The Northern Iowan, the student news site of the University of Northern Iowa, has reported that <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/teachereducation/faculty-and-staff/">Christopher Jochum</a> has been named a finalist for the position of Dean of the College of Education.

The University of Northern Iowa is a public, four-year university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with an enrollment in excess of 10,000 students.

Dr. Jochum is currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Teacher Education at FHSU.

Click <a href="https://www.northerniowan.com/16189/showcase/meet-the-candidates-college-of-education-dean/">HERE</a> for more from the Northern Iowan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643644036961.png" alt="Jochum&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Jochum&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The Northern Iowan, the student news site of the University of Northern Iowa, has reported that <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/teachereducation/faculty-and-staff/">Christopher Jochum</a> has been named a finalist for the position of Dean of the College of Education.The University of Northern Iowa is a public, four-year university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with an enrollment in excess of 10,000 students.Dr. Jochum is currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Teacher Education at FHSU.Click <a href="https://www.northerniowan.com/16189/showcase/meet-the-candidates-college-of-education-dean/">HERE</a> for more from the Northern Iowan.

FHSU educator a finalist for dean position at Iowa university

On Wednesday, January 26, the Appropriations Committee heard that years of legislative oversight and targeted funding is beginning to make a difference in our foster care system. The funding support and collaboration between the Legislature, The Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Federal Families First initiative is now producing positive results.

The number of children entering foster care has dropped from 4,212 in 2018 to 3,081 in 2021. We learned that the Families First Prevention Services program provides prevention services to keep children and youth from entering foster care. It also provides out-of-home placement through approved evidence-based programs, which provides mental health, substance abuse, parent skill building, along with kinship navigation. 

This program was developed from the federal 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act, which gave states access to money for prevention. Kansas was one of the first states to start a Families First Program.

The 2021 Legislature also provided for a foster care report card. The bill requires the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and DCF collaborate to create an annual foster care report card. This report card would be submitted to the House and Senate committees on education by January 15 each year.

These improvements with the foster care system were addressed by the legislature over the past few years to reduce the number of children in the foster care system in the state of Kansas.

On Tuesday, January 25, the Kansas House of Representatives debated Senate Bill 355. This bill is the first bill to be debated regarding redistricting and focused on the four Congressional districts in Kansas. Due to population shifts in the current Congressional districts, the First and Second Districts losing population and the Third gaining, adjustments must be made for each district to have a population of 734,470. This map has the First District shifting further east to increase the amount of population in the district so we are within the population deviations. As I mentioned prior, this is the first map that we have debated. There were numerous amendments on the House Floor, though all failed, the map passed out of the House Wednesday morning. I voted “yes.”

During the third week of the Legislative session, there were many more bills introduced in the House Chamber. Listed below are the details of those bills.

House Bills 2484 and 2487 had hearings this week in the House Taxation committee and both bills would provide for a zero percent sales tax rate on food. Both bills stipulate cities and counties would still be allowed to levy a sales tax rate. House Bill 2487 also allows for a sales tax exemption on items that were purchased at a Farmer’s Market.

There was also a hearing in the Water committee on House Bill 2480, which amends current statute with projects that are related to the diversion or transportation of water.

House Bill 2528 was introduced in the House Federal and State Affairs committee and would exempt inflatable devices owned or operated by nonprofit organizations from the requirements of the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.

A hearing was held on House Bill 2215 which would allow persons with a felony drug conviction to receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the&nbsp;

audio footage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:

* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th District " />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th District </figcaption>
 </figure>February 1, 2022 TOPEKA Foster Care in KansasOn Wednesday, January 26, the Appropriations Committee heard that years of legislative oversight and targeted funding is beginning to make a difference in our foster care system. The funding support and collaboration between the Legislature, The Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Federal Families First initiative is now producing positive results.The number of children entering foster care has dropped from 4,212 in 2018 to 3,081 in 2021. We learned that the Families First Prevention Services program provides prevention services to keep children and youth from entering foster care. It also provides out-of-home placement through approved evidence-based programs, which provides mental health, substance abuse, parent skill building, along with kinship navigation. This program was developed from the federal 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act, which gave states access to money for prevention. Kansas was one of the first states to start a Families First Program.The 2021 Legislature also provided for a foster care report card. The bill requires the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and DCF collaborate to create an annual foster care report card. This report card would be submitted to the House and Senate committees on education by January 15 each year.These improvements with the foster care system were addressed by the legislature over the past few years to reduce the number of children in the foster care system in the state of Kansas.Redistricting and New MapsOn Tuesday, January 25, the Kansas House of Representatives debated Senate Bill 355. This bill is the first bill to be debated regarding redistricting and focused on the four Congressional districts in Kansas. Due to population shifts in the current Congressional districts, the First and Second Districts losing population and the Third gaining, adjustments must be made for each district to have a population of 734,470. This map has the First District shifting further east to increase the amount of population in the district so we are within the population deviations. As I mentioned prior, this is the first map that we have debated. There were numerous amendments on the House Floor, though all failed, the map passed out of the House Wednesday morning. I voted “yes.”Bill Activity in the HouseDuring the third week of the Legislative session, there were many more bills introduced in the House Chamber. Listed below are the details of those bills.House Bills 2484 and 2487 had hearings this week in the House Taxation committee and both bills would provide for a zero percent sales tax rate on food. Both bills stipulate cities and counties would still be allowed to levy a sales tax rate. House Bill 2487 also allows for a sales tax exemption on items that were purchased at a Farmer’s Market.There was also a hearing in the Water committee on House Bill 2480, which amends current statute with projects that are related to the diversion or transportation of water.House Bill 2528 was introduced in the House Federal and State Affairs committee and would exempt inflatable devices owned or operated by nonprofit organizations from the requirements of the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.A hearing was held on House Bill 2215 which would allow persons with a felony drug conviction to receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).Contact InformationAnytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the&nbsp;

audio footage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes: * Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities: Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships: Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison, Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, Feb. 1, 2022

🎥🏀 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

Orchestra students, nationally board certified teachers also honored

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board accepted a check for $45,000 from the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence at its meeting Jan. 24.

The foundation had its annual dinner fundraiser in October.

The foundation was able to raise an additional $13,000 for the foundation's grant program.

"We were just blown away by the support of the community, the businesses, the donors, the sponsorship," said Curtis Brown, foundation board chairman.

Over four years, the foundation has raised more than $180,000 for school security upgrades, Brown said.

Other foundation grants have paid for renovations at Westside school, tech upgrades at the middle school, purchase of a laser engraver, purchase of books, to fix or replace broken musical instruments and purchase PE equipment at O'Loughlin Elementary School. 

