HAVEN, Kan. — Local Wreaths Across America volunteers are working hard to ensure that all veterans laid to rest at both Laurel Cemetery and Haven (Priest) Cemetery are honored this December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, December 13, 2025. To fully cover all veterans (228) in both cemeteries we need sponsorships for the wreaths.

Wreaths Across America has agreed to match 1 for 1 all wreath sponsorships from now through Jan. 17, 2025!

“Every $17 sponsorship made is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We are so grateful to the good people of this wonderful community for participating in our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”

Last year, ceremonies were held across the country at more than 4,200 participating locations, placing more than 3 million wreaths for interred veterans. This year Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

The goal: to place a live, balsam fir veteran’s wreath at the headstone of every American veteran to Remember their sacrifice, Honor their service, and Teach the next generation about the value of freedom. 

For more information and to sponsor wreaths please visit: <a href="http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/KS0166">www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/KS0166</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735607722158.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Wreaths Across America" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Wreaths Across America</figcaption>
 </figure>HAVEN, Kan. — Local Wreaths Across America volunteers are working hard to ensure that all veterans laid to rest at both Laurel Cemetery and Haven (Priest) Cemetery are honored this December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day – Saturday, December 13, 2025. To fully cover all veterans (228) in both cemeteries we need sponsorships for the wreaths.Wreaths Across America has agreed to match 1 for 1 all wreath sponsorships from now through Jan. 17, 2025!“Every $17 sponsorship made is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America. “We are so grateful to the good people of this wonderful community for participating in our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”Last year, ceremonies were held across the country at more than 4,200 participating locations, placing more than 3 million wreaths for interred veterans. This year Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025.The goal: to place a live, balsam fir veteran’s wreath at the headstone of every American veteran to Remember their sacrifice, Honor their service, and Teach the next generation about the value of freedom. For more information and to sponsor wreaths please visit: <a href="http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/KS0166">www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/KS0166</a>

Haven Wreaths Across America chapter looking for sponsors

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024

TOPEKA, Kan. — Start 2025 on the right foot by joining a First Day Hike at a Kansas State Park! These guided hikes, organized annually by parks staff, encourage individuals and families to embrace the New Year with outdoor exploration and a connection to nature.

This year, more than 1,000 hikes will take place across the country, including 24 First Day Hike events hosted by Kansas State Parks. While the distance and rigor of the hikes will vary, each one aims to create a fun experience for all. Savor the beauty of our state parks' natural, cultural, and historical resources, and be inspired to continue taking advantage of these local treasures throughout 2025.

“This marks our 14th year of offering First Day Hikes in Kansas State Parks, and we’re thrilled to continue the tradition,” said Linda Lanterman, Kansas State Parks director. “These events are a fun, healthy way to kick off the New Year, beat cabin fever, and explore some of the most beautiful areas in our state.”

For a complete list of First Day Hike events in Kansas on Jan. 1, 2025, visit ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Special-Events/First-Day-Hikes.

Participants can choose from a variety of guided hikes that fit their comfort level, including scenic walks along lakes, exploring trails, and options best for wildlife viewing. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash. And if hiking isn’t for you, Kansas State Parks invite you to explore other fun activities, from boating and fishing to horseback riding, or enjoy a peaceful moment from a park picnic table or bench.

Kansas State Park staff recommend the following items for a successful First Day Hike:

Weather-appropriate clothing (hat, gloves, heavy coat, or raincoat)

Limited First Day Hike t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A vehicle permit will be required at all state park entrances; a daily vehicle permit can be purchased for $5 at each park.

First Day Hikes originated at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts in 1992. The program has since expanded nationwide, with nearly all 50 states now participating.

