By&nbsp; STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Alfalfa weevil activity began early this year for our Oklahoma 
neighbors and it appears that degree day accumulation for Kansas alfalfa
 weevils is well ahead of normal for most locations in the state. Only 
northwest Kansas is at or slightly behind normal. There were reports of 
treatable infestations in south-central Kansas during the last week of 
March and getting towards the middle of April, fields are being treated,
 or close to being treated, in the central, southeast, and northeast 
regions of the state.

Alfalfa weevil degree days are a great way 
to estimate what might be going on in the field and serve as a useful 
tool to know when to time scouting. Alfalfa weevil eggs begin hatching 
after 300 degree days have accumulated (Table 2). Since we cannot 
determine if the eggs present were laid the previous fall or the current
 spring, in Kansas, scouting should start after 180 degree days have 
accumulated starting from January 1.

Be aware of insecticide resistance While
 warmer spring temperatures have allowed for faster alfalfa weevil 
development, at the same time in some areas dramatic temperature 
fluctuations have slowed down alfalfa growth making the plants unable to
 keep up with feeding damage. In shorter fields, between 3 and 7 inches 
tall, treatment may be warranted when feeding is evident on the top inch
 of growth and 1 to 2 larvae are present. If a field is treated, it is 
important to verify that the expected amount of control was achieved. In
 2020, populations of alfalfa weevil resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin 
were verified in northwest and southwest Kansas as well as Oklahoma. 
While this resistance has not appeared to become a widespread problem 
for Kansas producers, Oklahoma continues to have resistance statewide 
and it appears resistance to zeta-cypermethrin is developing there. 
There are numerous products available for alfalfa weevil control in 
Kansas. When making management decisions it is important to rotate modes
 of action as this is an effective way to prevent the development of 
resistance.

For the most up-to-date alfalfa weevil degree day 
accumulations, visit the Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day 
Calculator (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/). For a 
complete guide to alfalfa weevil management recommendations please refer
 to the 2023 Alfalfa Insect Pest Management Guide.

Stacy Campbell 
is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which 
includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. 
You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp; STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictAlfalfa weevil activity began early this year for our Oklahoma 
neighbors and it appears that degree day accumulation for Kansas alfalfa
 weevils is well ahead of normal for most locations in the state. Only 
northwest Kansas is at or slightly behind normal. There were reports of 
treatable infestations in south-central Kansas during the last week of 
March and getting towards the middle of April, fields are being treated,
 or close to being treated, in the central, southeast, and northeast 
regions of the state.Alfalfa weevil degree days are a great way 
to estimate what might be going on in the field and serve as a useful 
tool to know when to time scouting. Alfalfa weevil eggs begin hatching 
after 300 degree days have accumulated (Table 2). Since we cannot 
determine if the eggs present were laid the previous fall or the current
 spring, in Kansas, scouting should start after 180 degree days have 
accumulated starting from January 1.Be aware of insecticide resistance While
 warmer spring temperatures have allowed for faster alfalfa weevil 
development, at the same time in some areas dramatic temperature 
fluctuations have slowed down alfalfa growth making the plants unable to
 keep up with feeding damage. In shorter fields, between 3 and 7 inches 
tall, treatment may be warranted when feeding is evident on the top inch
 of growth and 1 to 2 larvae are present. If a field is treated, it is 
important to verify that the expected amount of control was achieved. In
 2020, populations of alfalfa weevil resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin 
were verified in northwest and southwest Kansas as well as Oklahoma. 
While this resistance has not appeared to become a widespread problem 
for Kansas producers, Oklahoma continues to have resistance statewide 
and it appears resistance to zeta-cypermethrin is developing there. 
There are numerous products available for alfalfa weevil control in 
Kansas. When making management decisions it is important to rotate modes
 of action as this is an effective way to prevent the development of 
resistance.For the most up-to-date alfalfa weevil degree day 
accumulations, visit the Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day 
Calculator (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/). For a 
complete guide to alfalfa weevil management recommendations please refer
 to the 2023 Alfalfa Insect Pest Management Guide.Stacy Campbell 
is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which 
includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. 
You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Monitor alfalfa weevils using degree days, scouting

🎙 Post Podcast: A guide to Vitamin D

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

GOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.

Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.

We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;

"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.

Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.

I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.

Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;

Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.

Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;

In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.

The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;

Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.

As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;

The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.

Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;

Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.

At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;

The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.

Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.

They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.

Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.

Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;

Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.

You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.

Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;

One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.

He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.

The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;

However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. 

The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.

So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;

Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.

More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>

Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.

Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.

Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.

The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.

Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.

Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>

This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;

They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.

Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.

However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostGOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935690526.jpeg" alt="The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935984841.jpeg" alt="Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936081724.jpeg" alt="A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936235390.jpeg" alt="A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936388982.jpeg" alt="An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936745789.jpeg" alt="Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936920208.jpeg" alt="Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936568023.jpeg" alt="Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

📸 Reporter experiences Kansas prairie chickens first hand

Week Three is in the books in the 2023 Cash Grab contest&nbsp; — and KZ Country and Mix 103 are chasing down The Bull.

The $1,000 grand prize winner will be announced soon. You can't win if you don't tune in 😉

💵 Listen to your favorite Eagle Radio of Hays station for the code words at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for your chance to win! 💰

Each station is playing to give money to a local organization. The station with the most winners gives the most money.&nbsp; 101.9 The Bull - Hays Striders 99.5 KZ Country - DSNWK Mix 103.3 - Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center 96.9 KFIX - Big Brothers Big Sisters 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS - Jana's Campaign Cash Grab is brought to you by Viaero Wireless, Shone Fumigation and Pest Control in Smith Center,&nbsp; Brogdan GMC, Leitner Buildings and EnerSys.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682112156841.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Week Three is in the books in the 2023 Cash Grab contest&nbsp; — and KZ Country and Mix 103 are chasing down The Bull.The $1,000 grand prize winner will be announced soon. You can't win if you don't tune in 😉💵 Listen to your favorite Eagle Radio of Hays station for the code words at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for your chance to win! 💰Each station is playing to give money to a local organization. The station with the most winners gives the most money.&nbsp; 101.9 The Bull - Hays Striders 99.5 KZ Country - DSNWK Mix 103.3 - Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center 96.9 KFIX - Big Brothers Big Sisters 94.3 FM/1400 AM KAYS - Jana's Campaign Cash Grab is brought to you by Viaero Wireless, Shone Fumigation and Pest Control in Smith Center,&nbsp; Brogdan GMC, Leitner Buildings and EnerSys.

