WEATHER: (May 24, 2019) FRIDAY – High yesterday afternoon was 86̊ at 3:00; this morning’s low was 51̊ at 7:00 with fog. KPANcast: Continued humid with a 25% chance of thunderstorms, some possibly severe.

LOCAL: The USDA Thursday announced details of a $16 billion package to provide assistance to farmers affected by losses triggered by President Trump’s ongoing trade war with China. The program is modeled on a similar $12 billion program last year, and the first payments could go out in July or August. Of the total, $14.5 billion will be in direct payments to farmers, and $1.4 billion will be used to buy surplus commodities to attempt to prop up market prices, products that will then be distributed to food banks and other hunger programs.……Graduation ceremonies for the HHS Class of 2019 are set for 7:30 tonight at Whiteface Stadium. Aubrey Schueler will make the valedictory address to the 233 graduates, and Kamille Hicks is the class salutatorian. Other graduates in the top 5% academically are Rosa Alonso, Alexandria Cooper, Jack Detten, Shawn Escamilla, Macie Mimms, Sloane Savoini, Keleigh Stovall, Brett Vessel and Tomas Villalovos..... ……..Hereford ISD has a new policy that bans balloons, posters and air horns at graduation. In case of inclement weather, graduation will be moved to Whiteface Gym…….Iowa Park shut out Hereford 3-0 Thursday in Abilene to win the 4A regional semifinal baseball playoff series. The game was scoreless until the top of the 5^th when the Hawks put up 3 runs; the Herd had 3 hits and 2 errors in the game. The Whitefaces end their memorable season at 15-13-1, while #3-ranked Iowa Park is 23-11-1……..Funeral services are pending at Hereford Heritage for Dotie Brookhart, age 87, a longtime Hereford resident who passed away early today at King’s Manor……Rainfall from Thursday’s thunderstorms include 0.30 inch at Friona, 0.74 at Umbarger, 0.69 at Wildorado, 0.89 inch at Milo Center, 0.25 at Panhandle Milling, 0.59 inch six miles west of Hereford, 0.39 inch two miles north of Summerfield, and 0.03 at KPAN…….KPAN salutes Adrianna Fernandez as the Good Neighbor of the Day…….. Compassion beyond compare at Hereford Nursing and Rehabilitation.

KPAN PUN: After 12 years of carrying books to school, graduates are well-prepared for a career in backpacking.