By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle Communications

The fourth quarter of 2023 will reflect mergers and acquisitions in the Permian Basin worth more than $120 BILLION. Occidental Petroleum has agreed to buy CrownRock in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $12 BILLION, the latest in a string of giant fossil fuel takeovers in the Permian. The deal is expected to increase Occidental's Permian production by 170,000 barrels per day.

The government says U.S. crude production dropped from last week's record by more than 100-thousand barrels per day. Output for the week through December 1st averaged 13,131,000 barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration. That's up more than a million barrels per day from the same week a year ago.

U.S. crude-oil producers had their best month ever in September at 13,236,000 barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration says that's an increase of 1.7% from the month before, and a more than seven percent increase from a year ago.

Production in Kansas rose a little over one percent to 2.2 million barrels, or more than 75,000 barrels per day in September. Energy Information Administration now ranks the Sunflower State 12th among crude-producing states. The top five are Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Colorado and Oklahoma. The next five include Alaska, California, Wyoming, Utah and Louisiana.

The Energy Information Administration reports domestic crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels to 455,000 barrels as of December 1. That's about 26 million barrels more than the stockpile report a year ago.

The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows 626 active drilling rigs nationwide. New Mexico was down four rigs on the week. Louisiana was up three. Texas was up two rigs.

The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is down slightly from a week ago. There are 15 active rigs in eastern Kansas, and 22 rigs west of Wichita. Both tallies are down one from a week ago. Drilling was underway or about to start on two leases in Russell County on Friday.

Kansas regulators okayed ten permits for drilling at new locations last week, including one in Russell County out three in western Kansas. So far this year we've seen 1,215 new drilling permits, compared to 1,556 permits by the time last year.

Operators completed 39 wells across Kansas last week, with 21 in western Kansas, including one well in Ellis County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 1,628 completed wells so far this year, or 117 more than last year at this time.

The Energy Information Administration reports domestic crude imports rose by 1.7 million barrels per day to average 7.5 million. Over the last four weeks, imports averaged more than six percent higher than a year ago.

Annual state income in New Mexico has swelled by nearly half over the last three years, driven by exploding output in the part of the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico.&nbsp; When the government convenes in January they'll decide how to spend an extra $3.5 billion dollars, according to a new government estimate announced on Monday.

A U.S. government report suggests that Canada's Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is nearly complete and could go online by early next year. They plan to increase capacity by 300,000 barrels per day, moving heavy crude from landlocked Alberta Province to the Pacific Coast. The pipeline was acquired by the Canadian government in hopes of boosting Canadian crude prices after a long string of legal and logistical setbacks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684775008059.jpeg" alt="Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Eagle CommunicationsThe fourth quarter of 2023 will reflect mergers and acquisitions in the Permian Basin worth more than $120 BILLION. Occidental Petroleum has agreed to buy CrownRock in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $12 BILLION, the latest in a string of giant fossil fuel takeovers in the Permian. The deal is expected to increase Occidental's Permian production by 170,000 barrels per day.The government says U.S. crude production dropped from last week's record by more than 100-thousand barrels per day. Output for the week through December 1st averaged 13,131,000 barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration. That's up more than a million barrels per day from the same week a year ago.U.S. crude-oil producers had their best month ever in September at 13,236,000 barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration says that's an increase of 1.7% from the month before, and a more than seven percent increase from a year ago.Production in Kansas rose a little over one percent to 2.2 million barrels, or more than 75,000 barrels per day in September. Energy Information Administration now ranks the Sunflower State 12th among crude-producing states. The top five are Texas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Colorado and Oklahoma. The next five include Alaska, California, Wyoming, Utah and Louisiana.The Energy Information Administration reports domestic crude-oil inventories dropped by nearly five million barrels to 455,000 barrels as of December 1. That's about 26 million barrels more than the stockpile report a year ago.The weekly Rotary Rig Count from Baker Hughes shows 626 active drilling rigs nationwide. New Mexico was down four rigs on the week. Louisiana was up three. Texas was up two rigs.The Kansas Rig Count from Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service is down slightly from a week ago. There are 15 active rigs in eastern Kansas, and 22 rigs west of Wichita. Both tallies are down one from a week ago. Drilling was underway or about to start on two leases in Russell County on Friday.Kansas regulators okayed ten permits for drilling at new locations last week, including one in Russell County out three in western Kansas. So far this year we've seen 1,215 new drilling permits, compared to 1,556 permits by the time last year.Operators completed 39 wells across Kansas last week, with 21 in western Kansas, including one well in Ellis County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 1,628 completed wells so far this year, or 117 more than last year at this time.The Energy Information Administration reports domestic crude imports rose by 1.7 million barrels per day to average 7.5 million. Over the last four weeks, imports averaged more than six percent higher than a year ago.Annual state income in New Mexico has swelled by nearly half over the last three years, driven by exploding output in the part of the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico.&nbsp; When the government convenes in January they'll decide how to spend an extra $3.5 billion dollars, according to a new government estimate announced on Monday.A U.S. government report suggests that Canada's Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is nearly complete and could go online by early next year. They plan to increase capacity by 300,000 barrels per day, moving heavy crude from landlocked Alberta Province to the Pacific Coast. The pipeline was acquired by the Canadian government in hopes of boosting Canadian crude prices after a long string of legal and logistical setbacks.

News From the Oil Patch: Fourth quarter Permian mergers top $120 billion

By CRISTINA JANNEY HaysPost

The Hays USD 489 school board will consider two projects to improve security at the district's elementary schools.

The board members will consider an $148,998 project to install a new electronic secure door access control locks system provided by Nex-Tech.

The system would be on a network, and a lock downs could be initiated remotely.

BOE will consider approval of security cameras that will be installed in the new Roosevelt addition.

The board members also will discuss purchasing security cameras for the addition at Roosevelt Elementary School. The bid from Nex-Tech is $39,000.

The board members will consider approval of $495,278 to complete phase two of the O'Loughlin Elementary School HVAC renovation project in the summer 2024.

The board also will consider adjusting wages for after-school care workers, crossing guards and lunchroom supervisors to $12.91 per hour and the after-school care director wage to $13.91 per hour.

By CRISTINA JANNEY HaysPostThe Hays USD 489 school board will consider two projects to improve security at the district's elementary schools.The board members will consider an $148,998 project to install a new electronic secure door access control locks system provided by Nex-Tech.The system would be on a network, and a lock downs could be initiated remotely.BOE will consider approval of security cameras that will be installed in the new Roosevelt addition.The board members also will discuss purchasing security cameras for the addition at Roosevelt Elementary School. The bid from Nex-Tech is $39,000.The board members will consider approval of $495,278 to complete phase two of the O'Loughlin Elementary School HVAC renovation project in the summer 2024.The board also will consider adjusting wages for after-school care workers, crossing guards and lunchroom supervisors to $12.91 per hour and the after-school care director wage to $13.91 per hour.

Hays USD 489 school board to consider security improvements

Veterans in northwest Kansas will now have easier access to VA’s Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Hays with its relocation to 4107 Vine St., just north of Interstate 70.

The community is invited to attend the grand opening at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at the new location. Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Tracey Mann are scheduled to deliver remarks during the official ceremony, as well as leaders from the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and the VA Heartland Network.

A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the entrance, and facility tours will be provided by staff until 1 p.m.

The Hays CBOC is one of five associated with Wichita’s Dole VA Medical Center. The CBOC in Hays was first opened in September 1999 and has served veterans continuously since. In summer 2022, it was announced the facility would move to its new location to provide more space for additional services, as well as easier access to those traveling from outside the area.

The new location provides more square footage, three additional exam rooms, dedicated space for group therapy and mental health care, and it meets updated telecommunications requirements for digital security and safeguarding veterans' health information. The clinic offers primary care, laboratory and pathology services, pharmacy and telehealth services.

“We are pleased we’ve been able to expand and improve our clinic for veterans in this part of the state,” said Michael Payne, Dole VA Medical Center director. “The new location will provide much better access to those traveling from outside the area, and with the additional space and improved layout, we’ll be able to enhance the care experience our Veterans receive.”

