Centered in the heart of downtown Salina, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company announce an expansion and renovation to their Santa Fe locations. 

Construction improvements within the surrounding blocks over recent years have brought new life to the historic downtown district. In alignment with the vision for Salina’s growth, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company have chosen to inject renewed energy into their prime locations.

The downtown Salina location has been the headquarters of First Bank Kansas since 1961 and, needless to say, a lot has changed. Downtowns used to be primary business centers for local communities where all your business needs and shopping were within walking distance. You rarely needed to leave downtown. Over the years, many of these services have migrated away into other parts of the city. First Bank Kansas would like to see these patterns reversed.

“We are committed to Salina and the region,” said Kent Buer, President, and CEO of First Bank Kansas. “Downtown is the heart of Salina, and we are proud to be a part of the impressive changes that continue to take place which solidify Salina as a major trade center and destination.”

First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company have both experienced tremendous growth over the years, which bank leadership has attributed to being about the people. “We are relationship-focused,” said Buer. “This focus not only applies to our customers that trust us with their finances, but also with our staff. Everyone has a choice on where they bank or where they work. We are committed to delivering an exceptional experience, both internally and externally.”

In response to this growth and success, both organizations need to expand. “We have spent the past decade knowing the need for expansion was coming,” said Andrew Manley, Chief Financial Officer of First Bank Kansas, who is also overseeing the construction projects. “We could not continue to provide exceptional experience, both internally and externally, under our current footprint. Properties across Salina were considered, but we kept coming back to downtown. We didn’t want to leave downtown.”

In 2020, First Bank Kansas acquired 217 S Santa Fe Ave, a structure that was previously used by Salina Regional Health Center. “This location was ideal as it was the perfect location at the perfect time,” Manley says. This location is currently under renovation and will be utilized as First Bank Kansas’ Operations Center. The expansion and remodeling projects will allow the bank to elevate experiences for both its customers and employees.

In 2021, First Bank Kansas was recognized by Forbes as America’s Best-In-State Banks, ranking number one in Kansas. Not only was First Bank Kansas the top scoring bank in Kansas, but it was the top-scoring bank in America.

“Our team embraces our culture and continually strives to deliver exceptional experiences to our customers and to each other,” Buer stated. “We are heavily involved in our communities and work to enhance the quality of life in this region. We are extremely thankful for our loyal customers who appreciate our personalized style of doing business and see us as friends and trusted advisors.”

At the same time, Advantage Trust Company was seeing similar success and growth as well. Celebrating 25 years of business this year, Advantage Trust Company provides an array of trust and financial services for the region.

“Advantage Trust Company is humbled and thankful for our many supporters and loyal clients,” said Brian Boyer, President, and CEO of Advantage Trust Company. “We strive to deliver a highly personalized level of service; one our clients deserve and have grown to expect. In order to maintain this level of service, we simply needed to expand.”

The renovation and expansion at both organizations is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2023. In a world of digital services and mega-banks, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company are headed down a different path.

“We believe in people. We believe in a personalized level of service that happens in person. It is unfortunate to see where our industry, or any industry for that matter, is headed. Mega-banks have all but pulled out of smaller communities and only see value in larger markets, like Kansas City or Wichita, relying only on their digital presence and overseas call-centers. It is frankly sad,” said Manley. “First Bank Kansas knows our customers want to work with someone they know and trust. This project solidifies our intention to deliver an exceptional experience in an environment our customers expect for years to come.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650204457057.png" alt="A rendering of the new look for First Bank Kansas in downtown Salina. Renderings courtesy First Bank Kansas" />
 <figcaption>A rendering of the new look for First Bank Kansas in downtown Salina. Renderings courtesy First Bank Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>First Bank KansasCentered in the heart of downtown Salina, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company announce an expansion and renovation to their Santa Fe locations. Construction improvements within the surrounding blocks over recent years have brought new life to the historic downtown district. In alignment with the vision for Salina’s growth, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company have chosen to inject renewed energy into their prime locations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650204722776.png" alt="The new look for the Advantage Trust location in downtown Salina." />
 <figcaption>The new look for the Advantage Trust location in downtown Salina.</figcaption>
 </figure>Joining the downtown feelThe downtown Salina location has been the headquarters of First Bank Kansas since 1961 and, needless to say, a lot has changed. Downtowns used to be primary business centers for local communities where all your business needs and shopping were within walking distance. You rarely needed to leave downtown. Over the years, many of these services have migrated away into other parts of the city. First Bank Kansas would like to see these patterns reversed.“We are committed to Salina and the region,” said Kent Buer, President, and CEO of First Bank Kansas. “Downtown is the heart of Salina, and we are proud to be a part of the impressive changes that continue to take place which solidify Salina as a major trade center and destination.”Continued growthFirst Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company have both experienced tremendous growth over the years, which bank leadership has attributed to being about the people. “We are relationship-focused,” said Buer. “This focus not only applies to our customers that trust us with their finances, but also with our staff. Everyone has a choice on where they bank or where they work. We are committed to delivering an exceptional experience, both internally and externally.”In response to this growth and success, both organizations need to expand. “We have spent the past decade knowing the need for expansion was coming,” said Andrew Manley, Chief Financial Officer of First Bank Kansas, who is also overseeing the construction projects. “We could not continue to provide exceptional experience, both internally and externally, under our current footprint. Properties across Salina were considered, but we kept coming back to downtown. We didn’t want to leave downtown.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650204918051.png" alt="The new look for the First Bank Kansas expansion to 217 S. Santa Fe in downtown Salina." />
 <figcaption>The new look for the First Bank Kansas expansion to 217 S. Santa Fe in downtown Salina.</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2020, First Bank Kansas acquired 217 S Santa Fe Ave, a structure that was previously used by Salina Regional Health Center. “This location was ideal as it was the perfect location at the perfect time,” Manley says. This location is currently under renovation and will be utilized as First Bank Kansas’ Operations Center. The expansion and remodeling projects will allow the bank to elevate experiences for both its customers and employees.Proven successIn 2021, First Bank Kansas was recognized by Forbes as America’s Best-In-State Banks, ranking number one in Kansas. Not only was First Bank Kansas the top scoring bank in Kansas, but it was the top-scoring bank in America.“Our team embraces our culture and continually strives to deliver exceptional experiences to our customers and to each other,” Buer stated. “We are heavily involved in our communities and work to enhance the quality of life in this region. We are extremely thankful for our loyal customers who appreciate our personalized style of doing business and see us as friends and trusted advisors.”Expanding trustAt the same time, Advantage Trust Company was seeing similar success and growth as well. Celebrating 25 years of business this year, Advantage Trust Company provides an array of trust and financial services for the region.“Advantage Trust Company is humbled and thankful for our many supporters and loyal clients,” said Brian Boyer, President, and CEO of Advantage Trust Company. “We strive to deliver a highly personalized level of service; one our clients deserve and have grown to expect. In order to maintain this level of service, we simply needed to expand.”Looking to the futureThe renovation and expansion at both organizations is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2023. In a world of digital services and mega-banks, First Bank Kansas and Advantage Trust Company are headed down a different path.“We believe in people. We believe in a personalized level of service that happens in person. It is unfortunate to see where our industry, or any industry for that matter, is headed. Mega-banks have all but pulled out of smaller communities and only see value in larger markets, like Kansas City or Wichita, relying only on their digital presence and overseas call-centers. It is frankly sad,” said Manley. “First Bank Kansas knows our customers want to work with someone they know and trust. This project solidifies our intention to deliver an exceptional experience in an environment our customers expect for years to come.”

