Martin Luther King Jr. celebration activities continue Sunday afternoon at the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Junction City with a Gospel Tribute "Musical."

MLK Committee Chair Daphne Maxwell said area churches and choirs are among those performing.

On Monday activities include a Community Celebration at 10 a.m. at the C.L. Hoover House followed by a Ceremonial March downtown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579405620982.jpeg" alt="Daphne Maxwell outlining the MLK Celebration plans for the Junction City Commission earlier this month." />
 <figcaption>Daphne Maxwell outlining the MLK Celebration plans for the Junction City Commission earlier this month.</figcaption>
 </figure>Martin Luther King Jr. celebration activities continue Sunday afternoon at the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Junction City with a Gospel Tribute "Musical."MLK Committee Chair Daphne Maxwell said area churches and choirs are among those performing.On Monday activities include a Community Celebration at 10 a.m. at the C.L. Hoover House followed by a Ceremonial March downtown.

MLK Celebration continues on Sunday and Monday

By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/taxes-weed-and-your-health-what-kansas-lawmakers-will-fight-over-2020#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — The 2020 Kansas Legislature is 
underway. And while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly laid out some of her top
 priorities during the State of the State address on Wednesday, 
Republican leaders of the House and Senate (and Kelly's fellow 
Democrats) have some different goals.&nbsp;

Here are five issues that will be top of mind for the governor and lawmakers as the session heats up.

The short of it: A new bipartisan compromise might pave the way for Medicaid expansion in Kansas, but it’s not a done deal.

The details: Just days before lawmakers returned to Topeka, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Republican Leader Jim Denning <a href="https://www.kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-paves-medicaid-expansion-path-after-governor-and-top-republican-break-partisan" target="_blank">unveiled a Medicaid expansion compromise.</a>

The
 plan potentially could add another 150,000 low-income Kansans, and 
includes some things Republicans have been looking for, like a 
work-referral program and a provision aimed at stabilizing costs on the 
federal health-insurance exchange.

Kelly was clear in her State of the State about what expanding Medicaid would mean.

“When
 we do add this to our list of bipartisan accomplishments, it will not 
only save lives,”&nbsp;she said, “it will close the book on a long, 
senseless, expensive political fight — making room to improve access to 
health care and grow the Kansas economy.”&nbsp;

The agreement marks a 
major shift, as Denning was one of the lawmakers who helped block 
Medicaid expansion in past sessions. But other Republican leaders have 
not endorsed the compromise, including House Speaker Ron Ryckman.&nbsp;

“We
 all agree that we need to have a safety net for folks that need it,” 
Ryckman said. “This will be the first time in our history we’re 
extending benefits to folks that can work.”

Still, with the 
compromise drafted, expansion advocates believe they’re starting the 
session in a strong position to succeed after years of failed efforts.

The short of it: Kelly and Republican leaders are likely to clash over tax policy in the wake of federal changes.&nbsp;

The details: Republicans
 may take another run at tax changes after the governor last session 
vetoed their proposals — including helping businesses — due to concerns 
they would cause budget troubles.

Republicans, however, say that 
some Kansans and businesses saw their state taxes go up in response to 
federal changes, which is something the GOP wants to counteract. Larger 
businesses with overseas income would have benefitted under the <a href="http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/governor-kelly-strikes-down-tax-bill-veto" target="_blank">vetoed bills</a>.

Trying to get those changes through is again a priority for some lawmakers and the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

“Corporate
 income tax liability in Kansas increased,” Chamber President Alan Cobb 
said last month. “We’re at a corporate competitive disadvantage.”

Many
 lawmakers want to cut the food sales tax, which is a popular idea 
that's difficult to accomplish because of the cost. Cutting it by a 
single percentage point would reduce tax revenue by <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_sb_22_2019" target="_blank">more than $60 million</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kelly
 has proposed reinstating a food sales tax refund, which lower-income 
Kansans would file for on their taxes. The thought is lessen the 
financial burden for people who need it most while limiting the impact 
on the state budget.

The short of it: Kansas took a baby step last session toward allowing medical weed, something advocates hope is the sign of a tipping point.&nbsp;

The details:
 More and more states are legalizing medical marijuana, including 
neighboring states of Missouri and Oklahoma, or outright recreational 
use of the drug (see: Colorado).&nbsp;

Kelly has said she supports 
medical marijuana, but the question is what type of bill lawmakers could
 craft in order for it to make it to her desk, considering previous 
efforts <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/cannabis-oil-advances-kansas-legislature-other-medical-marijuana-proposal-dies" target="_blank">have failed.</a>

Lawmakers did venture into the cannabis caucus<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/doctors-note-might-get-you-hook-possessing-cbd-thc-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank"> last year</a>,
 giving people a legal defense if they use CBD oil containing limited 
amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/no-smoking-kansas-medical-marijuana-push-aims-edibles-and-topicals#stream/0" target="_blank">One idea</a>
 that a committee studied before the 2020 session would allow only 
edible and topical forms of weed, not products that you can smoke. 
Another bipartisan proposal <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-medical-marijuana-bill" target="_blank">introduced last year</a> would give veterans the first access to medical cannabis for treating PTSD or physical injuries.&nbsp;

Democratic Sen. David Haley believes enough states have taken action that Kansas may follow suit.

“Finally,
 the learning curve is coming to Kansas,” Haley said. Later, he added, 
“Let’s no longer look at the stigma. We have passed those days.”

The short of it: Abortion opponents want to change the Kansas Constitution to protect the dozens of abortion laws already on the books.

The details: Abortion opponents in Kansas were rattled by <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-state-constitution-protects-abortion-rights" target="_blank">a court ruling</a>
 last year that found, in essence, the right to abortion is in the state
 constitution. They’re concerned that’ll lead to knocking down abortion 
restrictions already in state law, such as banning many abortions after 
22 weeks unless the mother’s health is at risk.&nbsp;

Conservative 
lawmakers and advocacy groups will push this session to change the 
constitution to specifically say it doesn’t provide a right to abortion,
 thus protecting restrictions already in place. Approving a 
constitutional amendment, which forces a statewide vote, is a top 
priority for Ryckman.

“We want the folks of Kansas to make that decision: if we’re going to be a pro-life state or not,” Ryckman said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/abortion-opponents-divided-best-way-undo-kansas-supreme-court-ruling#stream/0" target="_blank">There’s division</a>
 among opponents of abortion on the issue. Some would like to go as far 
as a constitutional amendment that would fully ban abortion. The 
influential anti-abortion group Kansans for Life doesn't favor that 
tactic, though, because they believe it would probably not stand up in 
court.&nbsp;

The short of it: The governor wants extra time to pay off the $9 billion in state pension debt so that Kansas’ budget doesn’t fall off a cliff.

The details:
 Lawmakers have made strides in recent years paying down a long-term 
deficit in the state pension, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement 
System. Still, the shortfall amounts to <a href="https://www.kpers.org/annualreport2019.pdf" target="_blank">$9 billion</a>.&nbsp;

There’s
 a plan in place to pay off the debt in about 15 years. Kelly said the 
payments will grow in the coming years to approach $1 billion annually, 
and the state should extend the payoff period for smaller payments. 
That’s known as reamortizing.

Her idea was roundly rejected by 
lawmakers last year, because extending the payoff period could 
ultimately add billions to the cost of eliminating the shortfall. 
Republican Senate President Susan Wagle hasn’t warmed up to the idea, 
either, saying on the first day of this session: “I just don’t think 
that’s a healthy thing to do for a budget.”

Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank"> @kprkoranda</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201256815.jpeg" alt="Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly gives her second State of the State address on Wednesday. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly gives her second State of the State address on Wednesday. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/taxes-weed-and-your-health-what-kansas-lawmakers-will-fight-over-2020#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — The 2020 Kansas Legislature is 
underway. And while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly laid out some of her top
 priorities during the State of the State address on Wednesday, 
Republican leaders of the House and Senate (and Kelly's fellow 
Democrats) have some different goals.&nbsp;Here are five issues that will be top of mind for the governor and lawmakers as the session heats up.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201287210.jpeg" alt="Medicaid expansion supporters rallied at the Kansas Statehouse on the second day of the 2020 legislative session. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Medicaid expansion supporters rallied at the Kansas Statehouse on the second day of the 2020 legislative session. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>MEDICAID&nbsp;</h2>The short of it: A new bipartisan compromise might pave the way for Medicaid expansion in Kansas, but it’s not a done deal.The details: Just days before lawmakers returned to Topeka, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Republican Leader Jim Denning <a href="https://www.kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-paves-medicaid-expansion-path-after-governor-and-top-republican-break-partisan" target="_blank">unveiled a Medicaid expansion compromise.</a>The
 plan potentially could add another 150,000 low-income Kansans, and 
includes some things Republicans have been looking for, like a 
work-referral program and a provision aimed at stabilizing costs on the 
federal health-insurance exchange.Kelly was clear in her State of the State about what expanding Medicaid would mean.“When
 we do add this to our list of bipartisan accomplishments, it will not 
only save lives,”&nbsp;she said, “it will close the book on a long, 
senseless, expensive political fight — making room to improve access to 
health care and grow the Kansas economy.”&nbsp;The agreement marks a 
major shift, as Denning was one of the lawmakers who helped block 
Medicaid expansion in past sessions. But other Republican leaders have 
not endorsed the compromise, including House Speaker Ron Ryckman.&nbsp;“We
 all agree that we need to have a safety net for folks that need it,” 
Ryckman said. “This will be the first time in our history we’re 
extending benefits to folks that can work.”Still, with the 
compromise drafted, expansion advocates believe they’re starting the 
session in a strong position to succeed after years of failed efforts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201323708.jpeg" alt=" Some lawmakers are interested in trimming Kansas' food sales tax. The downside? Kansas could lose millions. Credit Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Some lawmakers are interested in trimming Kansas' food sales tax. The downside? Kansas could lose millions. Credit Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>TAXES&nbsp;</h2>The short of it: Kelly and Republican leaders are likely to clash over tax policy in the wake of federal changes.&nbsp;The details: Republicans
 may take another run at tax changes after the governor last session 
vetoed their proposals — including helping businesses — due to concerns 
they would cause budget troubles.Republicans, however, say that 
some Kansans and businesses saw their state taxes go up in response to 
federal changes, which is something the GOP wants to counteract. Larger 
businesses with overseas income would have benefitted under the <a href="http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/governor-kelly-strikes-down-tax-bill-veto" target="_blank">vetoed bills</a>.Trying to get those changes through is again a priority for some lawmakers and the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;“Corporate
 income tax liability in Kansas increased,” Chamber President Alan Cobb 
said last month. “We’re at a corporate competitive disadvantage.”Many
 lawmakers want to cut the food sales tax, which is a popular idea 
that's difficult to accomplish because of the cost. Cutting it by a 
single percentage point would reduce tax revenue by <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_sb_22_2019" target="_blank">more than $60 million</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kelly
 has proposed reinstating a food sales tax refund, which lower-income 
Kansans would file for on their taxes. The thought is lessen the 
financial burden for people who need it most while limiting the impact 
on the state budget.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201356188.jpeg" alt=" Industrial hemp, which is a strain of cannabis, grows at Tallgrass Hemp and Cannabis in Andover, Kansas. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Industrial hemp, which is a strain of cannabis, grows at Tallgrass Hemp and Cannabis in Andover, Kansas. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>MEDICAL MARIJUANA</h2>The short of it: Kansas took a baby step last session toward allowing medical weed, something advocates hope is the sign of a tipping point.&nbsp;The details:
 More and more states are legalizing medical marijuana, including 
neighboring states of Missouri and Oklahoma, or outright recreational 
use of the drug (see: Colorado).&nbsp;Kelly has said she supports 
medical marijuana, but the question is what type of bill lawmakers could
 craft in order for it to make it to her desk, considering previous 
efforts <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/cannabis-oil-advances-kansas-legislature-other-medical-marijuana-proposal-dies" target="_blank">have failed.</a>Lawmakers did venture into the cannabis caucus<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/doctors-note-might-get-you-hook-possessing-cbd-thc-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank"> last year</a>,
 giving people a legal defense if they use CBD oil containing limited 
amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/no-smoking-kansas-medical-marijuana-push-aims-edibles-and-topicals#stream/0" target="_blank">One idea</a>
 that a committee studied before the 2020 session would allow only 
edible and topical forms of weed, not products that you can smoke. 
Another bipartisan proposal <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-medical-marijuana-bill" target="_blank">introduced last year</a> would give veterans the first access to medical cannabis for treating PTSD or physical injuries.&nbsp;Democratic Sen. David Haley believes enough states have taken action that Kansas may follow suit.“Finally,
 the learning curve is coming to Kansas,” Haley said. Later, he added, 
“Let’s no longer look at the stigma. We have passed those days.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201397487.jpeg" alt=" A roadside sign in rural Kansas signals opposition to abortion. Credit Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A roadside sign in rural Kansas signals opposition to abortion. Credit Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>ABORTION</h2>The short of it: Abortion opponents want to change the Kansas Constitution to protect the dozens of abortion laws already on the books.The details: Abortion opponents in Kansas were rattled by <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-state-constitution-protects-abortion-rights" target="_blank">a court ruling</a>
 last year that found, in essence, the right to abortion is in the state
 constitution. They’re concerned that’ll lead to knocking down abortion 
restrictions already in state law, such as banning many abortions after 
22 weeks unless the mother’s health is at risk.&nbsp;Conservative 
lawmakers and advocacy groups will push this session to change the 
constitution to specifically say it doesn’t provide a right to abortion,
 thus protecting restrictions already in place. Approving a 
constitutional amendment, which forces a statewide vote, is a top 
priority for Ryckman.“We want the folks of Kansas to make that decision: if we’re going to be a pro-life state or not,” Ryckman said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/abortion-opponents-divided-best-way-undo-kansas-supreme-court-ruling#stream/0" target="_blank">There’s division</a>
 among opponents of abortion on the issue. Some would like to go as far 
as a constitutional amendment that would fully ban abortion. The 
influential anti-abortion group Kansans for Life doesn't favor that 
tactic, though, because they believe it would probably not stand up in 
court.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201438808.jpeg" alt=" The headquarters for the Kansas state pension is in Topeka. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The headquarters for the Kansas state pension is in Topeka. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>PENSION DEBT</h2>The short of it: The governor wants extra time to pay off the $9 billion in state pension debt so that Kansas’ budget doesn’t fall off a cliff.The details:
 Lawmakers have made strides in recent years paying down a long-term 
deficit in the state pension, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement 
System. Still, the shortfall amounts to <a href="https://www.kpers.org/annualreport2019.pdf" target="_blank">$9 billion</a>.&nbsp;There’s
 a plan in place to pay off the debt in about 15 years. Kelly said the 
payments will grow in the coming years to approach $1 billion annually, 
and the state should extend the payoff period for smaller payments. 
That’s known as reamortizing.Her idea was roundly rejected by 
lawmakers last year, because extending the payoff period could 
ultimately add billions to the cost of eliminating the shortfall. 
Republican Senate President Susan Wagle hasn’t warmed up to the idea, 
either, saying on the first day of this session: “I just don’t think 
that’s a healthy thing to do for a budget.”Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank"> @kprkoranda</a>.

2020 legislative fights in Kansas: Taxes, weed and your health

High 29°	Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

High 29°	Sunny. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday weather forecast

For a third consecutive year there is an I-Heart Literacy fundraiser at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. Kelli Liptak, Young People's Department Head, said one part of the program is a "Daddy-Daughter Mother-Son ball. "That's on Feb. 15 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. "Doesn't have to be just dads bringing their daughters or mothers bringing their sons. It could be moms bringing both sons and daughters or dads bringing sons and daughters because there are a lot of deployments coming and we want everybody to be able to come and feel welcome and have a good time."

