DAYTON, Ohio – A former Kansas doctor was arrested by federal agents this week and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape, according to the United State's Attorney.

 Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His current home on Kenwood Road in&nbsp;Sycamore Township, Ohio and vehicles were searched and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tanzer was recently identified as the prime suspect in the cold-case rape. In recent months, agents collected DNA evidence from a Starbucks cup that Tanzer discarded at a local BMV. The DNA extracted from Tanzer’s coffee cup was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene.

It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached today, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.

Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Kansas, Colorado and Ohio.

The affidavit details that on Aug. 1, 1989, the victim was violently raped in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.

Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider these circumstances of the rape and to contact the FBI with any similar information:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734724913138.png" alt="Tanzer photo Shelby County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Tanzer photo Shelby County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>DAYTON, Ohio – A former Kansas doctor was arrested by federal agents this week and charged with making false statements related to a 1989 rape, according to the United State's Attorney. Officials ask anyone with information regarding this or any other similar rape to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.It is alleged that Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, knowingly made a false statement to FBI agents. His current home on Kenwood Road in&nbsp;Sycamore Township, Ohio and vehicles were searched and Tanzer appeared in federal court in Dayton following his arrest.According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Tanzer was recently identified as the prime suspect in the cold-case rape. In recent months, agents collected DNA evidence from a Starbucks cup that Tanzer discarded at a local BMV. The DNA extracted from Tanzer’s coffee cup was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene.It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached today, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped.Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Kansas, Colorado and Ohio.The affidavit details that on Aug. 1, 1989, the victim was violently raped in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work.Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider these circumstances of the rape and to contact the FBI with any similar information:<ul>
 <li>When the victim arrived home, she noticed an odor that smelled to her like brewed tea or burnt marijuana.</li><li>The rapist was dressed from head to toe in black Lycra, including black gloves and a face mask. He had a black gym bag with him.</li><li>The assailant held a knife to the victim’s throat.</li><li>The rapist used white surgical tape from the gym bag to wrap around the victim’s eyes and head. He used stockings and panty hose from the victim’s dresser to bind her hands and feet to the headboard and footboard of her bed.</li><li>The rapist cut or tore the victim’s clothing and used Vaseline.</li><li>The rapist assaulted the victim vaginally, orally and anally. In between bouts of sexual conduct, the assailant used a cloth to wipe the victim’s mouth and genital areas.</li><li>The rapist said nothing during the entire encounter. He occasionally took breaks from sexually assaulting the victim while the victim remained tied to her bed.</li><li>The rapist listened to and erased answering machine messages. He looked through papers in the victim’s living room and rummaged through her purse. He unplugged and/or disconnected telephones.</li><li>On the handset of the telephone in the bedroom, the rapist taped a piece of newspaper that had been cut from the paper on the couch in the victim’s living room and wrote, “No police or I’ll be back Mis [sic] [name of victim’s employer]”</li><li>The victim described the rapist as white, with dark brown hair, approximately six feet tall with a thin or athletic build.</li><li>The assault took place over the course of more than five and a half hours.</li>
 </ul>

Search continues for victims of former Kan. doctor accused of rape

The former Missouri Congressman and auctioneer advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jeremy-kohler/">JEREMY KOHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/alexmierjeski/">ALEX MIERJESKI</a>&nbsp;

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=reprint&amp;placement=top-note" target="_blank">The Big Story newsletter</a>&nbsp;to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named his nominee to head the IRS, touts his expertise in tax matters.

He advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor, and he adds CTBA to his name on his X profile. That profile encourages people to message him to “save 40% on your taxes.”

But tax experts told ProPublica that they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession. The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire, which was established just two years ago and only requires attendance at a three-day seminar. That is in stark contrast to the 150 credit hours and the rigorous exams required to become a certified public accountant, a standard certification for tax accountants.

In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents — federally authorized tax practitioners — can represent taxpayers at the IRS.

“The cost of relying on tax advice from somebody that is solely focused on minimizing the tax liabilities that you have — as opposed to somebody that’s focused on both minimizing the tax liabilities and complying with the tax law — can be extraordinarily high if you are found to be in violation of the standards,” said Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University.

Excel Empire’s three-day certification course has been advertised for as much as $30,000;&nbsp;<a href="https://ctba.excelempire.com/live-sales" target="_blank">its upcoming session is advertised at $4,997</a>. Matthew Pearson, one of its founders,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUy-3pcse8I" target="_blank">said this summer in a podcast</a>&nbsp;that about 135 people have earned the CTBA designation, which the firm designed to help people without tax backgrounds to become advisors.

Nina Olson, a prominent taxpayer advocate, said that the modern tax industry has seen “a proliferation of different groups and entities that are providing tax advice” and that consumers have no way of knowing who is competent.

“It could just be that you’ve taken a very short course, and paid a large fee for that course, and that gives you the ability to put some initials after your name,” said Olson, who served as the IRS’ national taxpayer advocate from 2001 to 2019. She is now executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes fairness and access to justice in tax systems.

Tax experts said that Long’s years of experience as a real estate agent and as an auctioneer — before spending a dozen years in Congress — pales next to the deep experience in tax policy or management of the people who have held the job. For instance, the current IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, previously served as acting IRS commissioner and held leadership roles at the Office of Management and Budget. He also worked in the private sector as a managing director at Boston Consulting Group.

Long’s experience in the tax world has been more narrowly focused. In the two years since he left Congress, he worked to bring in customers for at least two firms that marketed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit" target="_blank">employee retention credit</a>&nbsp;— a pandemic-era benefit designed to support businesses that kept workers despite revenue losses or disruptions caused by COVID-19.

The credit also attracted fraud, eventually landing on the IRS’ “<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen" target="_blank">worst of the worst</a>” list for tax scams. Two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into the firms, noting Long had neither a “background in tax preparation nor any credential as a licensed accountant, attorney or enrolled agent.”

<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERC-COVID-Snapshot-5.7.21_full-text.pdf" target="_blank">Worth up to $28,000 per employee</a>, the credit was available for the 2020 and 2021 tax years and has been widely used by both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations across the country. However, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-beware-of-aggressive-promoters-who-dupe-taxpayers-into-making-questionable-employee-retention-credit-claims-risks-continue-for-small-businesses-special-withdrawal-program-remains-available" target="_blank">raised significant concerns</a>&nbsp;about aggressive promoters pushing ineligible businesses to file questionable claims. Red flags included inflated payroll numbers, claims for all quarters without proper eligibility or citing minor government orders that did not directly impact business operations.

The IRS says it has recovered over $1 billion from businesses that voluntarily reported improper claims. And it has launched hundreds of criminal investigations to try to recoup what it says could be billions of dollars more.

In a prepared statement in November, Werfel said businesses should review their claims and see if they were misled by firms marketing the tax credit.

“They should listen to trusted tax professionals, not promoters,” he said.

In a 2023 podcast discussing his work for the two firms, Long joked that he had a hat bearing the name of the credit glued to his head. He said his work marketing the tax credit had caused some clients to question their CPAs’ advice.

“Hey, this auctioneer, real estate broker, former congressman told me I’m going to get $1.2 million back,” he said. “Uh, you’re my CPA. Why didn’t you tell me that?” And he said the response of CPAs would be: “That’s a joke. That’s a fake deal. That’s not true. You’re going to have to pay all that money back. You’ll get audited.”

But he said the firms he worked for had never seen the IRS turn down one of their claims.

There is no evidence that either Excel Empire, Long or the firms that he worked for — Lifetime Advisors of Hudson, Wisconsin, and Commerce Terrace Consulting of Springfield, Missouri — engaged in wrongdoing. In the same 2023 podcast, Long emphasized he and his colleagues had helped only taxpayers who were entitled to the benefit.

Neither Long, Lifetime Advisors nor Commerce Terrace Consulting responded to requests for comment.