For more information on First Day Hikes across the country, visit <a href="http://stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes">stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes</a>. And don’t forget to share your First Day Hike experiences on social media with #FirstDayHikes and #MyKSStatePark.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640699524150.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. — Start 2025 on the right foot by joining a First Day Hike at a Kansas State Park! These guided hikes, organized annually by parks staff, encourage individuals and families to embrace the New Year with outdoor exploration and a connection to nature.This year, more than 1,000 hikes will take place across the country, including 24 First Day Hike events hosted by Kansas State Parks. While the distance and rigor of the hikes will vary, each one aims to create a fun experience for all. Savor the beauty of our state parks' natural, cultural, and historical resources, and be inspired to continue taking advantage of these local treasures throughout 2025.“This marks our 14th year of offering First Day Hikes in Kansas State Parks, and we’re thrilled to continue the tradition,” said Linda Lanterman, Kansas State Parks director. “These events are a fun, healthy way to kick off the New Year, beat cabin fever, and explore some of the most beautiful areas in our state.”Where to ParticipateFor a complete list of First Day Hike events in Kansas on Jan. 1, 2025, visit ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Special-Events/First-Day-Hikes.What To ExpectParticipants can choose from a variety of guided hikes that fit their comfort level, including scenic walks along lakes, exploring trails, and options best for wildlife viewing. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash. And if hiking isn’t for you, Kansas State Parks invite you to explore other fun activities, from boating and fishing to horseback riding, or enjoy a peaceful moment from a park picnic table or bench.What To BringKansas State Park staff recommend the following items for a successful First Day Hike:WaterSnacksWeather-appropriate clothing (hat, gloves, heavy coat, or raincoat)Hiking shoesBinocularsHiking stickCameraLimited First Day Hike t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A vehicle permit will be required at all state park entrances; a daily vehicle permit can be purchased for $5 at each park.First Day Hikes originated at the Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Massachusetts in 1992. The program has since expanded nationwide, with nearly all 50 states now participating.For more information on First Day Hikes across the country, visit <a href="http://stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes">stateparks.org/special-programs/first-day-hikes</a>. And don’t forget to share your First Day Hike experiences on social media with #FirstDayHikes and #MyKSStatePark.

Kansas State Parks to offer New Year's Day hikes

President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.

Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.

Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.

Text of the official White House Executive Order is below.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.&nbsp; All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.&nbsp;

Sec. 2.&nbsp; The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3.&nbsp; January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the&nbsp;United States.&nbsp;

Sec. 4. &nbsp;The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5. &nbsp;General Provisions. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)&nbsp; &nbsp;the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) &nbsp;the functions of the Director of the Office of&nbsp;Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b) &nbsp;This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c) &nbsp;This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667594213472.png" alt="Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: President Biden complete remarks on death of former President Jimmy Carter. <a href="https://t.co/Sea2QtgMPW">pic.twitter.com/Sea2QtgMPW</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1873534289557545352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Carter was an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian. He will be greatly missed. <a href="https://t.co/OamGQ13u9U">pic.twitter.com/OamGQ13u9U</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1873745890105561445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.Text of the official White House Executive Order is below.By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.&nbsp; All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.&nbsp;Sec. 2.&nbsp; The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.Sec. 3.&nbsp; January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the&nbsp;United States.&nbsp;Sec. 4. &nbsp;The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.Sec. 5. &nbsp;General Provisions. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)&nbsp; &nbsp;the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) &nbsp;the functions of the Director of the Office of&nbsp;Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b) &nbsp;This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c) &nbsp;This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Most federal employees will have Jan. 9 off in observance of Jimmy Carter

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Americans For Prosperity Legislative and Coalitions Director and Kansas Economist Michael Austin told Hutch Post that on December 13, the Kansas legislature got a grim holiday forecast. The state's nearly $2 billion surplus is set to vanish by 2029. Austin believes that the solution to that issue needs to come on both sides of the income and spending equation by implementing spending caps.

"Think of it like a financial thermostat for the government," Austin said. "Just like a thermostat might prevent your home from overheating, a spending cap can limit government budgets from spiraling out of control. It ties spending to sensible factors like inflation, population growth, private economic activity, all ensuring that the government lives within its means."

