TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers to participate in the next Statewide Virtual Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“Our state is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth as companies are expanding, relocating and getting their start in Kansas,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Our&nbsp;KANSASWORKS teams are ready and able to assist jobseekers by helping them find employment opportunities in all skill and job levels.”

The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal also 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.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvODk0YjAxN2MtZDk5Yy00Y2U4LWE4MTYtY2VlMjRmZmFiOTNiL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWp1bmUtMjEsLTIwMjMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.WapoqHwXATdVkwIUmX0UT4ZU6KYqZGIGBq1A6DW_yQ8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

KANSASWORKS&nbsp;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&nbsp;is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc3dvcmtzLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.FO4WIf4bRHTd5rKH4_ksr2FAcSBPqBwUxczifUayVCA/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L29mZmljZXMvcGVyc29ubmVsLXNlcnZpY2VzL2pvYnMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.HqH0PXnAAa53OR66B5THoVVbyDqCqDPhjJFe0-WUVu8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">jobs.ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648050738991.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDCTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers to participate in the next Statewide Virtual Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.“Our state is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth as companies are expanding, relocating and getting their start in Kansas,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Our&nbsp;KANSASWORKS teams are ready and able to assist jobseekers by helping them find employment opportunities in all skill and job levels.”The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal also 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.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvODk0YjAxN2MtZDk5Yy00Y2U4LWE4MTYtY2VlMjRmZmFiOTNiL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWp1bmUtMjEsLTIwMjMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.WapoqHwXATdVkwIUmX0UT4ZU6KYqZGIGBq1A6DW_yQ8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">here</a>.About&nbsp;KANSASWORKS:KANSASWORKS&nbsp;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&nbsp;is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc3dvcmtzLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.FO4WIf4bRHTd5rKH4_ksr2FAcSBPqBwUxczifUayVCA/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L29mZmljZXMvcGVyc29ubmVsLXNlcnZpY2VzL2pvYnMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.HqH0PXnAAa53OR66B5THoVVbyDqCqDPhjJFe0-WUVu8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">jobs.ks.gov</a>.

KANSASWORKS to host statewide virtual job fair Wednesday

The USD 112 BOE could’ve averted this disorganization vote.

The following material in quotations, were&nbsp;pulled from the KASB website:&nbsp;"School Board Members’ three primary Roles/Responsibilities," shows how BOE actions drove the district to the point of a disorganization vote:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They did not&nbsp;“foster an environment of collaboration, coordination and communication.”

&nbsp;Don’t believe; watch the&nbsp;USD 112 Board Meetings Livestream:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;@oilers112media2

*Note the&nbsp;“Oilers”&nbsp;name &amp; logo on&nbsp;District News Channel&nbsp;site. Interesting that it’s called “Oilers 112” not “Central Plains 112."

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Advocate for the&nbsp;various stakeholders&nbsp;in the district (students, staff, community members) in pursuit of policies and direction that make the system better for&nbsp;all&nbsp;involved.”

They’ve chosen to advocate for&nbsp;their school choice, Central Plains-Claflin, with little equity or concern for students and staff, especially in regard to benefits and burdens. This is not just a present-day problem but includes other building closures, district office relocation, BOE meeting locations (all moved in January to Claflin) and spending choices/priorities (including charges to Wilson for expenses not used; salary inequities across the district;&nbsp; and the fact that ESSER-Covid money, could be used to keep school buildings open).

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“At the state level, school board members are critical voices in the fight for a strong state-wide public education system.”

What has this BOE done at the state level to fight for keeping schools open?&nbsp;

In the past, there were six community schools in this area. Lorraine and Bushton were unfortunately closed; Dorrance, who lost their school in a fire, made the unselfish sacrifice and partnered with Wilson to build a new modern, efficient building in Wilson in 1998.&nbsp;At this rate, who will be the "last school standing"?

Why was/is this BOE afraid to ask the experienced experts at the state level for help?

We need immediate intervention from our educational leaders in Topeka; Gov. Kelly, KSDE,&nbsp;&nbsp;legislators, and attorney general. Our Legislators need to be informed of the needs for updates or new educational law.&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe the legislators needed more forewarning, especially on the lack of clarity with the present disorganization statues. The KSBOE is concerned about students and school closures and is ready to help out if only asked. Wilson has asked? Has Central Plains? Why not?

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Make impactful daily and long-term plans for success of students, staff and community members within their districts.”

Wilson’s still waiting for those plans? There are other closer districts that have transition plans.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Seen as leaders in their communities and across the state.”

Wilson and other schools have invited local BOE members and administrators to fight in Topeka for a Small-School Coalition. The BOE didn’t step up or even acknowledge this need. Wilson went and was instrumental in the passage of HB 2138 and almost passing SB 113, all with hopes of preventing Kansas school closures&nbsp;and providing a smoother,&nbsp;transparent process.

Wilson applauds the Senate and House who united, surprisingly quickly, in response to both the need for school closure, checks and balances and for FTE state funding to follow students, immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2024-2025 "open enrollment" will become law.&nbsp;&nbsp;Taxpayers across Kansas should demand that funding follow students immediately, not stay in a district that's not providing services to these students for two years. If this change creates different problems, then let the legislators fix them. They're good at this!

Wilson and Central Plains need a mulligan!&nbsp; Time for the BOE to better&nbsp;"Serve, Advocate &amp; Lead."&nbsp; Time for the laws to catch up with present-day educational needs and delivery options. Can this be done?

RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The USD 112 BOE could’ve averted this disorganization vote. The following material in quotations, were&nbsp;pulled from the KASB website:&nbsp;"School Board Members’ three primary Roles/Responsibilities," shows how BOE actions drove the district to the point of a disorganization vote: To "Serve, Advocate &amp; Lead"1. Serve:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They did not&nbsp;“foster an environment of collaboration, coordination and communication.”&nbsp;Don’t believe; watch the&nbsp;USD 112 Board Meetings Livestream:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;@oilers112media2*Note the&nbsp;“Oilers”&nbsp;name &amp; logo on&nbsp;District News Channel&nbsp;site. Interesting that it’s called “Oilers 112” not “Central Plains 112."2. Advocate·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Advocate for the&nbsp;various stakeholders&nbsp;in the district (students, staff, community members) in pursuit of policies and direction that make the system better for&nbsp;all&nbsp;involved.”They’ve chosen to advocate for&nbsp;their school choice, Central Plains-Claflin, with little equity or concern for students and staff, especially in regard to benefits and burdens. This is not just a present-day problem but includes other building closures, district office relocation, BOE meeting locations (all moved in January to Claflin) and spending choices/priorities (including charges to Wilson for expenses not used; salary inequities across the district;&nbsp; and the fact that ESSER-Covid money, could be used to keep school buildings open).·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“At the state level, school board members are critical voices in the fight for a strong state-wide public education system.”What has this BOE done at the state level to fight for keeping schools open?&nbsp;In the past, there were six community schools in this area. Lorraine and Bushton were unfortunately closed; Dorrance, who lost their school in a fire, made the unselfish sacrifice and partnered with Wilson to build a new modern, efficient building in Wilson in 1998.&nbsp;At this rate, who will be the "last school standing"?Why was/is this BOE afraid to ask the experienced experts at the state level for help?We need immediate intervention from our educational leaders in Topeka; Gov. Kelly, KSDE,&nbsp;&nbsp;legislators, and attorney general. Our Legislators need to be informed of the needs for updates or new educational law.&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe the legislators needed more forewarning, especially on the lack of clarity with the present disorganization statues. The KSBOE is concerned about students and school closures and is ready to help out if only asked. Wilson has asked? Has Central Plains? Why not?3. Lead·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Make impactful daily and long-term plans for success of students, staff and community members within their districts.”Wilson’s still waiting for those plans? There are other closer districts that have transition plans.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Seen as leaders in their communities and across the state.”Wilson and other schools have invited local BOE members and administrators to fight in Topeka for a Small-School Coalition. The BOE didn’t step up or even acknowledge this need. Wilson went and was instrumental in the passage of HB 2138 and almost passing SB 113, all with hopes of preventing Kansas school closures&nbsp;and providing a smoother,&nbsp;transparent process.Wilson applauds the Senate and House who united, surprisingly quickly, in response to both the need for school closure, checks and balances and for FTE state funding to follow students, immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2024-2025 "open enrollment" will become law.&nbsp;&nbsp;Taxpayers across Kansas should demand that funding follow students immediately, not stay in a district that's not providing services to these students for two years. If this change creates different problems, then let the legislators fix them. They're good at this!Wilson and Central Plains need a mulligan!&nbsp; Time for the BOE to better&nbsp;"Serve, Advocate &amp; Lead."&nbsp; Time for the laws to catch up with present-day educational needs and delivery options. Can this be done? I sure hope so.Roberta Meier RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

Letter to Editor: Uncharted waters: USD 112 disorganization by patron vote

<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/2023/6/1687189499595.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

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayschamber.com/" target="_blank">Hays Chamber</a>&nbsp;president and CEO Sarah Wasinger and vice president of membership Leigh Purdy discuss their upgraded <a href="https://members.hayschamber.com/list" target="_blank">business directory</a> and this week's chamber events.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Hays Chamber upgrades online business directory" 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=38m62-1438fb4-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hayschamber.com/" target="_blank">Hays Chamber</a>&nbsp;president and CEO Sarah Wasinger and vice president of membership Leigh Purdy discuss their upgraded <a href="https://members.hayschamber.com/list" target="_blank">business directory</a> and this week's chamber events.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Chamber upgrades online business directory

TOPEKA – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9 percent for the state in May. This is unchanged from 2.9 percent in April and an increase from 2.5 percent in May 2022.

Ellis and Trego both saw slight dips in their unemployment rates. Ellis' rate fell from 2.1 percent to 1.9 percent. Trego County's rate fell from 3.1 percent to 3 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,500 from April. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 over the month, while government increased by 700.

“Kansas estimates for both monthly labor market surveys indicate little change in May,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows no significant change in job estimates over the month. While the survey of households indicates a small increase in employment, there was no change in the unemployment rate at 2.9 percent.”

Since May 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 31,800. This change is due to an increase of 26,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,200 government jobs.

The June 2023 Labor Report will be released on Friday, July 21. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687200924026.png" alt="Kansas May unemployment numbers. Courtesy image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas May unemployment numbers. Courtesy image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9 percent for the state in May. This is unchanged from 2.9 percent in April and an increase from 2.5 percent in May 2022.Ellis and Trego both saw slight dips in their unemployment rates. Ellis' rate fell from 2.1 percent to 1.9 percent. Trego County's rate fell from 3.1 percent to 3 percent.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,500 from April. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 over the month, while government increased by 700.“Kansas estimates for both monthly labor market surveys indicate little change in May,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows no significant change in job estimates over the month. While the survey of households indicates a small increase in employment, there was no change in the unemployment rate at 2.9 percent.”Since May 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 31,800. This change is due to an increase of 26,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,200 government jobs.The June 2023 Labor Report will be released on Friday, July 21.

Ellis, Trego counties' May jobless rates dip slightly

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

WAKEENEY — Gov. Laura Kelly visited WaKeeney Wednesday to announce the community's selection to the Kansas Main Street program.

Officials in WaKeeney have already received their first round of training to promote economic vitality, design, promotion and organization in their community.

Lynelle Shubert, executive director of WaKeeney Main Street, said the community already has several projects in the works. One of these includes extending the decorative lamposts the full length of Main Street.

Cheryl Gibson, director of Trego County Economic Development, will be the president of the board for WaKeeney Main Street.

WaKeeney also plans to install public restrooms and an outdoor meeting place that includes picnic tables at the former Kelly Theatre.

A mural was being painted on the former Masonic Lodge, which is across the street from the Trego County Courthouse, on Wednesday as Kelly visited. That building has been purchased and is set to be turned into a restaurant and event center, Shubert said.

The community also will work to improve the corridor from the two WaKeeney Interstate 70 exits to downtown, she said.

Several new businesses have opened downtown in the last several years, including Kuntz Meats, The Well coffee shop and&nbsp; Azalea Avenue Boutique.

A new gift boutique, Eaglenest Wood and Pottery, is set open soon on Main Street.&nbsp;

Shubert said the community is also trying to recruit tradesmen, such as plumbers, electricians and HVAC workers. The companies that serve WaKeeney are led by people who are nearing retirement.

A group of private investors is building homes in the community, Shubert said she hopes will house a growing community.

Gov. Kelly said one of the reasons she ran for office was because communities like WaKeeney are the foundation of the culture of Kansas.

 "Yet far too often, they feel neglected," she said. "That's why after taking office in 2019, my administration created the office of rural prosperity and then we hit the road."

She said a tour of the state found that downtown storefronts were vacant and businesses had been shuttered.&nbsp;

Her administration revived the Main Street program, which had been shut down in 2012.&nbsp;

Since 2019, the state has issued $2 million in grants through that program, which has promoted investment of $9 in private funds for every dollar of state investment.

"We wanted to invest in our historic downtowns to help rural communities bring back jobs and become a place where future generations wanted to live and raise their families," Kelly said.

"Today WaKeeney becomes one of those communities," she said. "It is a great achievement and one that came after a very competitive application process."

WaKeeney Mayor Irene Dirks talked about how great it was to grow up in WaKeeney as she spoke during the governor's ceremony.

She noted some of those happy memories, including the screams of laughter from kids playing night tag at the park, hanging out at the tracks after a sporting event and being able to walk to and from the swimming pool.

&nbsp;Trego County natives are moving back to raise their families or choosing to retire in the community, she said.

"We have all the essentials, good stores, quality health care, public safety and great schools," she said. "Some already notice and never left because WaKeeney is a community of families."

She encouraged all WaKeeney residents to leave their mark on the town's future.

"Volunteer for an existing program," Dirks said. "Instead of waiting for someone else to make WaKeeney better, get out there and find a group and do it."