First Bank Kansas, Advantage Trust getting new look downtown

Alumni, family and the Salina community will be welcomed to Kansas Wesleyan later this week when the university hosts Spring Alumni, Family &amp; Community Weekend Thursday through April 24. 

KWU revealed the final schedule recently.

The event kicks off&nbsp; Thursday as the Student Exhibition and Senior Showcase continues in The Gallery. Later that day, KWU will host a reception in the north lobby of Sams Hall of Fine Arts, preceding opening night of the musical Sugar, which is based on the movie Some Like It Hot. Other showings will be Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and April 24 (2 p.m.)

Friday’s events include a campus picnic on Bevan Green, which will begin at 11 a.m. The 7x7x7 lecture series will follow at 1 p.m. in Peters Science Hall 201 and will include words from Mike Hoppock (Salina city commissioner), Jane Anderson (Friends of the River Foundation) and others. A handful of some of KWU’s elite students, the Best of KWU, will deliver presentations at the event bearing that title. Best of KWU will begin at 5 p.m. with a reception in Vanier Lobby (Peters Science Hall), and the presentations will get underway at 5:30 p.m. in Peters Science Hall 201.

Saturday will bring a prayer brunch, led by Campus Pastor Nick Talbott and Campus Minister Scott Jagodzinske, to the Student Activities Center at 10:30 a.m. Athletics will highlight much of the rest of the day, with softball, tennis and the spring football game all set to take place. The evening will wrap up with the inaugural Scholarship Gala at the Hilton Garden Inn.

A handful of events conclude the weekend Sunday, including a church service featuring the KWU Philharmonic Choir and the final performance of&nbsp; Sugar.

To view the weekend’s schedule in its entirety and to purchase tickets for many of the events, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/springweekend" target="_blank">www.kwu.edu/springweekend</a>.&nbsp;

KWUAlumni, family and the Salina community will be welcomed to Kansas Wesleyan later this week when the university hosts Spring Alumni, Family &amp; Community Weekend Thursday through April 24. KWU revealed the final schedule recently.The event kicks off&nbsp; Thursday as the Student Exhibition and Senior Showcase continues in The Gallery. Later that day, KWU will host a reception in the north lobby of Sams Hall of Fine Arts, preceding opening night of the musical Sugar, which is based on the movie Some Like It Hot. Other showings will be Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and April 24 (2 p.m.)Friday’s events include a campus picnic on Bevan Green, which will begin at 11 a.m. The 7x7x7 lecture series will follow at 1 p.m. in Peters Science Hall 201 and will include words from Mike Hoppock (Salina city commissioner), Jane Anderson (Friends of the River Foundation) and others. A handful of some of KWU’s elite students, the Best of KWU, will deliver presentations at the event bearing that title. Best of KWU will begin at 5 p.m. with a reception in Vanier Lobby (Peters Science Hall), and the presentations will get underway at 5:30 p.m. in Peters Science Hall 201.Saturday will bring a prayer brunch, led by Campus Pastor Nick Talbott and Campus Minister Scott Jagodzinske, to the Student Activities Center at 10:30 a.m. Athletics will highlight much of the rest of the day, with softball, tennis and the spring football game all set to take place. The evening will wrap up with the inaugural Scholarship Gala at the Hilton Garden Inn.A handful of events conclude the weekend Sunday, including a church service featuring the KWU Philharmonic Choir and the final performance of&nbsp; Sugar.To view the weekend’s schedule in its entirety and to purchase tickets for many of the events, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/springweekend" target="_blank">www.kwu.edu/springweekend</a>.&nbsp;

KWU: Spring Alumni, Family & Community Weekend set

Today is Sunday, April 17, the 107th day of 2022. There are 258 days left in the year.

On April 17, 1961, some 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in an attempt to topple Fidel Castro, whose forces crushed the incursion by the third day.

In 1521, Martin Luther went before the Diet of Worms to face charges stemming from his religious writings. (Luther was later declared an outlaw by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.)

In 1961, "The Apartment" won the Academy Award for best picture of 1960; Burt Lancaster was named best actor for "Elmer Gantry," while the best actress award went to Elizabeth Taylor for "Butterfield 8."

In 1964, Ford Motor Co. unveiled the Mustang at the New York World's Fair.

