis Water Well Company, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Miller Plastics/Miller Warehouse, Nex-Tech Wireless, USD #431 Hoisington, Great Bend Redi Mix, Heavy Duty Diesel &amp; Auto, USD #428 Great Bend

Make a Difference Contest 

Being trapped in a tight, restricted area is a harrowing, if not dangerous or lethal, scenario that leads to an estimated 100 worker deaths nationally each year. To help prevent these sorts of incidents locally, Fuller Industries Inc. last Wednesday held its federally mandated annual confined space training.

“This training is essential to ensure that employees can identify potential hazards, understand the necessary safety precautions and know how to respond in an emergency,” said Bree Husted, Fuller’s environmental health and safety assistant who taught the one-hour sessions. “By following best practices and maintaining accurate training records, we can minimize the risk of accidents and injuries in confined spaces and ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.”

Utilizing a video and demonstrations, Husted explained the dangers and how to avoid them. According to OSHA mandates, employers must annually provide adequate training to all employees who work in or around confined spaces.

OSHA notes that a confined space is large enough for an employee to enter and has limited means of entry or exit. Examples of confined spaces include tanks, silos, storage bins, vaults and pits, many of which exist in Fuller’s commercial cleaning product manufacturing facility west of Great Bend.

“Such spaces may contain hazardous atmospheres like toxic gases, oxygen deficiency or engulfing hazards,” Husted said. There are also threats such as falling, being crushed or buried, or drowning.

According to OSHA, the training serves multiple purposes: It reinforces essential safety skills, helps employees retain critical knowledge and skills, and reduces the likelihood of accidents or injuries. Additionally, the training provides an opportunity to inform employees about changes in confined space regulations or recommended safety procedures, identify skill gaps, and foster a strong safety culture.

“Whether it’s confined space or other safety-related training, Fuller is committed to making sure our team has the knowledge it needs,” Husted said. “This is part of our ongoing effort to make this the safest place it can be.”

Fuller team learns to avoid getting trapped in confined spaces

Graduation season is upon us. View area high school seniors that will be graduating in 2025,&nbsp;presented by Barton Community College.

Find links to pictures and names of local high school seniors by clicking <a href="https://greatbendpost.com/pages/graduating-classes-of-2025">HERE</a>.

View list/pictures of local high school graduating seniors

In a legislative session marked by its brevity, Kansas lawmakers managed to pass an impressive 116 bills. This makes 2025 a productive year for the state’s legislature. But while this productivity could suggest functional governance, a closer look reveals a shift in the balance of power that raises questions about the state of checks and balances in Topeka.

Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, operating with a Republican Legislature, signed into law more than 90 bills, demonstrating that our two major parties can work together when they find common ground. The legislature and governor addressed important topics, ranging from the sustainability of Kansas’ water supply to the opioid epidemic to broadband infrastructure. Many of these bills had broad support, passing both chambers with ease. And even when Kelly did have issues, she allowed 8 bills to become law without signing them, which is indication of compromise, not obstruction.

But this spirit of cooperation was balanced by a record-breaking exercise of legislative muscle. Fourteen of Kelly's 18 vetoes were overridden, the most during her tenure. That in and of itself is a sign of the growing power of Republican supermajorities and the increasingly diminishing role of the executive branch in shaping final policy outcomes.

It's not easy to override a veto. It takes two-thirds majority in both houses, which is 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate. That the legislature was able to do so 14 times speaks of a branch of government comfortable with its supremacy. In recent sessions, veto overrides were less prevalent. The 2025 session is a departure from that norm.

Furthermore, the legislature enacted changes to the budgeting process this year. The budget reform shifted actual power away from the Governor by allowing a new legislative committee to introduce their baseline budget early in the session. Rather than being the opening offer for negotiation, Governor Laura Kelly's proposed budget was a supplemental proposal. Supporters of the budget reform argued that these changes were not personally aimed at Kelly’s administration. However, the new budget process coupled with the record number of veto overrides paint the picture of a legislature increasingly inclined to bypass the governor's authority.

Though this session's productivity can be seen as an accomplishment, it is not the only measure of governmental achievement. In the coming years, Kansas will need to contend with a basic question: Can government ever be a sincere system of check and balance if one branch so consistently overrules the other?

