Issue 3 | Nov. 21, 2025 | Edition 29
THE FREE PRESS
Flip to pages 10-11 to begin our package
NEWS STAFF
CONTENTS
CONTENTS NEWS
Pg 4: SNAP Withdrawn
Pg 5: More than a Meal
Pg 10-11: Eventful First Year
Pg 14: Pushed out of Pentagon
Pg 15: Warped Website
Pg 16: Crowning the People
A&E
Pg 3: Native American Pride
Pg 17: Voter Satisfaction
Pg 18-19: Photo Gallery
Pg 24: Coloring Page
Pg 25: Guess the Teacher
OPINION
Pg 12-13: Distrust by Design
FEATURE
Pg 8: AI Deepfakes
Pg 9: Spill on Tea
Pg 20: Behind the Beak
Pg 21: Full STEAM Ahead
Pg 22: Frosty Figures
Pg 23: Seasonal Health
SPORTS
Pg 6: Tennis Serves at State
Pg 7: KSHSAA Cuts Down
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Maria Mosconi
Evie Chancy
MANAGING EDITORS
Phoebe Morris
Rakshan Ossen
DESIGN EDITOR
Lucas Smith
PHOTO EDITORS
Julia Velasco
Nathan Kramer
CAPTIONS EDITOR
Ceci Bennett
COPY
EDITORS
Meredith Shryock
Lauren Rosen
ONLINE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Baila Love
SOCIAL MEDIA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Katie Campbell
ABOUT THE COVER
BUSINESS EDITOR
Piper Northrop
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Charlie Last
Flying out of the White House, United States government documents symbolize the record-breaking efforts taken under President Donald J. Trump’s first year in his second term. From Pentagon journalists losing press access to national No Kings protests, papers such as the Declaration of Independence, One Big Beautiful Bill and government shutdown headlines represent historical moments for the nation. Throughout this package of the issue, we have covered some of the monumental events that happened since his arrival. To read more about recent measures taken by the government, flip to pages 10-17. Design by Harper Finck and Abbie Veeder
SOCIALS MISSION STATEMENT
Kinley Gigous
Miles Beaty
Nathan Friedman
Sydney Brozik
REPORTERS
Eula Heriford
Grace Mosconi
Griffin McDonell
Kyla Meikle
Lucas Sherwood
Michael Harding
Morgan Sponholtz
Penny Coleman
Rae Cordova
Stella Dorssom
Sydney Tiemann
DESIGNERS
Abbie Veeder
Allison McCall
Ariza Noscal
Ava Talbott
Avery Smiley
Bella Lylo
Celeste Jenkins
Elizabeth Puah
Harper Finck
Micah Jones
BUSINESS TEAM
Annika Lintecum
Sammi Smith
LETTER FROM THE
EDITORS
When we became student journalists, many of us assumed the job was simply to record events as they unfolded. But last year changed that. Many of us became editors during the election cycle, and suddenly, we found ourselves responsible for telling a story we were still trying to understand.
We spent long nights waiting for results, trying to imagine how day-to-day lives would be impacted by the decisions made by our leaders. We watched small moments unfold into big consequences, examining the actions of a president who seems allergic to precedent. The experience taught us how fragile certainty can be.
In Issue Three, our staff examines the first year of President Trump’s second term with a package that aims to make sense of the whirlwind year. Inside, you’ll find pieces on both the loud and quiet signals
2025-2026 news editors explain the issue three package
of a shifting political landscape that feels unrecognizable from last November.
We chronicled a year of Trump's executive actions, covered the Pentagon press corps turning in their badges and reported on the seven million protesters marching to have their voices heard. We also explored how Trump thrives on misinformation, examined a government website showing signs of partisan bias and tracked a voter satisfaction decline as the Trump administration nears its one-quarter mark.
As an editorial staff, we strive to produce journalism that clarifies, rather than confuses — a commitment that feels especially important in an age when confusion is often the default. We hope this issue helps you reflect on what is happening, why it’s happening and how we got here.
As always, thank you for reading, thinking critically and keeping an open mind. In an era defined by algorithms and echo chambers, that’s no small feat.
by Elizabeth Puah and Micah Jones
Sincerely,
WITHDRAWN SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receives only half its funds for November
Story by Grace Mosconi and Penny Coleman
The Trump Administration cut November funding in half for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Nov. 1 due to the recent government shutdown. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly promised approximately 86,000 families their full SNAP benefits regardless. Every state receives money from SNAP based on the people eligible for SNAP in each state. According to ABC News, the lack of appropriate funds will cause delays in states distributing funds among families.
In response to the cuts in Kansas, local businesses such as Jefferson’s and Ladybird Diner have started fundraisers to support SNAP. Ladybird Diner owner Meg Heriford has given out free soup every Monday since SNAP lost its funding.
If someone tells me they’re hungry, I believe them. It’s not a thing that people lie about, “ “ Heriford said.
Families who qualify for SNAP receive an average of $190 per eligible person. With these cuts, the dispensation of funds will be delayed. Heriford said that SNAP receiving only half its budget was unreasonable.
“None of this stays in a bubble,” Heriford said. “The health of the people around us impacts our lives as well.”
On Nov. 3, Ladybird served around 25 gallons of fresh soup. Heriford said that she did not put a limit on how much soup each person could take, and that with these cuts, the community needs to come together to support each other.
“We all have a lot more in common than not,” Heriford said. “If we link arms and have contact with each other, that becomes more and more evident.”
To compensate for the partial cutting of SNAP cuts, the Free State Student Council organized a food drive competition between clubs and activities for who can bring the most donations, with the winners getting to pie a StuCo member. Sophomore StuCo representative Jazmyn Byer said that the food drive was coordinated partially because of the SNAP reductions.
“The plan is to raise as much money or get as many cans as we can to help feed the community. I hope that we can at least help a few families and try to help all of the families in Lawrence,” Byer said.