SubmittedVeterans in northwest Kansas will now have easier access to VA’s Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Hays with its relocation to 4107 Vine St., just north of Interstate 70.The community is invited to attend the grand opening at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at the new location. Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Tracey Mann are scheduled to deliver remarks during the official ceremony, as well as leaders from the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and the VA Heartland Network.A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the entrance, and facility tours will be provided by staff until 1 p.m.The Hays CBOC is one of five associated with Wichita’s Dole VA Medical Center. The CBOC in Hays was first opened in September 1999 and has served veterans continuously since. In summer 2022, it was announced the facility would move to its new location to provide more space for additional services, as well as easier access to those traveling from outside the area.The new location provides more square footage, three additional exam rooms, dedicated space for group therapy and mental health care, and it meets updated telecommunications requirements for digital security and safeguarding veterans' health information. The clinic offers primary care, laboratory and pathology services, pharmacy and telehealth services.“We are pleased we’ve been able to expand and improve our clinic for veterans in this part of the state,” said Michael Payne, Dole VA Medical Center director. “The new location will provide much better access to those traveling from outside the area, and with the additional space and improved layout, we’ll be able to enhance the care experience our Veterans receive.”

VA ready to open Hays clinic at new location

Avery Smith Chief of Police, Ellis Police Department

On Nov. 16, the Ellis Police Department was made aware of a possible rape that occurred within the city limits of Ellis. An officer with the Wamego Police Department relayed information to the Ellis Police Department concerning a juvenile that disclosed allegations of multiple instances of being sexually assaulted.

Officers worked diligently to set up a forensic interview with the victim. After receiving a copy of the forensic interview’s recording, Ellis Police Department Officers interviewed a suspect, Caleb Wertenberger, 31, of Ellis. After the completion of the interview, Wertenberger was arrested and transported to the Ellis County Jail, where he is being held on requested charges of four counts of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent liberties with a child, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and felony interference with law enforcement.

On Monday, Wertenberger had his bond set at $500,000. Wertenberger is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. The victim, now a survivor, will not have their name released. No further details will be released at this time, as investigation is still ongoing.

The Ellis Police Department would like to thank the Wamego Police Department and the Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center in Manhattan, for their assistance with this case.

<figure>
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 <figcaption> Wertenberger-photo Ellis Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Avery Smith Chief of Police, Ellis Police DepartmentOn Nov. 16, the Ellis Police Department was made aware of a possible rape that occurred within the city limits of Ellis. An officer with the Wamego Police Department relayed information to the Ellis Police Department concerning a juvenile that disclosed allegations of multiple instances of being sexually assaulted.Officers worked diligently to set up a forensic interview with the victim. After receiving a copy of the forensic interview’s recording, Ellis Police Department Officers interviewed a suspect, Caleb Wertenberger, 31, of Ellis. After the completion of the interview, Wertenberger was arrested and transported to the Ellis County Jail, where he is being held on requested charges of four counts of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent liberties with a child, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and felony interference with law enforcement.On Monday, Wertenberger had his bond set at $500,000. Wertenberger is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. The victim, now a survivor, will not have their name released. No further details will be released at this time, as investigation is still ongoing.The Ellis Police Department would like to thank the Wamego Police Department and the Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center in Manhattan, for their assistance with this case.

Ellis resident arrested on suspicion of rape

Are you interested in being a judge for county fair? 

The Northwest 4-H Advisory is excited to offer a 4-H Judges' Training on Monday, January 15 at the Western Kansas Research and Extension Center Auditorium in Hays. 

Please register here by January 3 - <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5d8cZPUfrrxhYoK?fbclid=IwAR3Bfc187F_-CZem7T-mWDn916jG9tYLmuVxb67soMNt0Php0i-7ZTgs5FU" target="_blank">https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5d8cZPUfrrxhYoK</a>

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 </figure>SUBMITTEDAre you interested in being a judge for county fair? The Northwest 4-H Advisory is excited to offer a 4-H Judges' Training on Monday, January 15 at the Western Kansas Research and Extension Center Auditorium in Hays. Please register here by January 3 - <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5d8cZPUfrrxhYoK?fbclid=IwAR3Bfc187F_-CZem7T-mWDn916jG9tYLmuVxb67soMNt0Php0i-7ZTgs5FU" target="_blank">https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5d8cZPUfrrxhYoK</a>

NW Kansas 4-H county fair judges sought; training Jan. 15 in Hays

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 228 incidents Dec. 3-9, 2023, according to the incident report.

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 </figure>ELSOThe Ellis County Sheriff's Office responded to 228 incidents Dec. 3-9, 2023, according to the incident report.<figure>
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Ellis County Sheriff activity log, Dec. 3-9, 2023

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Ellis County Jail bookings, Dec. 5-10, 2023

By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>

JOHNSON CITY, KAN.&nbsp;— For Lindsee Wilson, a 2005 Fort Hays State University graduate, it started with a Facebook post. A man named Gary Gray was looking for an organ donor: a healthy person willing to give up a piece of their liver to save his life. He had a rare autoimmune disease and needed a transplant, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-04-25/kansas-liver-transplant-organ-midwest-health-disparities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">might’ve died before he qualified</a>&nbsp;for a liver from the national waiting list.

They’d never met before. But Wilson, a 41-year-old speech language pathologist living in Southwestern Kansas, noticed that they had the same blood type. And they were both musicians. She was a classically trained singer. Gray, now 64 and living in Olathe, played the banjo.

“There were just enough things that I was like, oh yeah, I would be a good candidate,” Wilson said.

At some point, she learned that Gray and his wife had a teenage daughter — around the same age Wilson was when she lost her father.

“That … really made me feel like this is something I should do,” she said. “I could change things to make it so that their daughter got the opportunities that I didn’t get.”

Wilson set out to become one of a small but growing number of Americans who have donated part of their liver to someone in need.

The vast majority of liver transplants involve organs from deceased donors, but there aren’t nearly enough of them to make a transplant attainable for everyone suffering from end-stage liver disease. While over 9,000 liver transplants now take place in the U.S. each year, more than 1,500 people are removed from the liver waiting list because they either die or become too sick to successfully undergo surgery.

Turning to living donors can help reduce the number of Americans who die from liver disease. Medical experts acknowledge that it also involves navigating extra risks and thorny ethical questions — especially as more hospitals, including the University of Kansas Health System, work toward offering the procedure.

Wilson knew that by volunteering to give up part of her liver, she would be assuming significant risks. Becoming a living liver donor is safer than it used to be, but it’s still much riskier than donating a kidney.

“It’s an order of magnitude higher in the technical aspects as well as the complexity,” said Dr. Timothy Schmitt, director of transplant at the KU Health System. “The risk for the donor is probably 10- to 15-fold higher for a major complication than it is for a kidney donor.”

Humans have two kidneys, but only one liver. In living donor liver transplantation, surgeons remove one piece of the donor’s liver along with its blood supply. The remaining piece then regenerates to most of its initial size.

The surgery also requires removing a donor’s gallbladder, which can require some dietary changes in the immediate aftermath.

But Dr. Clay King, director of transplant and a cardiac transplant surgeon at the KU Health System, said physical and dietary restrictions end six weeks after donation. Barring complications, the long-term side effects are minimal.

“The liver can go on and function just as well as if they never had a hepatectomy at all,” he said. “The only outward sign that they’ve had the operation is the scar.”

Once Wilson got serious about becoming a donor, she traveled to Pennsylvania for a long day of evaluations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where the transplant would eventually take place. She spoke with surgeons, nurses, social workers, donor advocates, pharmacists and psychiatrists.

“I’m not an emotional person,” she said, “but by the end of the day, I was so emotionally drained.”

In addition to evaluating whether she was medically fit to donate, her transplant team also considered her motivations and whether she was psychologically fit to take on the surgery and recovery process.

Ean Pokryfky, a transplant social worker at Cleveland Clinic, said a psychosocial evaluation is essential to protecting donors and ensuring they understand the risks involved. The transplant team considers things like mental health, finances and history of substance use.

