By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Residents wishing to drive UTVs, or utility task vehicles, on Hays city streets, will soon have an easier process in permitting the request.

The current ordinance approved by city commissioners requires inspection by the Hays Police Department with an annual fee of $100, plus registration.&nbsp;

This year the city approved golf carts to be driven on certain city streets and no inspection or registration is necessary.&nbsp;

Commissioners recently discussed amending the UTV ordinance to mirror the less restrictive golf cart ordinance.

"City staff has already discussed this very issue, and I appreciate the opportunity to bring it forward," said Don Scheibler, police chief, at Thursday's city commission work session.&nbsp;

"The amended UTV ordinance would repeal existing registrations, licenses and fee requirements," he said. "It does not remove any requirements for safety equipment or the insurance requirements and the drivers must still follow the rules of the road," he said.

UTVs may travel on 35-mph city streets but not highways, according to state ordinance.

Scheibler estimated the city registers approximately 27 UTVs annually, bringing in about $2,300 dollars.

"By the time the community service officer schedules the appointment, brings them in, does the inspection, and the records clerk enters the tag data, it's really a financial wash."&nbsp;

Scheibler called the police department an enforcement agency, not an registration agency.

"We've been able to do it for the ordinance requirements, but if we could stop doing it, that'd be helpful."

The police have issued about 60 UTV tags, although about half of those were not renewed by the owners. 

Scheibler said to date no tickets&nbsp; have been issued to UTV drivers.

Mayor Shaun Musil said he's talked to one local seller of UTVs who believes they may sell more UTVs if registration and inspections are eliminated.

"That'd mean more sales tax for the city," said Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor.

The city of Hays' general fund is primarily financed by the city sales tax.&nbsp;

Commissioners will vote on the changes at the June 13 meeting.

An update on the&nbsp;proposed construction delivery method for the new police station and municipal court facility, was  presented by Collin Bielser advise, deputy city manager.&nbsp;

Design-build is a construction delivery method that brings together the architectural/engineering team and construction company at the beginning of the project. The early collaboration can reduce change orders and other minor oversights typical of a multi-million dollar building project. The early collaboration also results in a condensed project schedule.&nbsp;

The city has purchased the Astra Bank building at 1100 Fort and will remodel the facility.&nbsp;

Hays police and Ellis County law enforcement have jointly occupied the space at 105 W. 12th since 1976.

• Heard a recommended low bid of $227,740 for four pickups from Lewis Ford of Hays for the public works and water resources departments.

• Heard&nbsp; a recommended low bid from Mayer Specialty Services, Goddard, not to exceed the budget of $150,000, for rehabilitation of 102 manholes.

•  Heard  a recommended low bid for sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection by&nbsp;CC Steel, LLC, Fargo, North Dakota, to&nbsp;perform light cleaning and video inspection of 22.2 miles of sanitary sewer.

• Heard an update from Bielser that June 13 will be the date for a public hearing&nbsp;and an ordinance levying a 2% district sales tax  for the proposed Vernie's Trux-N-Equip community improvement district, and approving the development agreement with the city, located northwest of the intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717958080508.png" alt="UTV courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>UTV courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostResidents wishing to drive UTVs, or utility task vehicles, on Hays city streets, will soon have an easier process in permitting the request.The current ordinance approved by city commissioners requires inspection by the Hays Police Department with an annual fee of $100, plus registration.&nbsp;This year the city approved golf carts to be driven on certain city streets and no inspection or registration is necessary.&nbsp;Commissioners recently discussed amending the UTV ordinance to mirror the less restrictive golf cart ordinance."City staff has already discussed this very issue, and I appreciate the opportunity to bring it forward," said Don Scheibler, police chief, at Thursday's city commission work session.&nbsp;"The amended UTV ordinance would repeal existing registrations, licenses and fee requirements," he said. "It does not remove any requirements for safety equipment or the insurance requirements and the drivers must still follow the rules of the road," he said.UTVs may travel on 35-mph city streets but not highways, according to state ordinance.Scheibler estimated the city registers approximately 27 UTVs annually, bringing in about $2,300 dollars."By the time the community service officer schedules the appointment, brings them in, does the inspection, and the records clerk enters the tag data, it's really a financial wash."&nbsp;Scheibler called the police department an enforcement agency, not an registration agency."We've been able to do it for the ordinance requirements, but if we could stop doing it, that'd be helpful."The police have issued about 60 UTV tags, although about half of those were not renewed by the owners. Scheibler said to date no tickets&nbsp; have been issued to UTV drivers.Mayor Shaun Musil said he's talked to one local seller of UTVs who believes they may sell more UTVs if registration and inspections are eliminated."That'd mean more sales tax for the city," said Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor.The city of Hays' general fund is primarily financed by the city sales tax.&nbsp;Commissioners will vote on the changes at the June 13 meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717959210368.png" alt="The design-build construction delivery method will be used for the new&nbsp; Hays&nbsp;police station and municipal court facility. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>The design-build construction delivery method will be used for the new&nbsp; Hays&nbsp;police station and municipal court facility. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>An update on the&nbsp;proposed construction delivery method for the new police station and municipal court facility, was presented by Collin Bielser advise, deputy city manager.&nbsp;Design-build is a construction delivery method that brings together the architectural/engineering team and construction company at the beginning of the project. The early collaboration can reduce change orders and other minor oversights typical of a multi-million dollar building project. The early collaboration also results in a condensed project schedule.&nbsp;The city has purchased the Astra Bank building at 1100 Fort and will remodel the facility.&nbsp;Hays police and Ellis County law enforcement have jointly occupied the space at 105 W. 12th since 1976.In other business, commissioners:• Heard a recommended low bid of $227,740 for four pickups from Lewis Ford of Hays for the public works and water resources departments.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717959852943.png" alt="City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>• Heard&nbsp; a recommended low bid from Mayer Specialty Services, Goddard, not to exceed the budget of $150,000, for rehabilitation of 102 manholes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717960122748.png" alt="City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>• Heard a recommended low bid for sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection by&nbsp;CC Steel, LLC, Fargo, North Dakota, to&nbsp;perform light cleaning and video inspection of 22.2 miles of sanitary sewer.• Heard an update from Bielser that June 13 will be the date for a public hearing&nbsp;and an ordinance levying a 2% district sales tax for the proposed Vernie's Trux-N-Equip community improvement district, and approving the development agreement with the city, located northwest of the intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road.

Commissioners consider lessening restrictions for driving UTVs on Hays city streets  

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that 12 communities, including <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/18fc3c3f-379c-47ee-bdf2-184442746c6c">Ellis</a>, and organizations will receive a combined $78,800 to allow 20 new murals and public art projects to revive public spaces and engage residents and visitors.

“Murals and public art installations welcome people to our rural communities while developing community pride and showcasing the rich history of our state,” Kelly said. “Investments in this program allow art to flourish and enhance public spaces for visitors and communities alike.”

The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural Public Art grant program awardees are in communities across the state with a population of less than 15,000. The murals will highlight community gathering spaces and tourist attractions.

Each project requires a one-to-one match from the community, with the smallest of communities allowed to match the grant with in-kind donations. Seventy-five percent of the grant funding will be gifted upfront as several projects plan to start in the next few weeks.&nbsp;

“Working with local partners to develop compelling places across the state is one of the initiatives detailed in the Kansas Framework for Growth – our state’s economic development strategic plan,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly-Toland administration is keenly focused on strengthening community assets that help keep younger Kansans interested in staying here. Every completed Rural Mural is a testament to that commitment.”

Since 2021, the Office of Rural Prosperity has funded 77 murals in 38 communities.&nbsp;

“This round of Rural Murals and Public Art applications included so many communities that have not ever received funding from Commerce before,” Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity Trisha Purdon said. “We are excited to see so many empowered communities that are excited to welcome visitors and residents to witness these beautiful and creative visual expressions of community identity and history.”