As of Nov. 7, it was decided Kansas would receive full SNAP funding for the rest of November, with new limits to what individuals qualify. Byer said that because of these recent decisions, StuCo may create more donation
opportunities, now that SNAP benefits are no longer directly threatened in Kansas.
“We will do more food drives in general, just because people are obviously always going to need help. Even if they do not have enough funding, they’re still going to need help eating throughout the year,” Byer said.
The StuCo food drive is not the only way Free State is combating the SNAP cuts. The Nest also provides aid to students who may not have direct access to food and essential needs. Social worker Meg Lyles, who helps to coordinate The Nest, said more people have gone out of their way to provide food.
“Our donations have gone way up, and a lot of that is because we got a huge, very generous donation from the Student Council… They brought over 30 bags of groceries last week,” Lyles said. “It’s been really meaningful for kids to have some extra food.”
LINK kitchen feeds community in Lawrence
Story by Michael Harding
FA M E A L M O R E T H A N 05
or the past 30 years, the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen has been providing warm meals for people in need in the Lawrence community. Volunteers gather in the First Christian Church kitchen on Kentucky St. to prepare meals for the recipients.
Junior Emery Lacle said she volunteered at the LINK Kitchen to do something positive in the community that can help out the less fortunate.
“I think just a sense of helping out in my community and supporting the people in the town that have less than I do [is why I volunteer],” Lacle said.
Lacle said that this volunteer work has shifted her perspective on homelessness by showing her how many people in the community are impacted and how many volunteers want to help.
“[Volunteering] gives me a broader sense of how many people want to help out, because LINK Kitchen has so many volunteers,”Lacle said. “So that’s really good to see how many people are interested in supporting the homeless.”
LINK Kitchen has multiple ways of having volunteers make food for people receiving the meals. Occasionally they will have volunteers make the dishes at home, bring it to the kitchen and heat it up. Other times they have stations set up there for them to make food in the kitchen.
The most rewarding thing is connecting with them and how appreciative they are. You’re just getting to know more people, “
chances to interact with the people who are receiving meals in the kitchen and that people often overlook the fact that they have similar interests and things in common with the those experiencing homelessness.
they come through. They tell you about the things that they enjoy, like KU basketball, which are the same things that you like,” Hoover said.
Vann said that despite the challenges that the organization can face, they try to have a positive and safe environment for everyone. They do this by having open space with staff members attending to any recipient.
Design by Ariza Noscal
“There are good days and bad days, we don’t know what these people go through, what kind of medications they’re on,” Vann said. “We just try to treat everybody fair and make sure we have a safe environment.”
Vann said that some of the misconceptions of the homeless in Lawrence can be regarding jobs and housing.
Reaching into a bowl, a LINK Kitchen volunteer cooks to serve the Lawrence community. Photo by Nathan Kramer
AT STATE TENNIS SERVES
Girls Tennis achieves second place at State Championship
The girls tennis team competed in the Kansas State Championship tournament in Olathe with around 25 other teams, ending with a runner-up finish. The four-person state team was composed of three seniors and freshman Eli Ward, who helped the team out with an individual state title along with an undefeated season.
Free State Girls and Boys tennis coach Randy Clark said that tennis is such a unique sport since it is an individual competition. Everyone focuses on themselves until the postseason where the players have to make the switch to the team aspect of the game. Clark said the team was able to prepare for this change throughout the season by all their shared experiences throughout the season.
“It’s a little bit different than most team sports, but it’s that team chemistry that kind of supports us,” said Clark.
Ward said that the success of the team was largely in part to their level of practice. She said breathing exercises before and during matches as well as proper rest after matches helped her to be mentally prepared for each game.
“We were all focused during practices and trying to get better,” Ward said.
Senior Camille Lee, a four-year varsity team member, said she felt a lot more pressure in the beginning of the season more than any other year because it was her last time playing with Free State. Lee has had a string of knee injuries that required surgeries leading to extended breaks away from the sport, but she said it gave her time to recover and reflect over tennis. Part of the reason for her success, Lee said, was that she discovered certain breathing techniques after working with coaches to get past her mental blocks.
“I was the least nervous at State compared to all the other tournaments,” Lee said.
Clark said that he knew going into the year that the team was talented, and it was a matter of focusing and staying healthy to be able to perform well at State. He said that after the fourth place regionals finish, the team knew they had things to work on and this led them to build up their success all the way to State.
What they accomplished was certainly special. We had a singles champion. We had a top seven other singles player, and then our doubles team who had some good kind of chemistry Clark said.
Throwing the ball in the air, senior Violet Nelson serves to her opponent at Shawnee Mission South on Sept. 9.
Photo by Miles Beaty
Story by Lucas Sherwood
KSHSAA CUTS DOWN
KSHSAA to no longer offer gymnastics as sanctioned sport
After the 2025 season, gymnastics will no longer be offered as a Kansas State High School Activity Association-sanctioned sport. This decision followed the Sunflower League’s decision to cut the sport. With 12 out of 14 schools that offer gymnastics being Sunflower League Schools, KSHSAA decided to discontinue it as well.
Due to the lack of participating schools, KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Sarah Smith, who oversees gymnastics, said the sport would be “sunset” or no longer be sanctioned following the Sunflower League’s decision.
KSHSAA’s Executive Board made the decision to sunset girls’ gymnastics following the Sunflower League’s decision to sunset girls’ gymnastics within their league, Smith said,
“The threshold to conduct a KSHSAA Championship is 24 schools, so girls’ gymnastics has been under that threshold for quite a while.”
After finding out that gymnastics would no longer be a sanctioned sport, freshman Harper Huston said that she was very upset because of the role that gymnastics has played throughout her life.
“I will be very sad to see it go because I am no longer doing gymnastics for a club, and with gymnastics being removed from high schools, I will no longer
Story by Griffin McDonnell
have that as an option to be able to continue doing the sport that has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Huston said.