In 1969, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

In 1970, Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft while en route to the moon.

In 1972, the Boston Marathon allowed women to compete for the first time; Nina Kuscsik was the first officially recognized women's champion, with a time of 3:10:26.

In 1973, Federal Express (later FedEx) began operations as 14 planes carrying 186 packages took off from Memphis International Airport, bound for 25 U.S. cities.

In 1975, Cambodia's five-year war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted brutal, radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives until the regime was overthrown in 1979.

In 1986, at London's Heathrow Airport, a bomb was discovered in the bag of Anne-Marie Murphy, a pregnant Irishwoman about to board an El Al jetliner to Israel; she'd been tricked into carrying the bomb by her Jordanian fiance, Nezar Hindawi. The bodies of kidnapped American Peter Kilburn and Britons Philip Padfield and Leigh Douglas were found near Beirut; they had been slain in apparent retaliation for the U.S. raid on Libya.

In 1991, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 3,000 for the first time, ending the day at 3,004.46, up 17.58.

In 1993, a federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King; two other officers were acquitted. Turkish President Turgut Ozal died at age 66.

In 2020, President Donald Trump urged supporters to "LIBERATE" three states led by Democratic governors, apparently encouraging protests against stay-at-home mandates aimed at stopping the coronavirus. Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee accused Trump of "fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies."

Ten years ago: Riding on the back of a 747 jet, retired space shuttle Discovery traveled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Chantilly, Virginia, to be installed in its new home: the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum annex near Washington Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. Jamie Moyer, at age 49, became the oldest pitcher ever to win a major league contest as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 5-3.

Five years ago: Opening his first White House Easter Egg Roll, President Donald Trump extolled the strength of America as thousands of kids, and some adults, reveled in the time-honored tradition of rolling hard-boiled eggs across the manicured lawn. Kenyans ruled the Boston Marathon, with Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat winning the race in their debuts.

One year ago: The global death toll from the coronavirus topped 3 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University, amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India, and France. Britain's Prince Philip was laid to rest in a funeral ceremony at Windsor Castle that honored his lifetime of service; his wife of 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II, sat alone at the ceremony, setting an example amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Today's Birthdays: Actor David Bradley is 80. Composer-musician Jan Hammer is 74. Actor Olivia Hussey is 71. Actor Clarke Peters is 70. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 65. Actor Sean Bean is 63. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is 61. Actor Joel Murray is 60. Rock singer Maynard James Keenan is 58. Actor Lela Rochon is 58. Actor William Mapother is 57. Actor Leslie Bega is 55. Actor Henry Ian Cusick is 55. Actor Kimberly Elise is 55. Singer Liz Phair is 55. Director/producer Adam McKay is 54. Rapper-actor Redman is 52. Actor Jennifer Garner is 50. Singer Victoria Beckham is 48. Actor-singer Lindsay Korman is 44. Actor Tate Ellington is 43. Actor Nicholas D'Agosto is 42. Actor Charlie Hofheimer is 41. Actor Rooney Mara is 37. Actor Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is 35. Actor Paulie Litt is 27. Actor Dee Dee Davis is 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, April 17, the 107th day of 2022. There are 258 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 17, 1961, some 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in an attempt to topple Fidel Castro, whose forces crushed the incursion by the third day.On this date:In 1521, Martin Luther went before the Diet of Worms to face charges stemming from his religious writings. (Luther was later declared an outlaw by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.)In 1961, "The Apartment" won the Academy Award for best picture of 1960; Burt Lancaster was named best actor for "Elmer Gantry," while the best actress award went to Elizabeth Taylor for "Butterfield 8."In 1964, Ford Motor Co. unveiled the Mustang at the New York World's Fair.In 1969, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.In 1970, Apollo 13 astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft while en route to the moon.In 1972, the Boston Marathon allowed women to compete for the first time; Nina Kuscsik was the first officially recognized women's champion, with a time of 3:10:26.In 1973, Federal Express (later FedEx) began operations as 14 planes carrying 186 packages took off from Memphis International Airport, bound for 25 U.S. cities.In 1975, Cambodia's five-year war ended as the capital Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, which instituted brutal, radical policies that claimed an estimated 1.7 million lives until the regime was overthrown in 1979.In 1986, at London's Heathrow Airport, a bomb was discovered in the bag of Anne-Marie Murphy, a pregnant Irishwoman about to board an El Al jetliner to Israel; she'd been tricked into carrying the bomb by her Jordanian fiance, Nezar Hindawi. The bodies of kidnapped American Peter Kilburn and Britons Philip Padfield and Leigh Douglas were found near Beirut; they had been slain in apparent retaliation for the U.S. raid on Libya.In 1991, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 3,000 for the first time, ending the day at 3,004.46, up 17.58.In 1993, a federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King; two other officers were acquitted. Turkish President Turgut Ozal died at age 66.In 2020, President Donald Trump urged supporters to "LIBERATE" three states led by Democratic governors, apparently encouraging protests against stay-at-home mandates aimed at stopping the coronavirus. Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee accused Trump of "fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies."Ten years ago: Riding on the back of a 747 jet, retired space shuttle Discovery traveled from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Chantilly, Virginia, to be installed in its new home: the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum annex near Washington Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia. Jamie Moyer, at age 49, became the oldest pitcher ever to win a major league contest as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 5-3.Five years ago: Opening his first White House Easter Egg Roll, President Donald Trump extolled the strength of America as thousands of kids, and some adults, reveled in the time-honored tradition of rolling hard-boiled eggs across the manicured lawn. Kenyans ruled the Boston Marathon, with Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat winning the race in their debuts.One year ago: The global death toll from the coronavirus topped 3 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University, amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India, and France. Britain's Prince Philip was laid to rest in a funeral ceremony at Windsor Castle that honored his lifetime of service; his wife of 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II, sat alone at the ceremony, setting an example amid the coronavirus pandemic.Today's Birthdays: Actor David Bradley is 80. Composer-musician Jan Hammer is 74. Actor Olivia Hussey is 71. Actor Clarke Peters is 70. Rapper Afrika Bambaataa is 65. Actor Sean Bean is 63. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason is 61. Actor Joel Murray is 60. Rock singer Maynard James Keenan is 58. Actor Lela Rochon is 58. Actor William Mapother is 57. Actor Leslie Bega is 55. Actor Henry Ian Cusick is 55. Actor Kimberly Elise is 55. Singer Liz Phair is 55. Director/producer Adam McKay is 54. Rapper-actor Redman is 52. Actor Jennifer Garner is 50. Singer Victoria Beckham is 48. Actor-singer Lindsay Korman is 44. Actor Tate Ellington is 43. Actor Nicholas D'Agosto is 42. Actor Charlie Hofheimer is 41. Actor Rooney Mara is 37. Actor Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is 35. Actor Paulie Litt is 27. Actor Dee Dee Davis is 26.