Evaluators must also confirm that someone isn’t donating for the wrong reasons — perhaps due to familial pressure or a belief that it would repair a broken relationship — and prepare them for the reality that not all transplants are successful. Despite the donor’s best efforts, the recipient may still die.

“I tell my donors, your motivation to do this is just as important as being a medical match,” Pokryfky said. “If you are not motivated or you’re being pressured, you are not a match.”

Donors are allowed to back out — discreetly — at any point in the process.

But Pokryfky said most donors he meets have a clear and compelling purpose for donating: saving a loved one’s life, or contributing to the greater good. When he follows up with them after surgery, few have regrets.

“One of the questions we ask them at the one-year follow up is, ‘Are you happy with your decision?’” he said. “Almost every single one says yes.”

Bioethics experts say those kinds of safeguards are essential, and need concerted attention, given a push within the transplant community to increase the number of living donor liver transplants.

“This is a very prominent issue right now in the field,” said Elisa Gordon, a professor of surgery and biomedical ethics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “In living donation, people are putting themselves at risk. The key issue is ensuring that the benefits to the donor and recipient outweigh the risks to both of them.”

The American Society of Transplantation recently held a conference to discuss the barriers to expanding living donor liver transplantation more broadly. Gordon and other participants&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ctr.14955" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">identified concerns</a>, including around potential financial costs to donors.

A donor’s medical expenses are typically covered by the organ recipient’s insurance, but donation can still be a financial burden. Donors must take several weeks off of work, often unpaid, and might have to take additional time off if they experience complications.&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajt.14055" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One study</a>&nbsp;found 37% of donors reported dealing with out-of-pocket medical costs that were not covered by insurance, and 75% encountered extra expenses including travel and lost wages.

That can create economic barriers to living donation and contribute to racial disparities in organ transplantation rates.

“There are tremendous inequities in terms of people getting access to living donor liver and kidney transplantation,” Gordon said.

“It’s not just once you’re arriving at the transplant center,” she added. “It could very well be that the policies that shape food deserts and transportation and all these social determinants of health end up making it hard for people to get a transplant.”

She said that while living donation is one important way to increase liver transplant rates, she’d also like to see increased attention to other tactics, including ongoing public education to encourage more people to sign up to donate their organs after they die.

When Wilson and Gray underwent surgery in Pennsylvania last winter, they didn’t have the option of undergoing the surgery locally. That could soon change — the University of Kansas Health System is in the process of creating a living donor liver transplantation program.

It comes after a federal policy change made it significantly harder for Kansans like Gray to qualify for a liver transplant through the traditional route, through the national waiting list for deceased donor organs. In 2020, the federal contractor that manages that waiting list began sending organs farther from where they were donated — a move that prioritized sicker patients, but disadvantaged others living in largely poorer and more rural states.

Analysis this year by the Markup and the Washington Post revealed that the change resulted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://themarkup.org/organ-failure/2023/03/21/poorer-states-suffer-under-new-organ-donation-rules-as-livers-go-to-waste" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">37.5% drop</a>&nbsp;in liver transplants in Kansas between 2019 and 2021, despite an increase in liver transplants nationally over that time period.

Amid public outcry over the change and other scandals, Congress and the Biden administration recently passed a bipartisan effort to improve transparency and accountability within the organ transplantation system, but changes could take time.

And, Schmitt at the KU Health System said, the scarcity of deceased donor livers will likely persist.

“As our population gets older, larger and more diabetic, the quality of donors goes down,” he said. “Living donor liver transplantation is just one of the many things we’re trying to do to increase the number of transplants.”

Wilson hadn't considered donating an organ before she heard about Gray. A quirk of his condition was that he wasn’t scoring high on the metrics used to prioritize patients for livers from the national waitlist, even as he descended into acute sickness and began hallucinating.

“The biggest thing for me was that he needed a live liver donor, and not everyone is in a place where they can do that,” she said. “If I had children, there was no way that I would have been in a place to do this.”

But she said she can’t separate her decision to go through with it from a traumatic experience she had nearly two decades ago. She said that event — a life-threatening assault — continues to shape her decisions and drive to give back.

“When I realized that I was going to survive that, I knew at some point I would have an opportunity to pay it forward,” she said. “Not only did I survive and did I thrive, but now I also have the opportunity to help someone else live.”

Less than a year after donation, Wilson said she feels almost entirely recovered.

In some ways, she even feels like she’s doing better than before surgery. Transplant experts find that many donors report feeling healthier after donation due to diet and other lifestyle changes they make during recovery.

Five months after surgery, Wilson, a longtime competitive runner, ran a four-mile race.

“When I was done, I was like, ‘Man, I could have done the eight-mile,’” she said.

A few months later, she ran a half-marathon. And signed up for a second one. She liked the challenge of getting back into shape.

“[It was] a little annoying, but fun,” she said. “There’s also a level of it that’s kind of interesting, and then you look at things differently. Because now I’m looking at what my body can do and how amazing it is that your body can do these things.”

It hasn’t all been easy. She had to be particularly careful, in the early days, to not be too active; that could increase her risk of getting a hernia. It took longer than she expected to get her abdominal muscles back. She still occasionally feels a bit of referred pain.

But she thinks the benefits far outweigh the costs.

“You’re giving up such a small portion of your day-to-day life for such a huge gain in the long run — and I’m not talking about Gary. I’m talking about for myself,” she said.

“To really understand the value of life, and how precious it is, and how we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.”

People of all ages and medical backgrounds can register to donate their organs after they die. You can remove or change your registration at any point.

Kansas residents can&nbsp;<a href="https://donatelifeks.com/join/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">register as an organ donor online</a>&nbsp;or in-person at the DMV. Residents of other states can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">locate their state registry here</a>. Experts recommend also sharing your decision to be an organ donor with your family.