Huston said that another effect of this decision will be potentially losing the bonds she’s formed with her teammates, which were especially strong because of the small team size.
“The girls on the team will be losing the way they chose to get involved with the school. With the team being as small as it is, the connections we’ve made with each other have become very strong,” Huston said. “The team as a whole is a lot more closely knit than if the team were larger, so when the thing that brought us together goes away, some of those connections may be lost.”
Although there is currently no plan to continue with the sport in a club-style approach similar to flag football, Huston said she would still participate if offered in that way.
“I would absolutely still participate in gymnastics even if it weren’t a sanctioned sport,” Huston said. “I absolutely love gymnastics, and any opportunity to be able to continue doing it, I would gladly take without hesitation.”
Lifting their arms with a smile, senior Emi Stone and the gymnastics team perform a floor exercise.
Photo by Anders Benson
Analyzing AI
AI’s impacts on a students’ everyday life
Sophomore Juliet Johnson said she believes AI has become chaotic and is being used not only to produce answers or help brainstorm, but also to create videos impersonating celebrities on social media platforms for viewers’ entertainment.
People are using ChatGPT, Reface and Sora AI to create impersonating videos of celebrities, write essays and answer questions for them. This is AI culture — the use of AI to do homework, create entertainment and answer generic questions.
Since AI has become more accessible, senior Olive Minor said more people are beginning to use it to create fake moments through AI deepfakes. Minor said she also believes AI is ruining society because it is taking away creativity.
“One of the things that makes humans so beautiful is the fact that we’re capable of writing, art and these
interpersonal connections,” Minor said. Johnson said she has witnessed impersonation videos on social media and believes it is mocking people’s lives. Johnson said she has seen AI’s impersonation videos used to spread misinformation and potentially ruin people’s reputations.
“ “
In recent weeks, we have seen AI used to make fun of or alienize people’s opponents, but without it being said explicitly, people may be unable to tell if this is actually true, leading to misinformation,
Story by Sydney Tiemann
Minor said she believes there are no positive outcomes of AI deepfakes because of all of the misinformation being spread about them. She said she believes the misinformation is causing issues and ruining people’s reputations.
“[AI deepfakes] are a doubleedged sword, especially when it comes to misinformation,” Minor said.
Johnson said AI isn’t only affecting people, but it is also hurting the environment. When AI data centers overheat, they are cooled with water, but cooling the system also wastes that water. According to GIGINET, AI uses between 3-5 million gallons of water daily.
“If we ignore the obvious problems of the environment, it will lead to people becoming more and more reliant on technology and less interested in trying to advance society,” Johnson said.
Sophomore Emelia Bonnel said she believes that celebrity deepfakes are disrespectful. She also said the deepfakes are the most dangerous way AI is currently being used because they spread fake news and confuse people, especially if the video is about someone who has passed, because then people do not know what to believe. Johnson said.
Making fake videos of other people and making them do something they wouldn’t usually do isn’t okay,
Bonnel said.
Illustration by Ava Talbott
SPILLING ON TEA
Controversies around the anonymous dating safety Tea app
Story by Phoebe Morris
The recently popularized mobile dating platform Tea was designed for women to anonymously share information, or “spill the tea,” about men whom they’ve encountered by using red and green flags to indicate if they recommend the men to other women. The app has been circulating among college students, but has recently flowed down to high schoolers.
Tea brands itself as a “dating safety tool that protects women” by “redefining modern dating.” The app requires photo proof that a user is female before they can create and access accounts. From then on, the app is completely anonymous to post, comment and flag any man 18 years and up.
Similar to how she would have Googled the person she was going on a date with, teacher Sophia Coen said the concept of dating safety for women is super important; however, she sees a lot of negative consequences that can arise from the platform.
“From a safety standpoint, women have to protect other women in that regard, and people should protect people. But if you’re posted — it is technically a form of social media — the effects of people
commenting personal information about you or lying about you is not good for anyone,” Coen said.
Senior Bennett Nagel, 18, said that he was shocked when he discovered that he was posted on the app. While he understands how it could harm the individuals posted, he said that he didn’t mind being posted.
I don’t really care because I know what’s going on with me. If there’s a lot of negative comments under someone, I can see how that would get to someone, a false narrative being put on someone,
Nagel said.
Current student at the University of Washington, Channing Morse, said she hears a lot of gossip circulating among her friends. Morse said she worries about men’s mental health when information, true or false, is spreading around.
“Men’s mental health is already stigmatized. At this age, when everyone is so young and impressionable, having those negative comments could be really harmful for something that’s not very well known,” Morse said. “That could lead to somebody’s life being ruined over something they might not have possibly done.”
According to 404Media, Apple removed Tea and TeaOnHer, an app designed for women to post and comment, from its app store in late October for failing to meet the company’s terms of use regarding content moderation and user privacy. However, users who previously downloaded Tea or use a different app store are still able to access the app. Coen said that she is not surprised by this decision because it is affecting so many people’s mental health.
“It’s contributing to negative mental health outcomes, cyberbullying, etc. From a liability standpoint, an app company probably doesn’t want to be responsible for the outcomes of it. It seems like once it exists, it becomes an uncontrollable monster. So it’s probably a good move to take it down,” Coen said.
Design by Katie Campbell & Avery Smiley
EVENTFUL FIRST YEAR
Collected by Grace Mosconi and Lauren Rosen
Ten important events during President Donald Trump’s first year in office
Jan. 20, 2025
Trump pardoned around 1,500 people from the Jan. 6, 2021 United States Capitol attack. Trump declared that anyone previously convicted of crimes relating to Jan. 6 was to be immediately released from prison. The longest sentence pardoned was Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio, sentenced to 22 years in prison. Additionally, Trump granted pardons to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and transgender military veteran Jessica Watkins.