Today in History - April 17

On Monday, Circle C Construction will seal cracks on the City Museum parking lot and Faith Drive, weather permitting.

The work will take place generally between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access to properties within work zones will be maintained at all times. “Road Work Ahead” signs will be placed in advance of work zones, and temporary single-lane closures are to be expected. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution when approaching work zones for the safety of the crews performing the work.

The annual crack and joint sealing program is an important and cost-effective preventive maintenance component of the City of Salina’s annual street repair program. Crack sealing the pavement helps prevent water from penetrating into the pavement structure or sub-base material and aids in reducing a number of pavement problems which include: crack spreading; formation of voids under pavement; swelling and shrinking of sub-base materials; freeze-thaw action; alligator cracking; potholing; and complete failure. Because of its importance and cost- effectiveness, the Department of Public Works strives to seal each asphalt street in Salina no less often than every seven years.

This $288,000 project consists of sealing pavement cracks for approximately 23.5 centerline miles (about 200 city blocks) and blowing out (cleaning) the expansion joints and deck drains at eight bridges around town. This work is part of the city's $4.7 million 2022 street maintenance program.

City of SalinaOn Monday, Circle C Construction will seal cracks on the City Museum parking lot and Faith Drive, weather permitting.The work will take place generally between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access to properties within work zones will be maintained at all times. “Road Work Ahead” signs will be placed in advance of work zones, and temporary single-lane closures are to be expected. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution when approaching work zones for the safety of the crews performing the work.The annual crack and joint sealing program is an important and cost-effective preventive maintenance component of the City of Salina’s annual street repair program. Crack sealing the pavement helps prevent water from penetrating into the pavement structure or sub-base material and aids in reducing a number of pavement problems which include: crack spreading; formation of voids under pavement; swelling and shrinking of sub-base materials; freeze-thaw action; alligator cracking; potholing; and complete failure. Because of its importance and cost- effectiveness, the Department of Public Works strives to seal each asphalt street in Salina no less often than every seven years.This $288,000 project consists of sealing pavement cracks for approximately 23.5 centerline miles (about 200 city blocks) and blowing out (cleaning) the expansion joints and deck drains at eight bridges around town. This work is part of the city's $4.7 million 2022 street maintenance program.

City of Salina announces crack sealing work

The Salina Public Library will be closed Sunday. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary/">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

The Salina Public Library will be closed Sunday. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary/">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsalinapubliclibrary%2Fposts%2F10160203072723140&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="529" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Salina Public Library closed Sunday

TOPEKA — The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 92 schools as recipients of the 2021 Challenge Awards.

The&nbsp;awards recognize Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population.&nbsp;Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,800 awards have been presented to schools across the state.

Certificates of Merit will be presented to schools by Kansas State Board of Education members.

The Challenge Award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments based on Kansas Assessment results in math and reading, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism rates and the socio-economic status of those taking the test.

The Confidence in Public Education Task Force is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to strengthen confidence in Kansas public education and to increase awareness of the positive aspects of public education in the state. The Task Force was created in 1981.

Members of the Task Force include American Association of University Women; Kansas PTA; Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB); Kansas National Education Association (KNEA); Kansas State Board of Education; Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA); Kansas Partners in Education; League of Women Voters – Kansas; and United School Administrators of Kansas (USA-Kansas).

For more information about the Challenge Awards program, call Tamla Miller, public service administrator for Communications and Recognition Programs at the Kansas State Department of Education, at (785) 296-4950.

Schools receiving a 2021 Challenge Award are:

McKinley Elementary School, Abilene USD 435.

Caldwell Elementary School, Caldwell USD 360.

Caldwell Secondary School, Caldwell USD 360.

Central Plains Junior-Senior High School, Central Plains USD 112.

 Anthony Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361.

Harper Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361.

Southeast Elementary School, Cherokee USD 247.

 Southeast Middle School, Cherokee USD 247.

Concordia Middle School, Concordia USD 333.

Deerfield Middle School, Deerfield USD 216.

Oaklawn Elementary School, Derby USD 260.

Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, Derby USD 260.

Wineteer Elementary School, Derby USD 260.

Dexter Elementary School, Dexter USD 471.

Central Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.

Miller Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.

Northwest Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.

Sunnyside Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.

Blackmore Elementary School, El Dorado USD 490.

Skelly Elementary School, El Dorado USD 490.

Elk Valley Elementary School, Elk Valley USD 283.

Logan Avenue Elementary School, Emporia USD 253.

Erie High School, Erie-Galesburg USD 101.

Liberty Elementary School, Galena USD 499.

Victor Ornelas Elementary School, Garden City USD 457.

Grandview Elementary School, Geary County USD 475.

Washington Elementary School, Geary County USD 475.

Golden Plains Middle School, Golden Plains USD 316.

Great Bend High School, Great Bend USD 428.

Park Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.

Riley Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.

Grinnell Middle School, Grinnell USD 291.

Faris Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308.