Other states have implemented such measures. As an example, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, is a Colorado constitutional amendment that limits the amount of revenue that state and local governments can collect and spend.&nbsp;

"If a Kansas politician promises you more tax relief, you need to respond by asking them this, where is the spending cap? Because without it, any promise of tax relief is as empty as a government office on a Friday afternoon," Austin said. "You have to keep the golden rule of fiscal policy, which is the private sector must grow faster than government spending. If it doesn't, then that means meaningful tax relief will vanish and Kansas families and businesses will be left footing the bill for tomorrow's tax hikes."

Taxpayers across Kansas are seeking property tax relief, but much of that rests in the hands of more local entities, like cities, school boards and counties, rather than the state government. One thing the state can do, though, is continue to put downward pressure on income taxes.

"The legislature's actions last year ultimately ended with a compromise going from three income tax brackets to two, but by all means, I think we need to finish strong," Austin said. "It goes to show that even, you know, even if we are to pass a bill to lower income taxes, or even if we can pass a bill to lower property taxes, none of it will be sustainable unless we get a spending cap, unless we get a spending limit."

It's up to the 2025 Kansas Legislature to craft a spending limit that allows for vital government services to continue, while slowing or stopping overall spending growth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714067766426.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Americans For Prosperity Legislative and Coalitions Director and Kansas Economist Michael Austin told Hutch Post that on December 13, the Kansas legislature got a grim holiday forecast. The state's nearly $2 billion surplus is set to vanish by 2029. Austin believes that the solution to that issue needs to come on both sides of the income and spending equation by implementing spending caps."Think of it like a financial thermostat for the government," Austin said. "Just like a thermostat might prevent your home from overheating, a spending cap can limit government budgets from spiraling out of control. It ties spending to sensible factors like inflation, population growth, private economic activity, all ensuring that the government lives within its means."Other states have implemented such measures. As an example, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, is a Colorado constitutional amendment that limits the amount of revenue that state and local governments can collect and spend.&nbsp;"If a Kansas politician promises you more tax relief, you need to respond by asking them this, where is the spending cap? Because without it, any promise of tax relief is as empty as a government office on a Friday afternoon," Austin said. "You have to keep the golden rule of fiscal policy, which is the private sector must grow faster than government spending. If it doesn't, then that means meaningful tax relief will vanish and Kansas families and businesses will be left footing the bill for tomorrow's tax hikes."Taxpayers across Kansas are seeking property tax relief, but much of that rests in the hands of more local entities, like cities, school boards and counties, rather than the state government. One thing the state can do, though, is continue to put downward pressure on income taxes."The legislature's actions last year ultimately ended with a compromise going from three income tax brackets to two, but by all means, I think we need to finish strong," Austin said. "It goes to show that even, you know, even if we are to pass a bill to lower income taxes, or even if we can pass a bill to lower property taxes, none of it will be sustainable unless we get a spending cap, unless we get a spending limit."It's up to the 2025 Kansas Legislature to craft a spending limit that allows for vital government services to continue, while slowing or stopping overall spending growth.

AFP staffer and economist wants to see spending caps

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22BILL%20BARROW%20and%20ALEX%20SANZ%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By BILL BARROW and ALEX SANZ&nbsp;</a>

ATLANTA (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jimmy-carter">Jimmy Carter,</a>&nbsp;the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-100th-birthday-1e540c277dea07bd84242d290b4ebcdc">He was 100 years old</a>.

The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-roslaynn-hospice-year-anniversary-c93498575e806f1a1d83714cf8e5c0b6">more than a year after entering hospice care</a>, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rosalynn-carter">Rosalynn,</a>&nbsp;who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others.

“To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”

Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington.

A moderate Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-georgia-state-barack-obama-794d225a2a4de24e4545bbca60095bc1">Carter ran for president in 1976</a>&nbsp;as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.

“If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said.

Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978.

But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election.

Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-us-news-d72c1e75aa626d41565117c88952a5fb">The Carter Center</a>&nbsp;in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health.