Preserving checks and balances is something we should be care about. Enacting legislation is an important part of governing but ensuring that each branch can effectively check the others is essential to a healthy democracy. The erosion of the governor's check on legislative power should concern Kansans. Bipartisanship will persist in some policy realms, but the veto override trend and new budget process suggest a Legislature more at ease forging ahead without the governor.

Insight Kansas: Power balance swings towards Kansas Legislature

The Larned Police Department, Pawnee County Sheriff's Office and Larned Recreation Center is hosting their second annual Cops and Bobbers event on June 7 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 317 Cleveland Street in Larned. The morning will include fishing with law enforcement and prizes. The Wildlife and Parks Department will provide loaner fishing poles, bait will be provided and a free lunch will be available. All ages are welcome to participate. The two law enforcement agencies are also welcoming&nbsp;community donations. Anyone interested can send a check to the&nbsp;Larned Police Department&nbsp;or the&nbsp;Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, with "Cops and Bobbers" in the memo line. The agencies are accepting&nbsp;prize donations&nbsp;that can be given away during the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;

'Cops and Bobbers' returns in June from Larned law enforcement

You have an opportunity today to become the final instant finalist in the Reef Blue Summer Giveaway. It's presented by Ehler Chevrolet, INA Alert, Equity Bank and Kelly's Garden Sense.

Sign up today at Kelly's Garden Sense 134 NE 10 Ave. You can register from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m

&nbsp; Find official contest rules, daily registration locations, instant finalist day calendar and more&nbsp;<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/faa73a97-4e3c-405e-b18d-9148ea926a10">HERE</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Reef Blue Summer - Sign up today at Kelly's Garden Sense

Barton Community College will host its first-ever Homeschool Opportunities Day from 12 to 4<a>&nbsp;</a>p.m. May 2, offering homeschool families a chance to explore the many college-level options available to students in grades 9-12.

Homeschool families in Kansas have unique opportunities for early college access. Students in grades 10-12 and ninth grade with a gifted Individualized Education Plan (IEP) can begin taking college classes while completing their high school education. Homeschool Opportunities Day is designed as a flexible, choose-your-own-adventure event that allows families to participate in the activities that best meet their students’ needs and stages of readiness.

The event begins with a come-and-go session, where families can meet Barton instructors and ask questions. Director of Early College Opportunities Karly Little will lead an information forum focused on the home-school student experience, followed by a campus tour. For students ready to begin their Barton journey, the afternoon also includes placement testing, academic advising, and enrollment.

“Our goal is to provide a welcoming, informative, and personalized experience for homeschool families, wherever they are in their college-planning journey,” she said. “Whether you're just starting to think about college or ready to get started with classes at Barton, we have something for you.”

Families are encouraged to register by April 30. To sign up, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://bartonccc.edu/homeschool-opportunities">bartonccc.edu/homeschool-opportunities</a>. For more information, contact Little at (620) 792-9294 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:littlek@bartonccc.edu">littlek@bartonccc.edu</a>.

Barton Community College to host Homeschool Opportunities Day

It’s a two-minute recap of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt. For the full stories, click the links below.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/e2644890-c4ee-4f4e-8935-e7b4f479fea1">Ellinwood woman arrested for connection to death of 4-month-old</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/c0790f76-8d92-49aa-b3ac-e4fa3ec14fde">Elderly person abused report, man arrested in Great Bend</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/668838f0-aba0-42f8-953c-9d8b3439b284">Dr. Malone reflects on 46 years as Great Bend zoo vet</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/d1c57cfe-17e2-426b-8846-ba9afc62460f">Hoisington district names Trenton Horn as new superintendent&nbsp;</a>

Eagle Media's news week in review

Eagle Media in Great Bend produces the Great Bend Post Podcast, available wherever you consume your podcasts. Hear past shows, interviews and meetings from local guests in the Barton County area. Make sure to follow the Post Podcast to receive notifications of new episodes.

View Great Bend Post Podcast on Apple Podcasts <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/great-bend-post-podcast/id1693657426">HERE</a>. View Great Bend Post Podcast on Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4E0Vv03Pfyf9n37kFV4n5b">HERE</a>.

