The Hays Police Department conducted 31 traffic stops on Monday, according to the Hays Police Activity Log.

Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated two theft reports on Monday. The first theft was reported in the 2900 block of Vine Street. The alleged theft occurred between March 16th at 9:45 p.m. and March 17th at 12:15 a.m. The second theft was reported in the 3600 block of Vine Street and the alleged theft occurred between 7:00 p.m. on March 23rd and March 24th at 1:00.

Criminal Damage to Property: Officers investigated the report of criminal damage to property in the 400 block of West 8th Street. The criminal damage property allegedly occurred between 12:30 p.m. on March 18th and 11:00 a.m. on March 19th.

Harassment: The Hays PD investigated a report of harassment by telephone or fax in the 2200 block of Canterbury Drive at 9:20 p.m. on Monday.

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Officers responded to one motor vehicle accident on Monday. The accident was reported at 11th and Oak Street at 10:25 a.m.

The City Commission Election is a week away.  Who gets your vote?  Tell us why…. in our comments section below.

Candidates are listed below

City of Ellis:

Hays Police are investigating three recent burglaries.

The first occurred in the 300 block of East 6^th Street. The victim came home from a short trip to find their vehicle had been entered and about $145 worth of property was stolen from within.  Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright told Hays Post they have no suspects at this time.

The second occurred early Saturday morning in the 100 block of Ash Street and according Lt. Wright, ” A woman resident reported someone had tried to get into her house.  She reported she woke to noise at her window.  When she looked outside she saw a man in a gray hoodie who ran when he noticed her.  Officers checked the area for an hour but did not locate a suspect.  The only description was a muscular built male, short to medium height, in a gray hoodie type sweatshirt.”

In the 3^rd case, a man returned from spring break to learn someone had entered his un-locked residence and had taken a game console and it’s controllers.  Wright told Hays Post that police have no suspects at this time.

A panel of journalism educators and business leaders will share their ideas about integration of media and respond to audience questions during a symposium March 26 at Fort Hays State University.

Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, invited the panelists for the symposium that is intended to help steer a new direction for campus news media in the wake of the suspension of the student newspaper, The University Leader. The last printed issue of The Leader appeared on newsstands on Jan. 31. A reduction in funding from the Student Government Association, together with inadequate advertising revenue, forced it to cease publishing printed editions. An online version of The Leader continues.

The symposium is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, in the Black and Gold Room on the second floor of FHSU’s Memorial Union. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

The panelists:

-Scott Reinardy, associate professor and chair of the News and Information Track in the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas;

-Gary Shorman, president and CEO of Eagle Communications, which is headquartered in Hays;

-Ralph Gage, director of special projects for The Lawrence Journal-World;

-Pat Lowry, editor and publisher of The Hays Daily News; and

-Laura York Guy, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Scholastic Press Association, first vice president of Kansas Collegiate Media, and media instructor and media adviser at Garden City Community College.

President Hammond appointed a Task Force on Dissemination of News and Information, which will submit recommendations by April 19 in time to be considered in the budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1.

“The charge to the task force is to review the media needs and aspirations of the FHSU community and then to develop recommendations aimed at increasing student engagement and implementing a multi-media model for the dissemination of student-produced news, information, analysis, opinion and entertainment,” he said.

The staff of The Leader had requested emergency funding from the president, but he declined, opting instead to seize the situation as an opportunity to create a new model for student media. President Hammond described the symposium as an important step in providing information for the task force.

“FHSU is looking not to reduce its investment in the dissemination of news and information but to strengthen engagement with members of our community in responsible and efficient ways,” the president said.

A warm-up back toward more seasonal temperatures is expected this week. Showers or thunderstorms are possible by the weekend as the atmosphere warms and becomes slightly unstable.

Today
  Sunny, with a high near 47. Light and variable wind becoming south 11 to 16 mph in the morning.

Tonight
  Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. East southeast wind 8 to 15 mph.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 53. East southeast wind 8 to 14 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.

 Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 31. East northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

 
Thursday 
Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.

The Hays Public Library Kansas Room wants you to enjoy Kansas Cooks!

This month they are trying different recipes for punch and mocktails! For this event, they ask that each participant bring a batch of punch (or Mocktail) to serve to the group, and a copy of the recipe to share.  The group will meet in the Kansas Room of the Hays Public Library on  Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

*Alcoholic beverages are not permitted.