The ball will include dancing, puzzles, arts and crafts, other games and light refreshments.&nbsp;

You can register and get tickets for $5 per person at the Young People' Department at the library. Advance registration and ticket purchase is required by Feb. 7.&nbsp;

Proceeds benefit the library's book donation program.

For a third consecutive year there is an I-Heart Literacy fundraiser at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. Kelli Liptak, Young People's Department Head, said one part of the program is a "Daddy-Daughter Mother-Son ball. "That's on Feb. 15 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. "Doesn't have to be just dads bringing their daughters or mothers bringing their sons. It could be moms bringing both sons and daughters or dads bringing sons and daughters because there are a lot of deployments coming and we want everybody to be able to come and feel welcome and have a good time."The ball will include dancing, puzzles, arts and crafts, other games and light refreshments.&nbsp;You can register and get tickets for $5 per person at the Young People' Department at the library. Advance registration and ticket purchase is required by Feb. 7.&nbsp;Proceeds benefit the library's book donation program.

 I Heart Literacy Fundraiser is under way 

Sgt. David R. Lofton passed away recently at the age of 71.

According to Fred Reid with the VFW burial for Lofton will be Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Veteran's Cemetery near Manhattan but attempts to locate Lofton's family have been unsuccessful.&nbsp; &nbsp;Veterans and other members of the public are welcome to attend the burial service.

For more information contact Fred Reid at 785-238-2642.

Sgt. David R. Lofton passed away recently at the age of 71.According to Fred Reid with the VFW burial for Lofton will be Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Veteran's Cemetery near Manhattan but attempts to locate Lofton's family have been unsuccessful.&nbsp; &nbsp;Veterans and other members of the public are welcome to attend the burial service.For more information contact Fred Reid at 785-238-2642.

Public attendance sought for veteran's burial service

The 30th edition of Eagle Days at Milford Lake will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25. Activities are planned at the Milford Nature Center along with bus tours to view the bald eagles near the reservoir.

Pat Silovsky, Milford Nature Center, said they usually migrate southward to the lake area around the end of November, and some remain here year around. "But right now we're seeing the eagles that come down from the north and spend the winter here."

Silovsky said the bus tours have become one of the most popular attractions for Eagle Days. The hours for those tours are 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the 25th. "A different bus starts on the half hour so there'll be a lot of buses this year."

Other activities will include those dealing with raptor presentations where you can learn about eagles and other birds of prey, and there will be a Kid's Tent with some children's activities ranging from crafts to a life size eagle's nest.

The 30th edition of Eagle Days at Milford Lake will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25. Activities are planned at the Milford Nature Center along with bus tours to view the bald eagles near the reservoir.Pat Silovsky, Milford Nature Center, said they usually migrate southward to the lake area around the end of November, and some remain here year around. "But right now we're seeing the eagles that come down from the north and spend the winter here."Silovsky said the bus tours have become one of the most popular attractions for Eagle Days. The hours for those tours are 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the 25th. "A different bus starts on the half hour so there'll be a lot of buses this year."Other activities will include those dealing with raptor presentations where you can learn about eagles and other birds of prey, and there will be a Kid's Tent with some children's activities ranging from crafts to a life size eagle's nest.There is no cost to attend the event.

Eagle Day will be held at Milford Lake on Jan. 25

High 35°	Breezy, sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph decreasing to 35 mph in the afternoon.

High 35°	Breezy, sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph decreasing to 35 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday weather forecast

The Fort Riley Tax Center, 7034 Bullard St., will officially open for business with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 21 at 11:30 a.m.

"This is the 18th year the Tax Center has been in operation at Fort Riley, and we've saved our clients millions of dollars in filing fees over that time," said Col. Stephen Shrader, Fort Riley Garrison Commander.

The director of Public Affairs for the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office, Steve Elmstrom said last year the tax center prepared 5,809 federal and 2,886 state returns, saving clients an estimated $1.3 million in preparation fees.

The center, part of the 1st Infantry Division's Staff Judge Advocate office, provides free tax preparation assistance to military members, including active duty, active Army Reserve Soldiers on orders for more than 30 days, military retirees and eligible family members. Professionals can prepare federal and state tax returns for clients with no more than two rental properties and no businesses except for childcare providers on Fort Riley.

The center will remain open through April 15 tax filing deadline.

All tax preparers are IRS certified, trained and up-to-date on current tax rules.

The Fort Riley Tax Center, 7034 Bullard St., will officially open for business with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 21 at 11:30 a.m."This is the 18th year the Tax Center has been in operation at Fort Riley, and we've saved our clients millions of dollars in filing fees over that time," said Col. Stephen Shrader, Fort Riley Garrison Commander.The director of Public Affairs for the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office, Steve Elmstrom said last year the tax center prepared 5,809 federal and 2,886 state returns, saving clients an estimated $1.3 million in preparation fees.The center, part of the 1st Infantry Division's Staff Judge Advocate office, provides free tax preparation assistance to military members, including active duty, active Army Reserve Soldiers on orders for more than 30 days, military retirees and eligible family members. Professionals can prepare federal and state tax returns for clients with no more than two rental properties and no businesses except for childcare providers on Fort Riley.The center will remain open through April 15 tax filing deadline.All tax preparers are IRS certified, trained and up-to-date on current tax rules.

Fort Riley Tax Center prepares to open

Dinner, music and an auction are all part of the lineup for the Roaring 20's Sundown Salute fundraiser on Jan. 25 at the Geary CountyConvention Center.

There will be live performances by Elton Dan and the Rocket Band and give aways as well. You can order tickets on the Sundown Salute Facebook page.

CVB Director Michelle Stimatze said about 175 tickets have been sold and more are available.

Stimatze said the Sundown Salute celebration is scheduled this year from July 2-5.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579289417243.jpeg" alt="sundown salute two.jpg" />
 <figcaption>sundown salute two.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Dinner, music and an auction are all part of the lineup for the Roaring 20's Sundown Salute fundraiser on Jan. 25 at the Geary CountyConvention Center.There will be live performances by Elton Dan and the Rocket Band and give aways as well. You can order tickets on the Sundown Salute Facebook page.CVB Director Michelle Stimatze said about 175 tickets have been sold and more are available.Stimatze said the Sundown Salute celebration is scheduled this year from July 2-5.

Roaring 20's is the title for the Sundown Salute fundraiser

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Courtesy photos.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Christoper Clark, Probation violation, Arrested 1/16

Darius Mitchell, Improper&nbsp; turn or approach, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Arrested 1/16

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Courtesy photos.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579281541787.jpeg" alt="William Griffin Jr., Uniform criminal extradition act, Arrested 1/16" />
 <figcaption>William Griffin Jr., Uniform criminal extradition act, Arrested 1/16</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Christoper Clark, Probation violation, Arrested 1/16Darius Mitchell, Improper&nbsp; turn or approach, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana, Arrested 1/16

Geary County Friday Booking Photos

Konza Prairie Community &amp; Dental Health Center hosted the Medical Adventures Club Wednesday. The club was originally formed to give Junction City High School students, interested in learning more about careers in the medical field the hands-on opportunity to experience medicine up close.

Doctors Thomas Craig and Jimmy Jenkins from Geary Community Hospital and JCHS teacher Nancy Detmer accompanied the students on a tour of Konza's Grant Avenue facility followed by presentations from Taylor Pratt, DMD, Megan Seidl, DO, and Lori Walters, LPN.

As a community health center Konza not only provides medial, but dental and behavioral health services to more than 13,000 patients throughout the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the world grapples with the projected shortage of more than 15 million health care workers by 2030, the same challenge hits lose to home. Geary County is currently designated by the federal government as a medical, dental and behavioral health provider shortage area-a challenge that is likely only to grow in the future.&nbsp; Fostering the medical career dreams of local youth is a part of meeting that challenge.&nbsp;

The Medical Adventures Club is sponsored by Geary Community Hospital, Junction City High School, Cloud County Community College, and the Stan and Betty Lewis Foundation.