For more information about Rural Mural and Public Art grants, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9tdXJhbHMvIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDYwNy45NTk0ODI5MSJ9.qGYbte74ta2Wqdjung6rfs-G4qVlFgukIedTp5SS1EM/s/1303161001/br/243823743663-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717792089621.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Governor's OfficeTOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that 12 communities, including <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/18fc3c3f-379c-47ee-bdf2-184442746c6c">Ellis</a>, and organizations will receive a combined $78,800 to allow 20 new murals and public art projects to revive public spaces and engage residents and visitors.“Murals and public art installations welcome people to our rural communities while developing community pride and showcasing the rich history of our state,” Kelly said. “Investments in this program allow art to flourish and enhance public spaces for visitors and communities alike.”The Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural Public Art grant program awardees are in communities across the state with a population of less than 15,000. The murals will highlight community gathering spaces and tourist attractions.Each project requires a one-to-one match from the community, with the smallest of communities allowed to match the grant with in-kind donations. Seventy-five percent of the grant funding will be gifted upfront as several projects plan to start in the next few weeks.&nbsp;“Working with local partners to develop compelling places across the state is one of the initiatives detailed in the Kansas Framework for Growth – our state’s economic development strategic plan,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kelly-Toland administration is keenly focused on strengthening community assets that help keep younger Kansans interested in staying here. Every completed Rural Mural is a testament to that commitment.”Since 2021, the Office of Rural Prosperity has funded 77 murals in 38 communities.&nbsp;Awardees for FY 2025 include:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717791795642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“This round of Rural Murals and Public Art applications included so many communities that have not ever received funding from Commerce before,” Director of the Office of Rural Prosperity Trisha Purdon said. “We are excited to see so many empowered communities that are excited to welcome visitors and residents to witness these beautiful and creative visual expressions of community identity and history.”For more information about Rural Mural and Public Art grants, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc2NvbW1lcmNlLmdvdi9tdXJhbHMvIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDYwNy45NTk0ODI5MSJ9.qGYbte74ta2Wqdjung6rfs-G4qVlFgukIedTp5SS1EM/s/1303161001/br/243823743663-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

Ellis, area towns receive state funding for murals, public art projects

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, KSU

Kansas Supreme Court Justice KJ Wall walks into a room, but this isn’t the Supreme Court Chambers. It’s not even a courtroom. This room is at a high school in Ashland in southwest Kansas.

A group of high-schoolers had an opportunity to meet a Supreme Court Justice through the Kansas Supreme Court Traveling Docket program. Now, the court has launched another initiative to help more attorneys serve rural Kansas.

Wall, a Scott City native, graduated from K-State and then went to KU law school. He had a distinguished law career before being appointed to the bench in 2020.

The Supreme Court began observing a disturbing trend in the legal system: Rural areas were becoming underserved. For example, 80% of Kansas attorneys are located in the state’s six most populous counties.

“Our chief judges were telling us they didn’t have enough attorneys to make appointments, and we have successful older attorneys who weren’t finding folks to take over their practice,” Wall said.

In December 2022, Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued an order establishing a Rural Justice Initiative Committee to be chaired by Justice Wall. That committee includes rural judges and attorneys; legislators; and representatives of agriculture, business and nonprofit organizations plus the Office of Rural Prosperity and Washburn and KU law schools.

The committee is staffed by Laurel Searles, Chief of Attorney Services and Compliance in the Office of Judicial Administration at the Kansas Supreme Court.

The committee is to study the issue, gather data, and make recommendations by fall 2024. Statewide surveys and listening sessions have been conducted along with interviews of law school students.

“(The shortage of attorneys) is becoming a constitutional crisis,” Wall said. “People have a right to representation.”

Searles adds: “People in rural Kansas deserve access to attorneys just like people in the cities.

And, “as more attorneys retire, it is getting more difficult for people to be served,” said committee member and attorney Ashley Comeau of Plainville.

Comeau is a young professional who graduated from Washburn Law School. She and her husband moved back to their home area in northwest Kansas where she joined a Hays law firm and maintains a practice in Plainville.

“We would like to replicate people like Ashley, who worked with a large law firm in Kansas City but chose to come back to her home area,” Wall said. “I thought we just needed to attract more attorneys to non-urban locations, but the law schools are telling us they don’t have enough people applying in the first place.”

That means more young people need to be encouraged earlier to consider a career in law.

“We need to start these conversations earlier in a student’s career,” Searles said. “There are lots of opportunities to work in the legal field. We’re now seeing law firms participate in high school career fairs.”

Student debt is a huge issue. “We need to be more flexible and open when considering incentives to bring students to rural Kansas,” Comeau said.

“We also need to help students feel that they belong in those communities,” Searles said.

So why practice in rural Kansas? “You develop closer relationships and can do a lot more hands-on work,” Comeau said.

“This type of work really makes a difference and gives you more purpose,” Searles said.

Wall agreed. In some cases, he believes the financial returns of a rural practice could even exceed that of an urban practice in the long run.

In 2011, the Kansas Supreme Court began conducting a traveling docket where cases are heard in communities around the state. While there, the justices also visit local schools and inform students about legal careers. That’s how Justice KJ Wall came to meet the high school students in the rural community of Ashland, population 783 people. Now, that’s rural.

We commend Justice KJ Wall and all of the Kansas Supreme Court, plus Laurel Searles, Ashley Comeau and others involved in this initiative. I hope it helps move more students from the high school classroom to the hometown courtroom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602791058568.jpeg" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, KSU Kansas Supreme Court Justice KJ Wall walks into a room, but this isn’t the Supreme Court Chambers. It’s not even a courtroom. This room is at a high school in Ashland in southwest Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news-and-publications/news/images/2024/kansas-profile/justicekjwall-icon.jpg" alt="Kansas Supreme Court Justice KJ Wall. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Supreme Court Justice KJ Wall. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>A group of high-schoolers had an opportunity to meet a Supreme Court Justice through the Kansas Supreme Court Traveling Docket program. Now, the court has launched another initiative to help more attorneys serve rural Kansas.Wall, a Scott City native, graduated from K-State and then went to KU law school. He had a distinguished law career before being appointed to the bench in 2020.The Supreme Court began observing a disturbing trend in the legal system: Rural areas were becoming underserved. For example, 80% of Kansas attorneys are located in the state’s six most populous counties.“Our chief judges were telling us they didn’t have enough attorneys to make appointments, and we have successful older attorneys who weren’t finding folks to take over their practice,” Wall said.In December 2022, Chief Justice Marla Luckert issued an order establishing a Rural Justice Initiative Committee to be chaired by Justice Wall. That committee includes rural judges and attorneys; legislators; and representatives of agriculture, business and nonprofit organizations plus the Office of Rural Prosperity and Washburn and KU law schools.The committee is staffed by Laurel Searles, Chief of Attorney Services and Compliance in the Office of Judicial Administration at the Kansas Supreme Court.The committee is to study the issue, gather data, and make recommendations by fall 2024. Statewide surveys and listening sessions have been conducted along with interviews of law school students.“(The shortage of attorneys) is becoming a constitutional crisis,” Wall said. “People have a right to representation.”Searles adds: “People in rural Kansas deserve access to attorneys just like people in the cities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717762787285.png" alt="Ashley Comeau. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Ashley Comeau. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>And, “as more attorneys retire, it is getting more difficult for people to be served,” said committee member and attorney Ashley Comeau of Plainville.Comeau is a young professional who graduated from Washburn Law School. She and her husband moved back to their home area in northwest Kansas where she joined a Hays law firm and maintains a practice in Plainville.“We would like to replicate people like Ashley, who worked with a large law firm in Kansas City but chose to come back to her home area,” Wall said. “I thought we just needed to attract more attorneys to non-urban locations, but the law schools are telling us they don’t have enough people applying in the first place.”That means more young people need to be encouraged earlier to consider a career in law.“We need to start these conversations earlier in a student’s career,” Searles said. “There are lots of opportunities to work in the legal field. We’re now seeing law firms participate in high school career fairs.”Student debt is a huge issue. “We need to be more flexible and open when considering incentives to bring students to rural Kansas,” Comeau said.“We also need to help students feel that they belong in those communities,” Searles said.So why practice in rural Kansas? “You develop closer relationships and can do a lot more hands-on work,” Comeau said.“This type of work really makes a difference and gives you more purpose,” Searles said.Wall agreed. In some cases, he believes the financial returns of a rural practice could even exceed that of an urban practice in the long run.In 2011, the Kansas Supreme Court began conducting a traveling docket where cases are heard in communities around the state. While there, the justices also visit local schools and inform students about legal careers. That’s how Justice KJ Wall came to meet the high school students in the rural community of Ashland, population 783 people. Now, that’s rural.We commend Justice KJ Wall and all of the Kansas Supreme Court, plus Laurel Searles, Ashley Comeau and others involved in this initiative. I hope it helps move more students from the high school classroom to the hometown courtroom.

Now That’s Rural: KJ Wall, rural attorney shortage

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717962964729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.

By ELIZABETH REMBERT <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-06-07/snap-benefits-are-a-huge-part-of-the-farm-bill-and-a-big-point-of-contention-for-lawmakers?mc_cid=a5f0d9d772&amp;mc_eid=4e2c084f1d">KCUR</a>

The long-stalled farm bill took a step forward in the House of Representatives last month as a Republican-led proposal made it out of the agriculture committee.

The clock is ticking as the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired eight months ago, ends in September.

Yet food assistance will likely be a flashpoint in the discussions ahead.

<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research/#:~:text=In%20FY%202022%2C%20SNAP%20served,%24230.88%20per%20participant%20per%20month." target="_blank">More than 41 million Americans</a>&nbsp;rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program monthly to put food on the table. The program takes a lot of funding –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/minority-blog/reviewing-the-february-2024-baseline-for-usda-farm-and-nutrition-programs" target="_blank">about 80% of the farm bill’s massive budget goes to SNAP.</a>

The House draft suggests placing limits on how the Thrifty Food Plan is updated in the future. The Thrifty Food Plan is a basket of foods that represents a “nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet prepared at home” for a family of four,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/thriftyfoodplan" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</a>

The money people receive through SNAP is calculated by how much that basket of food costs.