Jan. 20, 2025
Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, a 2015 international treaty with the purpose of decreasing climate change. The United States had previously pledged to reduce its greenhouse gases, due to the United States being the second largest producer of greenhouse gases in the world. The United States will officially pull out of the Paris Agreement on Jan. 27, 2026.
Jan. 20, 2025April 20, 2025
Trump stopped all foreign aid from the United States for a 90-day period, spanning Jan. 20 to April 20. Foreign Aid agencies can restart their work after the 90 days if approved by the Secretary of State or a designee collaborating with the Director of Office of Management and Budget. In response, the World Food Program shutdown in Afghanistan and Palestine shut down around 80 health facilities.
Jan. 20, 2025
Trump withdrew from the World Health Organization, a United Nations agency that directs and coordinates the world’s response to health emergencies. According to the White House, the withdrawal is attributed to the WHO’s “inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 29, 2025
Trump signed an executive order which imposed a myriad of tariffs on foreign imported products such as automobiles and their parts.
March 1, 2025
Trump established English as the national language of the United States. He declared that having English as a national language will help newcomers engage in American customs and promote unity. Trump also argued that English should be the national language because some of the oldest documents in the United States are written in English. Around 22% of United States citizens speak a language other than English at home.
June 22, 2025
Trump authorized an act of war by bombing three nuclear sites in Iran, bypassing Congress. Vice President JD Vance said the United States is not at war with Iran. “We do not want war with Iran. We actually want peace, but we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons program,” Vance said in an interview with NBC News. “That’s exactly what the President accomplished last night.”
June 7, 2025
Trump sent the National Guard to accompany Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of apparent threats. According to the White House, “The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.”
Jan. 23, 2025
Trump ordered the release of assassination records for John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Previously, the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 ensured that the files were not released to the public. Trump planned to release John F. Kennedy’s assassination records 15 days after the announcement, with Robert F. Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King Jr’s not publicated until 45 days after the announcement.
July 4, 2025
As a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump authorized a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid’s federal budget, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In a White House statement, President Trump said these actions were taken to “eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid.” Additionally, according to Harvard University, an estimated 4.8 million people will lose coverage as a result of the bill’s new job requirements.
Editorial by FSJ news editors
DESIGN DISTRUSTBY DESIGN DISTRUSTBY
U.S. government benefits from misinformation and fear-mongering
“scum,” “sick” and “low IQ,” and even going as far as calling the news media “the enemy of the American people” at one of his 2019 rallies.
Presidents throughout the 20th and 21st century have often been defined by their brigade against the top perceived threat of the time, such as Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” Richard Nixon’s “War on Drugs” or George W. Bush’s “War on Terror.” The first 10 months of President Donald J. Trump’s term could be called the “War on the Media.”
Across political lines, trust in the media is at an all-time low.
According to Gallup News, public confidence in the media has been declining steadily since the 1970s, with a current low of 28% among Democrats and Republicans, including a record low of 8% confidence among Republicans.
The relationship between citizens and their news sources has been decaying for decades, so by the time Trump began campaigning in 2015, he was stepping into an environment already primed for skepticism, but he accelerated this backslide into what is seen today in 2025.
Since Trump’s first 2016 campaign, he has been in opposition to the media, often referring to it as
However, this directly contradicts what journalism’s role in democracy has always been: to inform the public, hold the powerful accountable and serve as a watchdog over government actions. Since the right to freedom of the press was written in the constitution, journalism, as an institution, is a vital guard to leveling the power between citizens and the government.
Yet, as more Americans grow disillusioned with traditional news outlets, they’re increasingly turning to social media for information. According to the Pew Research Center, 55% of TikTok users now say they regularly get their news from the app, which is up from a mere 22% in 2020.
Trump has not only partaken in this shift but also popularized it with politicians. Instead of press briefings or interviews, he often uses platforms like Twitter to communicate directly to the public, bypassing the media and presenting his own narrative with limited scrutiny.
But with each degree of separation away from traditional, journalistic sources — and the laws,
ethics, and editorial systems designed to prevent misinformation—we move further from reporting grounded in verifiable, unbiased fact.
Trump has not only benefited from this environment of misinformation but has helped make it an accepted norm.
During Trump’s 2024 presidential debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, he was reported as making 33 false claims when being fact-checked live by ABC. This pattern has only continued with his statements post-election; according to NBC, Trump made over 160 false claims during a press conference last August.
Unfortunately, the average public statement does not have a fact check above its head. Much of what Trump’s 2024 campaign was based on was contingent on lies. Trump habitually over-exaggerates numbers to support his point; for example, according to CNN, Trump inflated the number of how many people crossed the border by 10,000, saying 21 million people had been arrested when only 10.8 had been.
Illustration
by Baila Love
This process of continuously treating distorted or exaggerated information as if it is typical, credible news has a name: sanewashing.
According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, sanewashing is “the practice of making irrational, extreme, or otherwise problematic people or ideas appear more reasonable or normal.” In the context of Trump, by consistently blurring the line between fact and fiction, he not only protects his own narrative from scrutiny but also pressures media outlets and the public to accept distorted information as part of the political mainstream.
Competing with the extremes the president is constantly allowed to publicly release, news sources are forced to pander more toward emotions rather than facts to get engagement. Outrage, fear and sensationalism become the easiest ways to capture attention in a landscape where attention is currency, leaving serious reporting and nuanced truth lost to clickbait headlines and ragebait.
In this environment, there are no true neutral parties; media outlets have more to gain from supporting people’s preexisting narrative or playing into people’s fears rather than reporting honest truths. From there, the general population only becomes more divided. When trust in the media is already diminishing, people are already in the mindset to tune out pressing
news. According to The Guardian, news avoidance refers to the practice of avoiding news content, and the United States has one of the highest rates of it.