Konza Prairie Community &amp; Dental Health Center hosted the Medical Adventures Club Wednesday. The club was originally formed to give Junction City High School students, interested in learning more about careers in the medical field the hands-on opportunity to experience medicine up close.Doctors Thomas Craig and Jimmy Jenkins from Geary Community Hospital and JCHS teacher Nancy Detmer accompanied the students on a tour of Konza's Grant Avenue facility followed by presentations from Taylor Pratt, DMD, Megan Seidl, DO, and Lori Walters, LPN.As a community health center Konza not only provides medial, but dental and behavioral health services to more than 13,000 patients throughout the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the world grapples with the projected shortage of more than 15 million health care workers by 2030, the same challenge hits lose to home. Geary County is currently designated by the federal government as a medical, dental and behavioral health provider shortage area-a challenge that is likely only to grow in the future.&nbsp; Fostering the medical career dreams of local youth is a part of meeting that challenge.&nbsp;The Medical Adventures Club is sponsored by Geary Community Hospital, Junction City High School, Cloud County Community College, and the Stan and Betty Lewis Foundation.

Konza Prairie Community Health Center hosts Medical Explorers Club

K-State entered Saturday's game with West Virginia 0-4 in the Big 12 Conference and 7-9 overall while the Mountaineers were 3-1 in the conference and 14-2 overall. But a strong first half where the Wildcats outscored West Virginia 42-25 helped lift K-State to an 84-68 win before 8,549 fans in Manhattan.

The win was the 100th for KSU Coach Bruce Weber at Bramlage Coliseum. "I didn't obviously think that we would shoot 59%, 50% from three there. I mean their defensive numbers are scary to be honest as an opponent. " Weber thought the Wildcats defended the Mountaineers well.

K-State&nbsp; ( 8-9 ) got 25 points from Cartier Diarra, 16 from Xavier Sneed and 10 from DaJuan Gordon while West Virginia ( 14-3 )&nbsp; was led by Miles McBride and Chase Harler with 11 points apiece.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins was asked if his team was shocked by the strong start by Kansas State. "If we were shocked they didn't listen to what I told them. I mean who didn't know they were going to be desperate, and who didn't know Bruce wouldn't have them ready to play. Bruce is one of the better coaches in the country.&nbsp; I mean you tell me he's not going to have them ready when they haven't won a game yet and their playing at home. We weren't ready to play. They dominated us."

Kansas State plays at Kansas Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. West Virginia hosts Texas Monday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579404062534.jpeg" alt="k-state over one.jpg" />
 <figcaption>k-state over one.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State entered Saturday's game with West Virginia 0-4 in the Big 12 Conference and 7-9 overall while the Mountaineers were 3-1 in the conference and 14-2 overall. But a strong first half where the Wildcats outscored West Virginia 42-25 helped lift K-State to an 84-68 win before 8,549 fans in Manhattan.The win was the 100th for KSU Coach Bruce Weber at Bramlage Coliseum. "I didn't obviously think that we would shoot 59%, 50% from three there. I mean their defensive numbers are scary to be honest as an opponent. " Weber thought the Wildcats defended the Mountaineers well.K-State&nbsp; ( 8-9 ) got 25 points from Cartier Diarra, 16 from Xavier Sneed and 10 from DaJuan Gordon while West Virginia ( 14-3 )&nbsp; was led by Miles McBride and Chase Harler with 11 points apiece.West Virginia coach Bob Huggins was asked if his team was shocked by the strong start by Kansas State. "If we were shocked they didn't listen to what I told them. I mean who didn't know they were going to be desperate, and who didn't know Bruce wouldn't have them ready to play. Bruce is one of the better coaches in the country.&nbsp; I mean you tell me he's not going to have them ready when they haven't won a game yet and their playing at home. We weren't ready to play. They dominated us."Kansas State plays at Kansas Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. West Virginia hosts Texas Monday night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579404082734.jpeg" alt="( L-R ) K-State players David Sloan, Cartier Diarra and DaJuan Gordon in the postgame press conference." />
 <figcaption>( L-R ) K-State players David Sloan, Cartier Diarra and DaJuan Gordon in the postgame press conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Wildcats upset 12th ranked West Virginia 

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;announced on Friday (January 17) that transfer forward&nbsp;Kaosi Ezeagu&nbsp;(Brampton, Ontario/GTA Prep/UTEP)&nbsp;has signed a scholarship agreement to join the men’s basketball team. He will have three years of eligibility once he sits out the required time as a Division I transfer.

A 6-foot-10, 245-pound transfer from UTEP, Ezeagu will enroll at K-State for the spring semester and will be able to start practicing with the team. He will have to sit out for the reminder of the 2019-20 season and the first semester of the 2020-21 season before being eligible in mid-December 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We are excited to add Kaosi to program,” said Weber. “We felt like we needed an older, experienced big guy that has played Division I basketball to help our team in 2020-21. Obviously, we have Levi (Stockard III) back as a senior and we are very excited about (incoming freshman) Davion (Bradford), but we felt like we needed more experience. It allows us to have a guy that played quite a bit as a freshman and started at UTEP. He got started in basketball late and we feel he has a lot of upside. He has good physical ability and plays really hard. On top of all of that, he is an outstanding young man. He is a really good quality student from an outstanding family.”

A 6-foot-10, 245-pound sophomore forward from Brampton, Ontario, Ezeagu played one season at UTEP for head coach&nbsp;Rodney Terry&nbsp;in 2018-19. He played in all 29 games for the Miners as a true freshman, averaging 3.2 points on a team-best 56.9 percent shooting (37-of-65) with 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 12.4 minutes per game. He led the team with 24 blocked shots and registered at least 2 blocks in eight contests with a season-high 3 against Rice on Feb. 23, 2019. Twice he scored in double figures, including 10 in his first game against UTPB on Nov. 16, 2018 and a season-best 12 against Middle Tennessee State on March 6, 2019.

Ezeagu started each of the team’s last seven games, averaging 3.9 points on 47.8 percent shooting (11-of-23) with 4.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. He nearly had a double-double in his final home game against Middle Tennessee State with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting with 9 rebounds in a season-best 29 minutes.

Ezeagu was born in the Bahamas but went to prep school in Brampton, Ontario (a suburb of Toronto), where he was rated one of the top prep players in Canada after averaging 11.4 points and 10.4 rebounds at GTA Prep at Mississauga Secondary School in 2017-18. The only player in the league to average a double-double, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the National Preparatory Association. He was also selected as the co-MVP of the Signature All-Canadian Showcase.

Ezeagu joins an acclaimed recruiting class that includes high school seniors&nbsp;Davion Bradford&nbsp;(St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville),&nbsp;Luke Kasubke&nbsp;(St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade),&nbsp;Selton Miguel&nbsp;(Orlando, Fla./West Oaks Academy)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Nijel Pack&nbsp;(Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central).

The four-man recruiting class is a consensus Top 25 class nationally by several recruiting services, ranking No. 21 by&nbsp;247Sports.com&nbsp;and No. 23 by&nbsp;Rivals.com.&nbsp;Historically speaking, it is the highest rated recruiting class under Weber and the highest collective class by K-State since recruiting rankings have been kept. All four high school players are rated among the Top 200 players nationally, while each is a member of the&nbsp;Rivals150.