Each of the four points of the Main Street mission will have committees to support WaKeeney's vision of those tenants.

Dirks played off WaKeeney's new promotional phrase, "Why not Wakeeney?"

"Why not raise a family here? Why not bring a business here? Why not retire here? Why not reinvent yourself here? Why not seize new opportunities here?" she said.

She added, "WaKeeney is a great town, but I think it is about to get better."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677528504039.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686859290260.jpeg" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly welcomes WaKeeney to the Kansas Main Street program during a ceremony Wednesday in downtown WaKeeney. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly welcomes WaKeeney to the Kansas Main Street program during a ceremony Wednesday in downtown WaKeeney. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWAKEENEY — Gov. Laura Kelly visited WaKeeney Wednesday to announce the community's selection to the Kansas Main Street program.Officials in WaKeeney have already received their first round of training to promote economic vitality, design, promotion and organization in their community.Lynelle Shubert, executive director of WaKeeney Main Street, said the community already has several projects in the works. One of these includes extending the decorative lamposts the full length of Main Street.Cheryl Gibson, director of Trego County Economic Development, will be the president of the board for WaKeeney Main Street.WaKeeney also plans to install public restrooms and an outdoor meeting place that includes picnic tables at the former Kelly Theatre.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686859321442.jpeg" alt="WaKeeney plans to add public restrooms and outdoor meeting space at the former Kelly Theatre. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>WaKeeney plans to add public restrooms and outdoor meeting space at the former Kelly Theatre. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>A mural was being painted on the former Masonic Lodge, which is across the street from the Trego County Courthouse, on Wednesday as Kelly visited. That building has been purchased and is set to be turned into a restaurant and event center, Shubert said.The community also will work to improve the corridor from the two WaKeeney Interstate 70 exits to downtown, she said.Several new businesses have opened downtown in the last several years, including Kuntz Meats, The Well coffee shop and&nbsp; Azalea Avenue Boutique.A new gift boutique, Eaglenest Wood and Pottery, is set open soon on Main Street.&nbsp;Shubert said the community is also trying to recruit tradesmen, such as plumbers, electricians and HVAC workers. The companies that serve WaKeeney are led by people who are nearing retirement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686859346129.jpeg" alt="A mural is being painted on the side of the former Masonic Lodge in WaKeeney. It is set to be the new home of a restaurant and event venue. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A mural is being painted on the side of the former Masonic Lodge in WaKeeney. It is set to be the new home of a restaurant and event venue. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>A group of private investors is building homes in the community, Shubert said she hopes will house a growing community.Gov. Kelly said one of the reasons she ran for office was because communities like WaKeeney are the foundation of the culture of Kansas. "Yet far too often, they feel neglected," she said. "That's why after taking office in 2019, my administration created the office of rural prosperity and then we hit the road."She said a tour of the state found that downtown storefronts were vacant and businesses had been shuttered.&nbsp;Her administration revived the Main Street program, which had been shut down in 2012.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686859392160.jpeg" alt="WaKeeney Mayor Irene Dirks and&nbsp;Scott Sewell, director of Kansas Mains Street, listen to Gov. Kelly speak to a crowd gathered on Main Street on WaKeeney on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>WaKeeney Mayor Irene Dirks and&nbsp;Scott Sewell, director of Kansas Mains Street, listen to Gov. Kelly speak to a crowd gathered on Main Street on WaKeeney on Wednesday. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Since 2019, the state has issued $2 million in grants through that program, which has promoted investment of $9 in private funds for every dollar of state investment."We wanted to invest in our historic downtowns to help rural communities bring back jobs and become a place where future generations wanted to live and raise their families," Kelly said."Today WaKeeney becomes one of those communities," she said. "It is a great achievement and one that came after a very competitive application process."WaKeeney Mayor Irene Dirks talked about how great it was to grow up in WaKeeney as she spoke during the governor's ceremony.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686859633992.jpeg" alt="Community members of all ages gathered to welcome Gov. Kelly to WaKeeney when she was in town Wednesday to announce WaKeeney's selection to the Kansas Main Street program. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Community members of all ages gathered to welcome Gov. Kelly to WaKeeney when she was in town Wednesday to announce WaKeeney's selection to the Kansas Main Street program. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>She noted some of those happy memories, including the screams of laughter from kids playing night tag at the park, hanging out at the tracks after a sporting event and being able to walk to and from the swimming pool.&nbsp;Trego County natives are moving back to raise their families or choosing to retire in the community, she said."We have all the essentials, good stores, quality health care, public safety and great schools," she said. "Some already notice and never left because WaKeeney is a community of families."She encouraged all WaKeeney residents to leave their mark on the town's future."Volunteer for an existing program," Dirks said. "Instead of waiting for someone else to make WaKeeney better, get out there and find a group and do it."Each of the four points of the Main Street mission will have committees to support WaKeeney's vision of those tenants.Dirks played off WaKeeney's new promotional phrase, "Why not Wakeeney?""Why not raise a family here? Why not bring a business here? Why not retire here? Why not reinvent yourself here? Why not seize new opportunities here?" she said.She added, "WaKeeney is a great town, but I think it is about to get better."

NWester: WaKeeney joins Kansas Main Street program, improvements in works

By James Bell 
Hays Post

Bargain Hunters in Hays now have another prime location to
find apparel and housewares with the opening of bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts, inside the Big Creek Crossing shopping center.

Even with a $3.99 price tag on everything daily, the
location reflects more of a boutique shopping experience than traditional bin shopping.

In a bin store, items for sale are typically placed in their
namesake bins, where shoppers can dig through items separated by price, sourced
from overstocked or closeout items from large retailers.

But alongside a more upscale experience, bin shop’n Boutique
and Gifts features more clothing and shoes alongside assorted personal care
items and stands apart from the primary bin shop’n brand.

“I always like to say that the bin shop’n experience is like
an elevated experience to the bin shop,” said Nicole Heneha, director of
business and operations. “Because even at other bin shopping type of
facilities, we're just taking a step up.”

That desire to create a better bin shopping experience led
to development of the Boutique and Gifts locations.

“Where we really take pride in what we do is, even in our
bins stores, we've taken the time to separate our clothing from all the other
stuff that goes in the bins,” Heneha said. “So if you walk into our big stores
that are the bins in Hutchinson, Great Bend, Salina and Wichita, you'll notice
that none of our clothing is in the bins. We've sorted it out.”

In the Boutique and Gifts locations, that process is even more
at the forefront and takes advantage of the growing amount of clothing
assembled across their network of locations.

“We have so much clothing that we decided to start opening
the bin shop’n Boutiques, and so in the stores, there’s something for everyone,”
Heneha said. “Then we brought in our health and beauty and some home goods. Even at this location for the very first time, we brought in some things for
animals, dog toys. We brought in gardening stuff for part of our gifts, and
we've been selling them.”

Tentatively the location is set to be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, but as the quick-moving business develops,
those hours may change.

To see daily inventory selections and current hours visit
the location’s Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/binshopnboutiqueandgiftshays/">facebook.com/binshopnboutiqueandgiftshays.</a>

The Hays location is just another in the company’s fast-growing
chain, with locations throughout Kansas and beyond. 