Right now, the plan is updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp/usda-food-plans#:~:text=As%20stipulated%20in%20the%20Agriculture,reevaluation%20is%20anticipated%20in%202026." target="_blank">every five years</a>&nbsp;based on food prices, food composition data, consumer data and dietary standards. The new proposal suggests updating the cost of the plan only for inflation.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://thompson.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson</a>&nbsp;– a Republican from Pennsylvania – the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the limit would cut SNAP by $30 billion over the next 10 years.

“The cut would take away a day’s worth of benefits from the participants each month, then it would rise to two days of benefits each day,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://hayes.house.gov/" target="_blank">Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes</a>&nbsp;from Connecticut during discussions. “You may think losing one or two days of food is not significant. But I do think it’s quite significant for a low-income family trying to make ends meet.”

But&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/" target="_blank">Republican Rep. Mark Alford</a>&nbsp;from Missouri said he’s focused on making the program more efficient, not slashing benefits.

“Democrats feel like we’re trying to cut the program. And that’s not the case,” he said. “If we can move to a program that has more integrity, more health benefits, it is going to be greater for our nation and greater for our taxpayers.”

Alford points to&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/detailed_summary_final.pdf" target="_blank">parts of the bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow frozen and canned produce to be covered, create an accountability office and expand eligibility for the program.

Other SNAP proposals in the House’s farm bill draft would:

“We don’t feel there are cuts to SNAP – we’re just tightening up some of the issues,” Alford said. “I don’t want anyone who is truly hungry, truly needy and can’t work to go to bed hungry at night.”

Megan Hamann, a community organizer focused on food and nutrition access with&nbsp;<a href="https://neappleseed.org/who-we-are" target="_blank">Nebraska Appleseed</a>, said framing limits to the Thrifty Food Plan as anything but cuts to SNAP is a “pretty problematic characterization, because it would erode SNAP’s buying power over time.”

“So while families wouldn’t see their benefits go down in an immediate sense, SNAP would be increasingly less efficient as time goes on,” she said. “What we would see is a decline in how well the program actually works in people’s lives.”

Hamann said she hopes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_prosperity_and_food_security_section-by-section.pdf" target="_blank">Senate’s farm bill proposal</a>&nbsp;can find support, which would maintain the regular re-evaluation of SNAP benefits.

The House’s draft has a long way to go before it makes it into law as the new farm bill; it will need final passage in the House and endorsement from the Senate.

“Everyone knows that this bill would never become law. The Senate won’t accept it and the administration won’t accept it,” Rep. David Scott of Georgia, the ranking Democrat on the House’s Agriculture committee, said during discussions. “And while this bill is a giant misstep, it nevertheless begins our journey toward passing a farm bill.”

This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717798696726.png" alt="This story is part of Harvest Public Media's ongoing coverage of the 2023 Farm Bill." />
 <figcaption>This story is part of Harvest Public Media's ongoing coverage of the 2023 Farm Bill.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.</h2>By ELIZABETH REMBERT <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-06-07/snap-benefits-are-a-huge-part-of-the-farm-bill-and-a-big-point-of-contention-for-lawmakers?mc_cid=a5f0d9d772&amp;mc_eid=4e2c084f1d">KCUR</a>The long-stalled farm bill took a step forward in the House of Representatives last month as a Republican-led proposal made it out of the agriculture committee.The clock is ticking as the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired eight months ago, ends in September.Yet food assistance will likely be a flashpoint in the discussions ahead.<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research/#:~:text=In%20FY%202022%2C%20SNAP%20served,%24230.88%20per%20participant%20per%20month." target="_blank">More than 41 million Americans</a>&nbsp;rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program monthly to put food on the table. The program takes a lot of funding –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/minority-blog/reviewing-the-february-2024-baseline-for-usda-farm-and-nutrition-programs" target="_blank">about 80% of the farm bill’s massive budget goes to SNAP.</a><h2>House farm bill proposal</h2>The House draft suggests placing limits on how the Thrifty Food Plan is updated in the future. The Thrifty Food Plan is a basket of foods that represents a “nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet prepared at home” for a family of four,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/thriftyfoodplan" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.</a>The money people receive through SNAP is calculated by how much that basket of food costs.Right now, the plan is updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp/usda-food-plans#:~:text=As%20stipulated%20in%20the%20Agriculture,reevaluation%20is%20anticipated%20in%202026." target="_blank">every five years</a>&nbsp;based on food prices, food composition data, consumer data and dietary standards. The new proposal suggests updating the cost of the plan only for inflation.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://thompson.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson</a>&nbsp;– a Republican from Pennsylvania – the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the limit would cut SNAP by $30 billion over the next 10 years.“The cut would take away a day’s worth of benefits from the participants each month, then it would rise to two days of benefits each day,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://hayes.house.gov/" target="_blank">Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes</a>&nbsp;from Connecticut during discussions. “You may think losing one or two days of food is not significant. But I do think it’s quite significant for a low-income family trying to make ends meet.”But&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/" target="_blank">Republican Rep. Mark Alford</a>&nbsp;from Missouri said he’s focused on making the program more efficient, not slashing benefits.“Democrats feel like we’re trying to cut the program. And that’s not the case,” he said. “If we can move to a program that has more integrity, more health benefits, it is going to be greater for our nation and greater for our taxpayers.”Alford points to&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/detailed_summary_final.pdf" target="_blank">parts of the bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow frozen and canned produce to be covered, create an accountability office and expand eligibility for the program.Other SNAP proposals in the House’s farm bill draft would:<ul>
 <li>Add frozen, fresh, canned and dried fruits and vegetables as SNAP-eligible products&nbsp;</li><li>Create an office of program integrity to focus on SNAP and address erroneous payments and other inefficiencies&nbsp;</li><li>Allow individuals with past drug offenses to receive SNAP</li><li>Direct the USDA to issue formal guidance on notifying eligible college students that they qualify for SNAP</li>
 </ul>“We don’t feel there are cuts to SNAP – we’re just tightening up some of the issues,” Alford said. “I don’t want anyone who is truly hungry, truly needy and can’t work to go to bed hungry at night.”Megan Hamann, a community organizer focused on food and nutrition access with&nbsp;<a href="https://neappleseed.org/who-we-are" target="_blank">Nebraska Appleseed</a>, said framing limits to the Thrifty Food Plan as anything but cuts to SNAP is a “pretty problematic characterization, because it would erode SNAP’s buying power over time.”“So while families wouldn’t see their benefits go down in an immediate sense, SNAP would be increasingly less efficient as time goes on,” she said. “What we would see is a decline in how well the program actually works in people’s lives.”Hamann said she hopes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/rural_prosperity_and_food_security_section-by-section.pdf" target="_blank">Senate’s farm bill proposal</a>&nbsp;can find support, which would maintain the regular re-evaluation of SNAP benefits.The House’s draft has a long way to go before it makes it into law as the new farm bill; it will need final passage in the House and endorsement from the Senate.“Everyone knows that this bill would never become law. The Senate won’t accept it and the administration won’t accept it,” Rep. David Scott of Georgia, the ranking Democrat on the House’s Agriculture committee, said during discussions. “And while this bill is a giant misstep, it nevertheless begins our journey toward passing a farm bill.”This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

SNAP benefits huge part of farm bill, big point of contention for lawmakers

By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

Years ago, we had a wren house hung under the eaves just outside my office window. We watched a pair of wrens raise a family there for a couple years, then they never returned. I took the old tattered house down and didn’t have a wren house for a while. Two years ago, I got a pattern from a friend who is a very avid back-yard birder. I build two new houses, hung one at the same place outside my office window, and the other under the eaves of our workshop. We had no renters last year, and this spring, I guess a robin decided the house on the shop would make a nice two-story condo, and built a nest on the roof. She raised 3 chicks up there, but still no wrens. I’m suspicious they might not like the location any more because of the plethora of Baltimore Orioles we now feed nearby.

House wrens are cocky, brownish little birds with long pointy beaks that can easily be recognized by the way their tails point upward at a jaunty little angle. Next to Purple Martins, House Wrens seem to be the second most popular backyard songbird home owners like to provide with housing. Having wintered in the south, male wrens arrive here several days before the females, around mid-April, intent upon staking out their territories early and having a nice selection of summer homes for the ladies to choose from when they arrive. They take very well to the homes we provide for them, but wrens have been seen nesting in many places other than those nifty houses we build. Their nests have been found in overturned flower pots in garden sheds, in the small hole in the center of a ball of twine, in a large abandoned hornet’s nest, in old shoes, boots and hats, and in the pocket of a scare crow’s coat. The style of the house doesn’t seem to be important, as long as the interior is kept fairly small, as wrens are cavity nesters and feel secure in small tight places. I found directions showing entrance holes anywhere from 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches in diameter. Smaller holes keep out starlings, sparrows and other bigger birds. I found results of a study suggesting that slotted holes seem to work well and are evidently appreciated by the males, as slots allow them easier access into the house with nesting materials in their mouths.