The board also recognized Hays High students Sydney Wittkorn and Kiersten Goertzen for making All- State Orchestra.

The board recognized Laura Gaughan, Kay Shippy and Kim Schmeidler as becoming nationally board certified teachers.

Gaughan completed her certificate in 2021, while Shippy and Schmeidler finished their certification in 2020, but because of COVID, the board was unable to give them the proper recognition.&nbsp;

Gaughan has been teaching for 30 years with 27 of those years in USD 489.&nbsp; Shippy is in her 31st&nbsp;year of teaching with all those years at USD 489. Schmeidler has been teaching at USD 489 for 21 years and has a total of 25 years in education.

"We are proud of the time and effort you put into passing the National Board Certification and truly grateful you have chosen to teach the students of USD 489," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. 

"We are better because of you. Congratulations again on your achievement. Reminder that out of the 3 million teachers in the U.S., only 125,000 are nationally board certified. This is quite an accomplishment, and we are proud of you."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643664624300.png" alt="Members of the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence present $45,000 to the Hays school board on Jan. 24. " />
 <figcaption>Members of the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence present $45,000 to the Hays school board on Jan. 24. </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Orchestra students, nationally board certified teachers also honored</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post The Hays USD 489 school board accepted a check for $45,000 from the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence at its meeting Jan. 24.The foundation had its annual dinner fundraiser in October. The foundation was able to raise an additional $13,000 for the foundation's grant program."We were just blown away by the support of the community, the businesses, the donors, the sponsorship," said Curtis Brown, foundation board chairman.Over four years, the foundation has raised more than $180,000 for school security upgrades, Brown said.Other foundation grants have paid for renovations at Westside school, tech upgrades at the middle school, purchase of a laser engraver, purchase of books, to fix or replace broken musical instruments and purchase PE equipment at O'Loughlin Elementary School. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643664739784.png" alt="Hays High orchestra students Sydney Wittkorn and Kiersten Goertzen" />
 <figcaption>Hays High orchestra students Sydney Wittkorn and Kiersten Goertzen</figcaption>
 </figure>The board also recognized Hays High students Sydney Wittkorn and Kiersten Goertzen for making All- State Orchestra.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643664812231.png" alt="Laura Gaughan, Kay Shippy and Kim Schmeidleras, nationally board certified teachers." />
 <figcaption>Laura Gaughan, Kay Shippy and Kim Schmeidleras, nationally board certified teachers.</figcaption>
 </figure>The board recognized Laura Gaughan, Kay Shippy and Kim Schmeidler as becoming nationally board certified teachers.Gaughan completed her certificate in 2021, while Shippy and Schmeidler finished their certification in 2020, but because of COVID, the board was unable to give them the proper recognition.&nbsp;Gaughan has been teaching for 30 years with 27 of those years in USD 489.&nbsp; Shippy is in her 31st&nbsp;year of teaching with all those years at USD 489. Schmeidler has been teaching at USD 489 for 21 years and has a total of 25 years in education."We are proud of the time and effort you put into passing the National Board Certification and truly grateful you have chosen to teach the students of USD 489," Superintendent Ron Wilson said. "We are better because of you. Congratulations again on your achievement. Reminder that out of the 3 million teachers in the U.S., only 125,000 are nationally board certified. This is quite an accomplishment, and we are proud of you."

USD 489 Foundation presents district with $45,000 for security upgrades

The writing skills of Ellis
County students are set to once again be on display during the Hays Arts Council’s
creative writing contest.

The contest is open to works written
by all K-12 students during the academic year. 

“There's a lot of amazing
young poets and authors out there, there really are,” said Hays Arts Council
executive director Brenda Meder.

And now, she said, is an opportunity
for that work to be recognized, outside of a typical classroom setting.

“So, if you've got a young
poet, you've got a child that's in the fourth grade, or the sixth grade, or
a sophomore in high school, and they are just a creative poet, they paint
pictures with words instead of a brush, those things can come in as independent
submissions, because it's about bringing &nbsp;that opportunity to the young person, not that
it's got to come through the schools.”

Homeschooled students are
also encouraged to enter. 

“If you’re homeschooled, or if
you've got a child whose teacher or you know or classroom isn't participating
in a formal way with this, we will still accept those entries,” Meder said. “If
you are someone who's going to do an independent submission or homeschooled,
just get in touch with me as the date nears.”

For students in a traditional
classroom setting, up to 15 entries will be accepted per class for both prose
and poetry.

Each entry will be judged
anonymously and will be accepted until March 9.

Again this year judges will
be English instructors from Fort Hays State University.

“Thank you, thank you, thank
you and bless their souls. They are the ones who do the judging for us on this,”
Meder said. “It's like all art forms, it's subjective on a certain level, but
it is by a group of people who know what they're talking about. And it all goes
in anonymously. And so we give them the week of spring break, and the week
after knowing many aren't available spring break. So that's where the deadline
has to be before spring break.”

Following the judging
process, first-, second- and third-place winners, along with honorable mentions,
will receive ribbons at an awards ceremony scheduled for May 1.

Winning entries will be compiled
and published into a book, which will also be presented to winners.

“We are so grateful to the
Hays Optimist Club, one of the reasons they freeze thier you know what's off
selling Christmas trees at Walmart, they do so much good across the community,”
Meder said. “And one of the projects that we are with that we are fortunate to
be the beneficiaries of is the creative writing (contest), they give us a very
nice, a nice gift so that we can publish those books by the award ribbon
winners and host a wonderful reception to celebrate those accomplishments and make
them very public so that they have that talent and that skill is validated.”