If Long is confirmed and succeeds Werfel, he’ll have the power to influence how Americans pay their taxes and how the federal government collects revenue. Trump has promised to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-trumps-plan-to-end-irs-overstepping-could-mean-for-audits-of-rich-people-and-call-hold-times-for-everyone-else-67e4231e?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">end IRS “overstepping,”</a>&nbsp;while Republicans have said that they would slash billions of dollars in funding passed under the Biden administration to modernize the IRS and enhance tax enforcement.

The IRS and the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.

During his time representing Southwest Missouri in Congress, Long pursued legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-159/issue-78/house-section/article/H3106-4?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22billy+long%5C%22+%5C%22fair+tax%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=3&amp;r=3" target="_blank">abolish the IRS</a>&nbsp;and establish a national sales tax. Billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump advisor, recently asked on X&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-its-funding-deleted-poll-1992953" target="_blank">if the agency’s budget should be “deleted.”</a>

Like Long, members of Excel Empire suggest that accountants don’t feel it is their role to save their clients money because they prioritize compliance over planning and are too busy during tax season to discuss strategies. The company’s website claims the firm has saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Edward Lyon, who is listed on Excel Empire’s website as chief tax planner and tax attorney, writes on his personal website that the seven most expensive words in the English language are “<a href="https://edwardalyon.com/about" target="_blank">My CPA takes care of my taxes</a>.”

Lyon elaborated on a podcast last year, noting that accountants “generally are rule followers,” but when it comes to lawyers, “we are trained to understand the rules but we’re trained to stretch the rules and bend the rules and poke at the rules and do an end run around the rules. It’s a much more proactive focus.” Still, he has consistently emphasized that his company acts “legally, ethically and morally.”

The company’s co-founder, Pearson, once described Lyon on a podcast as the “preeminent proactive tax attorney in the country.” Lyon and Pearson declined to comment.

The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Lyon’s law license in 2005 for failing to meet registration and fee requirements on time, and he hasn’t regained it. He also does not appear to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor.

Despite this, Lyon says he has trained tens of thousands of tax and finance professionals. As the author of several books and a column, he claims to be one of the country’s most widely read tax strategists and commands speaking fees of $15,000 and first-class travel arrangements.

Lyon has also developed several tax certification programs. On the Excel Empire website, some officers, including Pearson, use a title created by Lyon: tax master.

Appearing on another podcast, Lyon discussed how small businesses can be used as tax shelters. As an example, he asked the host,&nbsp;<a href="https://excelempire.com/our-leadership-team-2/" target="_blank">Heather Wagenhals</a>&nbsp;— who also carries the CTBA title — if she had a swimming pool at her home, where she records her show.

“I do,” Wagenhals said. “That’s why I picked this one.”

Lyon responded: “All right, so I’m gonna rock your world in five words, ready? On-premises employee athletic facility.”

Lyon added: “It’s really there in the tax code, and nobody’s told you that.”

In another podcast, Pearson brags about firing an accountant who balked at his request for advice about how to use a new Corvette “to keep from paying taxes.”

Olson said that attitude was disturbing and that simplistic answers can create problems for taxpayers in IRS audits and in the courts. “A swimming pool in someone’s home, even if employees are working in the home and using it, still would require the court to look at the percentage of employee use versus personal use — and they would look really closely at that,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734986359615.png" alt=" Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for election during the Missouri Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for election during the Missouri Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The former Missouri Congressman and auctioneer advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jeremy-kohler/">JEREMY KOHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/alexmierjeski/">ALEX MIERJESKI</a>&nbsp;ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=reprint&amp;placement=top-note" target="_blank">The Big Story newsletter</a>&nbsp;to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named his nominee to head the IRS, touts his expertise in tax matters.He advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor, and he adds CTBA to his name on his X profile. That profile encourages people to message him to “save 40% on your taxes.”But tax experts told ProPublica that they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession. The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire, which was established just two years ago and only requires attendance at a three-day seminar. That is in stark contrast to the 150 credit hours and the rigorous exams required to become a certified public accountant, a standard certification for tax accountants.In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents — federally authorized tax practitioners — can represent taxpayers at the IRS.“The cost of relying on tax advice from somebody that is solely focused on minimizing the tax liabilities that you have — as opposed to somebody that’s focused on both minimizing the tax liabilities and complying with the tax law — can be extraordinarily high if you are found to be in violation of the standards,” said Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University.Excel Empire’s three-day certification course has been advertised for as much as $30,000;&nbsp;<a href="https://ctba.excelempire.com/live-sales" target="_blank">its upcoming session is advertised at $4,997</a>. Matthew Pearson, one of its founders,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUy-3pcse8I" target="_blank">said this summer in a podcast</a>&nbsp;that about 135 people have earned the CTBA designation, which the firm designed to help people without tax backgrounds to become advisors.Nina Olson, a prominent taxpayer advocate, said that the modern tax industry has seen “a proliferation of different groups and entities that are providing tax advice” and that consumers have no way of knowing who is competent.“It could just be that you’ve taken a very short course, and paid a large fee for that course, and that gives you the ability to put some initials after your name,” said Olson, who served as the IRS’ national taxpayer advocate from 2001 to 2019. She is now executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes fairness and access to justice in tax systems.Tax experts said that Long’s years of experience as a real estate agent and as an auctioneer — before spending a dozen years in Congress — pales next to the deep experience in tax policy or management of the people who have held the job. For instance, the current IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, previously served as acting IRS commissioner and held leadership roles at the Office of Management and Budget. He also worked in the private sector as a managing director at Boston Consulting Group.Long’s experience in the tax world has been more narrowly focused. In the two years since he left Congress, he worked to bring in customers for at least two firms that marketed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit" target="_blank">employee retention credit</a>&nbsp;— a pandemic-era benefit designed to support businesses that kept workers despite revenue losses or disruptions caused by COVID-19.The credit also attracted fraud, eventually landing on the IRS’ “<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen" target="_blank">worst of the worst</a>” list for tax scams. Two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into the firms, noting Long had neither a “background in tax preparation nor any credential as a licensed accountant, attorney or enrolled agent.”<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERC-COVID-Snapshot-5.7.21_full-text.pdf" target="_blank">Worth up to $28,000 per employee</a>, the credit was available for the 2020 and 2021 tax years and has been widely used by both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations across the country. However, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-beware-of-aggressive-promoters-who-dupe-taxpayers-into-making-questionable-employee-retention-credit-claims-risks-continue-for-small-businesses-special-withdrawal-program-remains-available" target="_blank">raised significant concerns</a>&nbsp;about aggressive promoters pushing ineligible businesses to file questionable claims. Red flags included inflated payroll numbers, claims for all quarters without proper eligibility or citing minor government orders that did not directly impact business operations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734986435081.png" alt=" A photo hanging up in U.S. Rep. Billy Long’s former office in Washington, D.C., shows him departing Air Force One with former President Donald Trump (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> A photo hanging up in U.S. Rep. Billy Long’s former office in Washington, D.C., shows him departing Air Force One with former President Donald Trump (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>The IRS says it has recovered over $1 billion from businesses that voluntarily reported improper claims. And it has launched hundreds of criminal investigations to try to recoup what it says could be billions of dollars more.In a prepared statement in November, Werfel said businesses should review their claims and see if they were misled by firms marketing the tax credit.“They should listen to trusted tax professionals, not promoters,” he said.In a 2023 podcast discussing his work for the two firms, Long joked that he had a hat bearing the name of the credit glued to his head. He said his work marketing the tax credit had caused some clients to question their CPAs’ advice.“Hey, this auctioneer, real estate broker, former congressman told me I’m going to get $1.2 million back,” he said. “Uh, you’re my CPA. Why didn’t you tell me that?” And he said the response of CPAs would be: “That’s a joke. That’s a fake deal. That’s not true. You’re going to have to pay all that money back. You’ll get audited.”But he said the firms he worked for had never seen the IRS turn down one of their claims.There is no evidence that either Excel Empire, Long or the firms that he worked for — Lifetime Advisors of Hudson, Wisconsin, and Commerce Terrace Consulting of Springfield, Missouri — engaged in wrongdoing. In the same 2023 podcast, Long emphasized he and his colleagues had helped only taxpayers who were entitled to the benefit.Neither Long, Lifetime Advisors nor Commerce Terrace Consulting responded to requests for comment.If Long is confirmed and succeeds Werfel, he’ll have the power to influence how Americans pay their taxes and how the federal government collects revenue. Trump has promised to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-trumps-plan-to-end-irs-overstepping-could-mean-for-audits-of-rich-people-and-call-hold-times-for-everyone-else-67e4231e?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">end IRS “overstepping,”</a>&nbsp;while Republicans have said that they would slash billions of dollars in funding passed under the Biden administration to modernize the IRS and enhance tax enforcement.The IRS and the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.During his time representing Southwest Missouri in Congress, Long pursued legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-159/issue-78/house-section/article/H3106-4?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22billy+long%5C%22+%5C%22fair+tax%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=3&amp;r=3" target="_blank">abolish the IRS</a>&nbsp;and establish a national sales tax. Billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump advisor, recently asked on X&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-its-funding-deleted-poll-1992953" target="_blank">if the agency’s budget should be “deleted.”</a>Like Long, members of Excel Empire suggest that accountants don’t feel it is their role to save their clients money because they prioritize compliance over planning and are too busy during tax season to discuss strategies. The company’s website claims the firm has saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.Edward Lyon, who is listed on Excel Empire’s website as chief tax planner and tax attorney, writes on his personal website that the seven most expensive words in the English language are “<a href="https://edwardalyon.com/about" target="_blank">My CPA takes care of my taxes</a>.”Lyon elaborated on a podcast last year, noting that accountants “generally are rule followers,” but when it comes to lawyers, “we are trained to understand the rules but we’re trained to stretch the rules and bend the rules and poke at the rules and do an end run around the rules. It’s a much more proactive focus.” Still, he has consistently emphasized that his company acts “legally, ethically and morally.”The company’s co-founder, Pearson, once described Lyon on a podcast as the “preeminent proactive tax attorney in the country.” Lyon and Pearson declined to comment.The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Lyon’s law license in 2005 for failing to meet registration and fee requirements on time, and he hasn’t regained it. He also does not appear to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor.Despite this, Lyon says he has trained tens of thousands of tax and finance professionals. As the author of several books and a column, he claims to be one of the country’s most widely read tax strategists and commands speaking fees of $15,000 and first-class travel arrangements.Lyon has also developed several tax certification programs. On the Excel Empire website, some officers, including Pearson, use a title created by Lyon: tax master.Appearing on another podcast, Lyon discussed how small businesses can be used as tax shelters. As an example, he asked the host,&nbsp;<a href="https://excelempire.com/our-leadership-team-2/" target="_blank">Heather Wagenhals</a>&nbsp;— who also carries the CTBA title — if she had a swimming pool at her home, where she records her show.“I do,” Wagenhals said. “That’s why I picked this one.”Lyon responded: “All right, so I’m gonna rock your world in five words, ready? On-premises employee athletic facility.”“Oh my God!” Wagenhals said.Lyon added: “It’s really there in the tax code, and nobody’s told you that.”In another podcast, Pearson brags about firing an accountant who balked at his request for advice about how to use a new Corvette “to keep from paying taxes.”Olson said that attitude was disturbing and that simplistic answers can create problems for taxpayers in IRS audits and in the courts. “A swimming pool in someone’s home, even if employees are working in the home and using it, still would require the court to look at the percentage of employee use versus personal use — and they would look really closely at that,” she said.