🎙Follow the Great Bend Post Podcast

TOPEKA - A Kansas woman has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of a four-month-old baby, according to Kansas Attorney General Kris W. Kobach.

Christy M. Nemnich, 32, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of child abuse, and one count of operating an unlicensed day care in Barton County District Court in connection with the March 28, 2023, death of a four-month-old baby.&nbsp;

The charges were filed by First Assistant Attorney General Megan Ahsens of Kobach’s office. Criminal charges are merely accusations.&nbsp;Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The case is being investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Barton County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;

Barton Co. daycare operator charged in death of 4-month-old baby 

RUSSELL COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating after a homicide took place in Russell, Kansas, according to a media release.

The Russell Police Department requested the assistance of the KBI. On Thursday, April 24 around 10 p.m., KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

On Thursday, around 9:30 p.m. officers with the Russell Police Department responded after a citizen called 911 reporting a shooting.

When officers arrived to the 800 block of East 2nd&nbsp;St. in Russell, they located Deborah Torres, 49, of Russell, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She told officers her husband, identified as Robert Torres, 49, of Russell, was still inside their residence. When officers entered the home, they discovered Torres deceased in the back living room of the home from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began clearing the home and discovered no additional subjects.

Shortly after, officers gained information that led them to believe Robert “Bobby” James Torres, 33, of Russell, may have been responsible for the shootings. Deputies from the Russell County Sheriff’s Office located him at 2200 block of Highway 40 in Russell. He was taken into custody without incident.

Bobby Torres was booked into the Russell County Jail for suspected first-degree murder and attempted murder.&nbsp;An autopsy will be conducted. 

KBI: Suspect arrested in deadly shooting in Russell

Baseball -Game 1- Saint Thomas Aquinas 2 Great Bend 0 -Game 2- Great Bend 2 Gardner-Edgerton 1

Great Bend Sports on B104 3 The Point sponsored by USD #428, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency, Equity Bank, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, People's Bank and Trust, Comfort Pro, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Great Bend Rec, Edward Jones, Damm Pipe Testing, University of Kansas Health System, The Fieldhouse, Scott's Welding Service, American Plains COOP, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Innovative Livestock Services, Marmie Auto Group, Mpire Realty, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, GB Tarp Company, Freedom Claims Management, Coldwell Banker - Megan Wells, Advanced Truck &amp; Diesel, Nextech, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Sutherlands, Great Bend Redi Mix, Kern Floor Service, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Shelter Insurance - Chris Ramsey, and Mitchell K Haney and Associates.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The state volleyball and basketball formats will look different starting next school year, and the shot clock is officially in the postseason. Those items were approved during the KSHSAA Executive Board and Board of Director Meetings on Thursday.

Volleyball - The traditional two-day format for state volleyball will now be played across three days for classes 6A, 5A, 4 A, 3A, 2A and 1A DI. There will still be two days of competition for each classification, but of the three sites with two classifications, the teams there will alternate days of pool play, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to all play the semifinals, consolation and finals on Saturday. The 1A DII state volleyball format will remain the same.

“This decision is really centered around what is best for the student-athlete,” said KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Sarah Smith. “The traditional two-day format put students in a situation where we were competing well into the night, sometimes at midnight. This allows for teams to be well rested before their most important match of the year.”

Thursday &amp; Friday Schedule/Format

Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play on Thursday during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will play on Thursday during odd-numbered years. Whoever does not play Thursday will play the same time schedule/format on Friday.

Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play bracket play in the morning during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will bracket play in the morning during odd-numbered years. 1A Div II will keep their current schedule/format.

Even Numbered Classes (assuming this is an even-numbered year)

9:00 am: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1

10:30 am: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match

Odd Numbered Classes (assuming this is an odd-numbered year)

1:00 pm: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1

2:30 pm: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match

Basketball – In June of 2024 the KSHSAA Executive Board approved the plan to move state basketball to four sites to align with the membership’s desire to combine championship venues as the association did with football and soccer this school year. On Thursday, the board approved the next step of the plan to move the quarterfinal round to a select group of neutral sites. While sites are not fully finalized, the general premise will be to place the higher seeds playing their opening round game closer to home so far as possible. There will be cases when the travel distance for the opponent is too great so a neutral site in the middle of the two schools will be selected. This could include multiple classes playing at the same site. There will be a total of four sites around the state for semifinals and finals. The quarterfinal sites and the semifinal and final sites have not been selected at this time. More information will be available soon.