<a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/">For more information about the creative writing
contest, or the Hays Arts Council, visit haysartscouncil.org.</a>

By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe writing skills of Ellis
County students are set to once again be on display during the Hays Arts Council’s
creative writing contest.The contest is open to works written
by all K-12 students during the academic year. “There's a lot of amazing
young poets and authors out there, there really are,” said Hays Arts Council
executive director Brenda Meder.And now, she said, is an opportunity
for that work to be recognized, outside of a typical classroom setting.“So, if you've got a young
poet, you've got a child that's in the fourth grade, or the sixth grade, or
a sophomore in high school, and they are just a creative poet, they paint
pictures with words instead of a brush, those things can come in as independent
submissions, because it's about bringing &nbsp;that opportunity to the young person, not that
it's got to come through the schools.”Homeschooled students are
also encouraged to enter. “If you’re homeschooled, or if
you've got a child whose teacher or you know or classroom isn't participating
in a formal way with this, we will still accept those entries,” Meder said. “If
you are someone who's going to do an independent submission or homeschooled,
just get in touch with me as the date nears.”For students in a traditional
classroom setting, up to 15 entries will be accepted per class for both prose
and poetry.Each entry will be judged
anonymously and will be accepted until March 9.Again this year judges will
be English instructors from Fort Hays State University.“Thank you, thank you, thank
you and bless their souls. They are the ones who do the judging for us on this,”
Meder said. “It's like all art forms, it's subjective on a certain level, but
it is by a group of people who know what they're talking about. And it all goes
in anonymously. And so we give them the week of spring break, and the week
after knowing many aren't available spring break. So that's where the deadline
has to be before spring break.”Following the judging
process, first-, second- and third-place winners, along with honorable mentions,
will receive ribbons at an awards ceremony scheduled for May 1.Winning entries will be compiled
and published into a book, which will also be presented to winners.“We are so grateful to the
Hays Optimist Club, one of the reasons they freeze thier you know what's off
selling Christmas trees at Walmart, they do so much good across the community,”
Meder said. “And one of the projects that we are with that we are fortunate to
be the beneficiaries of is the creative writing (contest), they give us a very
nice, a nice gift so that we can publish those books by the award ribbon
winners and host a wonderful reception to celebrate those accomplishments and make
them very public so that they have that talent and that skill is validated.”<a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/">For more information about the creative writing
contest, or the Hays Arts Council, visit haysartscouncil.org.</a>Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Annual creative writing contest showcases area youth's literary talents

Crude futures prices inched upward from seven-year highs Monday. The settlement price on Friday for Nymex benchmark crude was $86.82 per barrel.&nbsp; That's up nearly two dollars on the week and about ten dollars a barrel higher than at the first of the year. The last time the international crude-oil benchmark traded above $91 a barrel was in early October 2014, at the beginning of a long slide in prices. Monday morning on the ICE in London, Brent crude was fetching $91.14 per barrel. Kansas Common crude is about $12 higher than at the first of the year and up more than $34 a barrel from a year ago. Prices at CHS in McPherson start the week at $77 a barrel. Statewide drilling activity, based on spudded wells, is slightly ahead of last year in Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says the 60 wells spudded thus far in 2022 outpace last year by 21 wells. There are 30 active operators in the state, compared with 26 at this time last year. The Rig Count in Kansas is up one rig in eastern Kansas to 17, and up one west of Wichita at 26. Operators were preparing to spud one well in Barton County and two in Ellis County. Drilling was underway on a lease in Russell County. Kansas regulators approved 14 new drilling locations across the state last week. There are six new permits in eastern Kansas, and eight in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 32 newly completed wells in Kansas, 17 east of Wichita, and 15 in western Kansas. US crude inventories reached 416.2 million barrels as of January 21st, an increase of 2.4 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles are about eight percent below the five-year seasonal average. The government report contradicts weekly numbers from the American Petroleum Institute, which reported a drawdown in supplies. US crude production declined last week for the third consecutive week. The government reported we pumped just short of 11.65 million barrels per day in the week through January 21st, which is down about 6,000 barrels per day from the week before. Output is more than one and a half million barrels per day higher than the same period last year. Pump prices are on the rise nationally but dropping locally. The auto club AAA says the national average price for a gallon of regular rose three cents over the last a week to just over $3.36 per gallon. Prices in Kansas rose to an average just shy of $3.07. It dropped under $3.00 a gallon at several outlets across Hays and Great Bend. The average cost for a 15-gallon fill-up is &nbsp;nearly two dollars higher than a month ago. Oil-by-rail traffic last week was down amid a ten percent drop in total rail traffic. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,608 carloads of petroleum rolling the rails in the week through January 22nd.&nbsp; That's down 174 cars from the week before and more than 23% lower than a year ago. Canadian traffic we\as down more than 1,000 carloads for the week, marking an 11% drop year-over-year. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are rolling out a project to repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells to provide geothermal energy to heat nearby public schools. Under the project funded by the Energy Department, they hope to bring hot, underground water to the surface to create steam to rotate turbines. The project still requires proof-of-concept and field work (about three years) before they can roll it out publicly. DOE awarded $1.7 million to fund the research.&nbsp; OPEC and its Russia-led partners have promised to increase oil production to pre-pandemic levels this year. But The Wall Street Journal reports they are falling short of those public commitments, and that's stoking fast-rising global crude prices. Last month, the OPEC-Plus group increased output by just 60% of what they promised for the month. The International Energy Agency reports the group is pumping 790,000 barrels per day below its publicly-stated targets.

By JOHN P. TRETBARCrude futures prices inched upward from seven-year highs Monday. The settlement price on Friday for Nymex benchmark crude was $86.82 per barrel.&nbsp; That's up nearly two dollars on the week and about ten dollars a barrel higher than at the first of the year. The last time the international crude-oil benchmark traded above $91 a barrel was in early October 2014, at the beginning of a long slide in prices. Monday morning on the ICE in London, Brent crude was fetching $91.14 per barrel. Kansas Common crude is about $12 higher than at the first of the year and up more than $34 a barrel from a year ago. Prices at CHS in McPherson start the week at $77 a barrel. Statewide drilling activity, based on spudded wells, is slightly ahead of last year in Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says the 60 wells spudded thus far in 2022 outpace last year by 21 wells. There are 30 active operators in the state, compared with 26 at this time last year. The Rig Count in Kansas is up one rig in eastern Kansas to 17, and up one west of Wichita at 26. Operators were preparing to spud one well in Barton County and two in Ellis County. Drilling was underway on a lease in Russell County. Kansas regulators approved 14 new drilling locations across the state last week. There are six new permits in eastern Kansas, and eight in the western half of the state, including one in Ellis County. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 32 newly completed wells in Kansas, 17 east of Wichita, and 15 in western Kansas. US crude inventories reached 416.2 million barrels as of January 21st, an increase of 2.4 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration said stockpiles are about eight percent below the five-year seasonal average. The government report contradicts weekly numbers from the American Petroleum Institute, which reported a drawdown in supplies. US crude production declined last week for the third consecutive week. The government reported we pumped just short of 11.65 million barrels per day in the week through January 21st, which is down about 6,000 barrels per day from the week before. Output is more than one and a half million barrels per day higher than the same period last year. Pump prices are on the rise nationally but dropping locally. The auto club AAA says the national average price for a gallon of regular rose three cents over the last a week to just over $3.36 per gallon. Prices in Kansas rose to an average just shy of $3.07. It dropped under $3.00 a gallon at several outlets across Hays and Great Bend. The average cost for a 15-gallon fill-up is &nbsp;nearly two dollars higher than a month ago. Oil-by-rail traffic last week was down amid a ten percent drop in total rail traffic. The Association of American Railroads reports 9,608 carloads of petroleum rolling the rails in the week through January 22nd.&nbsp; That's down 174 cars from the week before and more than 23% lower than a year ago. Canadian traffic we\as down more than 1,000 carloads for the week, marking an 11% drop year-over-year. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma are rolling out a project to repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells to provide geothermal energy to heat nearby public schools. Under the project funded by the Energy Department, they hope to bring hot, underground water to the surface to create steam to rotate turbines. The project still requires proof-of-concept and field work (about three years) before they can roll it out publicly. DOE awarded $1.7 million to fund the research.&nbsp; OPEC and its Russia-led partners have promised to increase oil production to pre-pandemic levels this year. But The Wall Street Journal reports they are falling short of those public commitments, and that's stoking fast-rising global crude prices. Last month, the OPEC-Plus group increased output by just 60% of what they promised for the month. The International Energy Agency reports the group is pumping 790,000 barrels per day below its publicly-stated targets.