Billy Long, Trump’s nominee to lead IRS, touts credential tax experts say is dubious

SALINA – Millie Moye’s longtime dream is to see a thriving Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina serving local kids and teens.

“As a mother of two, grandmother of three, great-grandmother of seven, and sister to 14 siblings, I have had the privilege of teaching thousands of students throughout my life,” said Millie Moye. “For over 20 years, I have carried a dream close to my heart: to establish a Boys &amp; Girls Club in Salina, Kansas. I’ve shared this vision with my husband and anyone who would listen, fueled by a deep desire to create a safe space that offers mentorship, friendship, fun, and a sense of belonging.”

Millie’s enthusiasm for the project is contagious. In 2023, a local advisory group was established to transform her dream into reality. Group members include Millie Moye, Roy and Donice Applequist, Jon Blanchard, Heidi Brown, Gabe Grant, Annie Grevas, Nikki Kerwin, Greta Lagerberg, Brenda McDaniel, Nancy Presnal, Mike Schrage, and Phil Smith-Hanes. 

Meeting the “basic needs” of youth is a guiding principle for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The advisory group’s research indicates that many young people in Salina are struggling with a lack of stability and safety, academic success, sense of belonging, poverty issues, encouragement, support, and positive role modeling.

“From the data gathered in our community, we believe there is not only the need for additional support for our youth, but most particularly, from an organization that specializes in serving and supporting youth needs,” said Greta Lagerberg, an advisory group member and retired counselor for USD 305. “The Boys &amp; Girls Club is a perfect fit. We are honored to be a part of doing the work to create a place for Salina’s youth to grow, for we know that today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce and citizens.”

The Salina advisory group is working closely with the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson to navigate the many steps to opening a successful Club afterschool and summer program for Salina students.

“This community group is so dedicated and driven to make something great for kids,” said Lance Patterson, CEO of the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson. “I am happy that we can help make it happen.

With the opening of a fund, we are one step closer to changing lives in Salina.” Today the group is one step closer to a Boys &amp; Girls Club in Salina. An organizational fund has been established at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Group members are actively raising funds. 

To make a gift for the 2024 tax year, interested donors are encouraged to postmark a check or give online at gscf.org before December 31. Gifts for the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina Fund should note that they are “nonendowed” to ensure they can be used for operations and capital to establish a Club site.

The Greater Salina Community foundation accepts gifts of cash and check, as well as noncash gifts including retirement plans, stocks, cryptocurrency, life insurance, grain, livestock, closely held stock, real estate and tangible personal property.

“The Boys and Girls Club will be an investment in a healthier, more economically thriving community,” said Millie Moye. “For me, this is not just a dream—it’s a mission to leave Salina better for the generations to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735235557039.jpeg" alt="Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina advisory group signing the fund agreement- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina advisory group signing the fund agreement- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Boys and Girls Club of SalinaSALINA – Millie Moye’s longtime dream is to see a thriving Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina serving local kids and teens.“As a mother of two, grandmother of three, great-grandmother of seven, and sister to 14 siblings, I have had the privilege of teaching thousands of students throughout my life,” said Millie Moye. “For over 20 years, I have carried a dream close to my heart: to establish a Boys &amp; Girls Club in Salina, Kansas. I’ve shared this vision with my husband and anyone who would listen, fueled by a deep desire to create a safe space that offers mentorship, friendship, fun, and a sense of belonging.”Millie’s enthusiasm for the project is contagious. In 2023, a local advisory group was established to transform her dream into reality. Group members include Millie Moye, Roy and Donice Applequist, Jon Blanchard, Heidi Brown, Gabe Grant, Annie Grevas, Nikki Kerwin, Greta Lagerberg, Brenda McDaniel, Nancy Presnal, Mike Schrage, and Phil Smith-Hanes. Meeting the “basic needs” of youth is a guiding principle for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The advisory group’s research indicates that many young people in Salina are struggling with a lack of stability and safety, academic success, sense of belonging, poverty issues, encouragement, support, and positive role modeling.“From the data gathered in our community, we believe there is not only the need for additional support for our youth, but most particularly, from an organization that specializes in serving and supporting youth needs,” said Greta Lagerberg, an advisory group member and retired counselor for USD 305. “The Boys &amp; Girls Club is a perfect fit. We are honored to be a part of doing the work to create a place for Salina’s youth to grow, for we know that today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce and citizens.”The Salina advisory group is working closely with the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson to navigate the many steps to opening a successful Club afterschool and summer program for Salina students.“This community group is so dedicated and driven to make something great for kids,” said Lance Patterson, CEO of the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson. “I am happy that we can help make it happen.With the opening of a fund, we are one step closer to changing lives in Salina.” Today the group is one step closer to a Boys &amp; Girls Club in Salina. An organizational fund has been established at the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Group members are actively raising funds. To make a gift for the 2024 tax year, interested donors are encouraged to postmark a check or give online at gscf.org before December 31. Gifts for the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Salina Fund should note that they are “nonendowed” to ensure they can be used for operations and capital to establish a Club site.The Greater Salina Community foundation accepts gifts of cash and check, as well as noncash gifts including retirement plans, stocks, cryptocurrency, life insurance, grain, livestock, closely held stock, real estate and tangible personal property.“The Boys and Girls Club will be an investment in a healthier, more economically thriving community,” said Millie Moye. “For me, this is not just a dream—it’s a mission to leave Salina better for the generations to come.