Also approved Thursday was the next step for the shot clock. The KSHSAA Executive Board approved the following for mandatory adoption during the postseason:

The KSHSAA collected data throughout the year from those schools who chose to use the shot clock and sent a survey after the basketball season to every school asking for their opinion on the future of the shot clock. Results of the data from the season and the survey are linked here.

Football – The KSHSAA Board of Directors made an adjustment to the classification limits for teams eligible to compete in 8-player and 6-player football. KSHSAA Handbook Rule 35 now reads: For 8-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 110 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. For 6-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 65 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. The change will go into effect for the next football districting cycle.

KSHSAA legislative boards approve several changes

Pick 32 (32) Josh Simmons OT Ohio State 6-4 317 LBS

2024: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference. Started the first 6 games at LT for the national champions. Missed the final 10 games with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Pick 31 (63) Omarr Norman-Lott DT Tennessee 6-1 291 LBS

2024: Played in all 13 games as a reserve (18 tackles, 4 sacks).

Pick 2 (66) Ashton Gillotte EDGE Louisville 6-2 264 LBS

2024: Second-team All-ACC. Led team with 10 TFLs, 4.5 sacks. Started 12 games (43 tackles). Did not play in the team's Sun Bowl win over Washington.

Pick 21 (85) Nohl Williams CB California 6-0 199 LBS

2024: Second-team Associated Press All-American. First-team All-ACC CB. Honorable Mention All-ACC All-Purpose. Led the FBS with 7 INTs. Tied for the team lead with 9 PBUs. Tied for third in the FBS with 16 passes defensed. Returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD. Started all 13 games (52 tackles, TFL, FF).

Chiefs draft tracker

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seth Lugo threw eight scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Houston Astros 2-0 Friday night.

The Royals have now won five straight games after snapping a six-game losing streak.

Coming off a double-header on Thursday, the Royals needed Lugo to go deep in the game, and he delivered. Lugo (2-3) yielded three hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Lucas Erceg, who got his first save, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

Hayden Wesneski (1-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on eight hits in five-plus innings.

Bobby Witt had three hits for Kansas City.

Both starters were on point early on. Lugo needed only 53 pitches to get through five one-hit innings, even with six strikeouts. Wesneski was nearly as good, allowing just one run on six hits through five innings.

Drew Waters led off the fifth with his second double of the game, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Freddy Fermin and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Isbel.

The Royals added another run in the sixth on another sacrifice fly. Vinnie Pasquantino led off with a bloop single and went to second on another bloop hit by Maikel Garcia. Michael Massey sacrificed the runners to second and third. Pasquantino scored on a flyout to center by Hunter Renfroe.

The Astros got a lead-off hit from Victor Caratini in the eighth inning, bringing up the tying run with no outs. But Lugo got Cam Smith to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, squashing the rally.

Witt extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to a career-high 17 games and is batting .371 (23 of 62) in that span.

The Astros and Royals will play Game 2 of a three-game series Saturday evening. Houston will send LHP Framber Valdez (1-2, 4.50 ERA) to the mound to face Kansas City's RHP Michael Wacha (0-3, 4.15 ERA).

Seth Lugo shuts down Astros to lead Royals to fifth straight win

Western Athletic Conference Baseball Standings

Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;WAC&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;All Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 7-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 8-5 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12-3 Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-12 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6-8 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-9 Friday, April 25 Great Bend 5, Lee Summit North 4 Liberal 5, Cimarron 2 Cimarron 16, Liberal 11 Blue Valley West 15, Dodge City 0 Dodge City @ Wichita Heights Spring Hill 4, Hays 0 @ Desoto Hays vs K.C. Piper @ Desoto Saturday, April 26 Great Bend vs St. Thomas Aquinas @ Gardner-Edgerton Great Bend @ Gardner-Edgerton Tuesday, April 29 Liberal @ Great Bend (1) Garden City @ Dodge City Thursday, May 1 Liberal @ Hays Cimarron @ Liberal Dodge City @ Wichita South Friday, May 3 Dodge City @ Liberal Garden City @ Hays (1)