“I started January 1, and this is my 10th store. Ten
boutiques and one bin store, so 11,” Heneha said.

Part of the growth model includes malls in Salina and
Wichita but also has stand-alone locations in smaller communities, with new
locations planned in both malls and smaller population centers, along routes to
established locations.

With a headquarters in Hutchinson, the chain's ability to
grow stems from the organization in backend systems and warehousing. 

“We've really fine-tuned those processes to be able to set a
store,” Heneha said.

From that system, they can move into new locations and open
quickly.

The lease agreement for the Hays location was set on June 8,
and the initial products came in the same day.

“We set this store in a day and a half essentially,” Heneha
said. “We bought our first load of clothing because we knew we were going to
accept it. Then we came Monday morning with the next part of our products and
set the store Monday and Tuesday. And we were done. Then we walked in (Friday) for the grand opening.”

Big Creek Crossing marketing director Branson Hoffman said
they are “excited” about adding bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts.

“We noticed shopping trends are going in that direction,”
Hoffman said. “You look at Dollar Tree down there. You look at bin shopping, and
just some of the biggest chains that are opening up left and right are your Marshalls’, your Burlington’s, it's like those discounted sort of shopping in retail. That's what's really booming right now.”

While many of the most recent tenants taking space in the
shopping center have chosen to create exterior entrances, he said having tenants
like bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts and other smaller and more local-based shopping
options appeals to their regular clientele and helps to fill exterior spots.

“It is nice to be able to fill those spaces here,” Hoffman
said.&nbsp; “[We] are always looking for great opportunities and great mom-and-pops
that would be interested and feasible for those empty bays that we are talking
about.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953431636.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By James Bell 
Hays PostBargain Hunters in Hays now have another prime location to
find apparel and housewares with the opening of bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts, inside the Big Creek Crossing shopping center.Even with a $3.99 price tag on everything daily, the
location reflects more of a boutique shopping experience than traditional bin shopping.In a bin store, items for sale are typically placed in their
namesake bins, where shoppers can dig through items separated by price, sourced
from overstocked or closeout items from large retailers.But alongside a more upscale experience, bin shop’n Boutique
and Gifts features more clothing and shoes alongside assorted personal care
items and stands apart from the primary bin shop’n brand.“I always like to say that the bin shop’n experience is like
an elevated experience to the bin shop,” said Nicole Heneha, director of
business and operations. “Because even at other bin shopping type of
facilities, we're just taking a step up.”That desire to create a better bin shopping experience led
to development of the Boutique and Gifts locations.“Where we really take pride in what we do is, even in our
bins stores, we've taken the time to separate our clothing from all the other
stuff that goes in the bins,” Heneha said. “So if you walk into our big stores
that are the bins in Hutchinson, Great Bend, Salina and Wichita, you'll notice
that none of our clothing is in the bins. We've sorted it out.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953477624.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In the Boutique and Gifts locations, that process is even more
at the forefront and takes advantage of the growing amount of clothing
assembled across their network of locations.“We have so much clothing that we decided to start opening
the bin shop’n Boutiques, and so in the stores, there’s something for everyone,”
Heneha said. “Then we brought in our health and beauty and some home goods. Even at this location for the very first time, we brought in some things for
animals, dog toys. We brought in gardening stuff for part of our gifts, and
we've been selling them.”Tentatively the location is set to be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, but as the quick-moving business develops,
those hours may change.To see daily inventory selections and current hours visit
the location’s Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/binshopnboutiqueandgiftshays/">facebook.com/binshopnboutiqueandgiftshays.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953494133.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Fast growth model</h2>The Hays location is just another in the company’s fast-growing
chain, with locations throughout Kansas and beyond. “I started January 1, and this is my 10th store. Ten
boutiques and one bin store, so 11,” Heneha said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953511435.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Part of the growth model includes malls in Salina and
Wichita but also has stand-alone locations in smaller communities, with new
locations planned in both malls and smaller population centers, along routes to
established locations.With a headquarters in Hutchinson, the chain's ability to
grow stems from the organization in backend systems and warehousing. “We've really fine-tuned those processes to be able to set a
store,” Heneha said.From that system, they can move into new locations and open
quickly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953537203.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The lease agreement for the Hays location was set on June 8,
and the initial products came in the same day.“We set this store in a day and a half essentially,” Heneha
said. “We bought our first load of clothing because we knew we were going to
accept it. Then we came Monday morning with the next part of our products and
set the store Monday and Tuesday. And we were done. Then we walked in (Friday) for the grand opening.”<h2>Big Creek Crossing impact</h2>Big Creek Crossing marketing director Branson Hoffman said
they are “excited” about adding bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts.“We noticed shopping trends are going in that direction,”
Hoffman said. “You look at Dollar Tree down there. You look at bin shopping, and
just some of the biggest chains that are opening up left and right are your Marshalls’, your Burlington’s, it's like those discounted sort of shopping in retail. That's what's really booming right now.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686953524585.jpeg" alt="Photo by James Bell/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by James Bell/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>While many of the most recent tenants taking space in the
shopping center have chosen to create exterior entrances, he said having tenants
like bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts and other smaller and more local-based shopping
options appeals to their regular clientele and helps to fill exterior spots.“It is nice to be able to fill those spaces here,” Hoffman
said.&nbsp; “[We] are always looking for great opportunities and great mom-and-pops
that would be interested and feasible for those empty bays that we are talking
about.”

Bin shop’n Boutique and Gifts opens in Big Creek Crossing

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Dodge Journey driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Azaria M. Richery, 24,&nbsp; Stockton, Kansas, was southbound on U.S. 73 just north of County Road 220.

The front seat passenger Kylee E Dixon, 33, Horton, intentionally opened the front passenger side door and leaped out while the vehicle was in motion.

Dixon was pronounced dead at the scene and he was transported to&nbsp; Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. Richery was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Friday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Dodge Journey driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Azaria M. Richery, 24,&nbsp; Stockton, Kansas, was southbound on U.S. 73 just north of County Road 220.The front seat passenger Kylee E Dixon, 33, Horton, intentionally opened the front passenger side door and leaped out while the vehicle was in motion.Dixon was pronounced dead at the scene and he was transported to&nbsp; Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. Richery was properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

Man dies after jumping from SUV driven by Stockton woman

People crowded into the Hays Arts Center Annex on Friday to see a display honoring the 50th anniversary of the filming of "Paper Moon."

Most of the movie, starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal was filmed within a 50-mile radius of Hays with Hays being the film crew's base of operations.

"Paper Moon" depicts the Depression era in Kansas and Missouri. It was shot in black and white by director Peter Bogdanovich and tells the story of drifter, Moze, and a little girl, Addie, as Moze takes Addie from rural Kansas to St. Joseph, Mo., to live with her aunt.