To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/process/living-donation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">becoming a living organ donor</a>, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://transplantliving.org/living-donation/being-a-living-donor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">United Network for Organ Sharing’s website</a>&nbsp;or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/about/search-membership/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nearest transplant hospital</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701895719112.png" alt="Amid a critical shortage of deceased donor livers, Lindsee Wilson donated part of her liver to a man she'd never met before. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)" />
 <figcaption>Amid a critical shortage of deceased donor livers, Lindsee Wilson donated part of her liver to a man she'd never met before. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/kansasnewsservice">Kansas News Service</a>JOHNSON CITY, KAN.&nbsp;— For Lindsee Wilson, a 2005 Fort Hays State University graduate, it started with a Facebook post. A man named Gary Gray was looking for an organ donor: a healthy person willing to give up a piece of their liver to save his life. He had a rare autoimmune disease and needed a transplant, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-04-25/kansas-liver-transplant-organ-midwest-health-disparities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">might’ve died before he qualified</a>&nbsp;for a liver from the national waiting list.They’d never met before. But Wilson, a 41-year-old speech language pathologist living in Southwestern Kansas, noticed that they had the same blood type. And they were both musicians. She was a classically trained singer. Gray, now 64 and living in Olathe, played the banjo.“There were just enough things that I was like, oh yeah, I would be a good candidate,” Wilson said.At some point, she learned that Gray and his wife had a teenage daughter — around the same age Wilson was when she lost her father.“That … really made me feel like this is something I should do,” she said. “I could change things to make it so that their daughter got the opportunities that I didn’t get.”Wilson set out to become one of a small but growing number of Americans who have donated part of their liver to someone in need.The vast majority of liver transplants involve organs from deceased donors, but there aren’t nearly enough of them to make a transplant attainable for everyone suffering from end-stage liver disease. While over 9,000 liver transplants now take place in the U.S. each year, more than 1,500 people are removed from the liver waiting list because they either die or become too sick to successfully undergo surgery.Turning to living donors can help reduce the number of Americans who die from liver disease. Medical experts acknowledge that it also involves navigating extra risks and thorny ethical questions — especially as more hospitals, including the University of Kansas Health System, work toward offering the procedure.<h2>Risks</h2>Wilson knew that by volunteering to give up part of her liver, she would be assuming significant risks. Becoming a living liver donor is safer than it used to be, but it’s still much riskier than donating a kidney.“It’s an order of magnitude higher in the technical aspects as well as the complexity,” said Dr. Timothy Schmitt, director of transplant at the KU Health System. “The risk for the donor is probably 10- to 15-fold higher for a major complication than it is for a kidney donor.”Humans have two kidneys, but only one liver. In living donor liver transplantation, surgeons remove one piece of the donor’s liver along with its blood supply. The remaining piece then regenerates to most of its initial size.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701895776776.png" alt="Gary Gray's doctors told him to search for a living liver donor because it could have taken him years to qualify for a deceased donor liver from the national waiting list. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)" />
 <figcaption>Gary Gray's doctors told him to search for a living liver donor because it could have taken him years to qualify for a deceased donor liver from the national waiting list. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)</figcaption>
 </figure>The surgery also requires removing a donor’s gallbladder, which can require some dietary changes in the immediate aftermath.But Dr. Clay King, director of transplant and a cardiac transplant surgeon at the KU Health System, said physical and dietary restrictions end six weeks after donation. Barring complications, the long-term side effects are minimal.“The liver can go on and function just as well as if they never had a hepatectomy at all,” he said. “The only outward sign that they’ve had the operation is the scar.”<h2>Evaluation</h2>Once Wilson got serious about becoming a donor, she traveled to Pennsylvania for a long day of evaluations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where the transplant would eventually take place. She spoke with surgeons, nurses, social workers, donor advocates, pharmacists and psychiatrists.“I’m not an emotional person,” she said, “but by the end of the day, I was so emotionally drained.”In addition to evaluating whether she was medically fit to donate, her transplant team also considered her motivations and whether she was psychologically fit to take on the surgery and recovery process.Ean Pokryfky, a transplant social worker at Cleveland Clinic, said a psychosocial evaluation is essential to protecting donors and ensuring they understand the risks involved. The transplant team considers things like mental health, finances and history of substance use.Evaluators must also confirm that someone isn’t donating for the wrong reasons — perhaps due to familial pressure or a belief that it would repair a broken relationship — and prepare them for the reality that not all transplants are successful. Despite the donor’s best efforts, the recipient may still die.“I tell my donors, your motivation to do this is just as important as being a medical match,” Pokryfky said. “If you are not motivated or you’re being pressured, you are not a match.”Donors are allowed to back out — discreetly — at any point in the process.But Pokryfky said most donors he meets have a clear and compelling purpose for donating: saving a loved one’s life, or contributing to the greater good. When he follows up with them after surgery, few have regrets.“One of the questions we ask them at the one-year follow up is, ‘Are you happy with your decision?’” he said. “Almost every single one says yes.”<h2>Ethics and inequities</h2>Bioethics experts say those kinds of safeguards are essential, and need concerted attention, given a push within the transplant community to increase the number of living donor liver transplants.“This is a very prominent issue right now in the field,” said Elisa Gordon, a professor of surgery and biomedical ethics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “In living donation, people are putting themselves at risk. The key issue is ensuring that the benefits to the donor and recipient outweigh the risks to both of them.”The American Society of Transplantation recently held a conference to discuss the barriers to expanding living donor liver transplantation more broadly. Gordon and other participants&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ctr.14955" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">identified concerns</a>, including around potential financial costs to donors.A donor’s medical expenses are typically covered by the organ recipient’s insurance, but donation can still be a financial burden. Donors must take several weeks off of work, often unpaid, and might have to take additional time off if they experience complications.&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajt.14055" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One study</a>&nbsp;found 37% of donors reported dealing with out-of-pocket medical costs that were not covered by insurance, and 75% encountered extra expenses including travel and lost wages.That can create economic barriers to living donation and contribute to racial disparities in organ transplantation rates.“There are tremendous inequities in terms of people getting access to living donor liver and kidney transplantation,” Gordon said.“It’s not just once you’re arriving at the transplant center,” she added. “It could very well be that the policies that shape food deserts and transportation and all these social determinants of health end up making it hard for people to get a transplant.”She said that while living donation is one important way to increase liver transplant rates, she’d also like to see increased attention to other tactics, including ongoing public education to encourage more people to sign up to donate their organs after they die.<h2>Living donation in Kansas</h2>When Wilson and Gray underwent surgery in Pennsylvania last winter, they didn’t have the option of undergoing the surgery locally. That could soon change — the University of Kansas Health System is in the process of creating a living donor liver transplantation program.It comes after a federal policy change made it significantly harder for Kansans like Gray to qualify for a liver transplant through the traditional route, through the national waiting list for deceased donor organs. In 2020, the federal contractor that manages that waiting list began sending organs farther from where they were donated — a move that prioritized sicker patients, but disadvantaged others living in largely poorer and more rural states.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701895828778.png" alt="Wilson holds a certificate of appreciation from her transplant team. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)" />
 <figcaption>Wilson holds a certificate of appreciation from her transplant team. (Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service)</figcaption>
 </figure>Analysis this year by the Markup and the Washington Post revealed that the change resulted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://themarkup.org/organ-failure/2023/03/21/poorer-states-suffer-under-new-organ-donation-rules-as-livers-go-to-waste" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">37.5% drop</a>&nbsp;in liver transplants in Kansas between 2019 and 2021, despite an increase in liver transplants nationally over that time period.Amid public outcry over the change and other scandals, Congress and the Biden administration recently passed a bipartisan effort to improve transparency and accountability within the organ transplantation system, but changes could take time.And, Schmitt at the KU Health System said, the scarcity of deceased donor livers will likely persist.“As our population gets older, larger and more diabetic, the quality of donors goes down,” he said. “Living donor liver transplantation is just one of the many things we’re trying to do to increase the number of transplants.”<h2>A reason to donate</h2>Wilson hadn't considered donating an organ before she heard about Gray. A quirk of his condition was that he wasn’t scoring high on the metrics used to prioritize patients for livers from the national waitlist, even as he descended into acute sickness and began hallucinating.“The biggest thing for me was that he needed a live liver donor, and not everyone is in a place where they can do that,” she said. “If I had children, there was no way that I would have been in a place to do this.”But she said she can’t separate her decision to go through with it from a traumatic experience she had nearly two decades ago. She said that event — a life-threatening assault — continues to shape her decisions and drive to give back.“When I realized that I was going to survive that, I knew at some point I would have an opportunity to pay it forward,” she said. “Not only did I survive and did I thrive, but now I also have the opportunity to help someone else live.”<h2>Recovery</h2>Less than a year after donation, Wilson said she feels almost entirely recovered.In some ways, she even feels like she’s doing better than before surgery. Transplant experts find that many donors report feeling healthier after donation due to diet and other lifestyle changes they make during recovery.Five months after surgery, Wilson, a longtime competitive runner, ran a four-mile race.“When I was done, I was like, ‘Man, I could have done the eight-mile,’” she said.A few months later, she ran a half-marathon. And signed up for a second one. She liked the challenge of getting back into shape.“[It was] a little annoying, but fun,” she said. “There’s also a level of it that’s kind of interesting, and then you look at things differently. Because now I’m looking at what my body can do and how amazing it is that your body can do these things.”It hasn’t all been easy. She had to be particularly careful, in the early days, to not be too active; that could increase her risk of getting a hernia. It took longer than she expected to get her abdominal muscles back. She still occasionally feels a bit of referred pain.But she thinks the benefits far outweigh the costs.“You’re giving up such a small portion of your day-to-day life for such a huge gain in the long run — and I’m not talking about Gary. I’m talking about for myself,” she said.“To really understand the value of life, and how precious it is, and how we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.”<h2>How to become an organ donor</h2>People of all ages and medical backgrounds can register to donate their organs after they die. You can remove or change your registration at any point.Kansas residents can&nbsp;<a href="https://donatelifeks.com/join/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">register as an organ donor online</a>&nbsp;or in-person at the DMV. Residents of other states can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">locate their state registry here</a>. Experts recommend also sharing your decision to be an organ donor with your family.To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/process/living-donation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">becoming a living organ donor</a>, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://transplantliving.org/living-donation/being-a-living-donor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">United Network for Organ Sharing’s website</a>&nbsp;or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/about/search-membership/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nearest transplant hospital</a>.