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6a4d9b86ab5bdbc3d4ffdeb736006967">negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia</a>&nbsp;and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-skin-conditions-atlanta-south-sudan-central-african-republic-e7f12b17a6661907874ea05e77f83094">eradicate guinea worm infections</a>&nbsp;as one of many health initiatives.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9ef214c0b3c748b6b32fa40a70ff6624">Swinging hammers into their 90s,</a>&nbsp;the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-middle-east-jimmy-carter-18eab7024282910f6aab29026a1e04e2">revisit his presidency</a>&nbsp;and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time.

Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing.

The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats.

But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-human-rights-1a7853176b43bc0c73e48266fcc882da">Emphasizing human rights</a>, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing.

But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll.

When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word.

After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed.

Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states.

Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-politics-government-and-politics-georgia-jimmy-carter-55f6bac7ab089707a18a5cd23194b2b9">married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith</a>&nbsp;in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rosalynn-carter-death-jimmy-relationship-0b3b3b6c4dcb462265253c8e98f70228">they soon turned their ambitions to politics</a>. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”

Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1150203131f842d28ebb65475cf86a49">a 2015 cancer diagnosis,</a>&nbsp;Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.”

“I’ve had a wonderful life,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fd1ca946921a402d9da6bdc8d4c212da">he said.</a>&nbsp;“I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old.

The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said.

"Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," the center simply said in posting about Carter's death on the social media platform X.

Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s.

"My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Carter once said.

A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.

"If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon.

Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy.

Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan.

Carter acknowledged in his 2020 "White House Diary" that he could be "micromanaging" and "excessively autocratic," complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes.

"It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake," Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had "an inherent incompatibility" with Washington insiders.

Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to "protect our nation's security and interests peacefully" and "enhance human rights here and abroad" — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term.

Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights.

"I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia," Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. "I wanted a place where we could work."

That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well.

Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors.

He went "where others are not treading," he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010.

"I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't," Carter said.

He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump.

Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added.

Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done.

"The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place," he said. "The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect."

Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little "Jimmy Carters," so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral.

The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously.

His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China.

"I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore," Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book.

"He was not a great president" but also not the "hapless and weak" caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was "good and productive" and "delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office."

Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton's secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat's forward that Carter was "consequential and successful" and expressed hope that "perceptions will continue to evolve" about his presidency.

"Our country was lucky to have him as our leader," said Albright, who died in 2022.

Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for "an epic American life" spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries.

"He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history," Alter told The Associated Press.

James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter's political career.

Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery's tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns.

Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career.

Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband.

Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it "inconceivable" not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board.

"My wife is much more political," Carter told the AP in 2021.

He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign.

Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist "Dixiecrats" as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as "Cufflinks Carl." Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed.

Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct.

"I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over," he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine.

His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader's home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was.

In 1974, he ran Democrats' national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: "Jimmy Who?"

The Carters and a "Peanut Brigade" of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden.

Yet it was Carter's ability to navigate America's complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives.

A self-declared "born-again Christian," Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC's new "Saturday Night Live" show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing.

Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale as his running mate on a "Grits and Fritz" ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady's office. Mondale's governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides.

The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname "Jimmy" even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band's "Hail to the Chief." They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school.

Washington's social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that "he hated politics," according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll.

Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation's second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon's opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy.

But he couldn't immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis.

After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt.

The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his "malaise" speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering "a crisis of confidence." By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves.

Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd "kick his ass," but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with "make America great again" appeals and asking voters whether they were "better off than you were four years ago."

Reagan further capitalized on Carter's lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: "There you go again." Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority.

Carter successfully negotiated the hostages' freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free.

Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, dead at 100

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a> Associated Press

Packaged foods in the U.S. will have to follow new rules in order to call themselves “healthy,” according to changes finalized Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration.

It’s an update of the agency’s definition originally devised 30 years ago. The move is aimed at helping Americans navigate food labels at the grocery store and make choices that are aligned with federal dietary guidelines — in hopes of reducing rates of diet-related chronic disease, the FDA said.