Now accepting gifts to create a Boys & Girls Club of Salina 

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I’m ready to roll. We’re onto Pittsburgh.”

Q:&nbsp;What was your main takeaway from Saturday’s game against the Texans?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, would’ve liked to play a little bit better in the first half, especially (on) third down but I do think we came out in the second half and did what we had to do. The kid (Texans QB C.J. Stroud) made a great throw on that one touchdown, unfortunately the kid (Texans WR Tank Dell) got hurt. Trent (McDuffie) was with him there. The quarterback was really impressive, but I liked the way we battled in the second half and found a way to keep them at 19 points.”

Q:&nbsp;What are you seeing from the Steelers offense?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Listen, first of all, that quarterback (Steelers QB Russell Wilson). We know what he’s been all about, he’s all about making big plays. He loves to chuck the ball deep. He’s got guys and he’s got a lot of confidence in them to go up and get it. We have to be on point back there. I mean, we’ve been playing the ball pretty well on the back end in the last couple of games. That needs to continue in this game. When we get these 50/50 jump balls against the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have to try to win more than we lose on there. That’ll be – that’ll make a big difference in the game.”

Q:&nbsp;How did you feel like Chris Roland-Wallace did in his first start filling in for Chamarri Conner?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I thought he (Chris Roland-Wallace) did a great job. He’s one of those guys that I’ve been real hopeful for all season long. The more reps he gets, the better he gets and he’s a very – he’s a real smart, intelligent football player with some instincts. He’s played special teams with (Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub). I’m really – I’m happy for him. He’ll probably tell you that he made one key mistake that he could fix because that’s all he could think about at the end of the game. I told him, ‘Look, think about the other good plays that you made,’ because he played 30-odd- something plays for us. I thought he did a solid job going in there and filling in for Chamarri (Conner).”

Q: What’s your take on Wanya Morris and how he’s progressed recently?

NAGY:&nbsp;“He’s (Wanya Morris) done a good job with that. It’s important that these guys – as they go through the ebb-and-flows of the season and game-by-game is (that) they stay locked in (and) they stay focused. I think most importantly, more than anything, is that they understand that we always are supporting them and we need to be coaching them and still be tough on them but also have that ‘one play away’ mentality and you saw that yesterday. Wanya’s done that this whole time and he came in and played well. He just needs to keep growing and he will – he’s young and I think we all just need to keep that in perspective. I like where he’s at right now and we’ve just got to continue to stay true to what he’s doing well and continue to teach him what he’s not doing great, and we can keep working at that.”

Q: What have you seen from DeAndre Hopkins when it comes to Xavier Worthy and his development?

NAGY:&nbsp;“It started right away, Jesse (Newell). It was something where I think both guys understand what they’re coming into so D-Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) comes in (and) he’s trying to learn kind of a new way of how we do things here, which every team is different. Then, he’s kind of learning that wide receiver room as well but it’s a little different and unique when you’re a guy like D-Hop and you’ve played as many games as you’ve played, you’ve had as much success as you’ve had and now to have a young rookie who is trying to get his first year under his belt and still find out from D-Hop, ‘Hey, what are some tricks to the trade? What can I do as a rookie – if you can remember back then and how it was for you?’ Then, that bond and that friendship starts, and it just continues in practice. The dialogue on gameday amongst those guys on the bench and talking through plays is phenomenal. I really wish everyone could kind of have a part of that and understand the stuff that goes on. Not just from coach-to-player but player-to-player and how they talk through that, but D-Hop’s been amazing, he’s been really good. Xavier’s (Worthy) been great, (he’s) taking it all in and I think he’s improving as well.”

Q: What have you seen from Xavier Worthy in recent weeks that’s allowed him to become a more consistently productive player?

Chiefs Coordinator QuotesDecember 22, 2024DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“I’m ready to roll. We’re onto Pittsburgh.”Q:&nbsp;What was your main takeaway from Saturday’s game against the Texans?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Yeah, would’ve liked to play a little bit better in the first half, especially (on) third down but I do think we came out in the second half and did what we had to do. The kid (Texans QB C.J. Stroud) made a great throw on that one touchdown, unfortunately the kid (Texans WR Tank Dell) got hurt. Trent (McDuffie) was with him there. The quarterback was really impressive, but I liked the way we battled in the second half and found a way to keep them at 19 points.”Q:&nbsp;What are you seeing from the Steelers offense?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Listen, first of all, that quarterback (Steelers QB Russell Wilson). We know what he’s been all about, he’s all about making big plays. He loves to chuck the ball deep. He’s got guys and he’s got a lot of confidence in them to go up and get it. We have to be on point back there. I mean, we’ve been playing the ball pretty well on the back end in the last couple of games. That needs to continue in this game. When we get these 50/50 jump balls against the Pittsburgh Steelers, we have to try to win more than we lose on there. That’ll be – that’ll make a big difference in the game.”Q:&nbsp;How did you feel like Chris Roland-Wallace did in his first start filling in for Chamarri Conner?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“I thought he (Chris Roland-Wallace) did a great job. He’s one of those guys that I’ve been real hopeful for all season long. The more reps he gets, the better he gets and he’s a very – he’s a real smart, intelligent football player with some instincts. He’s played special teams with (Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub). I’m really – I’m happy for him. He’ll probably tell you that he made one key mistake that he could fix because that’s all he could think about at the end of the game. I told him, ‘Look, think about the other good plays that you made,’ because he played 30-odd- something plays for us. I thought he did a solid job going in there and filling in for Chamarri (Conner).”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ: What’s your take on Wanya Morris and how he’s progressed recently?NAGY:&nbsp;“He’s (Wanya Morris) done a good job with that. It’s important that these guys – as they go through the ebb-and-flows of the season and game-by-game is (that) they stay locked in (and) they stay focused. I think most importantly, more than anything, is that they understand that we always are supporting them and we need to be coaching them and still be tough on them but also have that ‘one play away’ mentality and you saw that yesterday. Wanya’s done that this whole time and he came in and played well. He just needs to keep growing and he will – he’s young and I think we all just need to keep that in perspective. I like where he’s at right now and we’ve just got to continue to stay true to what he’s doing well and continue to teach him what he’s not doing great, and we can keep working at that.”Q: What have you seen from DeAndre Hopkins when it comes to Xavier Worthy and his development?NAGY:&nbsp;“It started right away, Jesse (Newell). It was something where I think both guys understand what they’re coming into so D-Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) comes in (and) he’s trying to learn kind of a new way of how we do things here, which every team is different. Then, he’s kind of learning that wide receiver room as well but it’s a little different and unique when you’re a guy like D-Hop and you’ve played as many games as you’ve played, you’ve had as much success as you’ve had and now to have a young rookie who is trying to get his first year under his belt and still find out from D-Hop, ‘Hey, what are some tricks to the trade? What can I do as a rookie – if you can remember back then and how it was for you?’ Then, that bond and that friendship starts, and it just continues in practice. The dialogue on gameday amongst those guys on the bench and talking through plays is phenomenal. I really wish everyone could kind of have a part of that and understand the stuff that goes on. Not just from coach-to-player but player-to-player and how they talk through that, but D-Hop’s been amazing, he’s been really good. Xavier’s (Worthy) been great, (he’s) taking it all in and I think he’s improving as well.”Q: What have you seen from Xavier Worthy in recent weeks that’s allowed him to become a more consistently productive player?