Week Three results from Eagle Radio's Cash Grab 2023

The Kansas Geological Survey reported a small earthquake in southern Rooks County late Friday morning.&nbsp;

The 2.1-magnitude quake was recorded at 11:26 a.m. Friday. Just before midnight,&nbsp; a second earthquake — 2.8-magnitude — was detected in Smith County.

Hays PostThe Kansas Geological Survey reported a small earthquake in southern Rooks County late Friday morning.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682175576765.png" alt="KGS" />
 <figcaption>KGS</figcaption>
 </figure>The 2.1-magnitude quake was recorded at 11:26 a.m. Friday. Just before midnight,&nbsp; a second earthquake — 2.8-magnitude — was detected in Smith County.

Second earthquake recorded in NW Kansas on Friday

Green Beret, bourbon label founder set for Hays appearance

The 64th annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair is set for Friday, April 28, at Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.

<a></a>FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology has invited Kansas middle and high school students to participate in the fair. Students enrolled in a Technology Education class will bring their projects to be displayed and judged at FHSU.&nbsp;

<a></a>On Thursday, April 27, participants will travel to the FHSU campus, where their projects will be checked in by FHSU Technology and Engineering Education Association (TEECA) students.&nbsp; On Friday, middle and high school students, faculty, and the general public are welcome to view all furniture, CAD drawings, metal works, and various other projects completed by the students.&nbsp;

<a></a>Doors open to the public on Friday, April 28, at 8 a.m., and projects can be viewed until 3:30 p.m.&nbsp;Each entry is judged, and winners will be awarded a ribbon or medal. Live competitions are available for students as well.&nbsp;

<a></a>An awards presentation will be held at the end of the day (typically around 3:30 p.m.). The public is welcome to attend and share in the success of these middle and high school industrial technology programs.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682003783300.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsThe 64th annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair is set for Friday, April 28, at Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.<a></a>FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology has invited Kansas middle and high school students to participate in the fair. Students enrolled in a Technology Education class will bring their projects to be displayed and judged at FHSU.&nbsp;<a></a>On Thursday, April 27, participants will travel to the FHSU campus, where their projects will be checked in by FHSU Technology and Engineering Education Association (TEECA) students.&nbsp; On Friday, middle and high school students, faculty, and the general public are welcome to view all furniture, CAD drawings, metal works, and various other projects completed by the students.&nbsp;<a></a>Doors open to the public on Friday, April 28, at 8 a.m., and projects can be viewed until 3:30 p.m.&nbsp;Each entry is judged, and winners will be awarded a ribbon or medal. Live competitions are available for students as well.&nbsp;<a></a>An awards presentation will be held at the end of the day (typically around 3:30 p.m.). The public is welcome to attend and share in the success of these middle and high school industrial technology programs.&nbsp;

Annual tech fair coming to Fort Hays State

8th Street Liquor in Hays will hold its annual Customer Appreciation Sale this Saturday, April 22nd, from 9am -11pm. Everything in the store will be on sale during this one day event.

8th Street Liquor loves their customers and they're honoring you this Saturday! 8th Street Liquor, on East 8th next to the Golden Q in Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592837680808.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>8th Street Liquor in Hays will hold its annual Customer Appreciation Sale this Saturday, April 22nd, from 9am -11pm. Everything in the store will be on sale during this one day event.* Free Tshirts while supplies last* Dozens of giveaways* Lowest prices of the year -by far* Taking preorders now for large orders8th Street Liquor loves their customers and they're honoring you this Saturday! 8th Street Liquor, on East 8th next to the Golden Q in Hays.

Barton eSports team claims program's fifth National Championship

<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/2023/4/1682100232369.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

From the Board of The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association G.B., (SRCA)

The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association G.B. (SRCA) have made the decision to cancel the 2023 race season at the SRCA Dragstrip. Great Bend, the owner of the track, has hired a consultant and engineer who are investigating the recently constructed track surface and will be furnishing a report. The final report has not been received but the preliminary indication is that the track will require substantial remedial work which might include a replacement of the racing surface.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/4dc443f9-006f-4511-895a-185b614aa472">RELATED STORY: Great Bend's dragstrip with lingering problems, responsibility questions</a>

The decision is bittersweet. After thorough analysis and discussions, it was determined that the maintenance and operating expense of the current drag strips' surface for continued safe, high-speed racing would be very expensive for the 2023 race season, only to be torn out with the anticipated concrete replacement.

SRCA will be contacting all pit stall holders, gold card recipients, sponsorship advertisers and other entities that have already prepaid for the 2023 season by email or phone to determine if their desire would be to roll over to the next season or receive a refund.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676068971585.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the Board of The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association G.B., (SRCA)The Sunflower Rod and Custom Association G.B. (SRCA) have made the decision to cancel the 2023 race season at the SRCA Dragstrip. Great Bend, the owner of the track, has hired a consultant and engineer who are investigating the recently constructed track surface and will be furnishing a report. The final report has not been received but the preliminary indication is that the track will require substantial remedial work which might include a replacement of the racing surface.<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/4dc443f9-006f-4511-895a-185b614aa472">RELATED STORY: Great Bend's dragstrip with lingering problems, responsibility questions</a>The decision is bittersweet. After thorough analysis and discussions, it was determined that the maintenance and operating expense of the current drag strips' surface for continued safe, high-speed racing would be very expensive for the 2023 race season, only to be torn out with the anticipated concrete replacement.SRCA will be contacting all pit stall holders, gold card recipients, sponsorship advertisers and other entities that have already prepaid for the 2023 season by email or phone to determine if their desire would be to roll over to the next season or receive a refund.&nbsp;&nbsp;

SRCA Dragstrip cancels 2023 race season in Great Bend

What is motivation? It can be what drives you to maintain or achieve goals. Or, you might say it is a form of desire. It is important to know where your motivation comes from. It could be external things that motivate you or internal desires that drive you.