This new culture of apathy and willing ignorance only makes it easier for an unfavorable legislature to pass without opposition. If citizens stop tuning in to national news, they concede their most powerful, democratic tool.
Amid all these distractions, political leaders can more easily align public perception with their own interests, unchallenged by a vigilant and trusted press.
Now more than ever, we need a renewed commitment to factual journalism and a public willing to value it. If we do not have that shared baseline of mutually agreed-upon facts, there’s no foundation on which to debate, compromise or unite. Without trusted, unbiased news,
democracy will erode.
But recognizing the problem is only the first step; what matters is how we respond. As citizens, students and future voters, we have a responsibility to push back against the culture of misinformation and apathy. This means seeking out reputable sources, questioning claims that feel designed to provoke emotion and resisting the urge to disengage when the news feels overwhelming.
Democracy cannot function if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed into inaction. It is vital that we push ourselves through fatigue and frustration because disengaging from the news is exactly what those spreading misinformation want us to do.
“Independent journalism is the exact tonic the world needs most at a moment in which polarization and misinformation are shaking the foundations of liberal democracies and undermining society’s ability to meet the existential challenges of the era,” New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger said in a 2023 essay for the Columbia Journalism Review.
A vigilant press and an engaged public are not optional to a healthy democracy. The press isn’t the enemy of the people; it’s one of the last defenses the people have left.
Design by Lucas Smith & Evie Chancy
WARPED WARPED WARPED
Following the United States government shutdown, banners appeared on numerous governmentrun and established websites. These banners were displayed on each site’s home page, stating “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government.”
U.S. government teacher Jeff Haas said these banners should not be displayed on official government websites and that bias has no place on official government sites.
“There’s definitely some politically partisan messaging going on, and when you’re talking about official governmental websites, they should be removed from political partisanship, but they’re not,” Haas said.
Without previously assessing the banners, senior AP Government student Landry Koester said the government should not offer opposition or opinion. She said that instead, all parties should work together to reach a goal rather than working against each other.
“They should know that you shouldn’t be biased on the government website. The Democrats and Republicans should be working together to make the websites as unbiased as possible,” Koester said.
Another AP Government student,
WEBSITE
Story by Stella Dorssom
Biases on government websites become noticeable issue following shutdown
senior Camille Lee, said that it isn’t right to blame the Democrats without evidence that they are responsible for the government shutdown. She said the government should not use opinion as fact.
“
If there’s strong evidence that the Democrats are doing something, then they would be able to say that, but there’s no evidence. So, it’s just solely opinion, which is not what the government should run off of, because that doesn’t make sense,
Lee said.
“
Government shutdowns are not caused by a single political party, but by the disagreement between both parties. Sophomore Luke Riegel said that it is fair for the Democrats to be blamed. Riegel said that since they have shown no empathy to those not being paid, the displayed statements are justified.
“[Democratic senators] do not care about how people aren’t getting paid, and to make it all worse, they are blaming Trump for the shutdown,” Riegel said.
Both Democratic and Republican senators are being paid during the shutdown, representing Article 1,
Section 6 in the Constitution. Riegel said that since Democratic senators don’t seem to care that many American citizens are not being paid, bias is appropriate in this scenario, while Haas said he worries that these biased statements are hurting the country’s government and politics.
“We are in uncharted waters, and we currently have an executive who is clearly not bound by established norms. In terms of established norms, we can look at a whole bunch of arenas of American governmental and political life, and they are being trampled,” Haas said.
With concern for how politics is viewed in the nation, Koester said she also worries about younger populations with this kind of information. She said that younger people are more likely to just believe what is told to them, and not take bias into account, even though they shouldn’t have to.
Koester said she thinks the banners may begin a large spread of public misinformation because the websites are typically used for facts.
“A lot of people turn to government websites to get their information, and, when you’re younger, they tell you to look at ‘.gov’ websites because that’s going to be the most credible source,” Koester said.
Additionally, Haas said he thinks the public hasn’t yet realized the major effects of this display of bias.
“We’ve got a level of dysfunction at this point that, from where I’m sitting, the American public has become pretty numb to, unfortunately,” Haas said.
Story by Morgan Sponholtz
PUSHED OUT OF THE PENTAGON
New rules for journalists prompt mass walkout
Dozens of journalists at the Pentagon turned in their badges on Oct. 15 after refusing to agree to new rules and restrictions placed on them by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the Associated Press. Major news outlets such as The New York Times, Fox News, CBS and ABC told their reporters to walk out citing the restrictions placed on their staff.
Under the new rules, journalists would not be allowed to solicit information from military officials, and all information, regardless of classification status, would need to be approved by Hegseth before being published. Those who break these rules could “face potential criminal liability,” according to the official rules. Hegseth called the rules “common sense” and said that by signing the agreement, journalists acknowledged the rules, not accepted them.
Editor-in-Chief and founder of the Kansas Reflector Sherman Smith said that the rules worry him because many news outlets are going to have to work harder to report factual and timely stories. Outside of the Pentagon walls, journalists will have to rely on emails, phone calls and public appearances to source information, quotes and photos for their stories.
“Pete Hegseth and this administration just wants to control the message, and that's all that this is about. They're trying to restrict what reporters are allowed to report… It's kind of the antithesis of everything this country stands for,” Smith said.
About 40 to 50 journalists exited the Pentagon at 4 p.m., the deadline to sign the agreement, carrying boxes filled with
documents, photos, books and mementos of their time there. According to CNN, anonymous sources inside the Pentagon expressed their regret about the walk out and growing disconnect between the American public and their government as journalism is under attack; however, journalists said they would not stop reporting.
Senior reporter for the Kansas Reflector Tim Carpenter said he is confident that journalists will still be able to cover the Pentagon without being inside. Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years and has seen the effects of politicians stiffarming journalists in the state capitol building. He said in many cases it only inconveniences reporters, not stops them, and said he believes the attitude at the Pentagon will be similar.