WAC Baseball Standings, Scores, Schedule

Saturday, April 26 10:15AM B104 - High School Baseball - Great Bend vs St. Thomas Aquinas 11:00AM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Draft Day 3 12:45PM B104 - High School Baseball - Great Bend vs Gardner-Edgerton 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Houston @ Kansas City Sunday, April 27 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Houston @ Kansas City 5:00PM 1590/95.5FM - MLB Baseball - Philadelphia @ Chicago Cubs Monday, April 28 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day Tuesday, April 29 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Tampa Bay Wednesday, April 30 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Tampa Bay Thursday, May 1 11:30AM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Tampa Bay 3:45PM B104 - High School Softball - Great Bend @ Garden City Friday, May 2 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Baltimore Saturday, May 3 12:30PM&nbsp;1590/95.5FM - Major League Baseball - NY Mets @ St. Louis 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Baltimore Sunday, May 4 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Kansas City @ Baltimore 5:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Major League Baseball - NY Mets @ St. Louis&nbsp; Monday, May 5 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Tuesday, May 6 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Wednesday, May 7 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Sports Day 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Royals Baseball - Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals ace Cole Ragans will undergo testing on his left groin after the All-Star left-hander was forced to leave Thursday's start against the Colorado Rockies after just three innings and 62 pitches.

Ragans had allowed four runs on three hits — two of them homers — and two walks before Angel Zerpa replaced him for the fourth inning of a 7-3 victory over the Rockies. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans had trouble getting loose before the game and his groin began to bother him as the innings went on.

“As he was sitting there between innings, between the third and fourth, it tightened up on him,” said Quatraro, who thinks some of Ragans' command problems during the opening game of a doubleheader were related to the groin issue.

Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in strikeouts per nine innings during a breakout season last year. He is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in six starts this season, including a dismal outing last week against the Tigers.

“Cole was not 100 percent," Royals catcher Salvador Perez said Thursday. “I could tell from the bullpen he was not right.”

The Royals bullpen picked Ragans up, though, tossing six scoreless innings in relief. Zerpa and Steven Cruz tossed two apiece, Lucas Erceg cruised through the eighth and Carlos Estévez handled the ninth to earn his sixth save.

In other injury news, Quatraro said right-hander Alec Marsh would begin a new throwing progression Friday after he was shut down a few weeks ago with more soreness in his right shoulder. The Royals hope to have him back sometime in June.

Speedy outfielder Dairon Blanco also is on the mend after dealing with a right Achilles injury. He went through a full workout on Tuesday, and Quatraro said it's possible that Blanco could be headed on a rehab assignment soon.

“That was a huge step forward. He had a ton of volume out there,” Quatraro said. “We've got to get through this weekend, but if everything goes smoothly, we'll get him out sometime next week.”

Ragans to undergo testing after leaving start vs Rockies with groin tightness

Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Conf&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; All Hutchinson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;26-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;34-8 Butler&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 25-5&nbsp; &nbsp; 36-6 Barton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 24-6&nbsp; &nbsp; 31-13 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 17-13&nbsp; &nbsp; 25-25 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;16-13&nbsp; &nbsp; 24-19 Colby&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;10-20&nbsp; &nbsp;29-24 Seward County&nbsp; 9-20&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;17-28 Pratt&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 6-22&nbsp; &nbsp; 10-34 Fort Hays Tech&nbsp; &nbsp;0-30&nbsp; &nbsp;0-40 Thursday, April 24 Otero @ Colby ppd Saturday, April 26 Hutchinson @ Barton Butler @ Pratt Sunday, April 27 Dodge City @ Seward County North Platte @ Fort Hays Tech Monday, April 28 Fort Hays Tech @ Pratt Garden City @ Colby End of Regular Season

Jayhawk Softball D-I Standings, Scores, Schedule

- We'll recap Thursday's softball double header in Hays between Great Bend and the Indians with members of the Panthers softball team.

- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nicholl will have the latest on high school baseball and softball.

- KVGB Track and Field Insider Mike Courson highlights some of the best performances of the week on the track and in the field.