All four seniors are off to good starts to their final prep seasons in 2019-20. Miguel is averaging a team-best 21.5 points for West Oaks Academy to go with 5.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Pack has Lawrence Central High School off to a 14-1 mark with a team-leading 19.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Kasubke is averaging a team-best 15.8 points for Chaminade High School to go with 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Bradford is averaging a double-double for Mehlville High School with 14.5 points on 70 percent shooting with 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

TOM GILBERT&nbsp;Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State AthleticsMen’s Basketball Contact |&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579359725458.jpeg" alt="Kaosi Ezeagu" />
 <figcaption>Kaosi Ezeagu</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;announced on Friday (January 17) that transfer forward&nbsp;Kaosi Ezeagu&nbsp;(Brampton, Ontario/GTA Prep/UTEP)&nbsp;has signed a scholarship agreement to join the men’s basketball team. He will have three years of eligibility once he sits out the required time as a Division I transfer.A 6-foot-10, 245-pound transfer from UTEP, Ezeagu will enroll at K-State for the spring semester and will be able to start practicing with the team. He will have to sit out for the reminder of the 2019-20 season and the first semester of the 2020-21 season before being eligible in mid-December 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“We are excited to add Kaosi to program,” said Weber. “We felt like we needed an older, experienced big guy that has played Division I basketball to help our team in 2020-21. Obviously, we have Levi (Stockard III) back as a senior and we are very excited about (incoming freshman) Davion (Bradford), but we felt like we needed more experience. It allows us to have a guy that played quite a bit as a freshman and started at UTEP. He got started in basketball late and we feel he has a lot of upside. He has good physical ability and plays really hard. On top of all of that, he is an outstanding young man. He is a really good quality student from an outstanding family.”A 6-foot-10, 245-pound sophomore forward from Brampton, Ontario, Ezeagu played one season at UTEP for head coach&nbsp;Rodney Terry&nbsp;in 2018-19. He played in all 29 games for the Miners as a true freshman, averaging 3.2 points on a team-best 56.9 percent shooting (37-of-65) with 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 12.4 minutes per game. He led the team with 24 blocked shots and registered at least 2 blocks in eight contests with a season-high 3 against Rice on Feb. 23, 2019. Twice he scored in double figures, including 10 in his first game against UTPB on Nov. 16, 2018 and a season-best 12 against Middle Tennessee State on March 6, 2019.Ezeagu started each of the team’s last seven games, averaging 3.9 points on 47.8 percent shooting (11-of-23) with 4.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. He nearly had a double-double in his final home game against Middle Tennessee State with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting with 9 rebounds in a season-best 29 minutes.Ezeagu was born in the Bahamas but went to prep school in Brampton, Ontario (a suburb of Toronto), where he was rated one of the top prep players in Canada after averaging 11.4 points and 10.4 rebounds at GTA Prep at Mississauga Secondary School in 2017-18. The only player in the league to average a double-double, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the National Preparatory Association. He was also selected as the co-MVP of the Signature All-Canadian Showcase.Ezeagu joins an acclaimed recruiting class that includes high school seniors&nbsp;Davion Bradford&nbsp;(St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville),&nbsp;Luke Kasubke&nbsp;(St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade),&nbsp;Selton Miguel&nbsp;(Orlando, Fla./West Oaks Academy)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Nijel Pack&nbsp;(Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central).The four-man recruiting class is a consensus Top 25 class nationally by several recruiting services, ranking No. 21 by&nbsp;247Sports.com&nbsp;and No. 23 by&nbsp;Rivals.com.&nbsp;Historically speaking, it is the highest rated recruiting class under Weber and the highest collective class by K-State since recruiting rankings have been kept. All four high school players are rated among the Top 200 players nationally, while each is a member of the&nbsp;Rivals150.All four seniors are off to good starts to their final prep seasons in 2019-20. Miguel is averaging a team-best 21.5 points for West Oaks Academy to go with 5.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. Pack has Lawrence Central High School off to a 14-1 mark with a team-leading 19.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Kasubke is averaging a team-best 15.8 points for Chaminade High School to go with 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Bradford is averaging a double-double for Mehlville High School with 14.5 points on 70 percent shooting with 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.--www.kstatesports.com--TOM GILBERT&nbsp;Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State AthleticsMen’s Basketball Contact |&nbsp;

Ezeague signs scholarship agreement to join K-State's men's basketball team

David Dayne Glass, who served as President and CEO of Walmart Inc. from 1988 to 2000 when he led the company through extraordinary growth, died January 9, according to the Glass family. He was 84.

He died of complications associated with pneumonia, according to a media release from the Glass family.

Most recently Glass was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Royals, a team he helped lead to two consecutive World Series appearances and in 2015 brought the World Championship trophy to the fans of Kansas City. Glass and his family sold the Royals late last year.

A native of Mountain View, MO, Glass served in the U.S. Army after graduating high school from 1954-56. After leaving the Army Glass earned a business degree from Southwest Missouri State University, now named Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO.

Upon graduation Glass began his retail career in 1960 with Crank Drug Company in Springfield. He left Crank in 1968 after the company was sold and worked for two other companies, including serving as General Manager of Consumer Markets in Springfield. In 1976, Glass was recruited by Walmart founder Sam Walton to become Walmart's Chief Financial Officer.

Glass was named President and CEO of Walmart in 1988 and served in that role for 12 years. During his term in that role, Glass guided the company through a period of extraordinary growth both in terms of revenues and expansion including retail acquisitions, expansions including new retail formats and significant international expansion. Specifically, under Glass' leadership, Walmart:

Glass led a team of managers who adopted new and innovative technologies to streamline operations and improve customer service. This included the development of automated distribution centers, linked by computers to Walmart headquarters, stores and suppliers, which enabled the company to expand beyond a regional retailer to become an international retail leader.

Glass was also a mentor and leader to many who are now leading successful business careers and lives of their own.

Rob Walton, former Walmart Chairman and eldest son of Sam Walton, said the following:

"When we lost my Dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles Dad founded the company on. More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed."

Added Doug McMillon, current Walmart President and CEO:

"Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business. The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful."

Glass was honored with numerous retail and business awards over the years, including being named "most admired CEO" in 1993 by Fortune Magazine, and inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

A lifelong baseball fan starting as a child when he followed the St. Louis Cardinals, Glass was appointed interim Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals in 1993 upon the death of then owner Ewing Kauffman. Glass and his family acquired the Royals in 2000 and it was at that time that he began his second career, a career in baseball, at age 64.

During his ownership of the Royals, Glass was an active member in Major League Baseball and served on key committees within the Major League organization. Glass was the Chairman of the Board of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's Executive Council and a member of MLB Enterprise and Finance Committee.

Glass was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2000, where he served as a member of the Pension and Audit Committees.

Dayton Moore, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Royals, said the following:

"Mr. Glass loved this game, this team and our city with all his heart. He cared deeply for our fans and for the future of baseball. But above all, Mr. Glass placed an emphasis on putting family first which is what he stressed to our entire organization. We are forever grateful for his humble and supportive leadership, and we are beyond blessed that we were a part of his incredible life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his very special family."

However, while the list of business and sports achievements and honors are impressive indeed, those who knew Glass best knew that his number one priority throughout his entire life was his love and commitment to his family. Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Glass and his family have been supportive of numerous charitable causes and organizations over the years including Missouri State University. In fact the Missouri State College of Business is named David D. Glass Hall in honor of his dedication to the university.