“
The tone of reporters covering the Defense Department will actually be perhaps more aggressive, and so this whole policy is bound to blow up in their face and not accomplish their goals of controlling what Americans read. It's not going to work, Carpenter said.
Independent reported that there are only 15 journalists who signed the agreement. Four from conservative outlets like One America News, The Federalist and The Epoch Times, 11 freelance reporters for foreign outlets and a few independent news sites that publish their work solely on social media. Associate Professor at the KU William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication Genelle Belmas said she worries about the lack of balanced reporting.
Belmas said that if the information flowing from the Pentagon is only representative of one view point, then misinformation can run rampant. She said she believes those most vulnerable to misinformation are citizens who aren’t trained or encouraged to think critically.
“We want to accept what people in authority tell us uncritically. We want to believe in the goodness of people, and I don't want us to lose that, but I also don't want us not to think about what we're swallowing,” Belmas said.
Crowning the People
Story by Grace Mosconi
Seven million people protest President Donald Trump’s administration
More than seven million protesters participated in the “No Kings” protest across the United States on Oct. 18, 2025. The “No Kings” protest is an ongoing opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration. Junior Signe Hoke attended
AmericaofStatesUnitedtheofPresident47th
“No Kings” protests in Lawrence earlier this year to express her opinion.
“Your duty as president is listening to the people that are in your country,” Hoke said. “That’s the problem. It’s not whether [Trump] won or not, it’s the fact that he isn’t listening.”
From June to Oct. of 2025, all 50 states have organized “No Kings” protests, with “No Kings” protests also stretching nationally. Hoke said the Lawrence protests were composed of people peacefully trying to have their message heard.
“It was people holding signs and trying to get their opinion across,” Hoke said. “It felt like a lot of determined people that were tired of what was happening.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the “No Kings” protest is one of the largest public political protests in American history. Hoke said that protests are a crucial way for people to express their opinions and share their personal beliefs.
“It’s crucial to have your own opinions… because if you have someone influencing them all the time, you don’t really know yourself,” Hoke said.
The No Kings protests began after Trump’s inauguration. Since then, the protests have increased from five million to seven million protesters. Long-time Lawrence resident Ric Averill has attended protests since the Vietnam war, and he describes the ongoing problems.
“I’ve been very frustrated in the last few years with the clamping down on civil rights, women’s rights and voting rights,” Averill said. “All the things that we protested then, and we thought we had made some headway.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the United States permits free speech and public
protests, granting the people a way to spread their beliefs. Sophomore Zacha Zavarse said that protests are a right that Americans have, and it needs to be protected.
“People are allowed to have their opinion,” Zavarse said. “It’s not that they’re lying and saying something didn’t happen. They’re just protesting against it.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the protest’s purpose is to prevent a president with unchecked power, while granting power to the people. Averill said that he believes it is important to attend protests, so people can express their beliefs, despite the dangers.
You need to step up and say, ‘I’m willing to be counted among those that don’t approve of policing our own people with our own national guard. Killing international aid and doing everything that makes America not look like America anymore.’
Averill said.
The No Kings protest on Oct. 18 had 14 times as many people as Trump’s two inaugurations combined. Zavarse said that the amount of people who protested represents the strength of the American people.
“It shows how much power the people have,” Zavarse said. “How the people won’t be pushed away and silenced.”
Voter Satisfaction
National and Schoolwide opinions on the Trump Administration
Collected by Kyla Meikle
According to a NATIONAL poll from tipp insights, as of November:
held a FAVORABLE opinion of Trump overall. said they weren’t familiar enough to say. 41% 6% While another held an UNFAVORABLE opinion of Trump. said they weren’t sure 4%
In contrast, and 49%
According to a poll from 295 people on FSJ Instagram,
Are you satisfied with the actions of our current president? WOULD NOT vote for Trump again in another election.
WOULD vote for Trump again in another election.
PHOTO RECAP
Going in for a high five, sophomore Aiden Toms (left) and senior Thomas Futrell (right) celebrate after the Unified Bowling championship on Oct. 14. Photo by Nathan Kramer
Escaping the defender, senior Aydin Haque runs down the field at the varsity soccer game against Shawnee Mission South on Oct. 23.
Photo by Sydney Brozilk
Singing “Just Around The Corner” as Morticia Addams, senior Mimi Wood performs in “The Addams Family: School Edition” on Nov 6, 7 and 8.
Photo by Baila Love
Playing clarinets, the University of Kansas Marching Band walks down Massachusetts Street during the Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 8.
Photo by Ceci Bennett
Playing their trumpets, junior Sadie Reynolds and sophomore Cleo Green perform at halftime in the football game against Olathe North.
Photo by Kinley Gigous
Holding the football, junior Maddon Brittingham runs to the endzone to get a touchdown at the first varsity play-off game versus Olathe East on Oct. 31.
Photo by Miles Beaty
Holding up hearts, senior Annika Lintecum celebrates a point at the varsity volleyball game versus Lawrence High on Oct. 2.
Photo by Miles Beaty
BEHIND THE BEAK
Junior Olivia Storey reveals herself as the figure dressed Freddy
When attending football games last year, one student, junior Olivia Storey, noticed an absence of Free State’s mascot, Freddy the Firebird, on the sidelines. Storey said that because of some spare time and a desire to add some whimsy to her life, she volunteered to fulfill that role.
In previous years, there has not been one specific person whose role is to adorn the Freddy costume; instead, a member of the Spirit Squad or Student Council would wear it for necessary events. Now, with Storey as the appointed mascot, the Freddy persona was present at every home football game and cheer event.
I just wanted to become Freddy because I thought it would be funny, so I emailed the cheer coach about whether they needed a mascot, and she told me I should do it. After that, I was just like ‘Wow, guess I’m Freddy now,’ Storey said.