When the male arrives (often to the same general nesting area each year,) he chooses more than one nesting site and immediately sets about stuffing them all full of sticks and twigs. After he has successfully wooed a female, she makes her choice from the options he’s provided and adds a lining of feathers, hair or wool to his bachelor pad and moves in. Male wrens are known to literally stuff these chosen sites so full of material that the female has to remove some just to get inside. One writer had watched a male wren in her backyard as he crammed a house so full of sticks they stuck out the hole. When the female arrived, she threw most of it back out into a pile on the ground below. While she was gone to hunt for suitable lining material, the male put one of his precious twigs back inside, and when the female arrived back, she again threw the stick out into the pile. I guess it’s that “When mammas happy everyone’s happy” thing.

Wrens often raise 2 broods a year. Five to eight tiny ½ inch eggs are laid, 13 to 15 days later, the hungry youngsters hatch, and 12 to 18 days after hatching are ready to fly from the nest. A wren’s diet is primarily insects and for those 12 to 18 days the parents’ life is put on hold as they strive to keep a house full of ravenous little insect guzzlers fed. One observer (who had way too much time on their hands and obviously a worse social life

than even I) counted over 1000 feeding trips made by a pair of wrens in one day! Just one of many good reasons to place wren houses near your garden.

A friend recently told me there seems to be a little controversy whether to clean wren houses or not. All my research shows that wren houses SHOULD be cleaned out each fall after the birds are done with them for the year. Cleaning helps rid them of any parasites, and removes any old nesting debris and anything else leftover after raising a couple families of hungry chicks.

I used to scoff at back-yard birders, but now I spend time on our deck most mornings with binoculars and a Kansas bird book handy, listening and learning to identify all the finches, orioles and other songbirds that frequent our seed and jelly feeders. Beautiful, colorful back-yard songbirds, yet more reminders of God’s marvelous Creation…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsYears ago, we had a wren house hung under the eaves just outside my office window. We watched a pair of wrens raise a family there for a couple years, then they never returned. I took the old tattered house down and didn’t have a wren house for a while. Two years ago, I got a pattern from a friend who is a very avid back-yard birder. I build two new houses, hung one at the same place outside my office window, and the other under the eaves of our workshop. We had no renters last year, and this spring, I guess a robin decided the house on the shop would make a nice two-story condo, and built a nest on the roof. She raised 3 chicks up there, but still no wrens. I’m suspicious they might not like the location any more because of the plethora of Baltimore Orioles we now feed nearby.House wrens are cocky, brownish little birds with long pointy beaks that can easily be recognized by the way their tails point upward at a jaunty little angle. Next to Purple Martins, House Wrens seem to be the second most popular backyard songbird home owners like to provide with housing. Having wintered in the south, male wrens arrive here several days before the females, around mid-April, intent upon staking out their territories early and having a nice selection of summer homes for the ladies to choose from when they arrive. They take very well to the homes we provide for them, but wrens have been seen nesting in many places other than those nifty houses we build. Their nests have been found in overturned flower pots in garden sheds, in the small hole in the center of a ball of twine, in a large abandoned hornet’s nest, in old shoes, boots and hats, and in the pocket of a scare crow’s coat. The style of the house doesn’t seem to be important, as long as the interior is kept fairly small, as wrens are cavity nesters and feel secure in small tight places. I found directions showing entrance holes anywhere from 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches in diameter. Smaller holes keep out starlings, sparrows and other bigger birds. I found results of a study suggesting that slotted holes seem to work well and are evidently appreciated by the males, as slots allow them easier access into the house with nesting materials in their mouths.When the male arrives (often to the same general nesting area each year,) he chooses more than one nesting site and immediately sets about stuffing them all full of sticks and twigs. After he has successfully wooed a female, she makes her choice from the options he’s provided and adds a lining of feathers, hair or wool to his bachelor pad and moves in. Male wrens are known to literally stuff these chosen sites so full of material that the female has to remove some just to get inside. One writer had watched a male wren in her backyard as he crammed a house so full of sticks they stuck out the hole. When the female arrived, she threw most of it back out into a pile on the ground below. While she was gone to hunt for suitable lining material, the male put one of his precious twigs back inside, and when the female arrived back, she again threw the stick out into the pile. I guess it’s that “When mammas happy everyone’s happy” thing.Wrens often raise 2 broods a year. Five to eight tiny ½ inch eggs are laid, 13 to 15 days later, the hungry youngsters hatch, and 12 to 18 days after hatching are ready to fly from the nest. A wren’s diet is primarily insects and for those 12 to 18 days the parents’ life is put on hold as they strive to keep a house full of ravenous little insect guzzlers fed. One observer (who had way too much time on their hands and obviously a worse social lifethan even I) counted over 1000 feeding trips made by a pair of wrens in one day! Just one of many good reasons to place wren houses near your garden.A friend recently told me there seems to be a little controversy whether to clean wren houses or not. All my research shows that wren houses SHOULD be cleaned out each fall after the birds are done with them for the year. Cleaning helps rid them of any parasites, and removes any old nesting debris and anything else leftover after raising a couple families of hungry chicks.I used to scoff at back-yard birders, but now I spend time on our deck most mornings with binoculars and a Kansas bird book handy, listening and learning to identify all the finches, orioles and other songbirds that frequent our seed and jelly feeders. Beautiful, colorful back-yard songbirds, yet more reminders of God’s marvelous Creation…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Spring wrens…sometimes

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

WILSON—Take cover and spend the night in an underground missile base in Wilson, transformed into a tourist stop and Airbnb.

Built during the Cold War, the Atlas F Missile Base once housed a weapon of mass destruction but is now a site for camping, an RV park, hiking trails and campfires.

Owner Matthew Fulkerson of Ad Astra Missile Silo purchased the bunker in 2013 but couldn't do much with it initially due to financial issues.

"In 2017, I realized that 'You know what, nothing is going to happen here unless you come out and start working,'" he said.

The Adventure Resort, 354 Fourth Road, is on the 24-acre property and is accessed through a steel door and a flight of stairs.

Around a few corners and behind two massive 2,000-pound doors, guests will find the Launch Control Center, now equipped with home utilities and living spaces.

Fulkerson began remodeling the property, and since 2019, visitors from around the globe have been able to travel through time.

"Most missile base owners will keep it very private, but I'm one of the few people in the world that opened up a place for people to tour and stay," he said.

For $350 a night for up to six guests, you can <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/655066825417773535?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3_Q-civBDYSztjEqVKfIhOJN8jHGKKti6E7jYnDDMSju3MCK6-Wv0tj74_aem_AbBQ24HI1tbmYXpX4p3KsXEcm3cozROxgH23gE3R3zWMOWhwKdOXVOniUAJDrml8hWtBeHSoUhixCrXmPqbVvrSE&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1717427997_ETZKlLQqP0mYlaaS&amp;guests=1&amp;adults=1">book a stay</a> at Atlas Ad Astra or schedule a <a href="https://atlas-ad-astra.checkfront.com/reserve/">one-hour tour</a> to learn about the Atlas Program and structures built by the U.S. Army.

With required reservations, regular tours are at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Prices vary for ages 10 and older, while children 9 and younger are free but must be supervised.

You can also <a href="https://www.campspot.com/book/atlasadastra">book </a>tent camping from March to November, car camping all year and RV parking with amenities.

"Originally, [the control center] was suspended from the ceiling at four different points around the room. If an explosion happened at the bottom, everything would be safe inside," Fulkerson said.

Below the remodeled Airbnb floor is the silo that once housed the U.S.'s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, prepared for the Nuclear War during the 1950s and '60s.

According to Fulkerson, Kansas was a target during the height of the Cold War because it could launch a retaliatory strike.

"We had about a 30-minute window if we saw that we were being attacked," he said. "The concept was if you launched on us, then we would launch on you; nobody wins and mutually assured destruction."

The silo was decommissioned in 1965 after four years of operation. It was the first structure built to withstand a blast within a one-mile radius, making it the most hardened structure of its time.

The construction costs for the structure alone amount to more than $120 million in today's currency.

Grow Ellsworth congratulated Fulkerson on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=848275910673655&amp;set=a.554937336674182">Facebook </a>after receiving an $80,000 Attraction Development Grant from the Kansas Department of Tourism and support from Airbnb.

"It's been an incredible journey. The more hard work I put in, the more people believe in what I'm doing," Fulkerson said.

Within the silo, Fulkerson intends to transform the Launch Control Center into an Educational Center for Space Habitat Studies, offering simulations of life in a space station or colony.