News From the Oil Patch: Crude prices rise

<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/2022/1/1643653810369.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

Maybe someone in the family received a cast iron skillet for Christmas? Cast iron skillets are the kitchen’s most universal tool and are known for their versatility and durability, You can use your cast iron like any other pan you might have but with certain restrictions. Cast iron is multipurpose in that you can use it on the stove top as well as the oven. It can be used for frying, stews and soup, stir fry, and baking. While cast iron is multipurpose, it cannot be used efficiently on glass top stoves due to the inability to transfer heat. And it should never be used in a microwave oven.

The benefit of using a cast iron pan is that it gets very hot and stays hot. Unlike thinner pans, the heat level doesn’t fluctuate in a cast iron. This makes it an ideal choice for foods that need high heat. Meats that need a hard sear but shouldn’t be scorched, like steak, or roasts that should be browned before braising, perform beautifully in a cast iron. &nbsp;

The trouble with cast iron, though, is it takes a little effort to maintain. But the effort is well worth it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:&nbsp;

Thank you to Johnson County Extension for the information about cast iron cooking. &nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Maybe someone in the family received a cast iron skillet for Christmas? Cast iron skillets are the kitchen’s most universal tool and are known for their versatility and durability, You can use your cast iron like any other pan you might have but with certain restrictions. Cast iron is multipurpose in that you can use it on the stove top as well as the oven. It can be used for frying, stews and soup, stir fry, and baking. While cast iron is multipurpose, it cannot be used efficiently on glass top stoves due to the inability to transfer heat. And it should never be used in a microwave oven.The benefit of using a cast iron pan is that it gets very hot and stays hot. Unlike thinner pans, the heat level doesn’t fluctuate in a cast iron. This makes it an ideal choice for foods that need high heat. Meats that need a hard sear but shouldn’t be scorched, like steak, or roasts that should be browned before braising, perform beautifully in a cast iron. &nbsp;The trouble with cast iron, though, is it takes a little effort to maintain. But the effort is well worth it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Seasoning: This term simply means there is a layer of lubricated residue on the surface of the skillet that flavors food while resisting adhesion thus creating a non-stick, but flavorful, surface. It sounds gross, but it’s actually awesome.</li><li>Do You Have to Season? : Some pans come pre-seasoned, and it should say this on the label if purchasing new. If purchasing a pan at a garage sale or thrift store, it’s best to assume you’ll need to season it yourself especially if the surface is rusty and bumpy.</li><li>How to Season: There are many ways to season; here is one way. First, give it a good scouring by scrubbing it with kosher salt and a damp sponge then thoroughly rinse the pan.&nbsp; Next, completely dry the pan in a hot oven. After it’s dried and cooled, poor a tablespoon of unsaturated oil (canola) in the skillet and rub it all over with paper towels. With fresh paper towels, remove any excess. Then, place the oiled pan upside down in a 450F oven and bake for an hour. Remove from the oven (making sure to use potholders!) and allow to cool.&nbsp;Repeat the process up to 5 times until you achieve that shiny, classic, cast iron finish. Repeat this lengthy process whenever your skillet needs to be re-seasoned, which isn’t that often if you clean it properly.</li><li>How to Clean: If seasoned well, all you’ll need to do is give your skillet a good rinse then completely dry the skillet in the oven. Do NOT let your skillet soak. And, please, do NOT put it in the dishwasher. If there are stubborn bits stuck to the skillet, heat it with kosher salt and oil, and scrub at the bits with paper towels clutched inside tongs. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Thank you to Johnson County Extension for the information about cast iron cooking. &nbsp; 	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: What is great about cast iron cooking? 

Ellis High School Wrestling Senior Night is Thursday at 5:50 p.m.  Seniors and their parents will be recognized prior to the Ellis vs. Oakley dual.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643650494208.jpeg" alt="Cale Younger, son of Aaron and Jennifer Younger; Zeke Haag, son of Ron &amp; Latisha Haag; George Crawford IV, son of Bret and Kimberly Andries and the late George Crawford III; Easton Burton, son of Corey &amp; Amy Burton; Mason Gottschalk, son of Dean and Julie Gottschalk." />
 <figcaption>Cale Younger, son of Aaron and Jennifer Younger; Zeke Haag, son of Ron &amp; Latisha Haag; George Crawford IV, son of Bret and Kimberly Andries and the late George Crawford III; Easton Burton, son of Corey &amp; Amy Burton; Mason Gottschalk, son of Dean and Julie Gottschalk.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis High School Wrestling Senior Night is Thursday at 5:50 p.m. Seniors and their parents will be recognized prior to the Ellis vs. Oakley dual.

Ellis High's senior wrestlers will be honored this week

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 86 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.

There were 1,631 new coronavirus cases reported in Ellis County in January.&nbsp;

As of Monday morning, there were 27 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, including 11 active cases and 16 recovering cases.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>

The KDHE reported on Friday that 51 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (age 5 and older) are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (5 and older) is approximately 63 percent. The county-by-county vaccination rate report will no longer be published, the KDHE announced Monday.