Chiefs Quotes: 12-22-24

FBI seeks victims of former Kan. doctor accused of rape

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as the guys that didn’t practice today, it was Chamarri (Conner) and D.J. (Humphries) and then the rest of the guys were out there working. I know the questions are about Patrick (Mahomes). He worked out this week, full and will most likely end up playing. We’ll just see how things worked out today – rotated guys at the left tackle position, Joe Thuney being one of them and then the young guys (Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia) so – and we’ll just finalize that as we get closer here, but they all got work in there. (We) look forward to the challenge of playing the Texans. (Houston Texans Head Coach) DeMeco’s (Ryans) done a great job there and they’re good offensively, defensively and special teams-wise, but our guys have had a real good week of preparation (and we) look forward to that challenge. With that, time’s yours.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you expect Hollywood Brown to play on Saturday?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, there’s a good chance on that.”

Q:&nbsp;On the comments from the Texans players.

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, we just play. We practice and we play so (we’re) not worried about that.”

Q:&nbsp;How has Hollywood Brown looked in practice?

REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Hollywood Brown) done a nice job. I mentioned earlier just about (how) it’s not – it wasn’t his legs, so he’s been able to run and keep himself in running shape, but the rest of it where the surgery wasn’t at, he – it looked good and (he) was doing fine, yeah.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you feel like at this point that Patrick Mahomes will play unless he has a setback?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, listen I don’t want to lead you one way or the other. I’m (going to) make sure that – we’ve been taking it day-by-day and that’s kind of where we’re at, but he (Patrick Mahomes) did look good out there.”

Q: When you say look good, can you elaborate on that?

REID:&nbsp;“He (Patrick Mahomes) moved around pretty good. You’re always looking to make sure that he can get out of the way, not to further any harm to him so that’s what I look at.”

Q: Did you give Carson Wentz more reps with the regular guys this week?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, not necessarily with the regular guys but he (Carson Wentz) did some extra stuff, yeah.”

Q: Where is Chamarri Conner in his concussion protocol? Is there a chance he could play on Wednesday?

REID:&nbsp;“There’s a chance Wednesday but right now, he’s (Chamarri Conner) still in the protocol and going through it. He’s doing better every day, so we’ll just – we’ll have to see. Definitely though out for this game.”

Q: Five days ago, did you think Patrick Mahomes would be where he is today physically?

REID:&nbsp;“I wasn’t sure. I’ve been through it with him (Patrick Mahomes) before and he amazes me every time he does it. I mean, the guy, he’s so mentally tough and just puts – it’s a mindset that he has going into it. Where he was a few days ago, yeah, I’d probably say it was a long shot, but you know he’s done well with it.”

Q: Is your goal to get D.J. Humphries back in the left tackle spot?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, we just have to let that hamstring – being a big - cause just because I don’t want him (D.J. Humphries) to go out and do it again but yeah, eventually he’ll get back in there and get going.”

Q: Is there a chance he can play against the Steelers?

HEAD COACH ANDY REIDOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as the guys that didn’t practice today, it was Chamarri (Conner) and D.J. (Humphries) and then the rest of the guys were out there working. I know the questions are about Patrick (Mahomes). He worked out this week, full and will most likely end up playing. We’ll just see how things worked out today – rotated guys at the left tackle position, Joe Thuney being one of them and then the young guys (Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia) so – and we’ll just finalize that as we get closer here, but they all got work in there. (We) look forward to the challenge of playing the Texans. (Houston Texans Head Coach) DeMeco’s (Ryans) done a great job there and they’re good offensively, defensively and special teams-wise, but our guys have had a real good week of preparation (and we) look forward to that challenge. With that, time’s yours.”Q:&nbsp;Do you expect Hollywood Brown to play on Saturday?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, there’s a good chance on that.”Q:&nbsp;On the comments from the Texans players.REID:&nbsp;“Listen, we just play. We practice and we play so (we’re) not worried about that.”Q:&nbsp;How has Hollywood Brown looked in practice?REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Hollywood Brown) done a nice job. I mentioned earlier just about (how) it’s not – it wasn’t his legs, so he’s been able to run and keep himself in running shape, but the rest of it where the surgery wasn’t at, he – it looked good and (he) was doing fine, yeah.”Q:&nbsp;Do you feel like at this point that Patrick Mahomes will play unless he has a setback?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, listen I don’t want to lead you one way or the other. I’m (going to) make sure that – we’ve been taking it day-by-day and that’s kind of where we’re at, but he (Patrick Mahomes) did look good out there.”Q: When you say look good, can you elaborate on that?REID:&nbsp;“He (Patrick Mahomes) moved around pretty good. You’re always looking to make sure that he can get out of the way, not to further any harm to him so that’s what I look at.”Q: Did you give Carson Wentz more reps with the regular guys this week?REID:&nbsp;“Well, not necessarily with the regular guys but he (Carson Wentz) did some extra stuff, yeah.”Q: Where is Chamarri Conner in his concussion protocol? Is there a chance he could play on Wednesday?REID:&nbsp;“There’s a chance Wednesday but right now, he’s (Chamarri Conner) still in the protocol and going through it. He’s doing better every day, so we’ll just – we’ll have to see. Definitely though out for this game.”Q: Five days ago, did you think Patrick Mahomes would be where he is today physically?REID:&nbsp;“I wasn’t sure. I’ve been through it with him (Patrick Mahomes) before and he amazes me every time he does it. I mean, the guy, he’s so mentally tough and just puts – it’s a mindset that he has going into it. Where he was a few days ago, yeah, I’d probably say it was a long shot, but you know he’s done well with it.”Q: Is your goal to get D.J. Humphries back in the left tackle spot?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, we just have to let that hamstring – being a big - cause just because I don’t want him (D.J. Humphries) to go out and do it again but yeah, eventually he’ll get back in there and get going.”Q: Is there a chance he can play against the Steelers?

Chiefs Quotes: 12-19-24

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-elon-budget-house-republican-05481374b154949c3fe1270141a02918">congressional budget negotiations</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.

Trump's joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance, which stopped the bill in its tracks, punctuated a daylong torrent of social media posts by Musk attacking the legislation for what he described as excessive spending.

“Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X as he dangled primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal, a threat Trump later echoed in a post of his own.

The episode showcased the growing political influence of Musk, whom Trump has selected alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, a nongovernmental task force formed to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs and reduce regulations.

Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, said his office was flooded with calls from constituents.

“My phone was ringing off the hook," he said. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/CR.pdf">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;1,500 page proposed budget bill

In his statement with Vance, Trump said Republicans should restart negotiations over the legislation, arguing that “anything else is a betrayal of our country.” He also called for including an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office.

“Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch," they said. "If Democrats won’t cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate over the debt ceiling now.”

Trump's opposition to what was considered must-pass legislation reinjected a sense of chaos and political brinkmanship that was reminiscent of his first term in office. It was a dramatic turn of events for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who negotiated the bill and has been undermined by Trump as he faces reelection for his post in just a couple of weeks. Republicans have a slim majority, raising the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-house-speaker-gop-selection-mccarthy-jordan-9b244d42f60eaccc94befcc1ba9d2985">a replay of leadership disputes</a>&nbsp;that paralyzed the House a year ago.

Many lawmakers were in the middle of holiday and year-end celebrations with staff when Trump came out against the legislation.

“I’ve been here 14 years, OK? So nothing up here surprises me anymore,” said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican appropriator from Arkansas. “We shouldn’t be in this mess.”