Plans for the property's surface level include a gourmet coffee shop, sauna, event center, obstacle course and other amenities for travelers' convenience.

To support Fulkerson, you can donate to his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/missilesilo?attribution_id=undefined&amp;utm_campaign=unknown&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=website_widget">GoFundMe</a> campaign. For every dollar donated, you will receive two entries for a chance to win a two-night stay at the silo.

Since 2020, Fulkerson has lived on the property in his RV and a tiny house he built near the silo entrance, accompanied by the Missile Silo dog, Buddy.

"I'm super excited to have my life revolve around hospitality, meeting new people and sharing this piece of history," Fulkerson said.

You can find more information on Atlas Ad Astra-Adventure Resort and its history on its <a href="https://www.atlasadastra.com/">website</a>.

You can also follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AtlasAdAstra">Atlas Ad Astra-Missile Silo Adventure Resort</a> on Facebook.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517740083.jpeg" alt="Mathew Fulkerson and Buddy the Missile Silo dog at the base entrance. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mathew Fulkerson and Buddy the Missile Silo dog at the base entrance. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717536573500.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostWILSON—Take cover and spend the night in an underground missile base in Wilson, transformed into a tourist stop and Airbnb.Built during the Cold War, the Atlas F Missile Base once housed a weapon of mass destruction but is now a site for camping, an RV park, hiking trails and campfires.Owner Matthew Fulkerson of Ad Astra Missile Silo purchased the bunker in 2013 but couldn't do much with it initially due to financial issues."In 2017, I realized that 'You know what, nothing is going to happen here unless you come out and start working,'" he said.The Adventure Resort, 354 Fourth Road, is on the 24-acre property and is accessed through a steel door and a flight of stairs.Around a few corners and behind two massive 2,000-pound doors, guests will find the Launch Control Center, now equipped with home utilities and living spaces.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717516883399.jpeg" alt="Two large 2,000-pound steel doors to prevent an explosive force from reaching inside. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Two large 2,000-pound steel doors to prevent an explosive force from reaching inside. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717516948013.jpeg" alt="The kitchen space in the Launch Control Center of the base. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The kitchen space in the Launch Control Center of the base. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717516997429.jpeg" alt="Bunk beds and kitchen utilities located in the Launch Control Center.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Bunk beds and kitchen utilities located in the Launch Control Center.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517049327.jpeg" alt="Private room with a king-size bed in the Launch Control Center of the base.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Private room with a king-size bed in the Launch Control Center of the base.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517176217.jpeg" alt="Mathew Fulkerson sitting in the living room space with a TV.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mathew Fulkerson sitting in the living room space with a TV.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Fulkerson began remodeling the property, and since 2019, visitors from around the globe have been able to travel through time."Most missile base owners will keep it very private, but I'm one of the few people in the world that opened up a place for people to tour and stay," he said.For $350 a night for up to six guests, you can <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/655066825417773535?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3_Q-civBDYSztjEqVKfIhOJN8jHGKKti6E7jYnDDMSju3MCK6-Wv0tj74_aem_AbBQ24HI1tbmYXpX4p3KsXEcm3cozROxgH23gE3R3zWMOWhwKdOXVOniUAJDrml8hWtBeHSoUhixCrXmPqbVvrSE&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1717427997_ETZKlLQqP0mYlaaS&amp;guests=1&amp;adults=1">book a stay</a> at Atlas Ad Astra or schedule a <a href="https://atlas-ad-astra.checkfront.com/reserve/">one-hour tour</a> to learn about the Atlas Program and structures built by the U.S. Army.With required reservations, regular tours are at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Prices vary for ages 10 and older, while children 9 and younger are free but must be supervised.You can also <a href="https://www.campspot.com/book/atlasadastra">book </a>tent camping from March to November, car camping all year and RV parking with amenities."Originally, [the control center] was suspended from the ceiling at four different points around the room. If an explosion happened at the bottom, everything would be safe inside," Fulkerson said.Below the remodeled Airbnb floor is the silo that once housed the U.S.'s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, prepared for the Nuclear War during the 1950s and '60s.According to Fulkerson, Kansas was a target during the height of the Cold War because it could launch a retaliatory strike."We had about a 30-minute window if we saw that we were being attacked," he said. "The concept was if you launched on us, then we would launch on you; nobody wins and mutually assured destruction."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517252564.jpeg" alt="The tunnel leading to the silo with a door meant to protect the base from an explosion of its own missile.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The tunnel leading to the silo with a door meant to protect the base from an explosion of its own missile.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517332843.jpeg" alt="The doorway leading to an overlook view of the silo.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The doorway leading to an overlook view of the silo.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517392630.jpeg" alt="The 176-foot-deep silo with 70 feef of water inside where the missile was once stored.&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The 176-foot-deep silo with 70 feef of water inside where the missile was once stored.&nbsp;Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517436465.jpeg" alt="The blast doors which would conceal the missile inside the silo.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The blast doors which would conceal the missile inside the silo.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The silo was decommissioned in 1965 after four years of operation. It was the first structure built to withstand a blast within a one-mile radius, making it the most hardened structure of its time.The construction costs for the structure alone amount to more than $120 million in today's currency.Grow Ellsworth congratulated Fulkerson on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=848275910673655&amp;set=a.554937336674182">Facebook </a>after receiving an $80,000 Attraction Development Grant from the Kansas Department of Tourism and support from Airbnb."It's been an incredible journey. The more hard work I put in, the more people believe in what I'm doing," Fulkerson said.Within the silo, Fulkerson intends to transform the Launch Control Center into an Educational Center for Space Habitat Studies, offering simulations of life in a space station or colony.Plans for the property's surface level include a gourmet coffee shop, sauna, event center, obstacle course and other amenities for travelers' convenience.To support Fulkerson, you can donate to his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/missilesilo?attribution_id=undefined&amp;utm_campaign=unknown&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=website_widget">GoFundMe</a> campaign. For every dollar donated, you will receive two entries for a chance to win a two-night stay at the silo.Since 2020, Fulkerson has lived on the property in his RV and a tiny house he built near the silo entrance, accompanied by the Missile Silo dog, Buddy."I'm super excited to have my life revolve around hospitality, meeting new people and sharing this piece of history," Fulkerson said.You can find more information on Atlas Ad Astra-Adventure Resort and its history on its <a href="https://www.atlasadastra.com/">website</a>.You can also follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AtlasAdAstra">Atlas Ad Astra-Missile Silo Adventure Resort</a> on Facebook.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517568427.jpeg" alt="The blast doors above the missile silo made from 9 feet of concrete.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The blast doors above the missile silo made from 9 feet of concrete.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517612765.jpeg" alt="The entrance to the missile base next to a small island.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The entrance to the missile base next to a small island.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717517680882.jpeg" alt="Mathew and Buddy exiting the missile base.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Mathew and Buddy exiting the missile base.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>

NWester: Stay the night at Wilson's missile silo turned Airbnb

Joseph B. Lantz IV filed as a Democratic candidate for the 111th District of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Lantz, an Ellis Country resident since April 2019, has been a police officer at the Hays Police Department since July 2019. Prior to joining the Hays Police Department, Lantz was a paralegal in the U.S. Army Reserve and had mobilized to Kuwait in 2016. Lantz is married and has one child.

Lantz commented that he has always been interested in running for office but made the decision at the last minute to run for state representative so District 111 had a choice. 

“Our district needs common sense leadership, someone who will address the critical needs of the district. I felt I had a responsibility to run. We deserve to have ten candidates to choose from. Prior to putting my name in, we would have been left with only one," Lantz said. 

* Expanding KANCARE-Medicaid. Failure to expand KANCARE-Medicaid was a decision that cost Hays Medical Center and the citizens of Hays millions of dollars.

* Promoting requirements for employers to provide paid maternity and paternity leave.

* Addressing the lack of affordable childcare across KS.

* Fully funding K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

* Promoting increases to teacher salaries.

* Increasing the state minimum wage, which hasn’t been increased since 2008.

* Preserving access to safe abortions for women in KS.

* Supporting services that provide relief to victims of crimes and domestic violence.

* Supporting local law enforcement agencies while also providing more funding for public defenders

Lantz stated he intends to be the clear choice for parents, educators, and the working class. Lantz hopes to promote policies that alleviate poverty across the state and expand the middle class.