The Glass family will hold a public "Celebration of Life" in his honor on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 1 p.m. the Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church, 1051 W. Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers AR.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579297639666.png" alt="image courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>David Dayne Glass, who served as President and CEO of Walmart Inc. from 1988 to 2000 when he led the company through extraordinary growth, died January 9, according to the Glass family. He was 84.He died of complications associated with pneumonia, according to a media release from the Glass family.Most recently Glass was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Royals, a team he helped lead to two consecutive World Series appearances and in 2015 brought the World Championship trophy to the fans of Kansas City. Glass and his family sold the Royals late last year.A native of Mountain View, MO, Glass served in the U.S. Army after graduating high school from 1954-56. After leaving the Army Glass earned a business degree from Southwest Missouri State University, now named Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO.Upon graduation Glass began his retail career in 1960 with Crank Drug Company in Springfield. He left Crank in 1968 after the company was sold and worked for two other companies, including serving as General Manager of Consumer Markets in Springfield. In 1976, Glass was recruited by Walmart founder Sam Walton to become Walmart's Chief Financial Officer.Glass was named President and CEO of Walmart in 1988 and served in that role for 12 years. During his term in that role, Glass guided the company through a period of extraordinary growth both in terms of revenues and expansion including retail acquisitions, expansions including new retail formats and significant international expansion. Specifically, under Glass' leadership, Walmart:<ol>
 <li>Increased annual revenues from $16 billion in the fiscal year ending January 31, 1988, to approximately $165 billion in revenues in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2000.</li><li>Launched Walmart Supercenters and expanded Sam's Club.</li><li>Expanded international operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico and United Kingdom.</li>
 </ol>Glass led a team of managers who adopted new and innovative technologies to streamline operations and improve customer service. This included the development of automated distribution centers, linked by computers to Walmart headquarters, stores and suppliers, which enabled the company to expand beyond a regional retailer to become an international retail leader.Glass was also a mentor and leader to many who are now leading successful business careers and lives of their own.Rob Walton, former Walmart Chairman and eldest son of Sam Walton, said the following:"When we lost my Dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles Dad founded the company on. More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed."Added Doug McMillon, current Walmart President and CEO:"Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business. The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful."Glass was honored with numerous retail and business awards over the years, including being named "most admired CEO" in 1993 by Fortune Magazine, and inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.A lifelong baseball fan starting as a child when he followed the St. Louis Cardinals, Glass was appointed interim Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals in 1993 upon the death of then owner Ewing Kauffman. Glass and his family acquired the Royals in 2000 and it was at that time that he began his second career, a career in baseball, at age 64.During his ownership of the Royals, Glass was an active member in Major League Baseball and served on key committees within the Major League organization. Glass was the Chairman of the Board of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's Executive Council and a member of MLB Enterprise and Finance Committee.Glass was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2000, where he served as a member of the Pension and Audit Committees.Dayton Moore, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Royals, said the following:"Mr. Glass loved this game, this team and our city with all his heart. He cared deeply for our fans and for the future of baseball. But above all, Mr. Glass placed an emphasis on putting family first which is what he stressed to our entire organization. We are forever grateful for his humble and supportive leadership, and we are beyond blessed that we were a part of his incredible life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his very special family."However, while the list of business and sports achievements and honors are impressive indeed, those who knew Glass best knew that his number one priority throughout his entire life was his love and commitment to his family. Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.Glass and his family have been supportive of numerous charitable causes and organizations over the years including Missouri State University. In fact the Missouri State College of Business is named David D. Glass Hall in honor of his dedication to the university.The Glass family will hold a public "Celebration of Life" in his honor on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 1 p.m. the Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church, 1051 W. Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers AR.

Former owner of the Royals David Glass dies at age 84

The Fort Riley Middle School Troopers matched up against the Chapman Irish Thursday evening.

In seventh grade action the Troopers split with the B team defeating Chapman and the A team losing.

In the 8th grade games Chapman won the B team contest 21-19 and the A team game 46-23.

The Troopers will host Wamego Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579288367903.jpeg" alt="FRMS BBB.jpg" />
 <figcaption>FRMS BBB.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>The Fort Riley Middle School Troopers matched up against the Chapman Irish Thursday evening.In seventh grade action the Troopers split with the B team defeating Chapman and the A team losing.In the 8th grade games Chapman won the B team contest 21-19 and the A team game 46-23.The Troopers will host Wamego Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Troopers play Chapman in boys basketball

No. 12 West Virginia (14-2, 3-1) vs. Kansas State (7-9, 0-4)

Fred Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas; Saturday, 2 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: No. 12 West Virginia presents a tough challenge for Kansas State. Kansas State has played a ranked team only once this season and lost. West Virginia easily beat TCU by 32 in its last outing.

SUPER SENIORS: Kansas State's Cartier Diarra, Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien have combined to account for 53 percent of the team's scoring this season and have scored 60 percent of all Wildcats points over the last five games.

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS: The Mountaineers have given up only 51 points per game to conference opponents so far, an improvement from the 62 per game they gave up against non-conference foes.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR: Diarra has either made or assisted on 50 percent of all Kansas State field goals over the last five games. The senior guard has accounted for 27 field goals and 25 assists in those games.

ASSIST RATIOS: The Mountaineers have recently gotten buckets via assists more often than the Wildcats. Kansas State has 26 assists on 58 field goals (44.8 percent) across its past three outings while West Virginia has assists on 37 of 69 field goals (53.6 percent) during its past three games.

DID YOU KNOW: The West Virginia defense has allowed only 59.3 points per game to opponents, which is the ninth-lowest figure in the country. The Kansas State offense has averaged just 64.5 points through 16 games (ranked 273rd among Division I teams).

No. 12 West Virginia (14-2, 3-1) vs. Kansas State (7-9, 0-4)Fred Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: No. 12 West Virginia presents a tough challenge for Kansas State. Kansas State has played a ranked team only once this season and lost. West Virginia easily beat TCU by 32 in its last outing.SUPER SENIORS: Kansas State's Cartier Diarra, Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien have combined to account for 53 percent of the team's scoring this season and have scored 60 percent of all Wildcats points over the last five games.DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS: The Mountaineers have given up only 51 points per game to conference opponents so far, an improvement from the 62 per game they gave up against non-conference foes.KEY CONTRIBUTOR: Diarra has either made or assisted on 50 percent of all Kansas State field goals over the last five games. The senior guard has accounted for 27 field goals and 25 assists in those games.ASSIST RATIOS: The Mountaineers have recently gotten buckets via assists more often than the Wildcats. Kansas State has 26 assists on 58 field goals (44.8 percent) across its past three outings while West Virginia has assists on 37 of 69 field goals (53.6 percent) during its past three games.DID YOU KNOW: The West Virginia defense has allowed only 59.3 points per game to opponents, which is the ninth-lowest figure in the country. The Kansas State offense has averaged just 64.5 points through 16 games (ranked 273rd among Division I teams).

K-State will host West Virginia on Saturday

Blue Jay and Lady Jay bowling teams were in action for the first time this season on Wednesday during a quadrangular in Topeka.

The Lady Jay girls team finished first with Savannah Adams taking first place in the individual competition and Brooke Swango third.

The Blue Jay boys finished second in the team competition behind Washburn Rural. Logan Lindsley captured first place and Kazerick Smith third place.

Blue Jay and Lady Jay bowling teams were in action for the first time this season on Wednesday during a quadrangular in Topeka.The Lady Jay girls team finished first with Savannah Adams taking first place in the individual competition and Brooke Swango third.The Blue Jay boys finished second in the team competition behind Washburn Rural. Logan Lindsley captured first place and Kazerick Smith third place.

JCHS bowling teams open their season

By CELIA LLOPIS JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-city-and-kansas-have-nearly-200-tech-startups-hurdles-abound#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Kansas City, Missouri — Time was, a fledgling tech 
company called CivicPlus had to explain to prospective customers why it 
was based in Kansas — and not some tech-heavy coastal city.

“We 
said, ‘Hey, you get Midwest values, but with Silicon Valley quality,’ ” 
recalled Ward Morgan, owner of the government software maker based in 
the college town of Manhattan. “It did throw people off to think that 
there was a tech company in Kansas.”

Today CivicPlus, founded in the 1990s, serves 3,500 cities and counties on two continents.

Investors
 see fertile ground in Kansas and Kansas City for more tech startups to 
take root. Far more have already done so than the public might realize, 
former Google vice president Brian McClendon says, yet the region falls 
short of its potential.

“We need a lot more (of) both investment 
and employment to make this region vibrant,” he said. “Every industry is
 going to be upended by tech, and if you don’t have those tech 
companies, the industries you currently have will get replaced.”

McClendon
 and his wife — fellow Silicon Valley tech veteran and angel investor 
Beth Ellyn McClendon — unveiled this week their efforts to map out every
 tech startup in Kansas and Kansas City in hopes of making the sector 
more visible to prospective investors and tech workers.

The Lawrence residents found <a href="https://freestateforge.com/map" target="_blank">nearly 200 tech startups</a>,
 and hundreds more players with longer histories. Think Cerner and 
Garmin, two of the region’s biggest tech companies that employ thousands
 of employees each and were founded in the '70s and '80s.

The bulk of startups — more than three-fourths — sit  in the Kansas City area. Farther west, clusters have sprung up in Wichita and Lawrence. Beyond that, things get pretty sparse.