External motivators are usually what you rely on when it comes to exercise. Think of a carrot and a stick. You lure yourself to exercise with the carrot — “You’ll lose weight!” — or you hit yourself with an invisible stick — “You’ll get fat if you don’t exercise!” With this type of motivation, you are not exercising because you like it. Rather, it will result in what you want sometime in the future.

Extrinsic motivation is not always bad, if it works. But what if it doesn’t give you what you want? What if you don’t have genetics to achieve a certain size or weight? What if you can’t exercise enough to get the bathing suit body you want? This is when motivation slides.

There is another type of motivation that is internal, something that is important to you now and not some future goal. Perhaps your motivation is that exercise feels good, it helps relieve stress, and as your body gets stronger you can do more than you did before.

Identify some things that you value most in your life and think about how sitting less and moving more can contribute to those values. Some examples: “I value being a productive employee and I know that taking a daily walk helps me feel less stressed and more focused at work. “I value time with my grandchildren. I know that stretching, doing strengthening exercises and walking will help me be more active with them.”

External motivators can be fleeting, but internal motivators have staying power. This week, focus on your values and what motivates you from within.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu. K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>What is motivation? It can be what drives you to maintain or achieve goals. Or, you might say it is a form of desire. It is important to know where your motivation comes from. It could be external things that motivate you or internal desires that drive you.External motivators are usually what you rely on when it comes to exercise. Think of a carrot and a stick. You lure yourself to exercise with the carrot — “You’ll lose weight!” — or you hit yourself with an invisible stick — “You’ll get fat if you don’t exercise!” With this type of motivation, you are not exercising because you like it. Rather, it will result in what you want sometime in the future.Extrinsic motivation is not always bad, if it works. But what if it doesn’t give you what you want? What if you don’t have genetics to achieve a certain size or weight? What if you can’t exercise enough to get the bathing suit body you want? This is when motivation slides.There is another type of motivation that is internal, something that is important to you now and not some future goal. Perhaps your motivation is that exercise feels good, it helps relieve stress, and as your body gets stronger you can do more than you did before.Identify some things that you value most in your life and think about how sitting less and moving more can contribute to those values. Some examples: “I value being a productive employee and I know that taking a daily walk helps me feel less stressed and more focused at work. “I value time with my grandchildren. I know that stretching, doing strengthening exercises and walking will help me be more active with them.”External motivators can be fleeting, but internal motivators have staying power. This week, focus on your values and what motivates you from within.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu. K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KOERNER: Motivation – internal or external?

On this episode of the <a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>, Ellis County Emergency Manager <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/directory.aspx?EID=167">Lyle Pantle</a> shares severe weather safety information.

<div><iframe title="Stay safe during severe weather with these tips" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=uyh4z-13ea16b-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the <a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>, Ellis County Emergency Manager <a href="https://www.ellisco.net/directory.aspx?EID=167">Lyle Pantle</a> shares severe weather safety information.

🎙 Post Podcast: Stay safe during severe weather with these tips

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

"There's somebody out there, somebody go sell something." That was the quote selected to honor William J. Miller at the new Miller's of Claflin and Ashley Distribution Center in Salina named in his honor. The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the facility Wednesday. Miller's of Claflin Owner Remington Miller said the distribution center may be 80 minutes away, but it will benefit customers in all seven Miller's locations.

"Every Tuesday and Friday, we do transfers," he said. "Basically, even though it's in Salina, if we have it stocked there, we'll be able to get it to the customer's home, regardless of which store you buy, within a couple of days. We're the only stocking dealer outside of Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City in the state."

The William J. Miller Ashley HomeStore Distribution Center is 50,000 square feet of actual space, but with rack space, has the equivalent of double that. The new space not only allows for better inventory but will also free up space in other locations.

"Our current warehouse also has a Clearance Center attached, and we're going to be converting all that to showroom," Miller said. "The Furniture Clearance Center is at around 6,000 square feet, and we're expanding that to 18,000 and taking our warehouse out of that and moving it to the new facility."

Miller said the new distribution center will also allow the supplier to buy in larger quantities and pass those savings onto the customer. Miller's of Claflin, founded in 1903, still has its original store in Claflin, and now has Mattress Solutions stores in Great Bend, Hays, and Salina. Miller's also operates Furniture Clearance Center stores in Hays and Salina.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682001865507.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post"There's somebody out there, somebody go sell something." That was the quote selected to honor William J. Miller at the new Miller's of Claflin and Ashley Distribution Center in Salina named in his honor. The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at the facility Wednesday. Miller's of Claflin Owner Remington Miller said the distribution center may be 80 minutes away, but it will benefit customers in all seven Miller's locations."Every Tuesday and Friday, we do transfers," he said. "Basically, even though it's in Salina, if we have it stocked there, we'll be able to get it to the customer's home, regardless of which store you buy, within a couple of days. We're the only stocking dealer outside of Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City in the state."The William J. Miller Ashley HomeStore Distribution Center is 50,000 square feet of actual space, but with rack space, has the equivalent of double that. The new space not only allows for better inventory but will also free up space in other locations."Our current warehouse also has a Clearance Center attached, and we're going to be converting all that to showroom," Miller said. "The Furniture Clearance Center is at around 6,000 square feet, and we're expanding that to 18,000 and taking our warehouse out of that and moving it to the new facility."Miller said the new distribution center will also allow the supplier to buy in larger quantities and pass those savings onto the customer. Miller's of Claflin, founded in 1903, still has its original store in Claflin, and now has Mattress Solutions stores in Great Bend, Hays, and Salina. Miller's also operates Furniture Clearance Center stores in Hays and Salina.