Lincoln Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308.

Independence Middle School, Independence USD 446.

Jefferson Elementary School, Independence USD 446.

Jayhawk Elementary School, Jayhawk USD 346.

Arrowhead Middle School, Kansas City USD 500.

Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.

Emerson Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.

John Fiske Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.

Mark Twain Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, Kansas City USD 500.

Thomas A. Edison Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.

Kingman Middle School, Kingman-Norwich USD 331.

Southern Coffey County Elementary, LeRoy-Gridley USD 245.

Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln USD 298.

Lincoln Junior-Senior High School, Lincoln USD 298.

Lyons Central Elementary School, Lyons USD 405.

Macksville Elementary School, Macksville USD 351.

Marion Middle School, Marion-Florence USD 408.

South Gray High School, Montezuma USD 371.

Prairie Heights Elementary School, Morris County USD 417.

Slate Creek Elementary School, Newton USD 373.

Westview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233.

Osage City Elementary School, Osage City USD 420.

 Osage City Middle School, Osage City USD 420.

Meadowlark Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250.

Pittsburg Middle School, Pittsburg USD 250.

 Westside Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250.

Pretty Prairie Elementary School, Pretty Prairie USD 311.

Remington Elementary School at Potwin, Remington-Whitewater USD 206.

Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School, Rock Hills USD 107.

 Cottonwood Elementary School, Salina USD 305.

Crestview Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.

Merriam Park Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.

Miltonvale Elementary School, Southern Cloud USD 334.

Hartford Junior-Senior High School, Southern Lyon USD 252.

Neosho Rapids Elementary School, Southern Lyon USD 252.

Stanton County Elementary School, Stanton USD 452.

Sublette Elementary School, Sublette USD 374.

Sublette Middle School, Sublette USD 374.

Thunder Ridge Middle School, Thunder Ridge USD 110.

Tescott Elementary School, Twin Valley USD 240.

Maple Hill Elementary School, Wabaunsee USD 329.

Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, Wichita USD 259.

Brooks Magnet Middle School, Wichita USD 259.

Franklin Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.

Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.

Kensler Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.

Lawrence Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.

Mayberry Cultural/Fine Arts Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.

McLean Science/Tech Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.

TOPEKA — The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 92 schools as recipients of the 2021 Challenge Awards.The&nbsp;awards recognize Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population.&nbsp;Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,800 awards have been presented to schools across the state.Certificates of Merit will be presented to schools by Kansas State Board of Education members.The Challenge Award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments based on Kansas Assessment results in math and reading, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism rates and the socio-economic status of those taking the test.The Confidence in Public Education Task Force is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to strengthen confidence in Kansas public education and to increase awareness of the positive aspects of public education in the state. The Task Force was created in 1981.Members of the Task Force include American Association of University Women; Kansas PTA; Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB); Kansas National Education Association (KNEA); Kansas State Board of Education; Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHAA); Kansas Partners in Education; League of Women Voters – Kansas; and United School Administrators of Kansas (USA-Kansas).For more information about the Challenge Awards program, call Tamla Miller, public service administrator for Communications and Recognition Programs at the Kansas State Department of Education, at (785) 296-4950.Schools receiving a 2021 Challenge Award are:McKinley Elementary School, Abilene USD 435.Caldwell Elementary School, Caldwell USD 360.Caldwell Secondary School, Caldwell USD 360.Central Plains Junior-Senior High School, Central Plains USD 112. Anthony Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361.Harper Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361.Southeast Elementary School, Cherokee USD 247. Southeast Middle School, Cherokee USD 247.Concordia Middle School, Concordia USD 333.Deerfield Middle School, Deerfield USD 216.Oaklawn Elementary School, Derby USD 260.Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, Derby USD 260.Wineteer Elementary School, Derby USD 260.Dexter Elementary School, Dexter USD 471.Central Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.Miller Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.Northwest Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.Sunnyside Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443.Blackmore Elementary School, El Dorado USD 490.Skelly Elementary School, El Dorado USD 490.Elk Valley Elementary School, Elk Valley USD 283.Logan Avenue Elementary School, Emporia USD 253.Erie High School, Erie-Galesburg USD 101.Fairfield Schools, Fairfield USD 310.Galena Middle School, Galena USD 499.Liberty Elementary School, Galena USD 499.Victor Ornelas Elementary School, Garden City USD 457.Grandview Elementary School, Geary County USD 475.Washington Elementary School, Geary County USD 475.Golden Plains Middle School, Golden Plains USD 316.Great Bend High School, Great Bend USD 428.Park Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.Riley Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.Grinnell Middle School, Grinnell USD 291.Hamilton High School, Hamilton USD 390.Lincoln Elementary School, Hays USD 489.Healy Elementary School, Healy USD 468.Faris Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308.Lincoln Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308.Independence Middle School, Independence USD 446.Jefferson Elementary School, Independence USD 446.Jayhawk Elementary School, Jayhawk USD 346.Arrowhead Middle School, Kansas City USD 500.Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.Emerson Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.John Fiske Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.Mark Twain Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, Kansas City USD 500.Thomas A. Edison Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.Kingman Middle School, Kingman-Norwich USD 331.Lakin Middle School, Lakin USD 215.Southern Coffey County Elementary, LeRoy-Gridley USD 245.Lewis Elementary School, Lewis USD 502.Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln USD 298.Lincoln Junior-Senior High School, Lincoln USD 298.Lyons Central Elementary School, Lyons USD 405.Macksville Elementary School, Macksville USD 351.Marion Middle School, Marion-Florence USD 408.Minneola High School, Minneola USD 219.South Gray High School, Montezuma USD 371.Prairie Heights Elementary School, Morris County USD 417.Slate Creek Elementary School, Newton USD 373.Westview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233.Osage City Elementary School, Osage City USD 420. Osage City Middle School, Osage City USD 420.Meadowlark Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250.Pittsburg Middle School, Pittsburg USD 250. Westside Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250.Pretty Prairie Elementary School, Pretty Prairie USD 311.Remington Elementary School at Potwin, Remington-Whitewater USD 206.Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School, Rock Hills USD 107. Cottonwood Elementary School, Salina USD 305.Logan Elementary School, Seaman USD 345.Crestview Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.Merriam Park Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.Miltonvale Elementary School, Southern Cloud USD 334.Hartford Junior-Senior High School, Southern Lyon USD 252.Neosho Rapids Elementary School, Southern Lyon USD 252.Stanton County Elementary School, Stanton USD 452.Sublette Elementary School, Sublette USD 374.Sublette Middle School, Sublette USD 374.Thunder Ridge Middle School, Thunder Ridge USD 110.Tescott Elementary School, Twin Valley USD 240.Maple Hill Elementary School, Wabaunsee USD 329.Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, Wichita USD 259.Brooks Magnet Middle School, Wichita USD 259.Franklin Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.Kensler Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.Lawrence Elementary School, Wichita USD 259.Mayberry Cultural/Fine Arts Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.McLean Science/Tech Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.