The Biden administration criticized the possibility of a shutdown.

"Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a veteran of Washington's budget battles, was concerned about the lack of a clear plan for resolving the dispute.

"There’s got to be a second part of the strategy," he said.

Norquist has been enthusiastic about Musk's ability to generate public attention for efforts to reduce the size of government. But he suggested that the owner of a space rocket company wasn't the right person to spearhead a congressional spending debate.

“He doesn’t know politics like he knows physics," he said.

But others were thrilled with Musk's involvement.

“In five years in Congress, I’ve been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic,” posted Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican from North Carolina. “It has arrived.”

Musk began criticizing the measure as soon as it was released Tuesday evening, and he continuously posted about it Wednesday.

"Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!" he wrote. He also called it “one of the worst bills ever written.”

Sometimes Musk amplified false claims, such as the idea that the legislation included $3 billion for a new football stadium in Washington. In reality, the legislation would transfer ownership of the land from the federal government to the city, paving the way for eventual development.

Musk appeared emboldened by the experience.

“The voice of the people was heard,” Musk wrote. “This was a good day for America."

Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said the fallout would be Republicans' fault.

“You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow," he wrote on X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734474980545.png" alt="The 2024 Capitol Christmas Tree -photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol" />
 <figcaption>The 2024 Capitol Christmas Tree -photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-elon-budget-house-republican-05481374b154949c3fe1270141a02918">congressional budget negotiations</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734611151849.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734578201857.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump's joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance, which stopped the bill in its tracks, punctuated a daylong torrent of social media posts by Musk attacking the legislation for what he described as excessive spending.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ever seen a bigger piece of pork? <a href="https://t.co/ZesFCNSNKp">pic.twitter.com/ZesFCNSNKp</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1869311029131596262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X as he dangled primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal, a threat Trump later echoed in a post of his own.The episode showcased the growing political influence of Musk, whom Trump has selected alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, a nongovernmental task force formed to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs and reduce regulations.Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, said his office was flooded with calls from constituents.“My phone was ringing off the hook," he said. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/CR.pdf">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;1,500 page proposed budget billIn his statement with Vance, Trump said Republicans should restart negotiations over the legislation, arguing that “anything else is a betrayal of our country.” He also called for including an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office.“Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch," they said. "If Democrats won’t cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate over the debt ceiling now.”Trump's opposition to what was considered must-pass legislation reinjected a sense of chaos and political brinkmanship that was reminiscent of his first term in office. It was a dramatic turn of events for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who negotiated the bill and has been undermined by Trump as he faces reelection for his post in just a couple of weeks. Republicans have a slim majority, raising the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-house-speaker-gop-selection-mccarthy-jordan-9b244d42f60eaccc94befcc1ba9d2985">a replay of leadership disputes</a>&nbsp;that paralyzed the House a year ago.Many lawmakers were in the middle of holiday and year-end celebrations with staff when Trump came out against the legislation.“I’ve been here 14 years, OK? So nothing up here surprises me anymore,” said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican appropriator from Arkansas. “We shouldn’t be in this mess.”The Biden administration criticized the possibility of a shutdown."Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a veteran of Washington's budget battles, was concerned about the lack of a clear plan for resolving the dispute."There’s got to be a second part of the strategy," he said.Norquist has been enthusiastic about Musk's ability to generate public attention for efforts to reduce the size of government. But he suggested that the owner of a space rocket company wasn't the right person to spearhead a congressional spending debate.“He doesn’t know politics like he knows physics," he said.But others were thrilled with Musk's involvement.“In five years in Congress, I’ve been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic,” posted Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican from North Carolina. “It has arrived.”Musk began criticizing the measure as soon as it was released Tuesday evening, and he continuously posted about it Wednesday."Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!" he wrote. He also called it “one of the worst bills ever written.”Sometimes Musk amplified false claims, such as the idea that the legislation included $3 billion for a new football stadium in Washington. In reality, the legislation would transfer ownership of the land from the federal government to the city, paving the way for eventual development.Musk appeared emboldened by the experience.“The voice of the people was heard,” Musk wrote. “This was a good day for America."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJeffries</a>: &quot;House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country...An agreement is an agreement. It was bipartisan, and there is nothing more to say.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0zPhPtd1hi">pic.twitter.com/0zPhPtd1hi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1869537831682490449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said the fallout would be Republicans' fault.“You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow," he wrote on X.

Trump, Musk deliver chaos at Christmas to Washington

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: When Harrison Butker lands on his knee, is that accuracy or a power thing? What does that allow him to do?

TOUB: “I’m not sure about the power. I’m not sure he (Harrison Butker) has more power the other way, I mean, that’s up for debate. (His) accuracy is fine. I mean, he’s been doing this for two years. He missed that field goal but that wasn’t his – you know, he was coming back but that wasn’t his fault.”

Q: How nice will it be to catch up with Texans P Tommy Townsend before the game?

TOUB: “(Texans P) Tommy (Townsend) and I were real close and it’s going to be good to see Tommy again. He’s having a great season. His numbers are really, really good. We look forward to the challenge of playing against Tommy now. We know Tommy so it’s going to be fun, (it’ll be) a little bit of a reunion seeing him again.”

TOUB: “Very good, I mean (Texans KR Dameon) Pierce the returner – the kick returner, he doesn’t go down. It’s as simple as that. He breaks tackles and he’s really, really tough. Then, they have (Texans WR/PR) Tank Dell back there at punt returner now. He’s got six returns, he’s averaging like 14 (yards) every time he touches it, never fair catches it. I mean, they’re a top unit, great cover team, very well coached. (Texans K Ka’imi) Fairbairn, the kicker is excellent, then (Texans P) Tommy (Townsend), we know all about him. It’s a good unit – playoff team caliber level.”

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Listen, coming off the last week’s game – if I was being honest, I’d say we were all happy except for one play. We played some pretty good defense but with that, we put it to bed and now it’s onto a playoff team. This is a good football team with a really good quarterback and some weapons so (we’ll need) all hands-on deck for this one. With that, I’ll open it up.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you see some progress from your defense after forcing six turnovers and five sacks? Is this sustainable?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, I’ll tell you the play that Bryan Cook made, I thought was a really good, athletic play – (he) played that perfect. Then, Trent (McDuffie) – I mean, to get your first interception on a play like that was – and then at the end of the game, it was nice to finish the game with an interception rather than having them drive a little bit so all that was good. Leo’s (Chenal) been doing – Leo’s been doing that (motions punching the football out) all year long. He does it in practice, he’s done it in the games and sometimes it (the football) comes out and sometimes it doesn’t, but I thought that was perfect. The play Nick (Bolton) made – it was the first play of the second half? Yeah, I mean he did – first he hit it (and then) when it bounced back, I thought it was going to be one of those where he made a great play and then they caught it and then he found a way to tear it out of there, but some really good individual plays I thought on those turnovers. Then, Charles (Omenihu) with the fumble.”

Q:&nbsp;What have you seen from second-year guys like Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“They (Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins) look like they’re in complete synergy (meshes hands together), and not just those two and not just that wideout. I think they have a tight end (Texans TE Dalton Schultz) that’s real effective, their slot receiver’s (Texans WR Tank Dell) really good and then the running back (Texans RB Joe Mixon), who we saw a lot when he was in Cincinnati – boy, what a find he was for them and he – and not just as a running back. He catches the ball out of the backfield, too. You know, we hadn’t played the Texans since C.J. (Stroud) had gotten there so we really hadn’t studied them other than seeing highlights and what not, but he’s as impressive as you had heard about people talking. (He’s) really poised for a second-year quarterback and I think he just has a unique ability to move around in the pocket and still have his eyes downfield. He makes a lot of plays slipping in and out of the pocket and finding an open receiver and when a quarterback can do that, I think that’s pretty dangerous.”