Miller's of Claflin cuts ribbon on new distribution center

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Forest Service,&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/about/staff/">Kansas State University Meteorologist Chip Redm</a>ond

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: K-State Meteorologist Chip Redman" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=vp5vy-13ea180-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=f6f6f6&size=315"></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Forest Service,&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/about/staff/">Kansas State University Meteorologist Chip Redm</a>ond

🎤 Forward Ever: Kan. Forest Service Meteorologist Chip Redmond

On Saturday morning, the Hays Fire Department and Ellis County Fire Department will be conducting live fire training of grass for USD 489 located at O’Loughlin Elementary School, 1401 Hall. This burn will provide local firefighters with training and knowledge of how to combat grass fires. With firefighters on site, they can ensure that the burn mitigation of the grass plots will be conducted safely.

The O’Loughlin School prairie plots were established in 1993 as an educational tool for USD 489, as well as for the general public. This is a designated Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site (OWLS) similar to other such sites established on school grounds across Kansas. These burns have been previously done in April or May since 1995. Stand of prairie grasses and wildflowers require occasional burning to remove excess litter, stimulate vigorous new growth and reduce the fire danger. Without burning litter accumulation suppresses new growth and the vegetation in the stand becomes decadent and cannot be duplicated by mowing or haying the grasses.

News releaseOn Saturday morning, the Hays Fire Department and Ellis County Fire Department will be conducting live fire training of grass for USD 489 located at O’Loughlin Elementary School, 1401 Hall. This burn will provide local firefighters with training and knowledge of how to combat grass fires. With firefighters on site, they can ensure that the burn mitigation of the grass plots will be conducted safely.The O’Loughlin School prairie plots were established in 1993 as an educational tool for USD 489, as well as for the general public. This is a designated Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site (OWLS) similar to other such sites established on school grounds across Kansas. These burns have been previously done in April or May since 1995. Stand of prairie grasses and wildflowers require occasional burning to remove excess litter, stimulate vigorous new growth and reduce the fire danger. Without burning litter accumulation suppresses new growth and the vegetation in the stand becomes decadent and cannot be duplicated by mowing or haying the grasses.

Controlled burn scheduled at O'Loughlin Elementary

Crouch held teaching position at Fort Hays State

SALISBURY, Md. — An academic leader with nearly three decades of 
classroom and administrative success will be Salisbury University’s next
 provost and senior vice president of academic affairs when Dr. Laurie 
Couch steps into the position on June 30.

Coming to Salisbury from Morehead State University, Ky., she will 
oversee faculty, research, study abroad/away and other components of 
SU’s academic mission following a national search.

“Dr. Couch has a demonstrated record of working closely with faculty,
 staff and students to ensure the best academic experience possible,” 
said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “Her background in teaching, 
research, enrollment, retention, strategic planning, course design and 
grant writing, along with her commitment to diversity, equity and 
inclusion, undergraduate research and student success, make her an ideal
 addition to Salisbury. I look forward to working with her as we 
continue to move SU forward with excellence.”

“I am committed to the ideals of Salisbury University and the 
forward-looking, transparent approach SU is taking toward its vision of 
planning for student success in all aspects of University work,” said 
Couch. “I am eager and ready to take the next step with Salisbury.”

At SU, Couch will oversee academic policy and budgeting, curriculum, 
faculty development, student advising and support, enrollment and 
retention, assessment, instructional technology and accreditation, as 
well as University outreach such as Delmarva Public Media.

As associate provost for undergraduate education and student success 
at Morehead State since 2016, her accomplishments have included 
increasing first-to-second-year student retention, supplemental 
instruction use and graduation rates while reducing the time students 
take to earn their degrees.

She also launched new undergraduate and graduate programs in science,
 technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), increased winter term 
course offerings by 350% and enrollment by more than 150%, and 
successfully pursued articulation agreements with several colleges and 
universities.

In addition, she has supported campus diversity, equity and inclusion
 by sponsoring inclusive teaching workshops for faculty, instituting 
cultural competency training for all first-year students, reducing 
equity gaps for underrepresented minority student retention, and hiring 
diverse leaders into key roles.

At Morehead, Couch oversees a general education review task force and
 serves as director of general education. She also is the academic 
affairs lead for the university’s strategic planning team, manages its 
curriculum and scheduling strategies and leads its student success 
strategy.

“My leadership style tends to be relational, strategic and 
data-oriented,” she said. “I value shared governance, accountability, 
continuous improvement, and the significance of a well-designed, 
high-quality educational experience. I am mindful of the impact of 
decisions and courses of action on those around me, and I work hard to 
do what is best for them as I do what is best for the institution.”

Couch joined Morehead State as an assistant professor of psychology 
in 1997, advancing to associate professor in 2002. She served as interim
 department chair from 2007-11 before moving into her current 
administrative role in 2016. Prior to her time at Morehead, she held 
teaching positions at the University of Tennessee and at Fort Hays State
 University in Kansas.

Her academic background includes over 100 publications and conference
 presentations, as well as more than $400,000 in research and program 
grants. She has served as associate editor for the Kentucky Journal for Undergraduate Scholarship, consulting editor for the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research and a reviewer for several scholarly publications, including the Journal of Social Psychology and Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

She has received multiple academic and professional honors, including
 the Kentucky Psychological Association’s Outstanding Mentor Award and 
the Morehead State University Student Government Association Outstanding
 Faculty Award. In addition, she holds memberships in a number of 
professional organizations, including the Council on Undergraduate 
Research and the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and is a
 past president of the Southeastern Psychological Association.