Since reporting began, there have been 6,805 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643651870254.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 86 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.There were 1,631 new coronavirus cases reported in Ellis County in January.&nbsp;As of Monday morning, there were 27 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, including 11 active cases and 16 recovering cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>The KDHE reported on Friday that 51 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (age 5 and older) are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the eligible Kansas population (5 and older) is approximately 63 percent. The county-by-county vaccination rate report will no longer be published, the KDHE announced Monday.Since reporting began, there have been 6,805 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643652003646.png" alt="Statewide COVID-19 curve / KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Statewide COVID-19 curve / KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 86 new COVID cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Fort Hays State had two individuals named to the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team for the 2021 season on Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6130">Hunter Budke</a>&nbsp;received first-team honors at tight end, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6120">Amari Angram-Boldin</a>&nbsp;is an honorable mention selection as an offensive lineman. Budke adds this honor to four other national first team selections at tight end for the 2021 season. Budke received the same distinction from the AFCA, D2CCA, and Associated Press, while earning first-team honors on the D2Football.com Elite 100 list. He finished the 2021 season with 47 receptions for 620 yards and eight touchdowns. Angram-Boldin earns the first All-America distinction of his career with the honorable mention nod. He was a three-time All-MIAA selection for the Tigers, including first-team honors in 2021. He was also an All-Super Region 3 First Team selection by the D2CCA in 2021. He made 34 consecutive starts for the Tigers dating back to the start of his sophomore season of 2018. He helped the Tigers to back-to-back MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018 and the Tigers had a record of 33-13 during his four years on the field. The&nbsp;Don Hansen&nbsp;team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published&nbsp;Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette&nbsp;for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643665798413.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Fort Hays State had two individuals named to the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team for the 2021 season on Monday.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6130">Hunter Budke</a>&nbsp;received first-team honors at tight end, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6120">Amari Angram-Boldin</a>&nbsp;is an honorable mention selection as an offensive lineman. Budke adds this honor to four other national first team selections at tight end for the 2021 season. Budke received the same distinction from the AFCA, D2CCA, and Associated Press, while earning first-team honors on the D2Football.com Elite 100 list. He finished the 2021 season with 47 receptions for 620 yards and eight touchdowns. Angram-Boldin earns the first All-America distinction of his career with the honorable mention nod. He was a three-time All-MIAA selection for the Tigers, including first-team honors in 2021. He was also an All-Super Region 3 First Team selection by the D2CCA in 2021. He made 34 consecutive starts for the Tigers dating back to the start of his sophomore season of 2018. He helped the Tigers to back-to-back MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018 and the Tigers had a record of 33-13 during his four years on the field. The&nbsp;Don Hansen&nbsp;team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published&nbsp;Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette&nbsp;for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.FHSU Athletics

🏈 Budke and Angram-Boldin receive Don Hansen All-America honors

TOPEKA - Hello from Topeka. We are already in the fourth week of this legislative session and there has been so much going on that this is the first column of the year. I continue to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and am a member of the Appropriations Committee and Higher Education Budget Committee.

Legislature extends protections to keep hospitals, adult care homes staffed

Early in the session, the House acted swiftly to send HB 2477 to the governor. The legislation came in response to staffing shortages and the added stresses being placed on our healthcare workers. HB 2477 temporarily suspends some of the rules and regulations for health care providers and adult care homes so they can continue to navigate staffing issues related to COVID-19. The House initially approved the bill, 115-6, with all provisions set to expire on May 15, 2022. The Senate amended the expiration date to January 20, 2023. The House agreed to those amendments, with a vote of 96-4, sending the bill to the Governor. Bottom Line: HB 2477 temporarily eases regulations on hospitals and nursing homes, increasing the number of frontline healthcare workers to help curb staffing shortages and adequately address the healthcare needs of Kansans.

Over the past almost two years, many Kansans have been struggling to make ends meet and looked to unemployment as a lifeline to help them and their families. Unfortunately, using the claims process through the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has been a nightmare. The system was slow and not easily accessed. Phone calls for information were left unanswered. Instead of getting money into the hands of Kansans, nearly $700 million went to fraudsters. 

The 2021 Legislature worked diligently to address concerns regarding the KDOL claims system and responded with 2021 HB 2196. The bill created the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council, which has provided necessary oversight of the unemployment system. 

Last week, the House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development requested that the Secretary of KDOL appear and provide an update on the unemployment system. She did not show up. This week, the General Government Budget Committee received an update from the KDOL Secretary on modernization efforts. The agency indicates that it is in Step 8 of the modernization process, Agency completes RFP Process (Working). The remaining steps are Step 9 Agency completes detailed project plan with vendor (Early 2022); Step 10 CITO approves detailed project plan (Spring 2022); Step 11 Agency Begins Project (ASAP following completion of contract negotiation.

On Saturday, we celebrated Kansas Day and the 161st birthday of our state. Additionally, Kansas Tourism has launched a website, To the Stars, which is dedicated to honoring Kansas Day and our great state. The site has merchandise with the new tourism campaign, including accessories and apparel. The Kansas State Historical Society has created a webpage full of classroom resources, including a read-along&nbsp;for "S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet." There are also videos on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/kansashistorical">KSHS’s YouTube Channel</a>. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Home on the Range cabin and song. The cabin was built on July 4, 1872. A celebration will be held July 2-4.

Legislature Approves Congressional Map

This past week, both the Senate and House passed SB 355, the “Ad Astra 2” Congressional map. Ad Astra 2 is a product of the redistricting process that started with over 20 town hall meetings and reflects the review of 2020 Census data. 2020 Census data showed that district boundary lines had to be shifted to accommodate changes in population and ensure that each district has the same number of residents. For example, the First Congressional District in Western Kansas no longer has enough people in it, while the Third District in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties has too many. Congressional maps are governed by federal law and are required to have equal population in each congressional district. Ad Astra 2 meets this requirement. Following the Senate’s vote of 26-9, the House Committee on Redistricting met to consider Ad Astra 2 and advanced its version of the bill, HB 2522. A total of eight Congressional maps were brought to the House for consideration, but those amendments failed. The House voted 79-37 to advance Ad Astra 2 to the Governor for her consideration.

It is great to have visitors back in Topeka, so far we visited with area sheriffs, county clerks, and county appraisers along with several county commissioners and city officials, members of the local Farm Bureaus, Nex-Tech, Prairie Land Electric, Western Electric, Sunflower Electric and Midwest Energy, all are members of Kansas Rural Electric Cooperative along with members of grain and feed cooperatives.

Like I said, it has been a busy start to the 2022 session. If you have a youngster that would like to ne a page for a day during the legislative session, let me or my office assistant Terry know right away, as space is limited. if you would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: kenn.rahje@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416.

Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581437076322.jpeg" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist." />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>01-31-22TOPEKA - Hello from Topeka. We are already in the fourth week of this legislative session and there has been so much going on that this is the first column of the year. I continue to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and am a member of the Appropriations Committee and Higher Education Budget Committee.Legislature extends protections to keep hospitals, adult care homes staffedEarly in the session, the House acted swiftly to send HB 2477 to the governor. The legislation came in response to staffing shortages and the added stresses being placed on our healthcare workers. HB 2477 temporarily suspends some of the rules and regulations for health care providers and adult care homes so they can continue to navigate staffing issues related to COVID-19. The House initially approved the bill, 115-6, with all provisions set to expire on May 15, 2022. The Senate amended the expiration date to January 20, 2023. The House agreed to those amendments, with a vote of 96-4, sending the bill to the Governor. Bottom Line: HB 2477 temporarily eases regulations on hospitals and nursing homes, increasing the number of frontline healthcare workers to help curb staffing shortages and adequately address the healthcare needs of Kansans.Unemployment RevisitedOver the past almost two years, many Kansans have been struggling to make ends meet and looked to unemployment as a lifeline to help them and their families. Unfortunately, using the claims process through the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) has been a nightmare. The system was slow and not easily accessed. Phone calls for information were left unanswered. Instead of getting money into the hands of Kansans, nearly $700 million went to fraudsters. The 2021 Legislature worked diligently to address concerns regarding the KDOL claims system and responded with 2021 HB 2196. The bill created the Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council, which has provided necessary oversight of the unemployment system. Last week, the House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development requested that the Secretary of KDOL appear and provide an update on the unemployment system. She did not show up. This week, the General Government Budget Committee received an update from the KDOL Secretary on modernization efforts. The agency indicates that it is in Step 8 of the modernization process, Agency completes RFP Process (Working). The remaining steps are Step 9 Agency completes detailed project plan with vendor (Early 2022); Step 10 CITO approves detailed project plan (Spring 2022); Step 11 Agency Begins Project (ASAP following completion of contract negotiation.Happy Birthday, Kansas!On Saturday, we celebrated Kansas Day and the 161st birthday of our state. Additionally, Kansas Tourism has launched a website, To the Stars, which is dedicated to honoring Kansas Day and our great state. The site has merchandise with the new tourism campaign, including accessories and apparel. The Kansas State Historical Society has created a webpage full of classroom resources, including a read-along&nbsp;for "S is for Sunflower: A Kansas Alphabet." There are also videos on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/kansashistorical">KSHS’s YouTube Channel</a>. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Home on the Range cabin and song. The cabin was built on July 4, 1872. A celebration will be held July 2-4.Legislature Approves Congressional MapThis past week, both the Senate and House passed SB 355, the “Ad Astra 2” Congressional map. Ad Astra 2 is a product of the redistricting process that started with over 20 town hall meetings and reflects the review of 2020 Census data. 2020 Census data showed that district boundary lines had to be shifted to accommodate changes in population and ensure that each district has the same number of residents. For example, the First Congressional District in Western Kansas no longer has enough people in it, while the Third District in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties has too many. Congressional maps are governed by federal law and are required to have equal population in each congressional district. Ad Astra 2 meets this requirement. Following the Senate’s vote of 26-9, the House Committee on Redistricting met to consider Ad Astra 2 and advanced its version of the bill, HB 2522. A total of eight Congressional maps were brought to the House for consideration, but those amendments failed. The House voted 79-37 to advance Ad Astra 2 to the Governor for her consideration.It is great to have visitors back in Topeka, so far we visited with area sheriffs, county clerks, and county appraisers along with several county commissioners and city officials, members of the local Farm Bureaus, Nex-Tech, Prairie Land Electric, Western Electric, Sunflower Electric and Midwest Energy, all are members of Kansas Rural Electric Cooperative along with members of grain and feed cooperatives.Like I said, it has been a busy start to the 2022 session. If you have a youngster that would like to ne a page for a day during the legislative session, let me or my office assistant Terry know right away, as space is limited. if you would like to contact me: my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: kenn.rahje@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416.It is my honor to serve you.Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

RAHJES REPORT: Jan. 31, 2022

TOPEKA - First off, I would like to thank everyone who braved the cold for the Rally for Life and march held last week on the capitol steps. It was great to see so many people at this rally especially the people from the 40th District in western Kansas even when the road conditions were snow and ice. We would like to remind the voters of a very important date, August 2, 2022, the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot. You can protect the most vulnerable by voting YES on the Value Them Both Amendment.

Every ten years the legislature is required to redraw the congressional, senate and house district maps according to the growth in each district. In preparation for the congressional map our committee held 20 town hall meetings along with many opportunities to participate virtually. Much of the growth in the State of Kansas was in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. These two counties saw the largest growth in residents. By law congressional districts require the same number of residents in each district;&nbsp; therefore, Johnson and Wyandotte county could not remain in the same district. It was decided after much testimony from the people in Johnson County that Johnson County should remain whole and Wyandotte county would be split as it has been numerous times in past maps. The dividing line in Wyandotte county is along I-70 west and east to the Kansas river. The bedroom communities of Miami, Franklin, and Anderson Counties joined Johnson County in the 3rd District. With this map District 3, Congresswoman Sharica Davis, would have still won this district as would have President Biden and Governor Kelly. 

The only district that needed little or no change was District 4 which included Wichita and surrounding counties. The balance of Wyandotte County joined District 2 which it had been part of in past maps. The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard. 

The First District needed an increase in population which required moving east to get the required number. The new map goes east and includes Lawrence, KS, the University of Kansas, Kansas State and Fort Hays State University in the 1st District. 

The challenge in redistricting is a math problem that requires that we have the same number of residents in each district.

On Thursday, the Kansas Senate adopted legislation which includes a substantial development incentive for the purpose of spurring large economic development investment in Kansas. The initial target of the incentive package is a $4.0 billion manufacturing project that would employee over 4,000 people and is one of the most significant private sector investments in Kansas history. The package, as it passed the Senate on Thursday, is known as the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act or APEX Act. APEX would establish new economic development incentives targeted at specific industries that agree to invest at least $1.0 billion within the state of Kansas. The APEX Act also targets incentives at the suppliers involved in the APEX project. The APEX Program would be under the purview of the Secretary of Commerce for the purpose of attracting large capital investments in new facilities and operations by businesses engaged in specified industries and encouraging the development of Kansas based supply chains.&nbsp;

To help drive taxes down for all who do business in Kansas, an important provision of the bill would lower the corporate income tax the year after a qualified firm or supplier receives benefits under the law. Qualified firms under the bill would be for-profit businesses subject to state income, sales, or property tax that are engaged in one or more of the following industries as determined by the Secretary of Commerce: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, distribution, logistics and transportation, food and agriculture, professional and technical services. The bill provides exceptions to the definition by stating that a for-profit business establishment in any industry is eligible as a “qualified firm” if it is seeking benefits to relocate or establish its national corporate headquarters within the state. 