Q:&nbsp;How has the return of Charles Omenihu impacted the defense as a whole?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well listen, you guys know how I feel about Charles (Omenihu). It’s good to get him back and it was going to take a little while to kind of ramp him up. He’s playing a little bit more and more – a little bit more on first and second down now, which is a good thing for us when they decide to throw it. He’s getting better in the run game (and) that takes a little while. I mean, remember he steps into this thing with really no padded practices since the Baltimore game a year ago so that’s taken a little while, but I think he’s getting there and I’m glad we got him (back). We just need everybody up front to kind of play like we did last week to help everybody else on the back end.”

Q: What are you looking for when making the decision of if Patrick Mahomes will play on Saturday?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Just for him (Patrick Mahomes) to be able to be honest with us as he goes through this. It’s all part of the game (and) we know he’s a tough kid, so we understand that but at the same point in time, you want to be smart. I think, you know – we know our schedule this week and (it’s) a little bit of a shorter week so there’s a balance there to that but so far, I think his mindset is to do everything (that) he can but at the same time, you still have to be able to see how he does throughout the week.”

Q: What do you weigh when you’re looking at left tackle between Joe Thuney and Wanya Morris?

NAGY:&nbsp;“You probably just start off – I want to give a lot of credit to Joe (Thuney) coming in last week and doing what he did. I thought, in that moment, he did a great job against a really good front – in particular, (Browns DE) Myles Garrett so we’ll continue to just kind of keep an eye on that. In the end, (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid will make the final decision on how we go with that and where we go but I just look back to last week and just say – for what Joe did in that moment, I think it just speaks to him and the value that he has of being able to have the flexibility to go out there and play tackle like he did.”

Q: Is there something that you’ve learned about DeAndre Hopkins that you didn’t know before since he’s been here?&nbsp;

Chiefs Coordinator QuotesDecember 18, 2024ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: When Harrison Butker lands on his knee, is that accuracy or a power thing? What does that allow him to do?TOUB: “I’m not sure about the power. I’m not sure he (Harrison Butker) has more power the other way, I mean, that’s up for debate. (His) accuracy is fine. I mean, he’s been doing this for two years. He missed that field goal but that wasn’t his – you know, he was coming back but that wasn’t his fault.”Q: How nice will it be to catch up with Texans P Tommy Townsend before the game?TOUB: “(Texans P) Tommy (Townsend) and I were real close and it’s going to be good to see Tommy again. He’s having a great season. His numbers are really, really good. We look forward to the challenge of playing against Tommy now. We know Tommy so it’s going to be fun, (it’ll be) a little bit of a reunion seeing him again.”Q: On the Texans return game.TOUB: “Very good, I mean (Texans KR Dameon) Pierce the returner – the kick returner, he doesn’t go down. It’s as simple as that. He breaks tackles and he’s really, really tough. Then, they have (Texans WR/PR) Tank Dell back there at punt returner now. He’s got six returns, he’s averaging like 14 (yards) every time he touches it, never fair catches it. I mean, they’re a top unit, great cover team, very well coached. (Texans K Ka’imi) Fairbairn, the kicker is excellent, then (Texans P) Tommy (Townsend), we know all about him. It’s a good unit – playoff team caliber level.”DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Listen, coming off the last week’s game – if I was being honest, I’d say we were all happy except for one play. We played some pretty good defense but with that, we put it to bed and now it’s onto a playoff team. This is a good football team with a really good quarterback and some weapons so (we’ll need) all hands-on deck for this one. With that, I’ll open it up.”Q:&nbsp;Did you see some progress from your defense after forcing six turnovers and five sacks? Is this sustainable?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well, I’ll tell you the play that Bryan Cook made, I thought was a really good, athletic play – (he) played that perfect. Then, Trent (McDuffie) – I mean, to get your first interception on a play like that was – and then at the end of the game, it was nice to finish the game with an interception rather than having them drive a little bit so all that was good. Leo’s (Chenal) been doing – Leo’s been doing that (motions punching the football out) all year long. He does it in practice, he’s done it in the games and sometimes it (the football) comes out and sometimes it doesn’t, but I thought that was perfect. The play Nick (Bolton) made – it was the first play of the second half? Yeah, I mean he did – first he hit it (and then) when it bounced back, I thought it was going to be one of those where he made a great play and then they caught it and then he found a way to tear it out of there, but some really good individual plays I thought on those turnovers. Then, Charles (Omenihu) with the fumble.”Q:&nbsp;What have you seen from second-year guys like Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“They (Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Texans WR Nico Collins) look like they’re in complete synergy (meshes hands together), and not just those two and not just that wideout. I think they have a tight end (Texans TE Dalton Schultz) that’s real effective, their slot receiver’s (Texans WR Tank Dell) really good and then the running back (Texans RB Joe Mixon), who we saw a lot when he was in Cincinnati – boy, what a find he was for them and he – and not just as a running back. He catches the ball out of the backfield, too. You know, we hadn’t played the Texans since C.J. (Stroud) had gotten there so we really hadn’t studied them other than seeing highlights and what not, but he’s as impressive as you had heard about people talking. (He’s) really poised for a second-year quarterback and I think he just has a unique ability to move around in the pocket and still have his eyes downfield. He makes a lot of plays slipping in and out of the pocket and finding an open receiver and when a quarterback can do that, I think that’s pretty dangerous.”Q:&nbsp;How has the return of Charles Omenihu impacted the defense as a whole?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Well listen, you guys know how I feel about Charles (Omenihu). It’s good to get him back and it was going to take a little while to kind of ramp him up. He’s playing a little bit more and more – a little bit more on first and second down now, which is a good thing for us when they decide to throw it. He’s getting better in the run game (and) that takes a little while. I mean, remember he steps into this thing with really no padded practices since the Baltimore game a year ago so that’s taken a little while, but I think he’s getting there and I’m glad we got him (back). We just need everybody up front to kind of play like we did last week to help everybody else on the back end.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ: What are you looking for when making the decision of if Patrick Mahomes will play on Saturday?NAGY:&nbsp;“Just for him (Patrick Mahomes) to be able to be honest with us as he goes through this. It’s all part of the game (and) we know he’s a tough kid, so we understand that but at the same point in time, you want to be smart. I think, you know – we know our schedule this week and (it’s) a little bit of a shorter week so there’s a balance there to that but so far, I think his mindset is to do everything (that) he can but at the same time, you still have to be able to see how he does throughout the week.”Q: What do you weigh when you’re looking at left tackle between Joe Thuney and Wanya Morris?NAGY:&nbsp;“You probably just start off – I want to give a lot of credit to Joe (Thuney) coming in last week and doing what he did. I thought, in that moment, he did a great job against a really good front – in particular, (Browns DE) Myles Garrett so we’ll continue to just kind of keep an eye on that. In the end, (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid will make the final decision on how we go with that and where we go but I just look back to last week and just say – for what Joe did in that moment, I think it just speaks to him and the value that he has of being able to have the flexibility to go out there and play tackle like he did.”Q: Is there something that you’ve learned about DeAndre Hopkins that you didn’t know before since he’s been here?&nbsp;

Chiefs Quotes: 12-18-24

2024 Rate Bowlnr/rv/rv&nbsp;K-State vs. Rutgers

TV: ESPN (<a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/5c9b2b9b-8223-4983-8db6-f8c3ba64c934" target="_blank">watch</a>)

Radio: K-State Sports Network;&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com/" target="_blank">k-statesports.com</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/watch" target="_blank">Listen</a>) – SXM Ch. 84

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stan Weber (Analyst)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Matt Walters (Sidelines)

National Radio: ESPN Radio – SXM Ch. 80

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jorge Sedano (Play-by-Play)&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylor McGargue (Analyst)

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X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo

BOWL PREVIEWComing off an 8-4 regular season, Kansas State will be in search of its third-straight year with nine or more wins and its second-straight bowl victory as the Wildcats face Rutgers in the Rate Bowl on Thursday, December 26 inside Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m.&nbsp; MST (4:30 p.m. CT), will be shown to a national audience on ESPN.