Couch earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in experimental psychology from the 
University of Tennessee and her B.A. in psychology from Mississippi 
State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681924909839.jpeg" alt="Couch" />
 <figcaption>Couch</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Crouch held teaching position at Fort Hays State</h2>News releaseSALISBURY, Md. — An academic leader with nearly three decades of 
classroom and administrative success will be Salisbury University’s next
 provost and senior vice president of academic affairs when Dr. Laurie 
Couch steps into the position on June 30.Coming to Salisbury from Morehead State University, Ky., she will 
oversee faculty, research, study abroad/away and other components of 
SU’s academic mission following a national search.“Dr. Couch has a demonstrated record of working closely with faculty,
 staff and students to ensure the best academic experience possible,” 
said SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre. “Her background in teaching, 
research, enrollment, retention, strategic planning, course design and 
grant writing, along with her commitment to diversity, equity and 
inclusion, undergraduate research and student success, make her an ideal
 addition to Salisbury. I look forward to working with her as we 
continue to move SU forward with excellence.”“I am committed to the ideals of Salisbury University and the 
forward-looking, transparent approach SU is taking toward its vision of 
planning for student success in all aspects of University work,” said 
Couch. “I am eager and ready to take the next step with Salisbury.”At SU, Couch will oversee academic policy and budgeting, curriculum, 
faculty development, student advising and support, enrollment and 
retention, assessment, instructional technology and accreditation, as 
well as University outreach such as Delmarva Public Media.As associate provost for undergraduate education and student success 
at Morehead State since 2016, her accomplishments have included 
increasing first-to-second-year student retention, supplemental 
instruction use and graduation rates while reducing the time students 
take to earn their degrees.She also launched new undergraduate and graduate programs in science,
 technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), increased winter term 
course offerings by 350% and enrollment by more than 150%, and 
successfully pursued articulation agreements with several colleges and 
universities.In addition, she has supported campus diversity, equity and inclusion
 by sponsoring inclusive teaching workshops for faculty, instituting 
cultural competency training for all first-year students, reducing 
equity gaps for underrepresented minority student retention, and hiring 
diverse leaders into key roles.At Morehead, Couch oversees a general education review task force and
 serves as director of general education. She also is the academic 
affairs lead for the university’s strategic planning team, manages its 
curriculum and scheduling strategies and leads its student success 
strategy.“My leadership style tends to be relational, strategic and 
data-oriented,” she said. “I value shared governance, accountability, 
continuous improvement, and the significance of a well-designed, 
high-quality educational experience. I am mindful of the impact of 
decisions and courses of action on those around me, and I work hard to 
do what is best for them as I do what is best for the institution.”Couch joined Morehead State as an assistant professor of psychology 
in 1997, advancing to associate professor in 2002. She served as interim
 department chair from 2007-11 before moving into her current 
administrative role in 2016. Prior to her time at Morehead, she held 
teaching positions at the University of Tennessee and at Fort Hays State
 University in Kansas.Her academic background includes over 100 publications and conference
 presentations, as well as more than $400,000 in research and program 
grants. She has served as associate editor for the Kentucky Journal for Undergraduate Scholarship, consulting editor for the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research and a reviewer for several scholarly publications, including the Journal of Social Psychology and Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.She has received multiple academic and professional honors, including
 the Kentucky Psychological Association’s Outstanding Mentor Award and 
the Morehead State University Student Government Association Outstanding
 Faculty Award. In addition, she holds memberships in a number of 
professional organizations, including the Council on Undergraduate 
Research and the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and is a
 past president of the Southeastern Psychological Association.Couch earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in experimental psychology from the 
University of Tennessee and her B.A. in psychology from Mississippi 
State University.

Educator with FHSU ties named provost of Maryland university

GREAT BEND — Six students from Barton Community College in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society were recognized as members of the PTK All-State Academic team during an award luncheon on Friday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City. &nbsp;

Barton’s PTK honorees were Ariannah Heller of Easton and Phyne Pettis of Leavenworth, who represented the Fort Leavenworth campus, along with Bethany Cline and Jesica Haygood, both of Fort Riley, who represented the Fort Riley campus, and Joshua Ball of Great Bend and Charlie Seifert of Osborne, who represented the Barton County campus.&nbsp;

PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges and symbolizes excellence in higher education. &nbsp;Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to join PTK. The PTK group at Barton spends significant time sponsoring local events and volunteering to support others’ events.

The students had to go through an application process, and their applications were reviewed by an anonymous selection panel on their respective campuses. All six students will have a chance at being named to PTK’s All-USA Academic Team, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Seifert is involved in several student groups, including serving as the PTK Phi Psi chapter president and president of the Community Service Organization, along with being a Hilltop Singer. She is also a member of various vocal and instrumental groups. She plans to transfer to Wichita State University to earn a degree in Business. She said she has been honored to be so involved during her time at Barton and especially enjoyed her PTK experience.&nbsp;

“Through Phi Theta Kappa, I have gotten more involved with the community and with other college students,” she said. “The events that we put on brought together many people and brightened their day just a little bit. It has shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined.”

While Cline has had a slightly different experience as a non-traditional student balancing school and her four children, she is thankful for the opportunities PTK has afforded her through her experience at Barton.&nbsp;

“Barton has helped me find myself again,” she said. “I was convinced that being a parent meant I had to give up my dreams of earning a college degree, but Barton proved me wrong. Barton has allowed me to follow my dreams while remaining a stay-at-home mom by offering classes 100 percent over Zoom.”