Local, area schools among most recent Challenge Award recipients

Following is the revised Easter Sunday forecast.

Scattered showers and cool temperatures are expected on Easter Sunday across central and eastern Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650139801266.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceFollowing is the revised Easter Sunday forecast.Scattered showers and cool temperatures are expected on Easter Sunday across central and eastern Kansas.

NWS: Cool with scattered showers for Easter Sunday

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-448&amp;fbclid=IwAR3qJpztjs6g_ZY3uRzmdLmf09YkObk0wGZEJB804LSy7OWYS5Rtm1Y2Pus" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-448</a> ***

There are one new bestseller, five new movies, two new music CDs, one new children's book, and nine other new books. The new bestseller this week is "Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century." The new movies this week include "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," "The Batman," and "Ted K."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-448&amp;fbclid=IwAR3qJpztjs6g_ZY3uRzmdLmf09YkObk0wGZEJB804LSy7OWYS5Rtm1Y2Pus" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-448</a> ***There are one new bestseller, five new movies, two new music CDs, one new children's book, and nine other new books. The new bestseller this week is "Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century." The new movies this week include "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," "The Batman," and "Ted K."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650139333239.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at Salina Public Library

LINDSBORG - Several Bethany College students, including three from Salina and one from McPherson, were honored as a part of the 2022 Messiah Festival Juried Student Art Exhibition.

The exhibition is on display in the Mingenback Gallery through Monday and is open to the public at no charge. The gallery, at the corner of Olsson and Second Street on the Bethany College campus, is open on weekdays and Easter weekend  from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Juried Student Art Exhibition is part of the Messiah Festival of the Arts, the celebration of sacred music, theatre, and art at Bethany College and features ceramics, drawings, jewelry, paintings, photography, printmaking, and sculpture created by Bethany art majors that have taken art courses.

The annual performance of Handel's Messiah is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday in Bethany's Presser Hall.

During a reception for the Juried Student Art Exhibition last Sunday, the following students were honored for their artwork.

Best of Show Destiny Everhart, studio art, Salina junior, Salina, for You Who I Called Brother

Best of 2D Evan Simmons, 3D computer animation, Hutchinson senior, for Space Demon

Best of 3D Aubrey Hahn, visual art administration, Garden City senior, for Happy Retirement

Best of Junior/Senior Zephra Rice, studio art, McPherson senior, for Tenderness

Best of Freshman/Sophomore Irma Michelle De La Cruz Caldera, pre-professional art therapy, Salina freshman, for Viruz

Most Improved Student Connor Heis, studio art, Salina sophomore

By SALINA POSTLINDSBORG - Several Bethany College students, including three from Salina and one from McPherson, were honored as a part of the 2022 Messiah Festival Juried Student Art Exhibition.The exhibition is on display in the Mingenback Gallery through Monday and is open to the public at no charge. The gallery, at the corner of Olsson and Second Street on the Bethany College campus, is open on weekdays and Easter weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The Juried Student Art Exhibition is part of the Messiah Festival of the Arts, the celebration of sacred music, theatre, and art at Bethany College and features ceramics, drawings, jewelry, paintings, photography, printmaking, and sculpture created by Bethany art majors that have taken art courses.The annual performance of Handel's Messiah is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday in Bethany's Presser Hall.During a reception for the Juried Student Art Exhibition last Sunday, the following students were honored for their artwork.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650138458945.jpeg" alt="Destiny Everhart's "You Who I Called Brother." Images courtesy Bethany College" />
 <figcaption>Destiny Everhart's "You Who I Called Brother." Images courtesy Bethany College</figcaption>
 </figure>Best of Show Destiny Everhart, studio art, Salina junior, Salina, for You Who I Called Brother<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650138580857.jpeg" alt="Evan Simmons' "Space Demon"" />
 <figcaption>Evan Simmons' "Space Demon"</figcaption>
 </figure>Best of 2D Evan Simmons, 3D computer animation, Hutchinson senior, for Space Demon<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650138671154.jpeg" alt="Aubrey Hahn's "Happy Retirement"" />
 <figcaption>Aubrey Hahn's "Happy Retirement"</figcaption>
 </figure>Best of 3D Aubrey Hahn, visual art administration, Garden City senior, for Happy Retirement<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650138738553.jpeg" alt="Zephra Rice's "Tenderness"" />
 <figcaption>Zephra Rice's "Tenderness"</figcaption>
 </figure>Best of Junior/Senior Zephra Rice, studio art, McPherson senior, for Tenderness<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650138838154.jpeg" alt="Michelle De La Cruz Caldera's "Viruz"" />
 <figcaption>Michelle De La Cruz Caldera's "Viruz"</figcaption>
 </figure>Best of Freshman/Sophomore Irma Michelle De La Cruz Caldera, pre-professional art therapy, Salina freshman, for ViruzMost Improved Student Connor Heis, studio art, Salina sophomore

Local, area students honored at Messiah Festival Juried Student Art Exhibition

This month, we’re exploring the impact of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">2022 Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;honorees, including Eric Treene, former special counsel for religious discrimination in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. These are the stories of how the First Amendment advocates we’re honoring have used their voices to uplift others.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">Watch the Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;live at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 28.