The McClendons identified nearly 30 tech startups in Lawrence, 
population 97,000, and none in Topeka, population 125,000. (Local media 
in the state capital have reported, however, <a href="https://tkmagazine.com/blog/2019/8/8/topeka-selected-as-animal-healthag-tech-startup-accelerator-location-for-global-innovation-platform" target="_blank">plans for a startup accelerator</a>
 focused on animal and agricultural science. The area stretching from 
Kansas State University and Manhattan through Kansas City to the 
University of Missouri in Columbia is often referred to as the animal 
health corridor because of the researchers and businesses concentrated 
there.)

Kansas City venture capital firm Flyover Capital backs 
tech startups across a large swath of the country outside the handful of
 East and West Coast states that get the most attention from big-time 
investors.

“We’re seeing the tech ecosystem start to really ramp 
up in Kansas City,” Flyover Capital principal Dan Kerr said. “We looked 
at more deals in 2019 than any other year — so, more people reaching out
 to us. … Demand for capital in flyover country is very real.”

The
 center of the country offers cheaper operating costs, investors say, 
and attractive housing prices and schools. And accelerators and other 
supports have landed on the scene to help out.

The region suffers, though, from a shortage of computer programmers and other tech-savvy types.

<a href="https://code.org/promote/ks" target="_blank">Kansas pumped out</a> fewer than 450 computer science bachelor’s degrees in 2017. Advocates who argue that’s not enough <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/can-kansas-schools-teach-computer-coding-without-eating-time-math-and-science#stream/0" target="_blank">have pushed for more programming courses</a>
 at the high school level. The Kansas State Board of Education is 
considering a proposal this month to let coding classes count toward 
high school graduation — something that most other states already do.

Tech
 startups in Kansas and Kansas City can struggle, too, to find their way
 to the right investors interested in their niche, said Darcy Howe, an 
angel investor who founded the KCRise Fund that focuses on startups in 
Kansas and west Missouri.

And only the startups with the fastest 
growth, she said, can hope to attract investment from venture capital 
firms willing to take risks.

“I’d say we need more capital for 
the really, really early ones,” she said, “to keep them alive and get 
them in the right direction.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celialj_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579118089206.jpeg" alt="Olathe students learn computer programming in a high school class last spring. Tech companies employ tens of thousands of people in the region, but advocates see room for growth. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Olathe students learn computer programming in a high school class last spring. Tech companies employ tens of thousands of people in the region, but advocates see room for growth. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-city-and-kansas-have-nearly-200-tech-startups-hurdles-abound#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Kansas City, Missouri — Time was, a fledgling tech 
company called CivicPlus had to explain to prospective customers why it 
was based in Kansas — and not some tech-heavy coastal city.“We 
said, ‘Hey, you get Midwest values, but with Silicon Valley quality,’ ” 
recalled Ward Morgan, owner of the government software maker based in 
the college town of Manhattan. “It did throw people off to think that 
there was a tech company in Kansas.”Today CivicPlus, founded in the 1990s, serves 3,500 cities and counties on two continents.Investors
 see fertile ground in Kansas and Kansas City for more tech startups to 
take root. Far more have already done so than the public might realize, 
former Google vice president Brian McClendon says, yet the region falls 
short of its potential.“We need a lot more (of) both investment 
and employment to make this region vibrant,” he said. “Every industry is
 going to be upended by tech, and if you don’t have those tech 
companies, the industries you currently have will get replaced.”McClendon
 and his wife — fellow Silicon Valley tech veteran and angel investor 
Beth Ellyn McClendon — unveiled this week their efforts to map out every
 tech startup in Kansas and Kansas City in hopes of making the sector 
more visible to prospective investors and tech workers.The Lawrence residents found <a href="https://freestateforge.com/map" target="_blank">nearly 200 tech startups</a>,
 and hundreds more players with longer histories. Think Cerner and 
Garmin, two of the region’s biggest tech companies that employ thousands
 of employees each and were founded in the '70s and '80s.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579117965011.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The bulk of startups — more than three-fourths — sit in the Kansas City area. Farther west, clusters have sprung up in Wichita and Lawrence. Beyond that, things get pretty sparse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579117999474.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The McClendons identified nearly 30 tech startups in Lawrence, 
population 97,000, and none in Topeka, population 125,000. (Local media 
in the state capital have reported, however, <a href="https://tkmagazine.com/blog/2019/8/8/topeka-selected-as-animal-healthag-tech-startup-accelerator-location-for-global-innovation-platform" target="_blank">plans for a startup accelerator</a>
 focused on animal and agricultural science. The area stretching from 
Kansas State University and Manhattan through Kansas City to the 
University of Missouri in Columbia is often referred to as the animal 
health corridor because of the researchers and businesses concentrated 
there.)Kansas City venture capital firm Flyover Capital backs 
tech startups across a large swath of the country outside the handful of
 East and West Coast states that get the most attention from big-time 
investors.“We’re seeing the tech ecosystem start to really ramp 
up in Kansas City,” Flyover Capital principal Dan Kerr said. “We looked 
at more deals in 2019 than any other year — so, more people reaching out
 to us. … Demand for capital in flyover country is very real.”The
 center of the country offers cheaper operating costs, investors say, 
and attractive housing prices and schools. And accelerators and other 
supports have landed on the scene to help out.The region suffers, though, from a shortage of computer programmers and other tech-savvy types.<a href="https://code.org/promote/ks" target="_blank">Kansas pumped out</a> fewer than 450 computer science bachelor’s degrees in 2017. Advocates who argue that’s not enough <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/can-kansas-schools-teach-computer-coding-without-eating-time-math-and-science#stream/0" target="_blank">have pushed for more programming courses</a>
 at the high school level. The Kansas State Board of Education is 
considering a proposal this month to let coding classes count toward 
high school graduation — something that most other states already do.Tech
 startups in Kansas and Kansas City can struggle, too, to find their way
 to the right investors interested in their niche, said Darcy Howe, an 
angel investor who founded the KCRise Fund that focuses on startups in 
Kansas and west Missouri.And only the startups with the fastest 
growth, she said, can hope to attract investment from venture capital 
firms willing to take risks.“I’d say we need more capital for 
the really, really early ones,” she said, “to keep them alive and get 
them in the right direction.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celialj_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

KC and Kansas have nearly 200 tech startups, but hurdles abound 

WASHINGTON (AP) —In a bid to solidify his evangelical base, President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to protect prayer in public schools and took new steps to give religious organizations easier access to federal programs.&nbsp; Read the full <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-safeguarding-right-religious-freedom-students-organizations/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=wh">statement here.</a>

Speaking at an Oval Office event and joined by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Trump unveiled the federal government’s first updated guidance on school prayer since 2003. It details scenarios in which school officials must permit prayer and clarifies the consequences if they don’t, but overall it makes few major changes to the guidance it replaces.

“We will not let anyone push God from the public square,” Trump said as he introduced the new rules. “We will uphold religious liberty for all.”

Hours before the event, nine Cabinet departments proposed separate rules intended to remove barriers for religious organizations participating in federal programs. Chief among the changes is the elimination of a rule requiring religious groups to refer clients to alternative organizations upon request.

The proposals follow through on an executive order Trump signed in 2018 aiming to put religious groups on equal footing when they compete for federal grants, contracts and other types of funding.

Trump’s announcements amount to a significant show of support for an evangelical constituency that has long been a vital part of his base. He has given them greater attention in recent weeks following a Christian magazine’s call for his removal from office.

By rallying around school prayer, Trump is rekindling a debate that reached a crescendo in the 1980s and ’90s but has fallen to the periphery of national politics. Trump argued that it needs new attention as schools increasingly go too far in restricting prayer.

“You have things happening today that 10 or 15 years ago would have been unthinkable,” he said in response to a question about his views on culture war. “Taking the word God down, taking the word Christmas out. I think we’ve turned that one around very good. I think we’ve turned both of them around very good.”

Public schools have been barred from leading students in classroom prayer since 1962, when the Supreme Court said it violated a First Amendment clause forbidding the establishment of a government religion. Later decisions placed restrictions around prayer at graduation ceremonies and athletic events.

Civil liberties groups say the firewall protects religious minorities and ensures equal treatment of all faiths. But many on the Christian right say courts and schools have swung too far against prayer and now interfere with the right to free religious expression.