Additionally, a project would need to be completed within five years. 

Incentives available under the bill would include: investment’s tax credits, reimbursement of percentage of total payroll, reimbursement of a percentage of eligible employee training and education expenses, partial real property tax exemption, sales tax exemption for construction costs of the qualified business facilities. 

Qualified firms and suppliers would not be eligible to participate in other economic development programs currently in existence, and they would be required to cooperate with any audit undertaken by the Department of Revenue. 

To ensure proper oversight, the firms and suppliers would be required to provide information required for publication in the Economic Development Incentive Database, as well as reports required to be submitted to the governor and the legislature, among other provisions to ensure property transparency and accountability. To ensure oversight occurs in the short-term, a sunset of March 31, 2023 was added to ensure that the legislature reviews the provisions of the APEX Act in just one year. The bill was rushed through the process in order the allow commerce enough time to negotiate their offer to the prospective company. I believe Kansas needs to be careful when making huge concessions to attract new businesses.

If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;- Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.

Kansas Legislature website-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org-/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.

Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th&nbsp;Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.

Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:

* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View, Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610490291573.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>January 31, 2022TOPEKA - First off, I would like to thank everyone who braved the cold for the Rally for Life and march held last week on the capitol steps. It was great to see so many people at this rally especially the people from the 40th District in western Kansas even when the road conditions were snow and ice. We would like to remind the voters of a very important date, August 2, 2022, the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot. You can protect the most vulnerable by voting YES on the Value Them Both Amendment.Every ten years the legislature is required to redraw the congressional, senate and house district maps according to the growth in each district. In preparation for the congressional map our committee held 20 town hall meetings along with many opportunities to participate virtually. Much of the growth in the State of Kansas was in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. These two counties saw the largest growth in residents. By law congressional districts require the same number of residents in each district;&nbsp; therefore, Johnson and Wyandotte county could not remain in the same district. It was decided after much testimony from the people in Johnson County that Johnson County should remain whole and Wyandotte county would be split as it has been numerous times in past maps. The dividing line in Wyandotte county is along I-70 west and east to the Kansas river. The bedroom communities of Miami, Franklin, and Anderson Counties joined Johnson County in the 3rd District. With this map District 3, Congresswoman Sharica Davis, would have still won this district as would have President Biden and Governor Kelly. The only district that needed little or no change was District 4 which included Wichita and surrounding counties. The balance of Wyandotte County joined District 2 which it had been part of in past maps. The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard. The First District needed an increase in population which required moving east to get the required number. The new map goes east and includes Lawrence, KS, the University of Kansas, Kansas State and Fort Hays State University in the 1st District. The challenge in redistricting is a math problem that requires that we have the same number of residents in each district.On Thursday, the Kansas Senate adopted legislation which includes a substantial development incentive for the purpose of spurring large economic development investment in Kansas. The initial target of the incentive package is a $4.0 billion manufacturing project that would employee over 4,000 people and is one of the most significant private sector investments in Kansas history. The package, as it passed the Senate on Thursday, is known as the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act or APEX Act. APEX would establish new economic development incentives targeted at specific industries that agree to invest at least $1.0 billion within the state of Kansas. The APEX Act also targets incentives at the suppliers involved in the APEX project. The APEX Program would be under the purview of the Secretary of Commerce for the purpose of attracting large capital investments in new facilities and operations by businesses engaged in specified industries and encouraging the development of Kansas based supply chains.&nbsp;To help drive taxes down for all who do business in Kansas, an important provision of the bill would lower the corporate income tax the year after a qualified firm or supplier receives benefits under the law. Qualified firms under the bill would be for-profit businesses subject to state income, sales, or property tax that are engaged in one or more of the following industries as determined by the Secretary of Commerce: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, distribution, logistics and transportation, food and agriculture, professional and technical services. The bill provides exceptions to the definition by stating that a for-profit business establishment in any industry is eligible as a “qualified firm” if it is seeking benefits to relocate or establish its national corporate headquarters within the state. Additionally, a project would need to be completed within five years. Incentives available under the bill would include: investment’s tax credits, reimbursement of percentage of total payroll, reimbursement of a percentage of eligible employee training and education expenses, partial real property tax exemption, sales tax exemption for construction costs of the qualified business facilities. Qualified firms and suppliers would not be eligible to participate in other economic development programs currently in existence, and they would be required to cooperate with any audit undertaken by the Department of Revenue. To ensure proper oversight, the firms and suppliers would be required to provide information required for publication in the Economic Development Incentive Database, as well as reports required to be submitted to the governor and the legislature, among other provisions to ensure property transparency and accountability. To ensure oversight occurs in the short-term, a sunset of March 31, 2023 was added to ensure that the legislature reviews the provisions of the APEX Act in just one year. The bill was rushed through the process in order the allow commerce enough time to negotiate their offer to the prospective company. I believe Kansas needs to be careful when making huge concessions to attract new businesses.If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;- Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.Kansas Legislature website-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org-/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th&nbsp;Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View, Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

BILLINGER: Senate Update, Jan. 31, 2022

The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously cold temperatures and the potential of snow this week.

After projected highs of 61 projected Monday and 44 on Tuesday, an Arctic front is expected to blow in from the north, sending the mercury plummeting. A high of just 18 degrees is projected Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows dropping as low as 2 below.

The wind chill Thursday morning is expected to be 15 below zero in Hays and Ellis County, and down to 20 below zero farther west.&nbsp;

Snow is expected to begin Tuesday night and continue into Thursday morning.

While Ellis County isn't expected to receive much snow, areas to the northwest could receive 2 to 4 inches of snow, the National Weather Service in Goodland reported.&nbsp;

Skies are expected to clear Thursday afternoon and remain clear through the weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643639558371.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously cold temperatures and the potential of snow this week.After projected highs of 61 projected Monday and 44 on Tuesday, an Arctic front is expected to blow in from the north, sending the mercury plummeting. A high of just 18 degrees is projected Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows dropping as low as 2 below.The wind chill Thursday morning is expected to be 15 below zero in Hays and Ellis County, and down to 20 below zero farther west.&nbsp;Snow is expected to begin Tuesday night and continue into Thursday morning.While Ellis County isn't expected to receive much snow, areas to the northwest could receive 2 to 4 inches of snow, the National Weather Service in Goodland reported.&nbsp;Skies are expected to clear Thursday afternoon and remain clear through the weekend.<figure>
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NWS: Dangerous cold, more snow on the way to NW Kansas

Cottonwood Extension District is hiring a part-time 4-H assistant. Up to 1,000 hours with a wage of $15/hour. Position will support 4-H and Youth programming in Ellis County. Planning for events like 4-H Day, youth judging contests, school enrichment and the Ellis County Fair. 