An established, fast-growing faith community in the Bible Belt South had outgrown its facility. More than 250 families and 400 students from a nearby university could no longer squeeze into its rented 2,100 square foot space.

In 2009, they purchased a vacant lot in their Tennessee town and posted a sign proclaiming the property as the “Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.” The sign was soon defaced with a “Not Welcome” message.

The mosque received unanimous approval from the county planning commission and permits to break ground on its new 12,000 square foot facility in May 2010. Local opposition intensified. The Islamic Center received threatening phone messages. Vandals set fire to construction equipment.

Opponents and protesters stoked fears of terrorism. Some argued that Islam is not a religion, and that the mosque didn’t deserve the same consideration and First Amendment protections that 20 Christian churches received under the same county procedures.

In 2012, a state court ruled that “tremendous public interest” in the case subjected the mosque to a heightened legal standard for notifying the public compared to other houses of worship. Construction continued, but the county refused to issue a certificate of occupancy.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s special counsel for religious discrimination, Eric Treene, intervened on behalf of the mosque. For the first time since the civil rights movement, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to overrule a state court and order the county to disregard the ruling of a state court judge. The Islamic Center prevailed and moved into its new Murfreesboro mosque on Aug. 10, 2012.

Treene, an evangelical Christian, served the Justice Department under four presidents. He took on the role of special counsel for religious discrimination in the wake of 9/11 and increased fear of religious extremism. He cites the Murfreesboro case as emblematic of the challenges facing our country today. He also says that suspicion and hatred against Muslims diminishes significantly among those who know a person who is Muslim. He has long demonstrated a commitment to protecting First Amendment religious freedom for all, and that is why he is a 2022 Freedom Forum Free Expression Awards honoree.

The Justice Department’s religious freedom efforts during Treene’s tenure protected the religious rights of people from diverse faith backgrounds:

●Centro Familiar Cristiano Buenas Nuevas, a Baptist church in Yuma, Ariz.,<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/city-improperly-excluded-church-downtown-district-appeals-court-rules#1" target="_blank">won the right to meet in a downtown area</a>. The Justice Department provided legal support after city officials improperly excluded the church and treated it differently than non-religious establishments – a violation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php" target="_blank">Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)</a>.

●Eric McGill, a Rastafarian who wears dreadlocks for religious reasons,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-86-may2020#pennsylvania">was released from solitary confinement</a>. Pennsylvania prison officials had wrongly placed him there for refusing to cut his hair. After the Justice Department filed a court brief, the jail modified its policy to protect the religious practice.

●Oklahoma sixth grader&nbsp;Nashala Hearn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-4">won a case against her school for preventing her from wearing a hijab</a>, a traditional Muslim head covering, which the school claimed was in violation of a “no hats” policy. With Justice Department intervention, the school district was required to provide training on religious accommodations to its dress code.

●Midrash Sephardi and Young Israel of Bal Harbor, two small Orthodox Jewish congregations in Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-4#2">won their fight for approval to rent commercial space</a>. A zoning board initially denied permission, and the Department of Justice submitted two legal briefs in support of the synagogues. The court ruled that under RLUIPA, zoning laws can’t be used to discriminate against churches, synagogues and other houses of worship.

Treene’s religious freedom efforts during 19 years at the Justice Department received criticism.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/washington/14discrim.html" target="_blank">Some saw the emphasis on religious freedom cases as draining resources from more traditional civil rights and hate crime cases</a>. Some say his work on behalf of minority faiths – particularly Muslims –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/when-conservatives-oppose-religious-freedom/522567/" target="_blank">put him in league with “Muslim Brotherhood Operatives.”</a>