Michael Farris, CEO and general counsel of the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, called Trump’s new school prayer guidance a “welcome step to remedy these attacks on people of faith.”

“Students across our country still find their First Amendment freedoms under attack the moment they set foot on their public school campus, even denied the freedom to pray together during free times,” Farris said in a statement.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Trump’s new guidance is “nearly identical” to the 2003 rules and reaffirms that teachers and school officials are barred from imposing religious beliefs on students.

“Importantly, the question, as always, is whether public school officials will heed this warning. If they don’t, we’ll be there, as always, to correct them — and if necessary, we’ll see them in court,” said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

The directive says students are allowed to pray alone or in groups during lunch and other free time. It says student speaking at assemblies can pray as long as they were selected to speak through a process that’s based on “content-neutral, evenhanded criteria.”

It also orders states to verify that school districts have no policies limiting constitutionally protected prayer, and to refer violators to the Education Department. That’s much like the 2003 guidance, but the new directive goes further by requiring states to provide ways for filing complaints against schools.

Trump first hinted at a new policy on school prayer while speaking at a Jan. 3 rally at a Miami megachurch. He promised “big action,” and declared support for a Tennessee school district that’s being sued by the ACLU over allegations that it encourages students to prayer during assemblies and sports events.

At the Oval Office event, Trump brought forward several students from around the country who said they had been barred from constitutional prayer or otherwise mistreated because of their faith.

Trump’s other regulatory updates drew criticism from some groups that said the changes risked empowering discriminatory behavior in the name of religious freedom.

“These rules undermine the civil rights and religious freedom of millions of our most vulnerable Americans who rely on social services — with particularly dire consequences for LGBTQ people and religious minorities,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

But Johnnie Moore, evangelical adviser to the administration, lauded the moves as a fresh sign of Trump’s commitment to religious freedom.

“The White House isn’t saying whether one should pray or to whom or what they should pray to,” Moore said by email. He added that “they are simply making it clear that in the United States students have First Amendment rights also, and our `separation of church and state’ wasn’t intended to suppress a vibrant religious life in America but to facilitate it.”

About 8 in 10 self-identified white evangelical Protestants approved of Trump’s performance, according to AP-NORC polling last month. But the president has nonetheless redoubled efforts to shore up his connection to the bloc since the magazine Christianity Today called for his removal from office.

Also Thursday, the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a memo that agencies must work to ensure that grant-making by entities that receive federal money, as well as their own grant-making, is in line with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment.

Trump’s 2018 executive order created the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative, a successor to previous White House faith-based initiatives. Leading the effort now is longtime Trump faith adviser and pastor Paula White. Her appointment in November drew opposition from religious progressives who object to White’s association with the “prosperity gospel,” an assertion that God rewards believers with personal and financial success.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579406042087.png" alt="President Trump during Friday's Oval Office event photo courtesy Sen. Josh Hawley" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during Friday's Oval Office event photo courtesy Sen. Josh Hawley</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —In a bid to solidify his evangelical base, President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to protect prayer in public schools and took new steps to give religious organizations easier access to federal programs.&nbsp; Read the full <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-safeguarding-right-religious-freedom-students-organizations/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=wh">statement here.</a>Speaking at an Oval Office event and joined by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Trump unveiled the federal government’s first updated guidance on school prayer since 2003. It details scenarios in which school officials must permit prayer and clarifies the consequences if they don’t, but overall it makes few major changes to the guidance it replaces.“We will not let anyone push God from the public square,” Trump said as he introduced the new rules. “We will uphold religious liberty for all.”Hours before the event, nine Cabinet departments proposed separate rules intended to remove barriers for religious organizations participating in federal programs. Chief among the changes is the elimination of a rule requiring religious groups to refer clients to alternative organizations upon request.The proposals follow through on an executive order Trump signed in 2018 aiming to put religious groups on equal footing when they compete for federal grants, contracts and other types of funding.Trump’s announcements amount to a significant show of support for an evangelical constituency that has long been a vital part of his base. He has given them greater attention in recent weeks following a Christian magazine’s call for his removal from office.By rallying around school prayer, Trump is rekindling a debate that reached a crescendo in the 1980s and ’90s but has fallen to the periphery of national politics. Trump argued that it needs new attention as schools increasingly go too far in restricting prayer.“You have things happening today that 10 or 15 years ago would have been unthinkable,” he said in response to a question about his views on culture war. “Taking the word God down, taking the word Christmas out. I think we’ve turned that one around very good. I think we’ve turned both of them around very good.”Public schools have been barred from leading students in classroom prayer since 1962, when the Supreme Court said it violated a First Amendment clause forbidding the establishment of a government religion. Later decisions placed restrictions around prayer at graduation ceremonies and athletic events.Civil liberties groups say the firewall protects religious minorities and ensures equal treatment of all faiths. But many on the Christian right say courts and schools have swung too far against prayer and now interfere with the right to free religious expression.Michael Farris, CEO and general counsel of the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, called Trump’s new school prayer guidance a “welcome step to remedy these attacks on people of faith.”“Students across our country still find their First Amendment freedoms under attack the moment they set foot on their public school campus, even denied the freedom to pray together during free times,” Farris said in a statement.The American Civil Liberties Union said Trump’s new guidance is “nearly identical” to the 2003 rules and reaffirms that teachers and school officials are barred from imposing religious beliefs on students.“Importantly, the question, as always, is whether public school officials will heed this warning. If they don’t, we’ll be there, as always, to correct them — and if necessary, we’ll see them in court,” said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.The directive says students are allowed to pray alone or in groups during lunch and other free time. It says student speaking at assemblies can pray as long as they were selected to speak through a process that’s based on “content-neutral, evenhanded criteria.”It also orders states to verify that school districts have no policies limiting constitutionally protected prayer, and to refer violators to the Education Department. That’s much like the 2003 guidance, but the new directive goes further by requiring states to provide ways for filing complaints against schools.Trump first hinted at a new policy on school prayer while speaking at a Jan. 3 rally at a Miami megachurch. He promised “big action,” and declared support for a Tennessee school district that’s being sued by the ACLU over allegations that it encourages students to prayer during assemblies and sports events.At the Oval Office event, Trump brought forward several students from around the country who said they had been barred from constitutional prayer or otherwise mistreated because of their faith.Trump’s other regulatory updates drew criticism from some groups that said the changes risked empowering discriminatory behavior in the name of religious freedom.“These rules undermine the civil rights and religious freedom of millions of our most vulnerable Americans who rely on social services — with particularly dire consequences for LGBTQ people and religious minorities,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.But Johnnie Moore, evangelical adviser to the administration, lauded the moves as a fresh sign of Trump’s commitment to religious freedom.“The White House isn’t saying whether one should pray or to whom or what they should pray to,” Moore said by email. He added that “they are simply making it clear that in the United States students have First Amendment rights also, and our `separation of church and state’ wasn’t intended to suppress a vibrant religious life in America but to facilitate it.”About 8 in 10 self-identified white evangelical Protestants approved of Trump’s performance, according to AP-NORC polling last month. But the president has nonetheless redoubled efforts to shore up his connection to the bloc since the magazine Christianity Today called for his removal from office.Also Thursday, the White House Office of Management and Budget said in a memo that agencies must work to ensure that grant-making by entities that receive federal money, as well as their own grant-making, is in line with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment.Trump’s 2018 executive order created the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative, a successor to previous White House faith-based initiatives. Leading the effort now is longtime Trump faith adviser and pastor Paula White. Her appointment in November drew opposition from religious progressives who object to White’s association with the “prosperity gospel,” an assertion that God rewards believers with personal and financial success.The nonprofit Freedom from Religion Foundation, a prominent secular group, views the proposed regulations for faith-based groups as “a very bad move,” co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said by email. Gaylor said most of the proposals “appear to cover no real new ground,” but added, “How he portrays the rules may be very different from the reality.”She spoke of a “missed opportunity” by the administration to provide “guidance about not crossing the line” to schools and teachers on requiring students to engage in activities with a religious component, regardless of potential personal objections.

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