Tatum O'Neal won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, becoming the youngest actress to do so.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0b548169-b02e-4e81-9b93-dab95fca9ef6">Local residents mingled around numerous newspaper clippings from the time pointing to photos of people they knew or landmarks they remembered.</a>

Many of the people the Hays Post spoke with were teenagers or young adults when the film was made and have vague memories of joining crowds of other locals to watch the rare spectacle in western Kansas.

Rhonda McCann, who was a teenager when the movie was filmed, said she remembered the crew filming in the 100 block of West 10th in Hays. One of the buildings, which is no longer standing, doubled as a dress shop in the movie.&nbsp;

Ryan O'Neal and Madelene Kahn were filmed coming out of the building. She also remembered driving to LaCrosse to watch the filming of the carnival scenes, but said she couldn't see much because it was dark. She said remembered being bored.

Randy Pfeifer was in high school when the filming came to Hays. He lived on a farm and couldn't make it into town to watch the filming.

However, he said. "It was a big thing when it hit Hays."

Leon Staab, who was in his 20s when the movie was filmed, also said he remembered the filming in Hays. He said there was much excitement around the filming, but many of the specific memories have faded over 50 years.

Many local residents were extras in the movie. Sue Schmidt, the daughter of Eagle Radio founder Bob Schmidt, was a stand-in for Tatum O'Neal during filming. She would take Tatum's place when the camera crews were setting up sound and lighting for shots.&nbsp;

In a newspaper story from the time, Sue talked about the long, boring hours of shooting and missing her friends from school. The movie was filmed in September and October of 1972, and Schmidt had a tutor because she had to miss school during the shooting.

Eight children from the Budke family of Hays were extras in the film.&nbsp;

The Budke family was in a scene during which Moze, played by Ryan O'Neal, and Addie, played by his daughter Tatum O'Neal, try to sell a Bible to a poor family.

The widow comes to the door and her many children, the Budke siblings, file in behind her. Addie turns to Moze and tells him the Bible is paid for.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/67bee6b6-2d7a-42ac-b543-dad1b4c610e3">Dennis, who still lives in Hays, and his brother, Chuck, now of Salina, swapped memories a few weeks ago in Wilson during that community's "Paper Moon" Festival. Dennis also made an appearance Friday night at the art center annex.</a>

The Midwest movie premier of "Paper Moon" was at the Fox Theatre in Hays. The event included a VIP champagne reception.

A newspaper clipping from the time said, "Inside the theatre lobby champagne corks ricocheted off the walls in resounding pops as the Hays Arts Council members served the wine and hors d'ouerves to ticketholders."

KAYS radio, which is owned by the parent company of the Hays Post, was also on hand to do live interviews of the local actors who appeared in the movie.

Tickets for the special showing were $3 for the actors and $4 for the general public.

The film's budget then was a whopping $2.6 million, which local officials touted at the time as having a significant impact on the local economy.

Although Hays seemed to love having the film crew in town, the director&nbsp;Peter Bogdanovich didn't have the same love for Hays.

In an interview, he would later call Hays "dreary and tacky."

 A couple of years after the movie premiered, ABC began filming a series by the same name, which started Jody Foster and Chris Connelly,&nbsp; also in Hays and Ellis County.

During the filming of "Paper Moon" the TV series Charlene Hamel of Hays was the stand-in for Jodi Foster.

Scenes from the TV series were filmed in the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house.&nbsp;

During the 50th anniversary weekend, two free showings of "Paper Moon." the movie were offered at Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center. McCracken also opened its museum to visitors to view memorabilia from the movie and hosted a night of big band music.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687126160941.jpeg" alt="Visitors talk about memorabilia from the movie "Paper Moon" during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the movie's release at the Hays Arts Center annex on Friday. Most of the movie was filmed within a 50-mile radius of Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Visitors talk about memorabilia from the movie "Paper Moon" during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the movie's release at the Hays Arts Center annex on Friday. Most of the movie was filmed within a 50-mile radius of Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPeople crowded into the Hays Arts Center Annex on Friday to see a display honoring the 50th anniversary of the filming of "Paper Moon."Most of the movie, starring Ryan and Tatum O'Neal was filmed within a 50-mile radius of Hays with Hays being the film crew's base of operations."Paper Moon" depicts the Depression era in Kansas and Missouri. It was shot in black and white by director Peter Bogdanovich and tells the story of drifter, Moze, and a little girl, Addie, as Moze takes Addie from rural Kansas to St. Joseph, Mo., to live with her aunt.Tatum O'Neal won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, becoming the youngest actress to do so.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687124674300.jpeg" alt=""Paper Moon"&nbsp; filming on 10th Street in Hays in 1972. Photo courtesy of Pete Felten" />
 <figcaption>"Paper Moon"&nbsp; filming on 10th Street in Hays in 1972. Photo courtesy of Pete Felten</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0b548169-b02e-4e81-9b93-dab95fca9ef6">Local residents mingled around numerous newspaper clippings from the time pointing to photos of people they knew or landmarks they remembered.</a>Many of the people the Hays Post spoke with were teenagers or young adults when the film was made and have vague memories of joining crowds of other locals to watch the rare spectacle in western Kansas.Rhonda McCann, who was a teenager when the movie was filmed, said she remembered the crew filming in the 100 block of West 10th in Hays. One of the buildings, which is no longer standing, doubled as a dress shop in the movie.&nbsp;Ryan O'Neal and Madelene Kahn were filmed coming out of the building. She also remembered driving to LaCrosse to watch the filming of the carnival scenes, but said she couldn't see much because it was dark. She said remembered being bored.Randy Pfeifer was in high school when the filming came to Hays. He lived on a farm and couldn't make it into town to watch the filming.However, he said. "It was a big thing when it hit Hays."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687125050145.jpeg" alt="Tatum O'Neal, star of "Paper Moon" and her stand-in Sue Schmidt of Hays. Clippings courtesy of Hays Arts Council" />
 <figcaption>Tatum O'Neal, star of "Paper Moon" and her stand-in Sue Schmidt of Hays. Clippings courtesy of Hays Arts Council</figcaption>
 </figure>Leon Staab, who was in his 20s when the movie was filmed, also said he remembered the filming in Hays. He said there was much excitement around the filming, but many of the specific memories have faded over 50 years.Many local residents were extras in the movie. Sue Schmidt, the daughter of Eagle Radio founder Bob Schmidt, was a stand-in for Tatum O'Neal during filming. She would take Tatum's place when the camera crews were setting up sound and lighting for shots.&nbsp;In a newspaper story from the time, Sue talked about the long, boring hours of shooting and missing her friends from school. The movie was filmed in September and October of 1972, and Schmidt had a tutor because she had to miss school during the shooting.Eight children from the Budke family of Hays were extras in the film.&nbsp;The Budke family was in a scene during which Moze, played by Ryan O'Neal, and Addie, played by his daughter Tatum O'Neal, try to sell a Bible to a poor family.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687125216900.jpeg" alt="Eight children in the Budke family in Hays were extras in "Paper Moon." Clipping courtesy of Hays Arts Council" />
 <figcaption>Eight children in the Budke family in Hays were extras in "Paper Moon." Clipping courtesy of Hays Arts Council</figcaption>
 </figure>The widow comes to the door and her many children, the Budke siblings, file in behind her. Addie turns to Moze and tells him the Bible is paid for.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/67bee6b6-2d7a-42ac-b543-dad1b4c610e3">Dennis, who still lives in Hays, and his brother, Chuck, now of Salina, swapped memories a few weeks ago in Wilson during that community's "Paper Moon" Festival. Dennis also made an appearance Friday night at the art center annex.</a>The Midwest movie premier of "Paper Moon" was at the Fox Theatre in Hays. The event included a VIP champagne reception.A newspaper clipping from the time said, "Inside the theatre lobby champagne corks ricocheted off the walls in resounding pops as the Hays Arts Council members served the wine and hors d'ouerves to ticketholders."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687125451690.jpeg" alt="The carnival scene from "Paper Moon" was shot in LaCrosse. Clipping courtesy of the Hays Arts Council." />
 <figcaption>The carnival scene from "Paper Moon" was shot in LaCrosse. Clipping courtesy of the Hays Arts Council.</figcaption>
 </figure>KAYS radio, which is owned by the parent company of the Hays Post, was also on hand to do live interviews of the local actors who appeared in the movie.Tickets for the special showing were $3 for the actors and $4 for the general public.The film's budget then was a whopping $2.6 million, which local officials touted at the time as having a significant impact on the local economy.Although Hays seemed to love having the film crew in town, the director&nbsp;Peter Bogdanovich didn't have the same love for Hays.In an interview, he would later call Hays "dreary and tacky."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687125562723.jpeg" alt="Jodi Foster, center, starred in the "Paper Moon" TV series that was shot in Elis County. Photo courtesy of Hays Arts Council" />
 <figcaption>Jodi Foster, center, starred in the "Paper Moon" TV series that was shot in Elis County. Photo courtesy of Hays Arts Council</figcaption>
 </figure> A couple of years after the movie premiered, ABC began filming a series by the same name, which started Jody Foster and Chris Connelly,&nbsp; also in Hays and Ellis County.During the filming of "Paper Moon" the TV series Charlene Hamel of Hays was the stand-in for Jodi Foster.Scenes from the TV series were filmed in the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority house.&nbsp;During the 50th anniversary weekend, two free showings of "Paper Moon." the movie were offered at Beach Schmidt Performing Arts Center. McCracken also opened its museum to visitors to view memorabilia from the movie and hosted a night of big band music.