- Friday Sports Headlines including all the results from Day one the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Friday on Sports Day (Watch)


Wichita Kansas- The 2025 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals featured 57 of the
top senior wrestlers across the state, competing together for one
great cause, to benefit Shriners Children’s. Team West came away
victorious on the mat, with a 113-36 team dual win. 



Together, the 57 wrestlers, coaches, family, friends &amp; supporters
teamed up to help raise $25,000 to benefit Shriners Children’s. 



On the mat, Team West won 23 of the 30 matches at Fugate Gymnasium on
the campus of Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. 



The 2026 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals will return to Newman University on
Saturday, March 28, 2026. 


Final Results –
2025 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals


165 - Jace Schartz (West/Great Bend) over Aidan Carmack (East/Shawnee
Mission North) Fall 0:54


207 - Emma Hahn (West/Ellinwood) over Ryan Bretthauer (East/Eudora)
Fall 0:41


157 - Blake Winsor (West/Pratt) over Braiden Frey (East/Olathe North)
TF 19-3


184 - Teron Kraft (West/Hoisington) over Ty Hammers (East/Gardner
Edgerton) Dec 8-4

2025 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals Raises $25,000 for Shriners Children’s

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.

Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.

Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.

Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.

On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

Arrest for burglary at 84-year-old Kansas woman's home

With one-fifth of states seeing active&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">measles outbreaks</a>, the U.S. is nearing 900 cases, according to figures posted Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC's confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;count is 884, triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The vast majority — 646 — are in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>, where an outbreak in the western part of the state that's approaching the three-month mark.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

North America has two other ongoing outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,020 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through Wednesday. And as of Friday, the Mexican state of Chihuahua state had 605 measles cases, according to data from the state health ministry. The World Health Organization has said cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Texas outbreak</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

As the virus takes hold in other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear the virus that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;was steady this week with 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state. Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Friday there were 22 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 646&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">across 26 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Hospitalizations were steady Friday at 64 throughout the outbreak.

<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.

Sixty-one percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 393 cases since late January — just over 1.5% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.

New Mexico announced one new case Friday, bringing the state’s total to 66. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.

State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.

Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has four linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to Canada’s large outbreak in Ontario. The state has nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.

Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

They are Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn’t say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 32 measles cases in the state Thursday, and one hospitalization. The state count includes only Ohio residents. There are 16 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties.

Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, said there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in the state.

Oklahoma was steady Friday with 13 cases: 10 confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Custer and Oklahoma counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state said Friday it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

Tennessee has six measles cases as of Thursday. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.

The state health department announced the state's first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. Tennessee is on a list of outbreak states in a Thursday CDC report.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

There have been 884 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the CDC. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

AP Science Writer Laura Ungar contributed to this report.

Ten U.S. states now reporting active measles outbreaks

VATICAN CITY (AP) — World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for people on the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflected his wishes to be remembered as a simple pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants welcomed Francis' coffin at his final resting place in a basilica across town.

According to Vatican estimates, some 250,000 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/pope-francis-funeral-updates">flocked to the funeral</a>&nbsp;Mass at the Vatican and 150,000 more lined the motorcade route through downtown Rome to witness the first funeral procession for a pope in a century. They clapped and cheered “Papa Francesco” as his simple wooden coffin travelled aboard a modified popemobile to St. Mary Major Basilica, some 6 kilometers (3.5-miles) away.

As bells tolled, the pallbearers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-photos-trump-838b56f0e773ccf9979fa9ac06bdf0f0">brought the coffin past</a>&nbsp;several dozen migrants, prisoners and homeless people holding white roses outside the basilica. Once inside, the pallbearers stopped in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary that the church is famous for and that Francis deeply revered. Four children deposited the roses at the foot of the altar before the burial ceremony began.

“I’m so sorry that we’ve lost him,” said Mohammed Abdallah, a 35-year-old migrant from Sudan who was one of the people who welcomed Francis to his final resting place. “Francis helped so many people, refugees like us, and many other people in the world.”

Earlier, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re eulogized Francis during the Vatican Mass as a pope of the people, a pastor who knew how to communicate to the “least among us” with an informal, spontaneous style.

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