Why 1 FHSU grad became a liver donor — and what she gained in the process

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for talent to take part in the final Virtual Statewide Job Fair of the year, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13.

“The thousands of jobs being created in our state require thousands of Kansans to fill them,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“There is a growing number of opportunities in core industries for all levels of experience, and our workforce centers are committed to helping Kansans take the next step in their professional journeys.”

The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.

Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvMGZjMDQ0ODAtNmRjZC00ZjQ5LThkMjEtZGZjY2NhMTQzNTYwL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWRlY2VtYmVyLTEzLC0yMDIzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTIwNi44NjY5NjUyMSJ9.9CJYnPxAEFhLo3v6DDVdxSot0u6LRGFLZeceiLEjq_E/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">here</a>.

About&nbsp;KANSASWORKS:KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services&nbsp;KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.gd7ozvh-O73BT2LFBV3Hfp8RbiyGcMjibZyTZBRkUoY/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L3NlcnZpY2VzL3N0YXRlLWVtcGxveW1lbnQtY2VudGVyLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEyMDYuODY2OTY1MjEifQ.YprnDWkkIP4VV0dpGapVQ8-onlTp18__iPPrtk5zfqM/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">jobs.ks.gov</a>.

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.5TWXrJO3b3qLJa9ieHzydq1eJNWfc7-AJ-GW80r08s8/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Area Development Magazine’s</a>&nbsp;prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTUuNDMyNjU4NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuYXJlYWRldmVsb3BtZW50LmNvbSUyRkdvbGQtU2hvdmVsLUVjb25kZXYtQXdhcmRzJTJGUTItMjAyMSUyRnJlY29nbml6ZS1uZXctc3RhdGUtYW5kLWxvY2FsLWVjb25vbWljLWRldmVsb3BtZW50LWVmZm9ydHMuc2h0bWwmZGF0YT0wNCU3QzAxJTdDUmF5bmEuS2Fyc3QlNDBrcy5nb3YlN0NkNzBjMjZhYTY2MTA0NGRjMDI5MjA4ZDk0N2M0ZTVhYyU3Q2RjYWU4MTAxYzkyZDQ4MGNiYzQzYzY3NjFjY2NjYzVhJTdDMCU3QzAlN0M2Mzc2MTk3MzMyNTA4MjMzODUlN0NVbmtub3duJTdDVFdGcGJHWnNiM2Q4ZXlKV0lqb2lNQzR3TGpBd01EQWlMQ0pRSWpvaVYybHVNeklpTENKQlRpSTZJazFoYVd3aUxDSlhWQ0k2TW4wJTNEJTdDMTAwMCZzZGF0YT0xOXBkTmxST0dtRzJRS2pNSUpTa09WczdsJTJCZ2d3OWc4MUdlVEhZdGZoOUElM0QmcmVzZXJ2ZWQ9MCJ9.K9Y9Tb0NsjacA1MsAu_7H-njrBFCuqNGN6ODZXi3nmY/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Gold Shovel award</a>&nbsp;in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.dNNQWTpQT0szY4qD2n2LvtDSg1A0HrY6qDhbvmHjyjk/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Site Selection Magazine</a>.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for talent to take part in the final Virtual Statewide Job Fair of the year, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13.“The thousands of jobs being created in our state require thousands of Kansans to fill them,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“There is a growing number of opportunities in core industries for all levels of experience, and our workforce centers are committed to helping Kansans take the next step in their professional journeys.”The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvMGZjMDQ0ODAtNmRjZC00ZjQ5LThkMjEtZGZjY2NhMTQzNTYwL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWRlY2VtYmVyLTEzLC0yMDIzIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMTIwNi44NjY5NjUyMSJ9.9CJYnPxAEFhLo3v6DDVdxSot0u6LRGFLZeceiLEjq_E/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">here</a>.About&nbsp;KANSASWORKS:KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services&nbsp;KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.gd7ozvh-O73BT2LFBV3Hfp8RbiyGcMjibZyTZBRkUoY/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L3NlcnZpY2VzL3N0YXRlLWVtcGxveW1lbnQtY2VudGVyLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzEyMDYuODY2OTY1MjEifQ.YprnDWkkIP4VV0dpGapVQ8-onlTp18__iPPrtk5zfqM/s/1303179659/br/232379268015-l">jobs.ks.gov</a>.About the Kansas Department of Commerce:As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.5TWXrJO3b3qLJa9ieHzydq1eJNWfc7-AJ-GW80r08s8/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Area Development Magazine’s</a>&nbsp;prestigious&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.K9Y9Tb0NsjacA1MsAu_7H-njrBFCuqNGN6ODZXi3nmY/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Gold Shovel award</a>&nbsp;in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MTUuNDMyNjU4NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAyLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZzaXRlc2VsZWN0aW9uLmNvbSUyRiZkYXRhPTA0JTdDMDElN0NSYXluYS5LYXJzdCU0MGtzLmdvdiU3Q2Q3MGMyNmFhNjYxMDQ0ZGMwMjkyMDhkOTQ3YzRlNWFjJTdDZGNhZTgxMDFjOTJkNDgwY2JjNDNjNjc2MWNjY2NjNWElN0MwJTdDMCU3QzYzNzYxOTczMzI1MDgzMzM0MyU3Q1Vua25vd24lN0NUV0ZwYkdac2IzZDhleUpXSWpvaU1DNHdMakF3TURBaUxDSlFJam9pVjJsdU16SWlMQ0pCVGlJNklrMWhhV3dpTENKWFZDSTZNbjAlM0QlN0MxMDAwJnNkYXRhPU5UaVpBZk52QWhrY1p6dUxqellTOFNkQnJWM1FHTmVTVEp5S2I0UlclMkZ6WSUzRCZyZXNlcnZlZD0wIn0.dNNQWTpQT0szY4qD2n2LvtDSg1A0HrY6qDhbvmHjyjk/s/1303135913/br/109392404636-l">Site Selection Magazine</a>.

Virtual Job Fair offers hundreds of employment opportunities in Kansas

Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association (KIOGA), was chosen as a 2023 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics.

The institute's Top Lobbyist recognition is for federal lobbyists nominated by their colleagues, Congressional staff, or clients for their outstanding work in 2023.

Cross was selected from over 500 nominations. 

According to the institute, the selection process was rigorous and competitive, and each nominee was blindly evaluated to ensure this honor was 100% merit-based, per the following criteria:

· Saw significant legislative success in 2023, · Were innovative in their field or policy area during 2023, · Are held in high regard by their clients and peers, and · Are individuals who give back to their community through&nbsp;charity or pro bono work.

Cross’ work exemplifies the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and excellence. As such, he was honored with the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics 2023 Top Lobbyist award at a black-tie event in one of the grandest and most historic rooms in the nation's capital - the Kennedy Caucus Room - on November 16.

“It is my honor to serve the oil and gas industry as an energy policy lobbyist for over 20 years. The oil and gas industry enhances life experiences and improves the quality of life for people around the world,” said Cross. “Lobbyists understand that the advocacy they practice is part of the democratic system. We act as the voice of others. Lobbying helps find real solutions."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700671082637.png" alt="Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association (KIOGA), was chosen as a 2023 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association (KIOGA), was chosen as a 2023 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOGAEdward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association (KIOGA), was chosen as a 2023 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics.The institute's Top Lobbyist recognition is for federal lobbyists nominated by their colleagues, Congressional staff, or clients for their outstanding work in 2023.Cross was selected from over 500 nominations. According to the institute, the selection process was rigorous and competitive, and each nominee was blindly evaluated to ensure this honor was 100% merit-based, per the following criteria:· Saw significant legislative success in 2023, · Were innovative in their field or policy area during 2023, · Are held in high regard by their clients and peers, and · Are individuals who give back to their community through&nbsp;charity or pro bono work. Cross’ work exemplifies the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and excellence. As such, he was honored with the National Institute of Lobbying &amp; Ethics 2023 Top Lobbyist award at a black-tie event in one of the grandest and most historic rooms in the nation's capital - the Kennedy Caucus Room - on November 16.“It is my honor to serve the oil and gas industry as an energy policy lobbyist for over 20 years. The oil and gas industry enhances life experiences and improves the quality of life for people around the world,” said Cross. “Lobbyists understand that the advocacy they practice is part of the democratic system. We act as the voice of others. Lobbying helps find real solutions."

Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association president named 'Top Lobbyist' 

Karissa Winkel Cottonwood Extension District

The new year is right around the corner, and now is the time to create health goals for 2024. Making healthy choices is something we get to do every day, but it does not have to be overwhelming. In fact, simply walking every day can improve heart health, strengthen the lungs, improve the quality of sleep, and fight osteoporosis! If walking to improve health is something you are interested in, a Walk with Ease class may be for you.

Walk with Ease is here to help people with arthritis or other related conditions reduce pain, increase balance, strength, walking pace, and improve overall health. Walk with Ease is not only an evidence-based program, but it’s also fun! Participants have the opportunity to walk, stretch, and socialize during each session. WWE is a class created by the National Arthritis Foundation, and it is offered through Kansas State Research &amp; Extension.

Walk with Ease provides pain management and physical activity education to individuals and families. These classes include an educational book that covers various topics about walking and arthritis management, and the $12 registration fee covers the price of the book. Walk with Ease classes aim to help each participant implement realistic goals, maintain a long-term physical activity routine, and help Kansans find resources to stay active.

Are you ready to make the healthy choice the easy choice? Do you want to learn how to improve mobility and decrease pain? Are you eager to learn how to develop a personal walking plan?

Join us for our next Walk with Ease class that kicks off on January 8th! This indoor class will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on MWF at the Hoisington Recreation Center in Hoisington, KS. Participants who attend and complete 14 of 18 classes in this Walk with Ease Series will be eligible to receive fitness equipment.

For more information, please contact Karissa Winkel, Family and Community Wellness Agent to register, at krwinkel@ksu.edu, 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Karissa Winkel Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe new year is right around the corner, and now is the time to create health goals for 2024. Making healthy choices is something we get to do every day, but it does not have to be overwhelming. In fact, simply walking every day can improve heart health, strengthen the lungs, improve the quality of sleep, and fight osteoporosis! If walking to improve health is something you are interested in, a Walk with Ease class may be for you.Walk with Ease is here to help people with arthritis or other related conditions reduce pain, increase balance, strength, walking pace, and improve overall health. Walk with Ease is not only an evidence-based program, but it’s also fun! Participants have the opportunity to walk, stretch, and socialize during each session. WWE is a class created by the National Arthritis Foundation, and it is offered through Kansas State Research &amp; Extension.Walk with Ease provides pain management and physical activity education to individuals and families. These classes include an educational book that covers various topics about walking and arthritis management, and the $12 registration fee covers the price of the book. Walk with Ease classes aim to help each participant implement realistic goals, maintain a long-term physical activity routine, and help Kansans find resources to stay active.Are you ready to make the healthy choice the easy choice? Do you want to learn how to improve mobility and decrease pain? Are you eager to learn how to develop a personal walking plan?Join us for our next Walk with Ease class that kicks off on January 8th! This indoor class will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on MWF at the Hoisington Recreation Center in Hoisington, KS. Participants who attend and complete 14 of 18 classes in this Walk with Ease Series will be eligible to receive fitness equipment.For more information, please contact Karissa Winkel, Family and Community Wellness Agent to register, at krwinkel@ksu.edu, 620-793-1910.

WINKEL: Walk with Ease is coming to Hoisington

<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/2023/12/1702076439180.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

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

PLAINVILLE—Lock and load with Little G Gun Shop in Plaineville, a new shop that features a wide selection of firearms and other items related to hunting and fishing.

Little G Gun Shop owner Dakota Ganoung was born and raised in Plainville, taking an interest in outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing as early as 8 years old.&nbsp;

"I've done a lot of things at young ages that most people won't do in their entire life," Ganoung said. "Ever since I was able to walk, he [Ganoung's father] always took me to gun shops in the area, and I'd spend hours and hours in there."

The gun shop, 113 W Mill St., was previously a bank and had its grand opening on Nov. 4,&nbsp;attracting about 200 customers and positive feedback.

"They love it and think it's nice," Ganoung said. "When they came in and saw all the mounted stuff I have up and what I've done with the place, they were amazed."

After almostr a year of securing licenses, completing paperwork and ongoing renovations, Ganoung now presents the community with an array of products previously unavailable in the area.

Ganoung recognized True Value as the sole alternative in Plainville for residents seeking access to guns, even though it primarily functions as a hardware store with restricted firearm options.

The gun shop offers a range of products on top of its firearms, such as gun attachments, gun safes, fishing equipment, hunting equipment, and deer and turkey calls.&nbsp;

Ganoung expressed his goal as aligning with customer preferences and needs rather than imposing his own opinions, partnering with the nearest gun stores to do so.

"I have three companies that I go through right now, and I'm working on getting a hold of a few more because the more range I have, the better I'll be able to find products," he said.&nbsp;

Displayed within the glass counter of the gun shop is an assortment of pistols, featuring brands like SCCY, SAR-USA and Smith &amp; Wesson.

Additional firearms showcased at the store consist of shotguns and 10/22 rifles within rotating display cases.

Customers are required to sign Form 4473, a document used by federal firearms licensees to assess the eligibility of an individual for the purchase or delivery of a firearm.&nbsp;

This involves the retrieval of personal information, including the individual's name, government-issued ID, date of birth, address and social security number alongside the mandatory National Instant Criminal Background Check.

To learn more about firearm regulations and the purchasing process, click <a href="https://www.atf.gov/firearms">here</a>.

Little G Gun Shop currently provides a 5 percent military discount to customers, and a Christmas special for discounted gun safes will be available soon.

Ganoung acknowledges Joe Bob Outfitters, American Shooters, Martin Thompson, Brice Ballard, and his family for their contributions to establishing his own business.

"They say if you have a job that you love doing, you never work a day in your life," Ganoung said.

Little G Gun Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.&nbsp;