As the first ever designated Freddy, Storey was in control of exactly how she wanted to portray Freddy to viewers at the game.
“I feel like Freddy was very flirtatious and mischievous. Freddy was just a little sassy. I really just did a lot of dancing and bopping around, not knowing what was going on because there are no rules to being Freddy,” Storey said.
Since Freddy is a high-profile figure and Storey was directly in front of the student section at every game, she said she attracted a lot of attention.
“Interacting with people as Freddy was so fun, especially the little kids. We couldn’t walk anywhere without being stopped by like 20 moms being like ‘Can we get a picture?’” Storey said. “The student section was a little bit more challenging because they were all way more desperate to know who was in the suit.”
When signing up to become the mascot, Storey said she knew she wanted to not be tied back to the Freddy present at
Story by Evie Chancy
because when everybody started finding out, it wasn’t hard for me to just refute it,” Storey said. “I was convincing a lot of people; as myself, I feel like I changed a lot of people’s minds [on me being Freddy].”
As Freddy, Storey worked closely with the Spirit Squad, learning some of the basic cheers and attending one practice a week. This also meant everyone on the Spirit Squad was expected to be in on Storey’s secret, which, Storey said, they were all more than happy to do.
“They did way better than I thought they would. No one wanted the secret to come out, no one, literally no one [from the Spirit Squad] let it slip. When everyone figured it out, it was because the people started putting pieces together,” Storey said.
As the football season came to an end, Storey said she knew she was coming upon her final weeks as Freddy, as she does not plan to continue next year; Storey said that’s exactly why she wanted to reveal herself.
“I enjoyed it so much, and I’m so thankful for the Spirit Squad because they made it so fun for me,” Storey said. “I would recommend becoming Freddy if you just want some more joy and wonderfulness
Waving her pom poms in the air, Storey takes photos with the Spirit Squad before the homecoming game. Storey
Design by Allison McCall
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School has faced consistent issues with staffing. This year is no different as LMCMS has had to work around the sudden resignation of its single eighth-grade science teacher.
Since the 2024-2025 school year, LMCMS has been a science, technology, engineering, arts and math-focused school with a separate curriculum and class structuring from the rest of the district. LMCMS uses curriculum from Project Lead the Way, a famous STEAM-oriented curriculum, to offer special classes like Robotics and automation.
Science teacher Joshua Spradlin has been with LMCMS for 16 years and said the staffing issues have been gradually getting better. He is currently teaching seventh-grade science and assisting an eighth-grade class being taught by a longterm substitute with the help of an aide.
It does get to be a lot when you have twice as much grading to do, and so that was a challenge for a few weeks,
Spradlin said.
“My administration here has been really thoughtful about trying to help solve the issues, and not having this [permanent teacher] isn’t really anyone’s fault.”
Shortly after the school year began, the new eighth-grade science teacher resigned. Since then, LMCMS eighth graders have had over five long-term or short-term substitutes. A LMCMS student, who would like to remain anonymous, said that though it’s been difficult without a consistent teacher, they’ve enjoyed the new content.
“The other classes that they’ve been adding recently have been really, really high quality, but the general bad luck with science teachers has been awful,” the anonymous LMCMS student said.
The staffing issues have not only affected teachers, but students as well.
Freshman Manha Ossen said that when she took eighth-grade science with Spradlin, she noticed the staffing issues but felt he did a good job managing both the sixth and eighth-grade classes.
“Last year with the sixth-grade classes, he made sure we knew what we were doing, and he made sure we got our assignments done,” Ossen said. “He prioritized both of the classes, but he also made sure that the sixth graders were getting the education they needed.“
LMCMS has kept the same principal, Jessica Schmidt, since 2023, when she served briefly as interim principal before
being hired. Schmidt said that the staffing issues at LMCMS have been a continuous issue, but the veteran staff members have handled it well.
Knowing the staffing that we’re facing in education is why I try to be a highly supportive principal with our staff, and appreciating them and backing them up, Schmidt said.
Spradlin said that despite the inconsistencies over the years with administration, LMCMS has begun to stabilize since it has now maintained the same principal and assistant principal for three years. Beyond that, Spradlin is currently working on getting his administrative master’s degree and said he hopes to one day be a principal or assistant principal. “I love the building. I love the community, and I feel like it’s my community. Throughout these 17 years, I’ve grown to love and get to know the families,” Spradlin said. “I’m only a couple of years away from having the offspring of some of my first kids that came through [as students]… It’s just a special place.”
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Standing tall, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School has recently been established as a STEAM magnet school. Photo by Kinley Gigous
FROSTY FATIGUE
Students
and staff members
notice the reappearance of Seasonal Affective disorder as weather gets colder
As the days begin to contract and chilly temperatures approach, Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that is consistent during specific seasons every year, is typically recognized in the colder seasons of the year.
According to Ellipsis Iowa Organization, as much as 5.5% of individuals ages 9 to 19 struggle with SAD annually. A few symptoms that may be displayed in someone struggling with SAD include low energy levels, struggling to stay concentrated and changes in sleep patterns.
In addition to the diminishing weather, social worker Ray Bennett said they believe this time of the year can add additional demand for some students due to the heavy work loads that are present during these months that can damage students’ mental health.
“For students who are upperclassmen, there’s a lot of tests and college applications and scholarship deadlines, and that can really add to the pressure,” Bennett said.
A senior who would like to remain anonymous, who struggles with persevering through the wintry seasons, said that during the winter season, the combination of the poor weather and increasing demand in school only makes their depression worse. They said school is already demanding and the cold weather leaves them feeling unmotivated.