Cline will graduate with her associate degree from Barton in May. She plans to transfer to Upper Iowa University, where she will enroll in online courses to help her continue to balance family obligations and school in pursuit of a career in psychology.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681929120169.jpeg" alt="Attendees of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-State Academic Team awards banquet were (front row, from left) Vice President for Instruction Elaine Simmons, PTK All-State Academic Team inductees Bethany Cline of Fort Riley and Phyne Pettis of Leavenworth, Director of Learning Services at Barton Fort Leavenworth Erika Jenkins-Moss, (second row, from left) Director of Fort Riley Academic Programs at Barton Fort Riley Janet Balk, Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, PTK All-State Academic Team inductees Ariannah Heller of Easton, Charlie Seifert of Osborne, and Joshua Ball of Great Bend, (back row) Math Instructor Jo Harrington." />
 <figcaption>Attendees of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-State Academic Team awards banquet were (front row, from left) Vice President for Instruction Elaine Simmons, PTK All-State Academic Team inductees Bethany Cline of Fort Riley and Phyne Pettis of Leavenworth, Director of Learning Services at Barton Fort Leavenworth Erika Jenkins-Moss, (second row, from left) Director of Fort Riley Academic Programs at Barton Fort Riley Janet Balk, Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, PTK All-State Academic Team inductees Ariannah Heller of Easton, Charlie Seifert of Osborne, and Joshua Ball of Great Bend, (back row) Math Instructor Jo Harrington.</figcaption>
 </figure>BCCGREAT BEND — Six students from Barton Community College in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society were recognized as members of the PTK All-State Academic team during an award luncheon on Friday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City. &nbsp;Barton’s PTK honorees were Ariannah Heller of Easton and Phyne Pettis of Leavenworth, who represented the Fort Leavenworth campus, along with Bethany Cline and Jesica Haygood, both of Fort Riley, who represented the Fort Riley campus, and Joshua Ball of Great Bend and Charlie Seifert of Osborne, who represented the Barton County campus.&nbsp;PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges and symbolizes excellence in higher education. &nbsp;Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to join PTK. The PTK group at Barton spends significant time sponsoring local events and volunteering to support others’ events.The students had to go through an application process, and their applications were reviewed by an anonymous selection panel on their respective campuses. All six students will have a chance at being named to PTK’s All-USA Academic Team, which will be announced in the coming weeks.Seifert is involved in several student groups, including serving as the PTK Phi Psi chapter president and president of the Community Service Organization, along with being a Hilltop Singer. She is also a member of various vocal and instrumental groups. She plans to transfer to Wichita State University to earn a degree in Business. She said she has been honored to be so involved during her time at Barton and especially enjoyed her PTK experience.&nbsp;“Through Phi Theta Kappa, I have gotten more involved with the community and with other college students,” she said. “The events that we put on brought together many people and brightened their day just a little bit. It has shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined.”While Cline has had a slightly different experience as a non-traditional student balancing school and her four children, she is thankful for the opportunities PTK has afforded her through her experience at Barton.&nbsp;“Barton has helped me find myself again,” she said. “I was convinced that being a parent meant I had to give up my dreams of earning a college degree, but Barton proved me wrong. Barton has allowed me to follow my dreams while remaining a stay-at-home mom by offering classes 100 percent over Zoom.”Cline will graduate with her associate degree from Barton in May. She plans to transfer to Upper Iowa University, where she will enroll in online courses to help her continue to balance family obligations and school in pursuit of a career in psychology.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Osborne, Great Bend students named to Phi Theta Kappa all-staters

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682013044782.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>

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Let’s go to the port.” If that calls to mind a big harbor full of ships and seagulls, think again.&nbsp;

There are other kinds of ports such as an airport – or a railport. Today we’ll learn about a rural Kansas county that is using a port authority to support railroad infrastructure so as to benefit the local economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the last two weeks, we met Carolyn Dunn, president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. In the conclusion of this three-part series, we will learn about a port authority.&nbsp;

Stafford County is an agriculturally-based county in the middle of Kansas. One of its assets is a railroad line.&nbsp;

When Dunn first took the job as county economic development director, she was approached by three companies that were interested in establishing a large grain car loading facility along the railroad in the county. In each case, the deals did not pencil out, and the companies went elsewhere.&nbsp;

“We had to figure out how we could make this viable for them,” Dunn said. “Rather than those companies having to absorb all the cost of land and track, we looked for a way to structure this so that it makes it advantageous to attract businesses.”&nbsp;

Her research on alternatives led to something called a port authority. This happened to be the same legal structure that a Kansas leader named Huck Boyd had successfully used to support railroad service after the Rock Island Railroad closed in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A port authority is a quasi-governmental, special use district authorized to operate transportation infrastructure. In a sense, it might function like an airport or water port, but in Kansas it has been used with railroads. Typically, the port authority would own the land and railroad sidings and then lease access to companies that ship goods.&nbsp;

Stafford County Economic Development sought to use the port authority to establish a local rail transloading facility with industrial park. This would mean building a loop to the main railroad with space for loading and unloading facilities. This would allow trains and trucks to receive and transfer cargo such as grain or manufactured products.&nbsp;

Establishing a port authority requires state legislative approval. The Kansas Legislature authorized the Stafford County port authority in 2014. Stafford County Commissioners authorized formation of it in 2015. A Port Authority Board of Directors was appointed by the county commissioners. The county then contracted with a K-State agricultural economics professor to conduct a feasibility study on how best to implement it.&nbsp;

A grant was received to do the engineering and legal work. Potential sites were evaluated. A large grain handling company signed a letter of intent to build a unit car loading facility there.&nbsp;

Five million dollars was raised for the project. In 2022, a 256 acre site was purchased near two major highways and next to the railroad right of way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dunn transitioned from economic development director to her new role as president of the port authority. Much work remains to be done on the project.&nbsp;

If all goes as planned, this project would stimulate an estimated $15 million in private investment initially by an anchor grain-handling tenant. Improved efficiency in grain transportation should improve local grain prices, adding $7.5 to $9 million annually into the local economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“In addition to the seasonal shipment of grain at harvest time, we think this can benefit industrial shippers in the county by providing a local point of access to the railroad for companies that don’t have their own rail siding,” Dunn said.&nbsp;

One example would be Hudson Cream Flour, a business we have previously profiled.&nbsp;&nbsp;That company is located in the rural Stafford County community of Hudson, population 95 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordport.com/">www.staffordport.com</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave the port, but there’s no ships or seagulls. This would be a railroad port.&nbsp;&nbsp;We salute Carolyn Dunn and the Stafford County Port Authority for making a difference with innovative thinking and action.&nbsp;