SubmittedJoseph B. Lantz IV filed as a Democratic candidate for the 111th District of the Kansas House of Representatives.Lantz, an Ellis Country resident since April 2019, has been a police officer at the Hays Police Department since July 2019. Prior to joining the Hays Police Department, Lantz was a paralegal in the U.S. Army Reserve and had mobilized to Kuwait in 2016. Lantz is married and has one child.Lantz commented that he has always been interested in running for office but made the decision at the last minute to run for state representative so District 111 had a choice. “Our district needs common sense leadership, someone who will address the critical needs of the district. I felt I had a responsibility to run. We deserve to have ten candidates to choose from. Prior to putting my name in, we would have been left with only one," Lantz said. His priorities for our district are:* Expanding KANCARE-Medicaid. Failure to expand KANCARE-Medicaid was a decision that cost Hays Medical Center and the citizens of Hays millions of dollars.* Promoting requirements for employers to provide paid maternity and paternity leave.* Addressing the lack of affordable childcare across KS.* Fully funding K-12 schools and higher education institutions.* Promoting increases to teacher salaries.* Increasing the state minimum wage, which hasn’t been increased since 2008.* Preserving access to safe abortions for women in KS.* Supporting services that provide relief to victims of crimes and domestic violence.* Supporting local law enforcement agencies while also providing more funding for public defendersLantz stated he intends to be the clear choice for parents, educators, and the working class. Lantz hopes to promote policies that alleviate poverty across the state and expand the middle class.

Lantz Files for Kansas House District 111

By JULIE DEBES Kansas Wheat

The world is holding its breath this year for the Kansas wheat harvest to kick into full swing, but 150 years ago, the first harvest of Turkey Red wheat was largely dismissed as a small experiment. The introduction and adoption of this single variety, however, would forever change the wheat industry and establish the genetic lineage for the wheat Kansas farmers will harvest this summer.&nbsp;

“Probably no year holds more significance to the wheat industry in Kansas than 1874,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations. “The Mennonite farmers who emigrated that year to Kansas from Ukraine helped develop Kansas into a rich and productive agricultural economy. These families brought with them Turkey Red winter wheat, and — as they say, the rest is history.”&nbsp;

The Kansas territory officially became the state of Kansas on January 28, 1861. Just months before the start of the Civil War, frontier farming looked very different than today’s modern farmsteads. The soft wheat planted in Western Europe was considered ill-suited for Kansas, requiring substantial labor to plant by hand and to thresh by beating wheat heads against rocks.&nbsp;

The 34th state changed quickly, thanks to the signing of the Homestead Act in 1862, which gave citizens or future citizens up to 160 acres of land if they lived on and improved it for five years. The first train tracks from east to west were laid the next year. Homesteaders loaded into covered wagons and train cars, answering the call to “Go West, young man” and carve out new lives for themselves and their families on the Kansas prairie.&nbsp;

One hopeful homesteader, Bernard Warkentin, a Mennonite miller from Crimea, settled near Halstead, Kansas, in 1871. He carried the seeds of Turkey Red wheat, a hard winter wheat variety that was tremendously successful in Eastern Europe. The hardy variety was planted in the fall and could be harvested in the summer, allowing it to take advantage of timely moisture and withstand the cold Kansas winters that left settlers burning buffalo chips to stay warm. The first field of Turkey Red wheat was planted in Marion County in 1873 and harvested in the summer of 1874.&nbsp;

That same year would change the trajectory of Kansas agriculture forever, thanks to 12,000 German Mennonites who left modern Ukraine specifically to settle in Kansas at the invitation from the railroad and with promised religious freedom from the young state government.&nbsp;

Like Warkentin, his fellow Mennonites brought their favorite wheat, toting hand-picked seeds in large jars and sacks. They also brought game-changing farming practices like leaving fields fallow in between planting cycles, applying fertilizer to fields and using large threshing stones to separate the wheat kernels from the stalks that enveloped them.

Turkey Red was revolutionary, but it took time for the milling industry to adjust from milling soft wheat with lower protein and weaker gluten (think soft cookies) to the new hard red winter wheat, which had higher protein and stronger gluten (think of a loaf of bread that holds its shape). Just as the farmers discovered the hardiness of Turkey Red and the millers unlocked its better quality, the variety quickly spread and took over Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;

By 1919, Turkey Red wheat constituted more than 82 percent of planted acres in Kansas. It remained the most popular variety until 1939 — maintaining its dominance as superior genetics for crossing into new varieties.&nbsp;

“There was simply nothing like it at that time,” Harries said. “Turkey Red became the most desirable wheat in the world, and Kansas became the world’s breadbasket.”&nbsp;

Today, half of Kansas wheat varieties can trace their lineage back to Turkey Red. Wheat breeders improved on Turkey Red wheat, establishing shorter modern varieties with built-in disease resistance and improved yield potential while maintaining milling and baking quality. That research into what made Turkey Red so special continues, with researchers unlocking the variety’s genetic coding and using the variety in&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lNiTUV68Eu0y4_ctgsymgOUH5spkQaWRs2gdvdvChnNKbQhaODC-zACNlrAjzx09uvgjt5KZq1-fHv5sl5BNWxGW-gGIEqmdldMp5CUh0dMjEJGjS-KEvR0SdRrnn3IP74M9w_2_XiIASmuLMfXbK8L4n_u1hqBFgqEpbetYeki4rYkeaGpvI5HzxILy2fy813jsVvw8H5ju_KT4QAHgMNQCo5vORdS-zyf5sHHNLauDvxE_PATKHPPvRCdKqCsR&amp;c=fMNjJFNFLLlfzB0s_e1gDsyJ60ss8fe_IKR5A6OtIP44023535rDUw==&amp;ch=u324L5RTT0aWeHIsygRfTGe8y3UMg9vIWBRldxqSQ6ge2GLSSOOLgw==" target="_blank">research projects</a>&nbsp;comparing responses to management — like nutrient uptake — between heritage and modern varieties.&nbsp;

Thanks to Turkey Red, Kansas farmers will harvest their 150th hard red winter wheat crop this summer, and billions of bread loaves and other products will be baked to feed families around the world.&nbsp;

Learn more about Turkey Red and the Mennonite farmers who brought the variety to Kansas in an episode of the “Wheat’s On Your Mind”&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lNiTUV68Eu0y4_ctgsymgOUH5spkQaWRs2gdvdvChnNKbQhaODC-zN1CmpY5d5jmO3h3TIqd0M5YGlJJNO0PLKAgAVg9L087LzBY_tF0rhM-XCUR2PZ9BUq9qHOX-ScLSXLE1-MgHKtQIF7i6Y128Wwoom8iTYJTlNf3PZkaBHXloXkpkNNkftRqq5P6rokys-dnq0keiKbOSBT9PjxAy6fVUrNDu0_Y9tSZPIruTgU0fhpId-yBqw==&amp;c=fMNjJFNFLLlfzB0s_e1gDsyJ60ss8fe_IKR5A6OtIP44023535rDUw==&amp;ch=u324L5RTT0aWeHIsygRfTGe8y3UMg9vIWBRldxqSQ6ge2GLSSOOLgw==" target="_blank">podcast</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717697858509.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JULIE DEBES Kansas WheatThe world is holding its breath this year for the Kansas wheat harvest to kick into full swing, but 150 years ago, the first harvest of Turkey Red wheat was largely dismissed as a small experiment. The introduction and adoption of this single variety, however, would forever change the wheat industry and establish the genetic lineage for the wheat Kansas farmers will harvest this summer.&nbsp;“Probably no year holds more significance to the wheat industry in Kansas than 1874,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations. “The Mennonite farmers who emigrated that year to Kansas from Ukraine helped develop Kansas into a rich and productive agricultural economy. These families brought with them Turkey Red winter wheat, and — as they say, the rest is history.”&nbsp;The Kansas territory officially became the state of Kansas on January 28, 1861. Just months before the start of the Civil War, frontier farming looked very different than today’s modern farmsteads. The soft wheat planted in Western Europe was considered ill-suited for Kansas, requiring substantial labor to plant by hand and to thresh by beating wheat heads against rocks.&nbsp;The 34th state changed quickly, thanks to the signing of the Homestead Act in 1862, which gave citizens or future citizens up to 160 acres of land if they lived on and improved it for five years. The first train tracks from east to west were laid the next year. Homesteaders loaded into covered wagons and train cars, answering the call to “Go West, young man” and carve out new lives for themselves and their families on the Kansas prairie.&nbsp;One hopeful homesteader, Bernard Warkentin, a Mennonite miller from Crimea, settled near Halstead, Kansas, in 1871. He carried the seeds of Turkey Red wheat, a hard winter wheat variety that was tremendously successful in Eastern Europe. The hardy variety was planted in the fall and could be harvested in the summer, allowing it to take advantage of timely moisture and withstand the cold Kansas winters that left settlers burning buffalo chips to stay warm. The first field of Turkey Red wheat was planted in Marion County in 1873 and harvested in the summer of 1874.&nbsp;That same year would change the trajectory of Kansas agriculture forever, thanks to 12,000 German Mennonites who left modern Ukraine specifically to settle in Kansas at the invitation from the railroad and with promised religious freedom from the young state government.&nbsp;Like Warkentin, his fellow Mennonites brought their favorite wheat, toting hand-picked seeds in large jars and sacks. They also brought game-changing farming practices like leaving fields fallow in between planting cycles, applying fertilizer to fields and using large threshing stones to separate the wheat kernels from the stalks that enveloped them.Turkey Red was revolutionary, but it took time for the milling industry to adjust from milling soft wheat with lower protein and weaker gluten (think soft cookies) to the new hard red winter wheat, which had higher protein and stronger gluten (think of a loaf of bread that holds its shape). Just as the farmers discovered the hardiness of Turkey Red and the millers unlocked its better quality, the variety quickly spread and took over Kansas agriculture.&nbsp;By 1919, Turkey Red wheat constituted more than 82 percent of planted acres in Kansas. It remained the most popular variety until 1939 — maintaining its dominance as superior genetics for crossing into new varieties.&nbsp;“There was simply nothing like it at that time,” Harries said. “Turkey Red became the most desirable wheat in the world, and Kansas became the world’s breadbasket.”&nbsp;Today, half of Kansas wheat varieties can trace their lineage back to Turkey Red. Wheat breeders improved on Turkey Red wheat, establishing shorter modern varieties with built-in disease resistance and improved yield potential while maintaining milling and baking quality. That research into what made Turkey Red so special continues, with researchers unlocking the variety’s genetic coding and using the variety in&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lNiTUV68Eu0y4_ctgsymgOUH5spkQaWRs2gdvdvChnNKbQhaODC-zACNlrAjzx09uvgjt5KZq1-fHv5sl5BNWxGW-gGIEqmdldMp5CUh0dMjEJGjS-KEvR0SdRrnn3IP74M9w_2_XiIASmuLMfXbK8L4n_u1hqBFgqEpbetYeki4rYkeaGpvI5HzxILy2fy813jsVvw8H5ju_KT4QAHgMNQCo5vORdS-zyf5sHHNLauDvxE_PATKHPPvRCdKqCsR&amp;c=fMNjJFNFLLlfzB0s_e1gDsyJ60ss8fe_IKR5A6OtIP44023535rDUw==&amp;ch=u324L5RTT0aWeHIsygRfTGe8y3UMg9vIWBRldxqSQ6ge2GLSSOOLgw==" target="_blank">research projects</a>&nbsp;comparing responses to management — like nutrient uptake — between heritage and modern varieties.&nbsp;Thanks to Turkey Red, Kansas farmers will harvest their 150th hard red winter wheat crop this summer, and billions of bread loaves and other products will be baked to feed families around the world.&nbsp;Learn more about Turkey Red and the Mennonite farmers who brought the variety to Kansas in an episode of the “Wheat’s On Your Mind”&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001lNiTUV68Eu0y4_ctgsymgOUH5spkQaWRs2gdvdvChnNKbQhaODC-zN1CmpY5d5jmO3h3TIqd0M5YGlJJNO0PLKAgAVg9L087LzBY_tF0rhM-XCUR2PZ9BUq9qHOX-ScLSXLE1-MgHKtQIF7i6Y128Wwoom8iTYJTlNf3PZkaBHXloXkpkNNkftRqq5P6rokys-dnq0keiKbOSBT9PjxAy6fVUrNDu0_Y9tSZPIruTgU0fhpId-yBqw==&amp;c=fMNjJFNFLLlfzB0s_e1gDsyJ60ss8fe_IKR5A6OtIP44023535rDUw==&amp;ch=u324L5RTT0aWeHIsygRfTGe8y3UMg9vIWBRldxqSQ6ge2GLSSOOLgw==" target="_blank">podcast</a>.&nbsp;