The Rate Bowl marks the 26th bowl game all-time for the Wildcats, who are advancing to a bowl for a fifth time in six years under head coach Chris Klieman. This is the eighth time K-State will play in a bowl game in Arizona, including the fifth in what is now known as the Rate Bowl.

K-State is looking for its fifth bowl victory in its last seven tries for the first time in school history. In fact, the Wildcats’ 4-2 bowl record since 2017 is tied for the third best among current Big 12 programs.

The Wildcats are playing a Big Ten team in a bowl game for the fifth time in school history and the first since the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (an earlier iteration of the Rate Bowl) when K-State defeated Michigan, 31-14.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATSK-State is the only team in the Big 12 to collect at least eight wins in a four-season stretch and one of just nine Power 4 programs to claim that feat. A win in the Rate Bowl would give the Wildcats at least nine wins in each of the last three seasons and join Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon in that regard.

The Wildcats are looking to bounce back from a 1-3 mark in November after beginning the year at 7-1 and ranking as high as No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25. Key victories this season included a win at Tulane, which resided in the top 25 for a majority of the season, wins against teams ranked No. 20 at the time (Arizona and Oklahoma State), handing Colorado its only home loss of the season and defeating in-state rival Kansas for the 16th-straight season, which is tied for the longest active winning streak among uninterrupted series.

The Wildcats are led on offense by sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, who is looking to become the first signal caller in school history to lead the Wildcats to a bowl victory in each of his first two seasons. The top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023, Johnson is one of only two Power 4 quarterbacks – the other being Alabama’s Jalen Milroe – to enter bowl season with at least 2,500 passing yards and 525 rushing yards during the regular season. A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson is also one of just six Power 4 quarterbacks and one of two in the Big 12 to record at least 22 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns.

Johnson’s favorite target this season has been sophomore wide receiver Jayce Brown, who has hauled in 42 receptions for 763 yards and five touchdowns. His receiving yardage total is the most by a Wildcat since Tyler Lockett in 2014, while it ranks second in school history among sophomores. He has tallied 18.17 yards per reception this season to rank eighth nationally and tops in the Big 12 among players with at least 40 receptions. His career 17.4 yards per catch currently ranks sixth in school history.

The Wildcats were led on the ground throughout the regular season by DJ Giddens, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist who set the school record with 6.55 yards per carry this year and enters bowl season ranked ninth 12th nationally with 1,343 yards. However, Giddens announced he is entering the NFL Draft and will not participate in the bowl. That opens the door for sophomore Dylan Edwards and redshirt freshman Joe Jackson, who have combined for 527 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season.

Kansas State is one of only three Power 4 schools to enter bowl season ranked in the top 25 nationally in both rushing offense and rushing defense, the latter ranking 22nd nationally and tops in the Big 12 by surrendering only 114.9 rushing yards per game, which is the lowest allowed by the Wildcats since 2009 (105.4). K-State is also looking to put together its fourth-straight season allowing less than 22.0 points per game, which would be its longest streak since doing so 13-straight years from 1991-2003.

K-State’s leading tackler is sophomore Austin Romaine, who has 89 tackles this season to rank ninth in the Big 12. He is looking to become K-State’s first player with 100 tackles in a season since Elijah Lee had 118 stops in 2016.

The 2024 Rate Bowl will also be the final game for a pair of sixth-year seniors in defensive end Brendan Mott and linebacker Austin Moore. Mott was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, K-State’s conference-leading sixth Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year accolade since the award was introduced following the 2006 season, two more than the next closest school (Texas – 4). Moore enters the final game of his career with a team-best 39-consecutive starts since the beginning of 2022, and he has totaled 229 career tackles, including 30.5 tackles for loss.

A LOOK AT THE SCARLET KNIGHTSRutgers finished the regular season winning three of its final four games after winning its first four of the season before dropping all four contests in the month of October. The early-season portion of Rutgers’ scheduled included two wins in six days at Virginia Tech and at home against Washington in the Big Ten opener. Its three wins in the final four games including a pair of road wins – at Maryland (31-17) and at Michigan State (41-14).

The Scarlet Knights are seeing consecutive bowl victories for the first time since 2006 through 2009, a streak that began with a win over K-State in the 2006 Texas Bowl.

Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has attempted every pass for Rutgers this season, going 199-of-363 through the air for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights as led in the ground game by Kyle Monangai with 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns on 256 carries. Wide receiver Dymere Miller has a team-high 731 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches.

Linebacker Dariel Djabome has a team-best 102 tackles and also paces the squad with 7.0 tackles for loss. Jordan Walker has a team-best 4.0 sacks, while Shaquan Loyal has two interceptions.

TEAM NOTESWILDCATS HEADED TO RATE BOWL

• Coming off an 8-4 regular season, Kansas State earned its 26th bowl berth all time and fifth under head coach Chris Klieman as the Wildcats will face Rutgers in the Rate Bowl on Thursday, December 26, inside Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Of K-State’s 26 total bowl appearances all-time, 24 of those have come since 1993.

• The Wildcats hold an 11-14 record in bowl games and are looking to win their fifth bowl game in their last seven appearances for the first time in school history.

• In fact, over the first 20 years of the Big 12 era (1996-2015), Kansas State went 5-10 (.333) in bowl games, the worst mark by any current conference member in that span. Since then, the Wildcats have gone 4-2 (.667) in bowl games, which is tied for third-best among current Big 12 teams.

• K-State has traveled to bowl games in nine different states with Arizona (5-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus/Rate, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo) being the most frequent destinations.

• This year marks the eighth time K-State will play in an Arizona bowl, including the fourth time since the 2012 season.

• The Wildcats hold a 4-3 all-time record in Arizona bowl games, including each of the last two trips – a 31-14 victory over Michigan in the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and a 35-17 win over UCLA in the 2017 Cactus Bowl.

• This is the fifth time K-State will play in what is now known as the Rate Bowl as it also played in the game in 1993 (known as Copper Bowl and played in Tucson, Arizona), 2001 (Insight.com Bowl), 2013 (Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl) and 2017 (Cactus Bowl).

• The 2024 Rate Bowl represents the second all-time meeting between Kansas State and Rutgers.

• The first meeting between the two programs also came in a bowl game as the Scarlet Knights earned a 34-10 win in the inaugural Texas Bowl in 2006.

• Kansas State will be playing its 134th game all-time against current members of the Big Ten, but it will be just the 31st against conference members when in the Big Ten at the time of the matchup.

• K-State holds a 25-105-3 all-time record against current members of the Big Ten but a 6-23-1 mark against the conference when taking out previous matchups against Nebraska, Oregon, Rutgers, UCLA and USC when they were members of other conferences.

• This is the fifth time in school history that Kansas State will face a Big Ten team in a bowl game with the last being a 31-14 victory over Michigan in the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, which was also the last time overall that the Wildcats faced a Big Ten foe. The other three times were losses to Wisconsin in the 1982 Independence Bowl, Purdue in the 1998 Alamo Bowl and Ohio State in the 2004 (post-2003 season) Fiesta Bowl.

• In an era of college football where over 80 teams play in the postseason each year, K-State is one of just 16 Power 4 schools to advance to a bowl in 13 of the last 15 years.

• The Wildcats are one of only three Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat, joining BYU and Oklahoma State.

• Since 1993, Kansas State has advanced to 25 bowl games, which is tied for 16th nationally and ranks second among current Big 12 teams.

• K-State has a total of 230 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally.

• Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (238), TCU (237) and Utah (233).

• Over the last 15 seasons – including 2024 – the Wildcats have won at least seven games on 13 occasions.

• K-State has now won at least eight games in each of the last four seasons. It is the Wildcats’ longest streak since doing so over the 2011 (10), 2012 (11), 2013 (8) and 2014 (9) seasons.

• The Wildcats are tied for fifth in the country with their four-straight seasons of at least eight wins and are one of only nine programs to accomplish the feat.

• K-State has 35 wins since 2021, which is tied for 17th nationally and ranks first among active Big 12 teams.