Under the rule, products that claim to be “healthy” must contain a certain amount of food from one or more food groups such as fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. And for the first time, the rule sets certain limits for added sugars. Foods must also limit sodium and saturated fat at levels that depend on the type of product, the FDA said.

The change banishes foods such as sugary cereals, highly sweetened yogurts, white bread and some granola bars from bearing a “healthy” label, while allowing foods such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, eggs and some trail mix to use it. Even water can now be labeled as healthy, the agency said.

“It’s critical for the future of the country that food be a vehicle for wellness,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. “Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.”

The new rule will take effect within two months and food manufacturers will have until February 2028 to comply. A label that designates certain foods as healthy is still being developed, FDA officials said. Under the previous rule, about 15% of products were eligible for the healthy designation, but only 5% made the claim.

First proposed in 2022, the change is a much-needed update to “horribly outdated” guidance, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.

“Big picture, this is a huge improvement from a 30-year-old outdated definition based on 40-year-old science,” he said.

The new rule acknowledges that dietary and nutrition knowledge has progressed over three decades and that the previous definition didn’t jibe with dietary guidelines that are the cornerstone of federal programs and policies.

Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group, said that the new rule “stands to exclude some packaged foods, despite countless years of industry innovation to provider healthier options.”

Sarah Gallo, an official for the group, said it is concerned the new rule “is not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence” and doesn’t fully consider the full potential economic impact on consumers.

The updated criteria are based on data that could improve public health, including diet-related chronic ailments such as heart disease and diabetes, the FDA said.

More than three-quarters of Americans have diets low in vegetables, fruit and dairy, according to the FDA. Nearly 80% exceed limits on saturated fat, more than 60% exceed limits on added sugars and about 90% exceed limits on sodium that can reduce chronic disease.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a> Associated PressPackaged foods in the U.S. will have to follow new rules in order to call themselves “healthy,” according to changes finalized Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration.It’s an update of the agency’s definition originally devised 30 years ago. The move is aimed at helping Americans navigate food labels at the grocery store and make choices that are aligned with federal dietary guidelines — in hopes of reducing rates of diet-related chronic disease, the FDA said.Under the rule, products that claim to be “healthy” must contain a certain amount of food from one or more food groups such as fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. And for the first time, the rule sets certain limits for added sugars. Foods must also limit sodium and saturated fat at levels that depend on the type of product, the FDA said.The change banishes foods such as sugary cereals, highly sweetened yogurts, white bread and some granola bars from bearing a “healthy” label, while allowing foods such as avocados, olive oil, salmon, eggs and some trail mix to use it. Even water can now be labeled as healthy, the agency said.“It’s critical for the future of the country that food be a vehicle for wellness,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. “Improving access to nutrition information is an important public health effort the FDA can undertake to help people build healthy eating patterns.”The new rule will take effect within two months and food manufacturers will have until February 2028 to comply. A label that designates certain foods as healthy is still being developed, FDA officials said. Under the previous rule, about 15% of products were eligible for the healthy designation, but only 5% made the claim.First proposed in 2022, the change is a much-needed update to “horribly outdated” guidance, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.“Big picture, this is a huge improvement from a 30-year-old outdated definition based on 40-year-old science,” he said.The new rule acknowledges that dietary and nutrition knowledge has progressed over three decades and that the previous definition didn’t jibe with dietary guidelines that are the cornerstone of federal programs and policies.Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade group, said that the new rule “stands to exclude some packaged foods, despite countless years of industry innovation to provider healthier options.”Sarah Gallo, an official for the group, said it is concerned the new rule “is not based on clear and unambiguous scientific evidence” and doesn’t fully consider the full potential economic impact on consumers.The updated criteria are based on data that could improve public health, including diet-related chronic ailments such as heart disease and diabetes, the FDA said.More than three-quarters of Americans have diets low in vegetables, fruit and dairy, according to the FDA. Nearly 80% exceed limits on saturated fat, more than 60% exceed limits on added sugars and about 90% exceed limits on sodium that can reduce chronic disease.<h2>___</h2>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Which foods are ‘healthy’? FDA has new requirements for food labels

LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media Saturday. She was 73.

Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said.

Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after spotting her onstage in the play “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," which also starred Vanessa Redgrave.

“Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting, who was 16 at the time.

Decades later Hussey and Whiting&nbsp;<a href="https://alleging%20sexual%20abuse,%20sexual%20harassment%20and%20fraud./">brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures</a>&nbsp;alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud over nude scenes in the film.

They alleged that they were initially told they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in a bedroom scene, but on the day of the shoot Zeffirelli told the pair they would wear only body makeup and that the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity. They alleged they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/romeo-juliet-lawsuit-zeffirelli-hussey-whiting-63721d4dd5552932d8c23b8c646de947">case was dismissed</a>&nbsp;by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023, who found their depiction could not be considered child pornography and the pair filed their claim too late.

Whiting was among those paying tribute to Hussey on Saturday. “Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever," he wrote.

Hussey was born on April 17, 1951, in Bueno Aires, Argentina, and moved to London as a child. She studied at the Italia Conti Academy drama school.

She also starred as Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television series “Jesus of Nazareth," as well as the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile" and horror movies “Black Christmas” and “Psycho IV: The Beginning.”

She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three children and a grandson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735408705869.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media Saturday. She was 73.Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said.Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after spotting her onstage in the play “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," which also starred Vanessa Redgrave.“Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting, who was 16 at the time.Decades later Hussey and Whiting&nbsp;<a href="https://alleging%20sexual%20abuse,%20sexual%20harassment%20and%20fraud./">brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures</a>&nbsp;alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud over nude scenes in the film.They alleged that they were initially told they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in a bedroom scene, but on the day of the shoot Zeffirelli told the pair they would wear only body makeup and that the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity. They alleged they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/romeo-juliet-lawsuit-zeffirelli-hussey-whiting-63721d4dd5552932d8c23b8c646de947">case was dismissed</a>&nbsp;by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023, who found their depiction could not be considered child pornography and the pair filed their claim too late.Whiting was among those paying tribute to Hussey on Saturday. “Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever," he wrote.Hussey was born on April 17, 1951, in Bueno Aires, Argentina, and moved to London as a child. She studied at the Italia Conti Academy drama school.She also starred as Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television series “Jesus of Nazareth," as well as the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile" and horror movies “Black Christmas” and “Psycho IV: The Beginning.”She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three children and a grandson.

Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735329805054.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
 
LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;Ray Bechard, the winningest coach in Kansas volleyball history and a five-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, announced his retirement Friday after 27 seasons at the helm. &nbsp; Bechard, who coached 26 All-Americans during his time at Kansas and led the Jayhawks to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, amassed a 496-313 record at KU. His .613 winning percentage is the best by a Kansas volleyball coach in program history. &nbsp; &quot;It&apos;s been the honor of a lifetime to fulfill the role as Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Kansas for the last 27 years,&quot; Bechard said. &quot;This professional journey was made possible by a supportive administration, a coaching staff that worked tirelessly and together and by countless young women who competed with grit and demonstrated grace, while representing the university with class. &nbsp; &quot;I&apos;m proud of what we accomplished during my time at Kansas; we built a program that was nationally competitive and nationally respected.&quot; &nbsp; A Grinnell, Kansas native, Bechard took the reins of his dream job in 1998 after 13 seasons at Barton County Community College. He rewrote the Kansas volleyball record books, including being named the 2015 National Coach of the Year after leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four. He is also a member of the Kansas Volleyball Association Hall of Fame, the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and is a three-time AVCA Region Coach of the Year. &nbsp; A Jayhawk to the core, Bechard coached his daughter, Ashley, for four seasons at KU. His son Brennan, played for the men&apos;s basketball team and currently serves as the program&apos;s Director of Scouting. &nbsp; &quot;Ray Bechard is a University of Kansas icon and has had one of the most influential and accomplished careers in college volleyball,&quot; Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. &quot;We are forever grateful for the incredible impact he made on so many in our athletic department, with his student-athletes being at the forefront. Coach B enriched the lives of countless people and is the architect of a program that has flourished on and off the court throughout his tenure. We will miss him dearly and will work with the same intensity and passion he coached with to continue the legacy he built.&quot; &nbsp; Throughout his Kansas career, Bechard led the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament 13 times, including three Sweet 16 appearances and a spot in the National Semifinals in 2015. Kansas also finished the season in the AVCA Top 25 rankings seven times. Prior to his arrival, Kansas had never qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The longtime coach finished his illustrious career in style, posting winning seasons in 16 of his final 17 seasons leading the program. Additionally during his tenure, Kansas unveiled Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena in 2019, a result of the program&apos;s success and popularity under Bechard. &nbsp; Not only did Bechard leave an indelible mark at Kansas, but he also cemented himself as one of the best coaches ever in the Big 12 Conference. He finishes his career with 238 Big 12 wins, which ranks second all-time. He departs the league having coached more Big 12 matches than any coach in conference history. Bechard&apos;s success at Kansas followed a brilliant career at Barton, where he won 92 percent of his matches (716-90), won 13 conference championships and advanced to 10 NJCAA Final Fours. &nbsp; &quot;We are grateful for all Coach Bechard has done for our university and our student-athletes during his remarkable career at KU,&quot; Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said. &quot;Beyond the excellence his programs displayed on the court, Coach Bechard was a terrific ambassador for our university and always represented us well on the national stage. We wish him the best in retirement and thank him for his contributions to KU.&quot; &nbsp; A staple for Bechard throughout his career was player development, which was evident by the accolades his student-athletes earned. Bechard coached 12 AVCA All-Americans, including First Team selections Kelsie Payne (2015 and 2016) and Ainise Havili (2015) and Second Team selection Caroline Jarmoc (2012), on top of Third Team selections&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/reagan-cooper/10318" rel="smarttag">Reagan Cooper</a>&nbsp;(2023) and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/camryn-turner/10268" rel="smarttag">Camryn Turner</a>(2024). He also saw several other Jayhawks earn All-America honorable mention from the AVCA including Josi Lima, Erin McNorton, Sara McClinton, Chelsea Albers, Cassie Wait, Madison Rigdon,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/caroline-bien/10231" rel="smarttag">Caroline Bien</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/toyosi-onabanjo/10221" rel="smarttag">Toyosi Onabanjo</a>. &nbsp; In his first season at KU in 1998, Bechard improved the Jayhawks&apos; win total by six matches from the previous season and then posted five-straight winning seasons, before leading the program to its first ever NCAA Tournament selection in 2003. That squad, led by Lima, went 22-11 on the year and advanced to the second round of the tournament. That marked the first of three-straight postseason appearances for Bechard and the Jayhawks. &nbsp; Bechard and the Jayhawks started another postseason streak in 2012 when the team went 26-7 on the season, advanced to the second round and finished the year ranked No. 25 in the final AVCA Top 25 of the season for the first time in program history. The following season, Kansas went 25-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever and finished second in the Big 12. Two seasons later, led by Payne and Havili, Kansas went 30-3, advanced to the Final Four and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country. &nbsp; The following season, Kansas went 15-1 in Big 12 play and won the program&apos;s first-ever Big 12 Championship and finished the season ranked No. 12 in the country. Bechard finished his career on a four-year NCAA Tournament streak, including another Sweet 16 appearance in 2021. &nbsp; &quot;I&apos;m thankful for the support of Chancellor Girod, Director of Athletics Travis Goff and sport administrator Nicole Corcoran,&quot; Bechard said. &quot;They will find the right person to elevate this nationally prominent program to even greater heights. This decision, though a difficult one, won&apos;t change my devotion to this athletic department and volleyball program.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I&apos;m looking forward to the time it will allow for a more consistent presence in the lives of my wife, children and grandkids who all have supported me in my coaching career. Thank you, Jayhawk Nation!&quot; &nbsp; Kansas will now begin a national search for its next leader.</div>

🏐 Bechard retires after 27 seasons at KU

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.”

<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.