Hays celebrates 50th anniversary of 'Paper Moon'

Local agent Tim Cossaart was recently recognized in the 2023 “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” rankings by RealTrends + Tom Ferry.

The prestigious survey is made up of five categories for participating agents and teams in the U.S. based on 2022 numbers. The five categories are individual producers, small teams (2-5 agents), medium teams (6-10), large teams (11-20) and mega teams (21+). Each category has two subcategories — one for transaction sides and one for sales volume. Cossaart placed in the individual rankings for most transaction sides.

“It’s an honor to be included in this list of hardworking and dedicated real estate professionals across the country,” said Cossaart, Broker with RE/MAX Pro. “I’m more grateful than ever for each client who trusted me to help them buy or sell a home in Hays and the surrounding area over this truly unforgettable year.”

Last year proved to be a successful year for Cossaart as he continued his list of achievements over the last several years. Cossaart  also was awarded the Platinum Club award, as well as ranking No. 4 in Kansas for transactions by RE/MAX, LLC.

"We are incredibly proud of these RE/MAX agents for being recognized as the best," said Nick Bailey, RE/MAX, LLC President and CEO. "This honor is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and their dedication to providing exceptional service.

"It underscores our brand's ongoing position as the best option for productive professionals." 

Ranking almost 24,000 top producers, “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” is the industry’s largest ranking of agents based on homes sold. 

SubmittedLocal agent Tim Cossaart was recently recognized in the 2023 “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” rankings by RealTrends + Tom Ferry.The prestigious survey is made up of five categories for participating agents and teams in the U.S. based on 2022 numbers. The five categories are individual producers, small teams (2-5 agents), medium teams (6-10), large teams (11-20) and mega teams (21+). Each category has two subcategories — one for transaction sides and one for sales volume. Cossaart placed in the individual rankings for most transaction sides.“It’s an honor to be included in this list of hardworking and dedicated real estate professionals across the country,” said Cossaart, Broker with RE/MAX Pro. “I’m more grateful than ever for each client who trusted me to help them buy or sell a home in Hays and the surrounding area over this truly unforgettable year.”Last year proved to be a successful year for Cossaart as he continued his list of achievements over the last several years. Cossaart also was awarded the Platinum Club award, as well as ranking No. 4 in Kansas for transactions by RE/MAX, LLC."We are incredibly proud of these RE/MAX agents for being recognized as the best," said Nick Bailey, RE/MAX, LLC President and CEO. "This honor is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and their dedication to providing exceptional service."It underscores our brand's ongoing position as the best option for productive professionals." Ranking almost 24,000 top producers, “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” is the industry’s largest ranking of agents based on homes sold.

Hays real estate agent recognized as 'America’s Best'

LAWRENCE — Any parent can tell you that work doesn’t stop when you leave the office and go home. Yet national and international economic statistics only consider the work that happens “at the market,” or outside the home — not caring for children, cooking, cleaning or caring for elders, tasks largely handled by women, in calculating economic statistics like gross domestic product. 

A new study from the University of Kansas argues for including such work, or “girly economics,” for a full understanding of work happening in the country to produce better labor statistics and equitable public policy.

Misty Heggeness saw firsthand how data often overlooked work in the home during her time with the U.S. Census Bureau. Now an associate professor of public affairs &amp; administration and associate research scientist with KU’s Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research, she has written a study about how care work at home has been traditionally overlooked, how it leads to incomplete economic statistics and how such numbers are necessary for good public policy. Heggeness presented the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20231108">paper</a>, titled “The Girly Economics of Care Work: Implications for Economic Statistics,” at the American Economic Association annual meeting in January, and it was published in the association’s Papers and Proceedings.

“Women are and have always been economic agents. If we were to collect information about economic activity in a broader sense, what we would find is women are more active than men,” Heggeness said. “The total amount of paid and unpaid economic activity show for people working full-time jobs, women engage in about one additional hour of economic activity per day.”

The study is linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2023/04/17/ku-researcher-leading-project-quantify-care-economy-make-stats-available-central-location">project</a>&nbsp;Heggeness has launched with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Care Board is an effort to gather existing data and statistics on the care economy and make them available in one online location with a dashboard to help researchers, policymakers and others find useful information. The project will generate new statistics on such economic data as well.&nbsp;

Heggeness cites an Institute for Women’s Policy Research study that found among working adults, women average one extra hour per day on unpaid household chores and care work than men. And while an hour per day may not seem significant, over the course of a year, that adds up to 249 additional hours, or 31 days of additional work by women. The consequences of excluding such data have been in place for decades. Heggeness points out that in 1953, the United Nations standardized a system of measurements to determine gross domestic product. One of the most widely used economic statistics in the world, GDP does not include work done inside the home.