Will this achieve positive results?&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes - I have it on good authority.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681909639428.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development“Let’s go to the port.” If that calls to mind a big harbor full of ships and seagulls, think again.&nbsp;There are other kinds of ports such as an airport – or a railport. Today we’ll learn about a rural Kansas county that is using a port authority to support railroad infrastructure so as to benefit the local economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;During the last two weeks, we met Carolyn Dunn, president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. In the conclusion of this three-part series, we will learn about a port authority.&nbsp;Stafford County is an agriculturally-based county in the middle of Kansas. One of its assets is a railroad line.&nbsp;When Dunn first took the job as county economic development director, she was approached by three companies that were interested in establishing a large grain car loading facility along the railroad in the county. In each case, the deals did not pencil out, and the companies went elsewhere.&nbsp;“We had to figure out how we could make this viable for them,” Dunn said. “Rather than those companies having to absorb all the cost of land and track, we looked for a way to structure this so that it makes it advantageous to attract businesses.”&nbsp;Her research on alternatives led to something called a port authority. This happened to be the same legal structure that a Kansas leader named Huck Boyd had successfully used to support railroad service after the Rock Island Railroad closed in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A port authority is a quasi-governmental, special use district authorized to operate transportation infrastructure. In a sense, it might function like an airport or water port, but in Kansas it has been used with railroads. Typically, the port authority would own the land and railroad sidings and then lease access to companies that ship goods.&nbsp;Stafford County Economic Development sought to use the port authority to establish a local rail transloading facility with industrial park. This would mean building a loop to the main railroad with space for loading and unloading facilities. This would allow trains and trucks to receive and transfer cargo such as grain or manufactured products.&nbsp;Establishing a port authority requires state legislative approval. The Kansas Legislature authorized the Stafford County port authority in 2014. Stafford County Commissioners authorized formation of it in 2015. A Port Authority Board of Directors was appointed by the county commissioners. The county then contracted with a K-State agricultural economics professor to conduct a feasibility study on how best to implement it.&nbsp;A grant was received to do the engineering and legal work. Potential sites were evaluated. A large grain handling company signed a letter of intent to build a unit car loading facility there.&nbsp;Five million dollars was raised for the project. In 2022, a 256 acre site was purchased near two major highways and next to the railroad right of way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dunn transitioned from economic development director to her new role as president of the port authority. Much work remains to be done on the project.&nbsp;If all goes as planned, this project would stimulate an estimated $15 million in private investment initially by an anchor grain-handling tenant. Improved efficiency in grain transportation should improve local grain prices, adding $7.5 to $9 million annually into the local economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;“In addition to the seasonal shipment of grain at harvest time, we think this can benefit industrial shippers in the county by providing a local point of access to the railroad for companies that don’t have their own rail siding,” Dunn said.&nbsp;One example would be Hudson Cream Flour, a business we have previously profiled.&nbsp;&nbsp;That company is located in the rural Stafford County community of Hudson, population 95 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordport.com/">www.staffordport.com</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave the port, but there’s no ships or seagulls. This would be a railroad port.&nbsp;&nbsp;We salute Carolyn Dunn and the Stafford County Port Authority for making a difference with innovative thinking and action.&nbsp;Will this achieve positive results?&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes - I have it on good authority.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Carolyn Dunn, port authority 

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/new-laws-increase-accountability-for-kansas-water-districts-set-aside-conservation-funding/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly signed two water laws, providing millions of dollars
 in state funding for water conservation in a bipartisan effort to 
tackle drought across the state.&nbsp;

Western Kansas has used the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/">Ogallala Aquifer</a>,
 the largest underground store of freshwater in the United States, to 
supply agricultural irrigation for decades. With water levels declining 
in the 1970s, five groundwater management districts were created statewide to monitor and conserve the resource.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/15/audit-finds-western-kansas-keeps-losing-water-despite-local-efforts/">Recent audits have shown mixed results </a>with
 these districts and little accountability for the state’s falling water
 levels. To fix growing concerns about drought, legislators proposed 
giving more funding to water projects and increasing GMD 
accountability.&nbsp;

“We must protect the water that has 
powered our booming farming economy for generations,” Kelly said. “I’m 
proud that Republicans and Democrats were able to come together to make 
progress on this pressing crisis, investing a historic level of 
resources into major water storage projects.”

Kelly announced the signing of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMzAyLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.ABO0Kyu-qRSfQZXDXeReOxx9DGGIibw2iAF07Qk6lQg/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">Senate Substitute for HB 2302</a>
 Thursday, a law that expands funding for the State Water Plan and 
creates two other funds for water infrastructure projects and water 
assistance.

Starting July 1, 2023, $35 million 
will be transferred from the State General Fund to the SWPF, with this 
amount going to the fund for the next five years. Before the law was 
enacted, the State Water Plan Fund received $8 million annually.&nbsp;

Out of the $35 million, $12 million 
is set aside for a newly established Water Projects Grant Fund. The 
Kansas Water Office will use that fund to provide grants and streamline 
the water project grant process, along with updating reporting 
requirements.&nbsp;

The second fund, called the Water 
Technical Assistance Fund, will use $5 million from the SWPF to provide 
grants for engineering, management and other technical assistance in the
 development of water infrastructure plans. Another part of the bill 
allocates $52 million to pay off debt for the Milford and Perry 
Reservoirs.

The legislation passed 38-1 in the Senate and 122-1 in the House.&nbsp;

Rep. Jim Minnix, a Scott City 
Republican and head of the 2022 Special Committee on Water, said the 
legislation would help the Kansas Water Office work on the state’s water
 needs.&nbsp;

“Water is one of our most vital 
natural resources and has been taken for granted far too long,” Minnix 
said. “Senate Substitute for HB 2302 is an effort to more fully fund the
 Kansas Water Office to address water quantity and water quality. This 
will benefit all Kansans — rural, urban, Republican, Democrats, younger,
 and older.”&nbsp;

Kelly also announced the signing of <a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMjc5LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.snf8Hqnt3pHzcsjunQM7LVcJGihTJ3V7Wtq05XekjA8/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">House Bill 2279</a>,
 a bill requiring the five groundwater management districts statewide to
 submit annual reports to the Legislature outlining their budget, 
finances and activities. The districts, which oversee management and 
conservation of groundwater resources in the areas with the most aquifer
 use, would also send reports to the Kansas Department of Agriculture on
 conservation efforts and agricultural water usage.

The legislation also requires these 
districts to identify problems with water preservation in their areas 
and come up with action plans to address the issues using feedback from 
their local communities.&nbsp;

“These bills will provide the state 
tools it desperately needs to address our water crisis,” said Rep. 
Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park. “Together, we are committed to ensuring
 access to this crucial resource for communities large and small, and 
for the future generations of Kansas.”

The House approved the bill 116-6 and the Senate voted 34-6 in favor of the legislation.