Wheat Scoop: A love letter to Turkey Red

OMAHA — In 2023, phishing scam reports to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCyFN-2F12xk-2Bj7RU4mCS9DurNs5LlvWyYEFFsbSjEleZ-2FQArQH_Fv8ztqy4N6v5mSHn3IC12POcfMADnYQcgayMRAqoOA8BbEH-2FhvL1t3FUHFUCWDXRle-2FflzQfOBnXsJbH2716m7-2BfJbgBy42ZM7m-2BquKZ-2Bm5Tu3LH3Zi0sSH8ZR00NPGCDpX2MK1mEp677UU-2BmOoTXFYDMk6PaSx1nrUB7IiXKvTUPZ1M5Zqgiq-2Bkht9O6IglWhU-2FDyrpCiIR5eYC9OctloUHUov-2B1X629AL43-2FRPdStGGxS-2BzzeBqtMdVN7Fkac4Bx2AGCY6-2F35kBauWlapVwlk7-2B-2FHc34mJJ3SwFq-2FSgKfYxCt7kcyvBKN5RS9HDn5-2F5n0PYEgbrAvocL9Im7m9x4koECTnafR6K1FECm8NWrc-3D" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;nearly doubled, reaching a record high of over 9,000. Scammers appear to be adopting new technology and lean on text message-based scams to reel in new targets.

Since 2021, reports to Better Business Bureau show that scammers use phishing tactics in nearly every type of scam, including government impersonation, tech support and cryptocurrency fraud. In more recent reports, they are increasingly turning to SMS-based versions of these scams, sending messages meant to trick the public into clicking on links that prompt them to share personal information or download malicious software.

In&nbsp;“BBB Investigation: BBB tallies record number of&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC8ykZzv5lR3L7GfO6cBQPJRN7fDz7FVzMqi8y72CEr6V13ZkaK2UoolV0mrRlcQ9W-2FCQNVH2aWYy930P0Yd-2Ff4gptwm7DIOdw0T1C931-2BaU4eSRsJYtyyiTyq8QUos7-2FtAo7OLuizo825IZbDmekxTzpDV7FjOhTMp00BB72IVH0TE9mAjm1-2BRyadb9n5CLKDw-3D-3D3SFL_Fv8ztqy4N6v5mSHn3IC12POcfMADnYQcgayMRAqoOA8BbEH-2FhvL1t3FUHFUCWDXRle-2FflzQfOBnXsJbH2716m7-2BfJbgBy42ZM7m-2BquKZ-2Bm5Tu3LH3Zi0sSH8ZR00NPGCDpX2MK1mEp677UU-2BmOoTXFYDMk6PaSx1nrUB7IiXKvTUPZ1M5Zqgiq-2Bkht9O6IglWhU-2FDyrpCiIR5eYC9Octlnnl9-2B4aaThtA8QpojmMVs7fXIBc9QwcK0pmXemCjDquVpYXpwKwxS111wFMfsJmZpnX-2B6L3gMA7X-2FSDBtfVGtcJLJE1y9e9JXHB1olDiDcsXzHHgB6SyF32Sq4eh9BYuoE6rmbCxe-2BQcVdrrq7oFLc-3D" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;as scammers adopt new technologies&nbsp;"&nbsp;BBB examines patterns of reports, reviews the amount of money lost and shares stories from those caught up in the scams so the public can avoid them.

• Scam Tracker reports totaled over 9,000 in 2023, nearly double the previous year and a record high. • Reports in 2024 indicate another record year is likely incoming. • Phishing, despite being one of the oldest and most well-known scam techniques, continues to be successful, because of its adaptability to various forms of communication. • Phishing scams target both individuals and businesses, with business losses totaling in the billions over the last three years, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and supported by BBB Scam Tracker reports. • Because phishing techniques change so often, it can be hard for the public and authorities to keep up with the ever-changing defenses needed.

Statistics (reported to BBB from 2021-2023):

• Phishing (email) - 8,346. •&nbsp; Vishing (call and voicemail) – 7,416. •&nbsp; Smishing (SMS) – 3,486. •&nbsp; Pharming (malicious links) - 315. •&nbsp; Business Email Compromise – 200

An Omaha woman parked at a metered spot and spotted a QR code nearby for payment. After entering her credit card details, she noticed the processing time was unusually long. Sensing something was amiss, she took photos of the QR code and the information displayed on her screen. It turned out the site was a scam designed to deceive hurried individuals. Though she managed to recover her money, she had to cancel her card to prevent ongoing charges from the scammers.

• Claims about suspicious activity or fraudulent logins. • Reaches out about unexpected problems with an account. • Tries to confirm financial information. • Requests to click a link to make a payment. • Offers government refunds. • Sends unasked for coupons. • Uses generic message paired with logo of a well-known company. • Speaks in typo-filled and urgent language. •&nbsp;Pretends to be a known authority figure requesting a business payment.