You can also follow Little G Gun Shop <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552261005368">here</a>&nbsp;for updates and upcoming gun showcases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702070616771.jpeg" alt="The front of Little G Gun Shop. Courtesy Photo." />
 <figcaption>The front of Little G Gun Shop. Courtesy Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostPLAINVILLE—Lock and load with Little G Gun Shop in Plaineville, a new shop that features a wide selection of firearms and other items related to hunting and fishing.Little G Gun Shop owner Dakota Ganoung was born and raised in Plainville, taking an interest in outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing as early as 8 years old.&nbsp;"I've done a lot of things at young ages that most people won't do in their entire life," Ganoung said. "Ever since I was able to walk, he [Ganoung's father] always took me to gun shops in the area, and I'd spend hours and hours in there."The gun shop, 113 W Mill St., was previously a bank and had its grand opening on Nov. 4,&nbsp;attracting about 200 customers and positive feedback."They love it and think it's nice," Ganoung said. "When they came in and saw all the mounted stuff I have up and what I've done with the place, they were amazed."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701980593624.jpeg" alt="The front counter to Little G Gun Shop with a variety of guns on display. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The front counter to Little G Gun Shop with a variety of guns on display. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701981653358.jpeg" alt="ArmaLite Rifles mounted behind the counter at Little G Gun Shop. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>ArmaLite Rifles mounted behind the counter at Little G Gun Shop. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701981673083.jpeg" alt="Firearms such as Lever Action Rifles are mounted behind the counter at Little G Gun Shop. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post " />
 <figcaption>Firearms such as Lever Action Rifles are mounted behind the counter at Little G Gun Shop. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post </figcaption>
 </figure>After almostr a year of securing licenses, completing paperwork and ongoing renovations, Ganoung now presents the community with an array of products previously unavailable in the area.Ganoung recognized True Value as the sole alternative in Plainville for residents seeking access to guns, even though it primarily functions as a hardware store with restricted firearm options.The gun shop offers a range of products on top of its firearms, such as gun attachments, gun safes, fishing equipment, hunting equipment, and deer and turkey calls.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701982283294.jpeg" alt="A variety of hunting equipment at Little G Gun Shop including optics, flashlights, ear plugs, protective glasses, binoculars and technical equipment.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A variety of hunting equipment at Little G Gun Shop including optics, flashlights, ear plugs, protective glasses, binoculars and technical equipment.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701982318930.jpeg" alt="A variety of fishing equipment at Little G Gun Shop including hooks, bait and fishing lines.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A variety of fishing equipment at Little G Gun Shop including hooks, bait and fishing lines.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701982504041.jpeg" alt="Gear and other equipment at Little G Gun Shop including safety vests, hats, holsters, masks, machetes and dehumidifier rods.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Gear and other equipment at Little G Gun Shop including safety vests, hats, holsters, masks, machetes and dehumidifier rods.&nbsp;Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Ganoung expressed his goal as aligning with customer preferences and needs rather than imposing his own opinions, partnering with the nearest gun stores to do so."I have three companies that I go through right now, and I'm working on getting a hold of a few more because the more range I have, the better I'll be able to find products," he said.&nbsp;Displayed within the glass counter of the gun shop is an assortment of pistols, featuring brands like SCCY, SAR-USA and Smith &amp; Wesson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702065659137.jpeg" alt="SCCY 9mm pistols on display at Little G Gun Shop. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>SCCY 9mm pistols on display at Little G Gun Shop. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702066070879.jpeg" alt="SAR-USA 9mm pistols on display at Little G Gun Shop. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>SAR-USA 9mm pistols on display at Little G Gun Shop. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702066351057.jpeg" alt="38 special revolvers from Taurus and Smith &amp; Wesson on display at Little G Gun Shop. The bottom is a Heritage 22 caliber Rough Rider with a 16-inch barrel length. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>38 special revolvers from Taurus and Smith &amp; Wesson on display at Little G Gun Shop. The bottom is a Heritage 22 caliber Rough Rider with a 16-inch barrel length. Photo By Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Additional firearms showcased at the store consist of shotguns and 10/22 rifles within rotating display cases.Customers are required to sign Form 4473, a document used by federal firearms licensees to assess the eligibility of an individual for the purchase or delivery of a firearm.&nbsp;This involves the retrieval of personal information, including the individual's name, government-issued ID, date of birth, address and social security number alongside the mandatory National Instant Criminal Background Check.To learn more about firearm regulations and the purchasing process, click <a href="https://www.atf.gov/firearms">here</a>.Little G Gun Shop currently provides a 5 percent military discount to customers, and a Christmas special for discounted gun safes will be available soon.Ganoung acknowledges Joe Bob Outfitters, American Shooters, Martin Thompson, Brice Ballard, and his family for their contributions to establishing his own business."They say if you have a job that you love doing, you never work a day in your life," Ganoung said.Little G Gun Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.&nbsp;You can also follow Little G Gun Shop <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552261005368">here</a>&nbsp;for updates and upcoming gun showcases.

Little G Gun Shop opens in Plainville, offering firearms and more

The United Way of Ellis County and local partners will once again provide an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit for a good cause. The Strand Event Center will host a Holiday Pop Up Bar on Friday, December 15 from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at its location at 1102 Main Street.

The occasion will be a special one-night-only event with food, holiday-themed cocktails, special guests, white elephant gifts, and plenty of decorations and lights. Attendees will also enjoy holiday trivia provided by Hays Public Library.

Only 200 advance tickets will be for sale for $20 each. Tickets are available online in the United Way’s Facebook event “Holiday Pop Up Bar” or at the link&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3RxpJB7">https://bit.ly/3RxpJB7</a>.&nbsp;Tickets will be available for purchase at the door for $25.

“We are excited to partner again with the Hays CVB, The Strand, and Union Catering Company for this special event.&nbsp; This is a great way to get in the spirit of giving and celebrating,” said United Way of Ellis County director Erica Berges.

Dustin Roths, owner of The Fox Theatre, The Strand Event Center, and Diamond R Jewelry, is using his connections to help provide the venue, bartenders, and online ticket sales for the event.

United Way’s “Dine Out Days” raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Prizes include three restaurant gift card baskets, valued at over $300 each. Winners will be drawn on December 18.

As an additional fundraiser, Diamond R Jewelry has donated an item to raffle off during the event.

“We are thankful for all the help the United Way Board of Directors provides for our organization,” said Berges.

United Way board members will serve as hosts, checking tickets at the door, and decorating the venue prior to the event.

This is a 21 and over event, but non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.

The United Way of Ellis County is celebrating 70 years in the community.&nbsp; Their mission is to positively impact lives by strategically channeling community resources. Its focus is on education, health, and financial stability ­– the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Fundraising efforts benefit 14 different organizations in Ellis County. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://url.emailprotection.link/?b8Y964CSmEt9-Aj6Ry5O3r_8DzhJeMZIN9KEo9tW81C-VmrrngwsecISGf1qLK7bRgHXXv80tM226YaoAubgnjQ~~">www.liveunited.us</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687976834535.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>SubmittedThe United Way of Ellis County and local partners will once again provide an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit for a good cause. The Strand Event Center will host a Holiday Pop Up Bar on Friday, December 15 from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at its location at 1102 Main Street.The occasion will be a special one-night-only event with food, holiday-themed cocktails, special guests, white elephant gifts, and plenty of decorations and lights. Attendees will also enjoy holiday trivia provided by Hays Public Library.Only 200 advance tickets will be for sale for $20 each. Tickets are available online in the United Way’s Facebook event “Holiday Pop Up Bar” or at the link&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3RxpJB7">https://bit.ly/3RxpJB7</a>.&nbsp;Tickets will be available for purchase at the door for $25.“We are excited to partner again with the Hays CVB, The Strand, and Union Catering Company for this special event.&nbsp; This is a great way to get in the spirit of giving and celebrating,” said United Way of Ellis County director Erica Berges.Dustin Roths, owner of The Fox Theatre, The Strand Event Center, and Diamond R Jewelry, is using his connections to help provide the venue, bartenders, and online ticket sales for the event.United Way’s “Dine Out Days” raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event. Prizes include three restaurant gift card baskets, valued at over $300 each. Winners will be drawn on December 18.As an additional fundraiser, Diamond R Jewelry has donated an item to raffle off during the event.“We are thankful for all the help the United Way Board of Directors provides for our organization,” said Berges.United Way board members will serve as hosts, checking tickets at the door, and decorating the venue prior to the event.This is a 21 and over event, but non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.The United Way of Ellis County is celebrating 70 years in the community.&nbsp; Their mission is to positively impact lives by strategically channeling community resources. Its focus is on education, health, and financial stability ­– the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Fundraising efforts benefit 14 different organizations in Ellis County. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://url.emailprotection.link/?b8Y964CSmEt9-Aj6Ry5O3r_8DzhJeMZIN9KEo9tW81C-VmrrngwsecISGf1qLK7bRgHXXv80tM226YaoAubgnjQ~~">www.liveunited.us</a>.

Holiday 'Pop Up' event returns to benefit United Way of Ellis County

Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist, Federal Trade Commission

QR codes seem to be everywhere. You may have scanned one to see the menu at a restaurant or pay for public parking. And you may have used one on your phone to get into a concert or sporting event, or to board a flight. There are countless other ways to use them, which explains their popularity. Unfortunately, scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal personal information. Here’s what to know.

There are reports of scammers covering up QR codes on parking meters with a QR code of their own. And some crafty scammers might send you a QR code by text message or email and make up a reason for you to scan it. These are some of the ways they try to con you:

These are all lies they tell you to create a sense of urgency. They want you to scan the QR code and open the URL without thinking about it.

A scammer’s QR code could take you to a spoofed site that looks real but isn’t. And if you log in to the spoofed site, the scammers could steal any information you enter. Or the QR code could install malware that steals your information before you realize it.