“At the U.S. Department of Justice under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Eric Treene was the most consistent, determined and fair-minded advocate for religious freedom in the federal government,” says Charles Haynes, founder of the Freedom Forum’s religious freedom initiatives. “Throughout his distinguished career, Eric has been dedicated to ensuring that the law worked to protect free exercise of religion for people of all faiths. Principled, caring, self-effacing, Eric Treene is a true hero of religious freedom.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">2022 Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;are on April 28 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. and streamed live online.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650057480300.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE FREEDOM FORUMThis month, we’re exploring the impact of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">2022 Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;honorees, including Eric Treene, former special counsel for religious discrimination in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. These are the stories of how the First Amendment advocates we’re honoring have used their voices to uplift others.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">Watch the Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;live at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 28.An established, fast-growing faith community in the Bible Belt South had outgrown its facility. More than 250 families and 400 students from a nearby university could no longer squeeze into its rented 2,100 square foot space.In 2009, they purchased a vacant lot in their Tennessee town and posted a sign proclaiming the property as the “Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.” The sign was soon defaced with a “Not Welcome” message.The mosque received unanimous approval from the county planning commission and permits to break ground on its new 12,000 square foot facility in May 2010. Local opposition intensified. The Islamic Center received threatening phone messages. Vandals set fire to construction equipment.Opponents and protesters stoked fears of terrorism. Some argued that Islam is not a religion, and that the mosque didn’t deserve the same consideration and First Amendment protections that 20 Christian churches received under the same county procedures.In 2012, a state court ruled that “tremendous public interest” in the case subjected the mosque to a heightened legal standard for notifying the public compared to other houses of worship. Construction continued, but the county refused to issue a certificate of occupancy.The U.S. Department of Justice’s special counsel for religious discrimination, Eric Treene, intervened on behalf of the mosque. For the first time since the civil rights movement, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to overrule a state court and order the county to disregard the ruling of a state court judge. The Islamic Center prevailed and moved into its new Murfreesboro mosque on Aug. 10, 2012.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650057013114.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Treene, an evangelical Christian, served the Justice Department under four presidents. He took on the role of special counsel for religious discrimination in the wake of 9/11 and increased fear of religious extremism. He cites the Murfreesboro case as emblematic of the challenges facing our country today. He also says that suspicion and hatred against Muslims diminishes significantly among those who know a person who is Muslim. He has long demonstrated a commitment to protecting First Amendment religious freedom for all, and that is why he is a 2022 Freedom Forum Free Expression Awards honoree.The Justice Department’s religious freedom efforts during Treene’s tenure protected the religious rights of people from diverse faith backgrounds:●Centro Familiar Cristiano Buenas Nuevas, a Baptist church in Yuma, Ariz.,<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/city-improperly-excluded-church-downtown-district-appeals-court-rules#1" target="_blank">won the right to meet in a downtown area</a>. The Justice Department provided legal support after city officials improperly excluded the church and treated it differently than non-religious establishments – a violation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php" target="_blank">Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)</a>. ●Eric McGill, a Rastafarian who wears dreadlocks for religious reasons,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-86-may2020#pennsylvania">was released from solitary confinement</a>. Pennsylvania prison officials had wrongly placed him there for refusing to cut his hair. After the Justice Department filed a court brief, the jail modified its policy to protect the religious practice.●Oklahoma sixth grader&nbsp;Nashala Hearn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-4">won a case against her school for preventing her from wearing a hijab</a>, a traditional Muslim head covering, which the school claimed was in violation of a “no hats” policy. With Justice Department intervention, the school district was required to provide training on religious accommodations to its dress code.●Midrash Sephardi and Young Israel of Bal Harbor, two small Orthodox Jewish congregations in Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/religious-freedom-focus-volume-4#2">won their fight for approval to rent commercial space</a>. A zoning board initially denied permission, and the Department of Justice submitted two legal briefs in support of the synagogues. The court ruled that under RLUIPA, zoning laws can’t be used to discriminate against churches, synagogues and other houses of worship.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650057411699.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Treene’s religious freedom efforts during 19 years at the Justice Department received criticism.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/washington/14discrim.html" target="_blank">Some saw the emphasis on religious freedom cases as draining resources from more traditional civil rights and hate crime cases</a>. Some say his work on behalf of minority faiths – particularly Muslims –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/when-conservatives-oppose-religious-freedom/522567/" target="_blank">put him in league with “Muslim Brotherhood Operatives.”</a>“At the U.S. Department of Justice under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Eric Treene was the most consistent, determined and fair-minded advocate for religious freedom in the federal government,” says Charles Haynes, founder of the Freedom Forum’s religious freedom initiatives. “Throughout his distinguished career, Eric has been dedicated to ensuring that the law worked to protect free exercise of religion for people of all faiths. Principled, caring, self-effacing, Eric Treene is a true hero of religious freedom.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards/" target="_blank">2022 Free Expression Awards</a>&nbsp;are on April 28 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. and streamed live online.

First 5: Eric Treene, upholding religious freedom for all

Today is Saturday, April 16, the 106th day of 2022. There are 259 days left in the year.

On April 16, 1945, a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea torpedoed and sank the MV Goya, which Germany was using to transport civilian refugees and wounded soldiers; it's estimated that up to 7,000 people died.

In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.

In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.

In 1945, In his first speech to Congress, President Harry S. Truman pledged to carry out the war and peace policies of his late predecessor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people.

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.

In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.

In 1996, Britain's Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, announced they were in the process of divorcing.

In 2003, Michael Jordan played his last NBA game with the Washington Wizards, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 107-87.

In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.

In 2010, the U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)

In 2020, the Trump administration gutted an Obama-era rule that compelled the country's coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other human health hazards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Saturday, April 16, the 106th day of 2022. There are 259 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 16, 1945, a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea torpedoed and sank the MV Goya, which Germany was using to transport civilian refugees and wounded soldiers; it's estimated that up to 7,000 people died.On this date:In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.In 1945, In his first speech to Congress, President Harry S. Truman pledged to carry out the war and peace policies of his late predecessor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people.In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.In 1996, Britain's Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, announced they were in the process of divorcing.In 2003, Michael Jordan played his last NBA game with the Washington Wizards, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 107-87.In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.In 2010, the U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)In 2020, the Trump administration gutted an Obama-era rule that compelled the country's coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other human health hazards.Ten years ago: A trial began in Oslo, Norway, for Anders Breivik, charged with killing 77 people in a bomb and gun rampage in July 2011. (Breivik was found guilty of terrorism and premeditated murder and given a 21-year prison sentence.)Five years ago: U.S. officials said a North Korean medium-range missile exploded seconds after launch, a high-profile failure that came hours before U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrived in South Korea for a visit at the start of a 10-day trip to Asia.One year ago: Jon Ryan Schaffer, a member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group and a heavy metal guitarist, became the first defendant to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland revoked a series of Trump-era orders that promoted fossil fuel development on public lands and waters, and issued a new order that prioritized climate change in agency decisions. Raul Castro said he was stepping down as Cuban Communist Party leader, leaving the island without a Castro guiding affairs for the first time in more than six decades. Iran began enriching uranium to its highest-ever purity, edging the country closer to weapons-grade levels as Iran tried to pressure negotiators in talks on restoring its nuclear deal with world powers.Today's Birthdays: Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI is 95. Singer Bobby Vinton is 87. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 82. Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 75. Former Massachusetts first lady Ann Romney is 73. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 70. Rock singer and former politician Peter Garrett is 69. Actor Ellen Barkin is 68. Actor Michel Gill is 62. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is 60. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 60. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 59. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 58. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 57. Actor Jon Cryer is 57. Actor Peter Billingsley is 51. Actor Lukas Haas is 46. Actor-singer Kelli O'Hara is 46. Actor Claire Foy (TV: "The Crown") is 38. Figure skater Mirai Nagasu is 29. Actor Sadie Sink is 20.