I already put a lot of pressure on myself to keep my grades up, but when you add finals and college applications, it can feel overwhelming. [Cold weather] makes me want to stay inside and relax instead of studying, so it’s harder to focus when it’s so gloomy outside, the anonymous senior said. “ ”
Story by Rae Cordova
As the school’s librarian, Marisa Hegeman said on top of heavy work loads, the decrease in sleep plays a pivotal role for students who struggle to stay motivated in the winter. Hegeman said she notices first hand the change in students’ performances as the days become gloomier.
“ ”
The kids get overwhelmed and there’s so much that they start shutting down. I have a handful of students I can think of who I know are not getting enough sleep, but got behind from sickness, and are just feeling overwhelmed, Hegeman said.
Beyond just work load, Bennett said that for some students, winter’s cold weather can cause many other stressors. Bennett said because of this, the best thing students can do is maintain self care during stressful times.
“It could be a sign that there’s something in your environment that is not good, and that needs to be tended to as well,” Bennett said.
For students struggling during this time, there are different resources that are accessible on flyers around the school and mental health professionals on hand at the school. Bennett said that she urges students to ask for help if they are in need of it.
“Going to your doctor, talking to a trusted adult, making a list of all the things that you enjoy doing that are healthy habits and trying to get in the routine of doing them even when it gets colder is going to be helpful,” Bennett said.
Impact of seasonal affective disorder on teenagers
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons, particularly during the winter months. SAD is a biological response where the brain chemistry is changed due to the lack of sunlight and vitamin D. 6% of the U.S. population is affected by SAD. 14% of the adult U.S. population suffers from a lesser form of seasonal mood changes, known as winter blues. Symptoms
Teens may feel hopeless, withdraw from friends and activities, and have trouble sleeping, among other signs.
• Feeling sad for a majority of the day a majority of the time
• A sense of hopelessness
• Lack of energy
• Loss of interest in people and activities once enjoyed
• Changes in sleep pattern like sleeping too much or too little
• Changes in appetite, weight or activity level
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased irritability
• Rapid and intense mood changes
• Frequent thoughts or mentions of death or suicide
If you need emotional support, call or text:
Design by Celeste Jenkins
Information and statistics collected from Ellipsis, National Library of Medicine and Newport Academy
Collected by Kyla Meikle
NATIVE AMERICAN PRIDE
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
What is Native American Heritage Month?
Collected
by Rakshan Ossen
During the month of November, people across the country celebrate Native American Heritage Month, honoring the history, culture and lasting contributions of Indigenous peoples. The month provides an opportunity to nationally recognize the rich diversity within Native communities and to learn
about their traditions, languages, foods and crafts. It’s also a time to reflect on the challenges Native Americans have faced and continue to overcome in the United States. The observance began gaining national attention in the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until 1990 when President George H. W. Bush
officially proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month. Today, communities and organizations across the country commemorate the month with cultural festivals, art exhibits, storytelling and educational events that highlight Native American voices and experiences.
Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University is rooted in Native American culture and history. Founded in 1884 as a federal Indian boarding school, it has transformed from a place of forced assimilation into a university that celebrates and preserves Indigenous identity.
Serves students from over federally recognized tribes across the United States Free tuition for Native American and Alaskan Native students
320-acre
12
140 National Historic Landmark buildings campus
Brief History of Native Americans Native Americans have lived in North America for over 15,000 years.
European settlers’ arrival led to disease, war and loss of land for Indigenous peoples.
19th century policies forced relocation, such as the Trail of Tears and suppression of Native American cultures.
Today, there are 574 federally recognized tribes, each preserving unique traditions, languages and self-governance.
GUESS THE TEACHER
Across:
1. Married teachers at Free State
4. Left LHS to be with their daughter at Free State
6. Runs a gym in North Lawrence
9. Was their Homecoming Queen in 1993
10. Taught elementary art classes
13. Was a college professor
Down:
2. Is the executive director of Miss Kansas pageants
3. Auditioned for American Idol
5. Big proponent of Fat Bear Week
7. Used to teach social studies
8. Got married on Oct. 30
11. One of eight siblings
12. Works at 715
by Phoebe Morris
INSIDE THE INK.
Why and how to apply for Journalism
Collected By Meredith Shryock
Applications to join the Free Press staff are now open for the upcoming 2026 spring semester. Whether it’s writing, designing, photographing, filming, financing or creating content, journalism has plenty of room to explore areas of interest, expand skills and collaborate with others.
ABOUT THE APPLICATION
Required:
Short answer responses
What we recommend:
1. Portfolio
2. Taken prerequisite classes
Reporters interview sources and write stories that inform and connect the student body. Their work is published across the newspaper, yearbook and online site. Reporters cover a variety of story types and learn how to research, ask questions, write and edit with accuracy and voice.
REPORTER
Designers use creativity and precision to visually tell a story. They build cohesive, balanced layouts and graphics that complement their assigned stories and photographs, ensuring every page is both informative and engaging.
DESIGNER
Recommended prerequisite: 21st Century Journalism
The video production team plans, films and edits videos that bring Free State stories to life. Videographers share student perspectives and highlight events, creating meaningful visual storytelling that connects emotion and experience. VIDEO
Recommended prerequisite: Video Production I
Photographers capture moments that define school life and preserve lasting memories. They master technical camera skills such as lighting and composition while documenting events, candid moments or portraits that tell a story.
Recommended prerequisite: Photography I
Recommended prerequisite: Graphic Design I
The business team manages advertising and fundraising for the Free Press to ensure the publication’s financial success. This position is ideal for individuals interested in marketing, entrepreneurship or leadership roles. BUSINESS
Recommended prerequisite: Business 1
The social media team builds engagement across various platforms to promote student work and keep the community engaged. Team members craft posts and manage content to strengthen the Free Press’s outreach and visibility.
Recommended prerequisite: Any of the Above
President Donald Trump has been in office for days
305
Longestshutdowngovernment of over days
42
President Donald Trump has signed
212
Executive orders
On his first day in office, Trump issued
26
Executive orders
Collected by Grace Mosconi