Kelly announced the signing of four additional bills Thursday.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvc2I0NC8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNDIwLjc1NDk0MzYxIn0.V6unckVC-0SKGHDj5fJcDnjIcCwWGCTKA2zIyZyUVoo/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">Senate Bill 44</a>
 creates the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act. The
 bill, which passed the House 114-9 and the Senate 36-4, is meant to 
protect state residents’ finances by enforcing Federal Trade Commission 
rules.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMDE0LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.yYkEOSyTdD_RYzLNVmDlzDP_LQhBLm0S45sSPsoBgVw/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">House Bill 2014</a>,
 passed 40-0 in the Senate and 122-1 in the House, is meant to encourage
 greater access to emergency medical services education and expand the 
EMS instructor workforce by changing some statutes and outdated 
language.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682016396425.png" alt="The western Kansas landscape is drying up due to diminishing water levels. Kansas legislators took steps toward addressing the issue this session. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The western Kansas landscape is drying up due to diminishing water levels. Kansas legislators took steps toward addressing the issue this session. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/20/new-laws-increase-accountability-for-kansas-water-districts-set-aside-conservation-funding/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly signed two water laws, providing millions of dollars
 in state funding for water conservation in a bipartisan effort to 
tackle drought across the state.&nbsp;Western Kansas has used the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kgs.ku.edu/">Ogallala Aquifer</a>,
 the largest underground store of freshwater in the United States, to 
supply agricultural irrigation for decades. With water levels declining 
in the 1970s, five groundwater management districts were created statewide to monitor and conserve the resource.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/15/audit-finds-western-kansas-keeps-losing-water-despite-local-efforts/">Recent audits have shown mixed results </a>with
 these districts and little accountability for the state’s falling water
 levels. To fix growing concerns about drought, legislators proposed 
giving more funding to water projects and increasing GMD 
accountability.&nbsp;“We must protect the water that has 
powered our booming farming economy for generations,” Kelly said. “I’m 
proud that Republicans and Democrats were able to come together to make 
progress on this pressing crisis, investing a historic level of 
resources into major water storage projects.”Kelly announced the signing of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMzAyLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.ABO0Kyu-qRSfQZXDXeReOxx9DGGIibw2iAF07Qk6lQg/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">Senate Substitute for HB 2302</a>
 Thursday, a law that expands funding for the State Water Plan and 
creates two other funds for water infrastructure projects and water 
assistance.Starting July 1, 2023, $35 million 
will be transferred from the State General Fund to the SWPF, with this 
amount going to the fund for the next five years. Before the law was 
enacted, the State Water Plan Fund received $8 million annually.&nbsp;Out of the $35 million, $12 million 
is set aside for a newly established Water Projects Grant Fund. The 
Kansas Water Office will use that fund to provide grants and streamline 
the water project grant process, along with updating reporting 
requirements.&nbsp;The second fund, called the Water 
Technical Assistance Fund, will use $5 million from the SWPF to provide 
grants for engineering, management and other technical assistance in the
 development of water infrastructure plans. Another part of the bill 
allocates $52 million to pay off debt for the Milford and Perry 
Reservoirs.The legislation passed 38-1 in the Senate and 122-1 in the House.&nbsp;Rep. Jim Minnix, a Scott City 
Republican and head of the 2022 Special Committee on Water, said the 
legislation would help the Kansas Water Office work on the state’s water
 needs.&nbsp;“Water is one of our most vital 
natural resources and has been taken for granted far too long,” Minnix 
said. “Senate Substitute for HB 2302 is an effort to more fully fund the
 Kansas Water Office to address water quantity and water quality. This 
will benefit all Kansans — rural, urban, Republican, Democrats, younger,
 and older.”&nbsp;Kelly also announced the signing of <a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMjc5LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.snf8Hqnt3pHzcsjunQM7LVcJGihTJ3V7Wtq05XekjA8/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">House Bill 2279</a>,
 a bill requiring the five groundwater management districts statewide to
 submit annual reports to the Legislature outlining their budget, 
finances and activities. The districts, which oversee management and 
conservation of groundwater resources in the areas with the most aquifer
 use, would also send reports to the Kansas Department of Agriculture on
 conservation efforts and agricultural water usage.The legislation also requires these 
districts to identify problems with water preservation in their areas 
and come up with action plans to address the issues using feedback from 
their local communities.&nbsp;“These bills will provide the state 
tools it desperately needs to address our water crisis,” said Rep. 
Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park. “Together, we are committed to ensuring
 access to this crucial resource for communities large and small, and 
for the future generations of Kansas.”The House approved the bill 116-6 and the Senate voted 34-6 in favor of the legislation.Kelly announced the signing of four additional bills Thursday.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvc2I0NC8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNDIwLjc1NDk0MzYxIn0.V6unckVC-0SKGHDj5fJcDnjIcCwWGCTKA2zIyZyUVoo/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">Senate Bill 44</a>
 creates the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act. The
 bill, which passed the House 114-9 and the Senate 36-4, is meant to 
protect state residents’ finances by enforcing Federal Trade Commission 
rules.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvaGIyMDE0LyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA0MjAuNzU0OTQzNjEifQ.yYkEOSyTdD_RYzLNVmDlzDP_LQhBLm0S45sSPsoBgVw/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">House Bill 2014</a>,
 passed 40-0 in the Senate and 122-1 in the House, is meant to encourage
 greater access to emergency medical services education and expand the 
EMS instructor workforce by changing some statutes and outdated 
language.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvc2I0Mi8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNDIwLjc1NDk0MzYxIn0.zCiZALLdGOHuMfR_q8LLLGAMmid6eYK3Wci0j3uMLSE/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">House Substitute for SB 42</a>,
 passed 82-41 in the House and 38-1 in the Senate, exempts some of the 
state’s rural hospitals from paying a hospital provider assessment fee. 
The legislation also requires local hospital boards to have a majority 
of their members be residents of the county in which the hospital is 
located.<a target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cua3NsZWdpc2xhdHVyZS5vcmcvbGkvYjIwMjNfMjQvbWVhc3VyZXMvc2I3NS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNDIwLjc1NDk0MzYxIn0.Cjf1_4Y5MVhHEgEeNfYCW4BNY3Hu21i5qY-QlXR6wfk/s/2897855304/br/160143784886-l">Senate Bill 75</a>,
 passed 122-1 in the House and 38-0 in the Senate, changes legal 
interest rates in civil tort action cases to to limit prejudgment 
interest amounts.

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