<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/scammers-hide-harmful-links-qr-codes-steal-your-information">Image</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701977165219.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist, Federal Trade CommissionQR codes seem to be everywhere. You may have scanned one to see the menu at a restaurant or pay for public parking. And you may have used one on your phone to get into a concert or sporting event, or to board a flight. There are countless other ways to use them, which explains their popularity. Unfortunately, scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal personal information. Here’s what to know.There are reports of scammers covering up QR codes on parking meters with a QR code of their own. And some crafty scammers might send you a QR code by text message or email and make up a reason for you to scan it. These are some of the ways they try to con you:<ul>
 <li>they lie and say they couldn't deliver your package and you need to contact them to reschedule</li><li>they pretend like there’s a problem with your account and you need to confirm your information</li><li>they lie, saying they noticed suspicious activity on your account, and you need to change your password</li>
 </ul>These are all lies they tell you to create a sense of urgency. They want you to scan the QR code and open the URL without thinking about it.A scammer’s QR code could take you to a spoofed site that looks real but isn’t. And if you log in to the spoofed site, the scammers could steal any information you enter. Or the QR code could install malware that steals your information before you realize it.So how can you protect yourself?<ul>
 <li>If you see a QR code in an unexpected place, inspect the URL before you open it.&nbsp;If it looks like a URL you recognize, make sure it’s not spoofed — look for misspellings or a switched letter.</li><li>Don’t scan a QR code in an email or text message you weren’t expecting&nbsp;— especially if it urges you to act immediately.&nbsp;If you think the message is legitimate, use a phone number or website you know is real to contact the company.</li><li>Protect your phone and accounts.&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-protect-your-phone-hackers#Update">Update your phone's OS</a>&nbsp;to protect against hackers and&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/protect-your-personal-information-and-data#accounts">protect your online accounts</a>&nbsp;with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.</li>
 </ul><a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/12/scammers-hide-harmful-links-qr-codes-steal-your-information">Image</a>

Scammers hide harmful links in QR codes to steal your information

No one expects Joe Biden to win Kansas in 2024. After all, 1964 was the last time a Democrat won the state. And before that, Kansans voted for Republicans in six straight presidential contests, including strong opposition to popular incumbent Franklin D. Roosvelt in 1940 and 1944.

However, the political monopoly is not complete. There is a center. And recent advances by Democrats illustrate its vitality.

For example, in 2020, Joe Biden’s Kansas vote share – 42% was the best by a Democrat in over 30 years. Only Michael Dukakis in 1988 – 42.5% and Jimmy Carter in 1976 – 44.9% secured higher percentages. Moreover, Biden flipped Republican counties Johnson, Shawnee, and Riley, where about a third of Kansans live. In Johnson County, Kansas’s wealthiest, Biden crushed historical margins, capturing the highest ever vote share for a Democrat at 52.7%. Johnson County’s statehouse delegation is now mostly Democrat as well.

Though Biden lost Sedgwick County, which is the state’s second largest, his 43% result was a noteworthy improvement from Clinton’s 36.3% in 2016 and Obama’s 39.4% in 2012.

Biden’s gains were in part due to centrist appeals that attracted moderates, independents, as well as significant support from wealthy Kansans.

The Governor’s office also demonstrates centrism. Starting with Robert Docking in the late 1960’s, five of the past ten governors have been Democrats and three of them won a second term. In 2022, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly secured nearly 60% of the vote in Johnson, Shawnee, and Riley counties and won a majority in Sedgwick County. Nevertheless, a certain kind of Democrat is required. A successful Democrat runs a disciplined and balanced campaign, sticking to bread and butter issues while avoiding divisive culture war battles. Finally, rejection of the proposed state constitutional abortion amendment shows the effectiveness of a centrist approach. The abortion vote was not about Democrats and Republicans. Rather, abortion rights advocates separated women’s rights from conventional partisan trappings. They recast abortion as a fundamental liberty, a right of Kansans to make decisions for themselves without government intrusion. This small government personal freedom perspective expanded the pool of supporters drawing moderate Republicans and Independents. The fall 2022 Kansas Speaks opinion survey makes this clear. More than half – 57.5% of Kansans agreed that Kansas government should not place any regulations on the circumstances under which women can get abortions. Nearly 40% of Republicans and 56% of Independents agreed.

Likewise, 70% of Kansans agreed that women are in a better position than politicians to make their own choice about abortion. A majority of Republicans agreed as did 69% of Independents.

To be clear, Kansas is a conservative state where registered Republicans – 45% far outnumber Democrats – 26%. Recent Democrat inroads do not of course portend a thundering majority favoring Joe Biden. But it would be a mistake to ignore the successes of centrist candidates. A few years ago, while browsing through the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, I discovered a fascinating exhibit called Eisenhower’s Middle Road. Displayed prominently was Ike’s thoughts on centrism:

“The middle of the road is all the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.”

So, for a moment, let’s avert our eyes from the red-blue spectacle. Now we can grasp what Kansas’s most popular and successful public figure realized. There is a middle way. And working from the middle, things can be accomplished that the extremes believe impossible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695215697316.png" alt="Dr. Mark Joslyn teaches politics at the University of Kansas. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Mark Joslyn teaches politics at the University of Kansas. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>No one expects Joe Biden to win Kansas in 2024. After all, 1964 was the last time a Democrat won the state. And before that, Kansans voted for Republicans in six straight presidential contests, including strong opposition to popular incumbent Franklin D. Roosvelt in 1940 and 1944.Kansas is red, and everyone knows it.However, the political monopoly is not complete. There is a center. And recent advances by Democrats illustrate its vitality.For example, in 2020, Joe Biden’s Kansas vote share – 42% was the best by a Democrat in over 30 years. Only Michael Dukakis in 1988 – 42.5% and Jimmy Carter in 1976 – 44.9% secured higher percentages. Moreover, Biden flipped Republican counties Johnson, Shawnee, and Riley, where about a third of Kansans live. In Johnson County, Kansas’s wealthiest, Biden crushed historical margins, capturing the highest ever vote share for a Democrat at 52.7%. Johnson County’s statehouse delegation is now mostly Democrat as well.Though Biden lost Sedgwick County, which is the state’s second largest, his 43% result was a noteworthy improvement from Clinton’s 36.3% in 2016 and Obama’s 39.4% in 2012.Biden’s gains were in part due to centrist appeals that attracted moderates, independents, as well as significant support from wealthy Kansans.The Governor’s office also demonstrates centrism. Starting with Robert Docking in the late 1960’s, five of the past ten governors have been Democrats and three of them won a second term. In 2022, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly secured nearly 60% of the vote in Johnson, Shawnee, and Riley counties and won a majority in Sedgwick County. Nevertheless, a certain kind of Democrat is required. A successful Democrat runs a disciplined and balanced campaign, sticking to bread and butter issues while avoiding divisive culture war battles. Finally, rejection of the proposed state constitutional abortion amendment shows the effectiveness of a centrist approach. The abortion vote was not about Democrats and Republicans. Rather, abortion rights advocates separated women’s rights from conventional partisan trappings. They recast abortion as a fundamental liberty, a right of Kansans to make decisions for themselves without government intrusion. This small government personal freedom perspective expanded the pool of supporters drawing moderate Republicans and Independents. The fall 2022 Kansas Speaks opinion survey makes this clear. More than half – 57.5% of Kansans agreed that Kansas government should not place any regulations on the circumstances under which women can get abortions. Nearly 40% of Republicans and 56% of Independents agreed.Likewise, 70% of Kansans agreed that women are in a better position than politicians to make their own choice about abortion. A majority of Republicans agreed as did 69% of Independents.To be clear, Kansas is a conservative state where registered Republicans – 45% far outnumber Democrats – 26%. Recent Democrat inroads do not of course portend a thundering majority favoring Joe Biden. But it would be a mistake to ignore the successes of centrist candidates. A few years ago, while browsing through the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, I discovered a fascinating exhibit called Eisenhower’s Middle Road. Displayed prominently was Ike’s thoughts on centrism:“The middle of the road is all the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.”So, for a moment, let’s avert our eyes from the red-blue spectacle. Now we can grasp what Kansas’s most popular and successful public figure realized. There is a middle way. And working from the middle, things can be accomplished that the extremes believe impossible.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Middle of the Road

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

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