The United States does, however, collect data on care work outside the home. Such data shows that roughly 14% of the U.S. labor force is engaged in teaching, janitorial and cleaning services, and child care. That represents 23.4 million people, more than the state of Florida. But with unpaid care work in the home, such as caring for children or other family members, confusion can reign during times of economic crisis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the additional stress on parents was widely reported. In addition to their full-time jobs, parents had to ensure kids could take part in online learning from home and saw other domestic tasks increase dramatically as well. 

The concern was that the additional stress would drive many parents, especially mothers, to leave the labor force. But a lack of reliable statistics on unpaid care work left both journalists and economists scrambling to determine just how much additional work was done and carried implications that women’s work in the formal sector of the economy was less important than men’s, Heggeness said.

“There are components about global and national history, whether intentional or not, that have been driven historically by men and that are determined by a monetized wage or price,” Heggeness said. “If we limit ourselves to that, we are blinding ourselves to the realities women contribute to the economy and keeping it going.”

After pointing out how unpaid care activities — what she calls the underbelly of the economy — are not included in official statistics, Heggeness wrote about the urgency of including such data, as the economy would not function without it. 

As a result, researchers, statisticians and economists cannot accurately track economic phenomena like a pandemic, growth or recessions without including all economic activity in primary measures. Similarly, it is difficult to measure how overworked or stressed care workers might be, and policymakers cannot develop effective policy to address such problems without a full slate of information, she wrote.

“To not generate statistics with depth and nuance now is an egregious flaw in the profession. We owe it to society and the generations that come after us to use the rich depth of cumulating administrative and real-time data on our economic lives both within and outside of our homes to generate a more complete picture of the modern caregiver and more accurately estimate their economic contributions to society,” Heggeness wrote.

 “With urgency, we must update national accounting systems and leading economic statistics to capture the modern realities of work, care and the economy and incorporate these statistics into mainstream views of our economy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685723197207.png" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE — Any parent can tell you that work doesn’t stop when you leave the office and go home. Yet national and international economic statistics only consider the work that happens “at the market,” or outside the home — not caring for children, cooking, cleaning or caring for elders, tasks largely handled by women, in calculating economic statistics like gross domestic product. A new study from the University of Kansas argues for including such work, or “girly economics,” for a full understanding of work happening in the country to produce better labor statistics and equitable public policy.Misty Heggeness saw firsthand how data often overlooked work in the home during her time with the U.S. Census Bureau. Now an associate professor of public affairs &amp; administration and associate research scientist with KU’s Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research, she has written a study about how care work at home has been traditionally overlooked, how it leads to incomplete economic statistics and how such numbers are necessary for good public policy. Heggeness presented the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20231108">paper</a>, titled “The Girly Economics of Care Work: Implications for Economic Statistics,” at the American Economic Association annual meeting in January, and it was published in the association’s Papers and Proceedings.“Women are and have always been economic agents. If we were to collect information about economic activity in a broader sense, what we would find is women are more active than men,” Heggeness said. “The total amount of paid and unpaid economic activity show for people working full-time jobs, women engage in about one additional hour of economic activity per day.”The study is linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2023/04/17/ku-researcher-leading-project-quantify-care-economy-make-stats-available-central-location">project</a>&nbsp;Heggeness has launched with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Care Board is an effort to gather existing data and statistics on the care economy and make them available in one online location with a dashboard to help researchers, policymakers and others find useful information. The project will generate new statistics on such economic data as well.&nbsp;Heggeness cites an Institute for Women’s Policy Research study that found among working adults, women average one extra hour per day on unpaid household chores and care work than men. And while an hour per day may not seem significant, over the course of a year, that adds up to 249 additional hours, or 31 days of additional work by women. The consequences of excluding such data have been in place for decades. Heggeness points out that in 1953, the United Nations standardized a system of measurements to determine gross domestic product. One of the most widely used economic statistics in the world, GDP does not include work done inside the home.The United States does, however, collect data on care work outside the home. Such data shows that roughly 14% of the U.S. labor force is engaged in teaching, janitorial and cleaning services, and child care. That represents 23.4 million people, more than the state of Florida. But with unpaid care work in the home, such as caring for children or other family members, confusion can reign during times of economic crisis.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the additional stress on parents was widely reported. In addition to their full-time jobs, parents had to ensure kids could take part in online learning from home and saw other domestic tasks increase dramatically as well. The concern was that the additional stress would drive many parents, especially mothers, to leave the labor force. But a lack of reliable statistics on unpaid care work left both journalists and economists scrambling to determine just how much additional work was done and carried implications that women’s work in the formal sector of the economy was less important than men’s, Heggeness said.“There are components about global and national history, whether intentional or not, that have been driven historically by men and that are determined by a monetized wage or price,” Heggeness said. “If we limit ourselves to that, we are blinding ourselves to the realities women contribute to the economy and keeping it going.”After pointing out how unpaid care activities — what she calls the underbelly of the economy — are not included in official statistics, Heggeness wrote about the urgency of including such data, as the economy would not function without it. As a result, researchers, statisticians and economists cannot accurately track economic phenomena like a pandemic, growth or recessions without including all economic activity in primary measures. Similarly, it is difficult to measure how overworked or stressed care workers might be, and policymakers cannot develop effective policy to address such problems without a full slate of information, she wrote.“To not generate statistics with depth and nuance now is an egregious flaw in the profession. We owe it to society and the generations that come after us to use the rich depth of cumulating administrative and real-time data on our economic lives both within and outside of our homes to generate a more complete picture of the modern caregiver and more accurately estimate their economic contributions to society,” Heggeness wrote. “With urgency, we must update national accounting systems and leading economic statistics to capture the modern realities of work, care and the economy and incorporate these statistics into mainstream views of our economy.”

KU study argues 'girly economics' data necessary for full picture of economy

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686954076897.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>

Meet Remy Stull, a multi-sport athlete extraordinaire with an insatiable desire to share his knowledge gained from years of athletic experience. 

From the tender age of five, Remy's passion for sports was ignited, and he has never looked back since.

 Thanks to his supportive coaches and teammates over the years, Remy has honed his leadership skills to become a natural-born leader.

Armed with this skillset, he is eager to impart his expertise to young athletes at the upcoming five-day camp. Remy's approach to training involves working out several times a week with the mindset that greatness is earned through hard work and dedication.

He believes in giving your all to earn your place on the team, coupled with a positive attitude that acknowledges failures as a part of the learning experience. 

His commitment to excellence has seen him attend several athletic camps/combines such as the Northwest Missouri State camp, Fort Hays State University camp, Sharp Performance, accompanied with numerous college football offers. 

Remy's athletic prowess is not limited to football alone; he also excelled in track and basketball, earning a spot on the varsity team for both sports. As a defensive player, Remy's strength and tenacity are unmatched.

He is a great leader who motivates his team and keeps them hyped up and ready to play.