About BBB of the Midwest Plains

Better Business Bureau of the Midwest Plains is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to serving more than 300 counties across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. Headquartered in Omaha, it also has offices in Kansas City, MO, Lincoln, NE, and Sioux Falls, SD, and has served its regional territory since 1936. BBB sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Its consumer services are offered at no cost, providing objective advice through a comprehensive directory of over 5.3 million companies and 11,000 charity reviews. BBB offers dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712245575011.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Better Business BureauOMAHA — In 2023, phishing scam reports to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCyFN-2F12xk-2Bj7RU4mCS9DurNs5LlvWyYEFFsbSjEleZ-2FQArQH_Fv8ztqy4N6v5mSHn3IC12POcfMADnYQcgayMRAqoOA8BbEH-2FhvL1t3FUHFUCWDXRle-2FflzQfOBnXsJbH2716m7-2BfJbgBy42ZM7m-2BquKZ-2Bm5Tu3LH3Zi0sSH8ZR00NPGCDpX2MK1mEp677UU-2BmOoTXFYDMk6PaSx1nrUB7IiXKvTUPZ1M5Zqgiq-2Bkht9O6IglWhU-2FDyrpCiIR5eYC9OctloUHUov-2B1X629AL43-2FRPdStGGxS-2BzzeBqtMdVN7Fkac4Bx2AGCY6-2F35kBauWlapVwlk7-2B-2FHc34mJJ3SwFq-2FSgKfYxCt7kcyvBKN5RS9HDn5-2F5n0PYEgbrAvocL9Im7m9x4koECTnafR6K1FECm8NWrc-3D" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>&nbsp;nearly doubled, reaching a record high of over 9,000. Scammers appear to be adopting new technology and lean on text message-based scams to reel in new targets.Since 2021, reports to Better Business Bureau show that scammers use phishing tactics in nearly every type of scam, including government impersonation, tech support and cryptocurrency fraud. In more recent reports, they are increasingly turning to SMS-based versions of these scams, sending messages meant to trick the public into clicking on links that prompt them to share personal information or download malicious software.In&nbsp;“BBB Investigation: BBB tallies record number of&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC8ykZzv5lR3L7GfO6cBQPJRN7fDz7FVzMqi8y72CEr6V13ZkaK2UoolV0mrRlcQ9W-2FCQNVH2aWYy930P0Yd-2Ff4gptwm7DIOdw0T1C931-2BaU4eSRsJYtyyiTyq8QUos7-2FtAo7OLuizo825IZbDmekxTzpDV7FjOhTMp00BB72IVH0TE9mAjm1-2BRyadb9n5CLKDw-3D-3D3SFL_Fv8ztqy4N6v5mSHn3IC12POcfMADnYQcgayMRAqoOA8BbEH-2FhvL1t3FUHFUCWDXRle-2FflzQfOBnXsJbH2716m7-2BfJbgBy42ZM7m-2BquKZ-2Bm5Tu3LH3Zi0sSH8ZR00NPGCDpX2MK1mEp677UU-2BmOoTXFYDMk6PaSx1nrUB7IiXKvTUPZ1M5Zqgiq-2Bkht9O6IglWhU-2FDyrpCiIR5eYC9Octlnnl9-2B4aaThtA8QpojmMVs7fXIBc9QwcK0pmXemCjDquVpYXpwKwxS111wFMfsJmZpnX-2B6L3gMA7X-2FSDBtfVGtcJLJE1y9e9JXHB1olDiDcsXzHHgB6SyF32Sq4eh9BYuoE6rmbCxe-2BQcVdrrq7oFLc-3D" target="_blank">reports</a>&nbsp;as scammers adopt new technologies&nbsp;"&nbsp;BBB examines patterns of reports, reviews the amount of money lost and shares stories from those caught up in the scams so the public can avoid them.Key findings:• Scam Tracker reports totaled over 9,000 in 2023, nearly double the previous year and a record high. • Reports in 2024 indicate another record year is likely incoming. • Phishing, despite being one of the oldest and most well-known scam techniques, continues to be successful, because of its adaptability to various forms of communication. • Phishing scams target both individuals and businesses, with business losses totaling in the billions over the last three years, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and supported by BBB Scam Tracker reports. • Because phishing techniques change so often, it can be hard for the public and authorities to keep up with the ever-changing defenses needed. Statistics (reported to BBB from 2021-2023):• Phishing (email) - 8,346. •&nbsp; Vishing (call and voicemail) – 7,416. •&nbsp; Smishing (SMS) – 3,486. •&nbsp; Pharming (malicious links) - 315. •&nbsp; Business Email Compromise – 200Scam survivor story:An Omaha woman parked at a metered spot and spotted a QR code nearby for payment. After entering her credit card details, she noticed the processing time was unusually long. Sensing something was amiss, she took photos of the QR code and the information displayed on her screen. It turned out the site was a scam designed to deceive hurried individuals. Though she managed to recover her money, she had to cancel her card to prevent ongoing charges from the scammers.Red flags in phishing scams:• Claims about suspicious activity or fraudulent logins. • Reaches out about unexpected problems with an account. • Tries to confirm financial information. • Requests to click a link to make a payment. • Offers government refunds. • Sends unasked for coupons. • Uses generic message paired with logo of a well-known company. • Speaks in typo-filled and urgent language. •&nbsp;Pretends to be a known authority figure requesting a business payment. About BBB of the Midwest PlainsBetter Business Bureau of the Midwest Plains is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to serving more than 300 counties across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. Headquartered in Omaha, it also has offices in Kansas City, MO, Lincoln, NE, and Sioux Falls, SD, and has served its regional territory since 1936. BBB sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Its consumer services are offered at no cost, providing objective advice through a comprehensive directory of over 5.3 million companies and 11,000 charity reviews. BBB offers dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust.

BBB tallies record number of reports as scammers adopt new technologies

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717886830797.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

🎥 CVB: Summer kicks off in Hays with increased events, activities

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Submit your Child Care Champion of the Month

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

City Hall in Ellis will once again
sport artwork honoring the local community after the city commission gave the
go-ahead for mural on the side of the building.

Earlier this year the Ellis County
Council reviewed a contract with Mindy’s Murals, of Junction City, for $20,000
to design and paint a mural on the south side of the city hall building. After
clarifying some questions about the contract the council approved the contract
in a special meeting May 23, according to City Administrator/Clerk
Amy Burton.

The $20,000 does not include any of
the equipment rental or travel expenses.

Burton said there used to be a mural
on the building but it had faded over time and when repairs were done to the
building it was painted blue and she said after some discussion the city council decided to
have another mural painted on the building.

The idea behind the design of the
proposed mural was to incorporate many of the different elements of the Ellis
Community that stand out. According to Burton it will also honor Ellis’
all-woman council which was one of first in the US in the late 1800s.

“They wanted to incorporate a little
bit of the past, the current and moving forward,” Burton said. “The mural has
elements from each of the museums, it has the miniature arrow train, it does
have a picture of the all-women Council and then it's all a little bit
surrounded with sunflowers,” Burton said. 

Ellis had applied for a pair of
grants to help with the cost of the $20,000 project. The first grant they applied
for is a $7,500 grant from the Office of Rural Prosperity.

Friday Governor Laura Kelly's office announced that Ellis was one of 12 communities that have been awarded funding through the Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural Public Art.

The city has also applied for grants
from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. 

The project is expected to start in
mid-July or early August is expected to take approximately two weeks to
complete.

Burton said the council is looking
forward to the mural’s completion.

“They're excited to get something
back up on that wall,” Burton said. “I think it will be a great addition.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717789753984.png" alt="A representation of what the new mural on the Ellis townhall will look like. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>A representation of what the new mural on the Ellis townhall will look like. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostCity Hall in Ellis will once again
sport artwork honoring the local community after the city commission gave the
go-ahead for mural on the side of the building.Earlier this year the Ellis County
Council reviewed a contract with Mindy’s Murals, of Junction City, for $20,000
to design and paint a mural on the south side of the city hall building. After
clarifying some questions about the contract the council approved the contract
in a special meeting May 23, according to City Administrator/Clerk
Amy Burton.The $20,000 does not include any of
the equipment rental or travel expenses.Burton said there used to be a mural
on the building but it had faded over time and when repairs were done to the
building it was painted blue and she said after some discussion the city council decided to
have another mural painted on the building.The idea behind the design of the
proposed mural was to incorporate many of the different elements of the Ellis
Community that stand out. According to Burton it will also honor Ellis’
all-woman council which was one of first in the US in the late 1800s.“They wanted to incorporate a little
bit of the past, the current and moving forward,” Burton said. “The mural has
elements from each of the museums, it has the miniature arrow train, it does
have a picture of the all-women Council and then it's all a little bit
surrounded with sunflowers,” Burton said. Ellis had applied for a pair of
grants to help with the cost of the $20,000 project. The first grant they applied
for is a $7,500 grant from the Office of Rural Prosperity.Friday Governor Laura Kelly's office announced that Ellis was one of 12 communities that have been awarded funding through the Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural Public Art.The city has also applied for grants
from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The project is expected to start in
mid-July or early August is expected to take approximately two weeks to
complete.Burton said the council is looking
forward to the mural’s completion.“They're excited to get something
back up on that wall,” Burton said. “I think it will be a great addition.”

Ellis townhall mural to honor city's past and future

Beginning Monday, General Custer in Hays will be closed to through traffic on the west side of the draw from Centennial Blvd. to Drum Ave. for pavement repair work. 

The repairs should be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603291672014.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Monday, General Custer in Hays will be closed to through traffic on the west side of the draw from Centennial Blvd. to Drum Ave. for pavement repair work. The repairs should be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday.&nbsp;The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

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