 Remy remains humble and driven to help the younger generation in his community reach their full potential.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687017445863.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Meet Remy Stull, a multi-sport athlete extraordinaire with an insatiable desire to share his knowledge gained from years of athletic experience. From the tender age of five, Remy's passion for sports was ignited, and he has never looked back since. Thanks to his supportive coaches and teammates over the years, Remy has honed his leadership skills to become a natural-born leader. Armed with this skillset, he is eager to impart his expertise to young athletes at the upcoming five-day camp. Remy's approach to training involves working out several times a week with the mindset that greatness is earned through hard work and dedication. He believes in giving your all to earn your place on the team, coupled with a positive attitude that acknowledges failures as a part of the learning experience. His commitment to excellence has seen him attend several athletic camps/combines such as the Northwest Missouri State camp, Fort Hays State University camp, Sharp Performance, accompanied with numerous college football offers. Remy's athletic prowess is not limited to football alone; he also excelled in track and basketball, earning a spot on the varsity team for both sports. As a defensive player, Remy's strength and tenacity are unmatched. He is a great leader who motivates his team and keeps them hyped up and ready to play. Remy remains humble and driven to help the younger generation in his community reach their full potential.&nbsp;&nbsp;

2 Hays students earns spots on Washburn University honors lists

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/">Grow Hays</a>&nbsp;executive director Doug Williams discusses the annual local government budget request process for Grow Hays and other area agencies.

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays, other area agencies submit budget requests to local governments" 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=8dm3w-1436904-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.growhays.com/">Grow Hays</a>&nbsp;executive director Doug Williams discusses the annual local government budget request process for Grow Hays and other area agencies.

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays, other area agencies submit budget requests to local governments

WASHINGTON, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Braun (R-IA) on June 8 introduced the bipartisan, bicameral&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;to improve the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Each senator is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.

“Access to childcare is a top priority for both families and employers in every corner of Kansas,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“With a few changes to the USDA’s Rural Development programs, which benefit our rural communities, we can build the necessary childcare infrastructure that puts our children on the right educational path and provides them with a strong foundation for the future.”

“Childcare is far too expensive and too hard to find for Ohio families, and parents in rural Ohio face unique challenges. Farm communities often lack enough transportation infrastructure and don’t have enough high-quality child-care providers, and rural parents are more likely to work non-traditional hours,”&nbsp;Senator Brown said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan steps to make childcare more affordable and accessible in rural communities."

“Access to childcare is essential, but for too many families living in rural places, it is out of reach,”&nbsp;Senator Smith said. “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive 50 miles to take their kids to childcare and from providers who are struggling to find and keep staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When I’m traveling across Iowa I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family," Senator Ernst said.&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to read the&nbsp;Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023.

The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.&nbsp;

The bill would also allow USDA to make awards through intermediaries such as, childcare resource and referral organizations, staffed family childcare networks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with demonstrated expertise in the childcare sector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686256056404.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Sen. MarshallWASHINGTON, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Braun (R-IA) on June 8 introduced the bipartisan, bicameral&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;to improve the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Each senator is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.“Access to childcare is a top priority for both families and employers in every corner of Kansas,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“With a few changes to the USDA’s Rural Development programs, which benefit our rural communities, we can build the necessary childcare infrastructure that puts our children on the right educational path and provides them with a strong foundation for the future.”“Childcare is far too expensive and too hard to find for Ohio families, and parents in rural Ohio face unique challenges. Farm communities often lack enough transportation infrastructure and don’t have enough high-quality child-care providers, and rural parents are more likely to work non-traditional hours,”&nbsp;Senator Brown said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan steps to make childcare more affordable and accessible in rural communities."“Access to childcare is essential, but for too many families living in rural places, it is out of reach,”&nbsp;Senator Smith said. “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive 50 miles to take their kids to childcare and from providers who are struggling to find and keep staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;“When I’m traveling across Iowa I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family," Senator Ernst said.&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to read the&nbsp;Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023.Background:The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.&nbsp;The bill would also allow USDA to make awards through intermediaries such as, childcare resource and referral organizations, staffed family childcare networks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with demonstrated expertise in the childcare sector.

Kansas Sen. Marshall leads bill to expand childcare in rural America 

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Wichita State University

Last year Kansas had suddenly found itself as the first test of public opinion on abortion in the new post-Roe world.

The constitutional amendment — the so called “Value Them Both” amendment — failed in a high-turnout election, with 59% of the state’s voters upholding the state’s legal protections for abortion.

The strength of the rejection was quite surprising, given the usual conservativeness of Kansas — Donald Trump had won the state in 2020 by nearly a 15 point margin, and both chambers of the state legislature had veto-proof Republican majorities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Wichita State UniversityLast year Kansas had suddenly found itself as the first test of public opinion on abortion in the new post-Roe world.The constitutional amendment — the so called “Value Them Both” amendment — failed in a high-turnout election, with 59% of the state’s voters upholding the state’s legal protections for abortion.The strength of the rejection was quite surprising, given the usual conservativeness of Kansas — Donald Trump had won the state in 2020 by nearly a 15 point margin, and both chambers of the state legislature had veto-proof Republican majorities.After last August’s staggering turnout many questioned whether the issue of abortion would continue to mobilize Kansas voters even when it wasn’t directly on the ballot.My colleague Brian Amos, an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University, and I dug into this question in a soon-to-be-published study.Using publicly available precinct-level election results and individual-level voter registration and history data we were able to find some answers.We find that the August 2022 primary electorate was younger, more female, and less Republican, and comprised more first-time voters than the average years.But these demographics were also more likely to skip voting altogether in November’s general election. Only about half of first-time voters from the primary showed up for the general.The result was an older, more male, and more Republican electorate in November. It undoubtedly impacted the election results, especially in close races like for Attorney General.However, overall, there was a larger portion of Democrats in the 2022 general electorate than in 2018. But there was also a larger number of Republicans.Both sides increased their vote share at the expense of unaffiliated voters.It’s impossible to know if these partisan shifts would have been even larger had there not been the amendment on the primary ballot.In general, the November election was unable to fully mobilize those primary voters.In fact, Douglas County, home to Lawrence and the University of Kansas, had lower turnout in the general election than in the primary, which is nearly unheard of in election studies.Despite these mixed results, our findings have major key implications for future elections.First, abortion restrictions are a highly mobilizing issue even in a Republican-dominated state like Kansas.Women, and especially Gen Z women, turned out in droves to vote against the amendment and had a large role in deciding the election results.The abortion issue even mobilized across party lines. A significant minority of Republican voters bucked the party line and voted against the amendment.Second, public policies like abortion restrictions can create lasting civic identities.The primary results show that young women can be a political force to be reckoned with. There is every reason to believe that pro-choice Gen Z women will continue to organize effectively in opposition to restrictive abortion laws.However, not all civic identities are created equal and abortion is not always an effective policy for creating sustained civic participation.Understandably, the mobilizing effect is limited when abortion is not directly on the ballot.In August, those identities were highly salient because citizens could directly vote on the issue. Whereas in November, abortion was only one of many issues competing for voter attention.Alexandra Middlewood, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of political science at Wichita State University.&nbsp;