Includes some evenings, weekends; some outside physical labor. High school diploma required with some college preferred. Position announcement available at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

Applications due February 11th&nbsp;or until filled. &nbsp;Submit resume’, cover letter and contact information for three references to: Cottonwood Extension Office, 601 Main Street, Hays, 67601. (785) 628-9430.Or you may email information to Donna Krug, District Director, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>.

Cottonwood District and K-State Research &amp; Extension is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and provider.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643643109012.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Cottonwood Extension District is hiring a part-time 4-H assistant. Up to 1,000 hours with a wage of $15/hour. Position will support 4-H and Youth programming in Ellis County. Planning for events like 4-H Day, youth judging contests, school enrichment and the Ellis County Fair. Includes some evenings, weekends; some outside physical labor. High school diploma required with some college preferred. Position announcement available at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cottonwood.ksu.edu/">www.cottonwood.ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;Applications due February 11th&nbsp;or until filled. &nbsp;Submit resume’, cover letter and contact information for three references to: Cottonwood Extension Office, 601 Main Street, Hays, 67601. (785) 628-9430.Or you may email information to Donna Krug, District Director, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>.Cottonwood District and K-State Research &amp; Extension is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and provider.

Area fifth graders once again called to showcase history

For the second year, Celebration Community Church hosted the Night to Shine Hays Shine Thru Parade on Saturday, showing love and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As the parade traveled Main street, attendees flew streamers, signs and cheered as they traveled by.

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 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostFor the second year, Celebration Community Church hosted the Night to Shine Hays Shine Thru Parade on Saturday, showing love and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.As the parade traveled Main street, attendees flew streamers, signs and cheered as they traveled by.Take a look at the event below.<figure>
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Area residents turn out to support Night to Shine parade

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Governor’s Council on Fitness presented the 2022 Kansas Health Champion Awards during the Community Health Promotion Summit on Thursday.

The Governor’s Council on Fitness developed the Health Champion Award to recognize and promote exemplary contributions to fitness in Kansas. Those recognized include an individual and organization and honorable mentions in each category.

“The winners were selected for the exceptional efforts they have put forth to model, encourage and promote fitness in Kansas,” said Jody Hoener, GCOF Awards Chair. “Their efforts have made a positive impact on their communities and inspired others around them to get involved.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Congratulations&nbsp;to this year’s Health Champions,” said Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary. “We thank you for the work you have done across Kansas to promote the importance of fitness in your communities.”

Mike Goodwin&nbsp;of Topeka is a longtime volunteer and board member with Kansas Trails Council (KTC), an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining natural-surface trails for public use. However, Goodwin’s commitment to ensuring that every community has access to a safe place to walk, hike or bike far transcends even KTC’s laudable mission.

Elizabeth Burger of Sunflower Foundation, who nominated Goodwin, said, “Our foundation has had the honor of working with Mike for the past nine years. During this time, I have witnessed how he has donated his time to travel the entire state of Kansas to personally mentor, guide and work along dozens of communities and nonprofits that want to build a trail in order to have a safe, accessible place to be physically active in the outdoors. Mike listens to each community and their specific needs and priorities regarding a trail and provides invaluable support and technical assistance every step of the way.”

Salud + Bienestar’s mission is to provide information to empower, lead and connect community members to live a healthier life within the traditional Spanish-speaking cultures. They provide relevant health information and education to help Spanish-speaking individuals work through the barriers they face when addressing complex issues, such as navigating the health care system, gaining access to affordable fresh and nutritious foods and bringing community members closer together.

Shelley Rich, who nominated Salud + Bienestar, said, “They are passionate about the health of residents in North Wichita and are a trusted source of information. Salud + Bienestar goes above and beyond to promote health and fitness to those they serve. Their work as a liaison between health and social services and the community has improved the access, quality control and cultural competence of the service delivery to the Spanish-speaking community.”&nbsp;

Clyde Jones&nbsp;of Manhattan turned 99 years old in December 2021. For nearly a century, he has modeled, encouraged, and promoted health, fitness, and wellness in the broadest sense. Jones was the leading force in organizing the Community Health Council, bringing community partners (city, county hospital, school board, public health, etc.). In addition, Jones wrapped up his 10th Annual C. Clyde Run last fall, which raises funds each year for Shepherd’s Crossing, a local philanthropic organization.&nbsp;

Connie Satzler, who nominated Jones, said, “Physical activity and fitness are a pillar of Clyde’s lifestyle and legacy. His efforts in developing coordination and collaboration among health care providers has had a lasting effect of making health more accessible to low-income populations and more efficiently delivered. He is always looking for new opportunities to get involved in the years ahead to better his community and to keep making new friends along the way.”&nbsp;

Colby United Methodist Church&nbsp;(UMC)&nbsp;has participated in programs that seek to address food insecurity, such as partnering with the school district and other organizations to support the Summer Food Service Program for their community. They have worked with the Thomas County Coalition to start a community garden, plus Colby UMC has worked with additional partners in the community to support a free bike-share program.

Katie Schoenhoff, who nominated Colby UMC, said, “Colby United Methodist Church has long demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment and service to the health and wellness of both congregation and community, going beyond expectations to address not only immediate needs but also the underlying social determinants of health. Their partnerships with local organizations have supported both the sustainability of their efforts and increased community engagement.”

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Governor’s Council on Fitness presented the 2022 Kansas Health Champion Awards during the Community Health Promotion Summit on Thursday.The Governor’s Council on Fitness developed the Health Champion Award to recognize and promote exemplary contributions to fitness in Kansas. Those recognized include an individual and organization and honorable mentions in each category.<ul>
 <li>Individual Health Champion: Mike Goodwin, Topeka</li><li>Organizational Health Champion: Salud + Bienestar, Wichita&nbsp;</li><li>Individual Honorable Mention: C. Clyde Jones, Manhattan</li><li>Organizational Honorable Mention: Colby United Methodist Church, Colby</li>
 </ul>“The winners were selected for the exceptional efforts they have put forth to model, encourage and promote fitness in Kansas,” said Jody Hoener, GCOF Awards Chair. “Their efforts have made a positive impact on their communities and inspired others around them to get involved.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Congratulations&nbsp;to this year’s Health Champions,” said Janet Stanek, Acting Secretary. “We thank you for the work you have done across Kansas to promote the importance of fitness in your communities.”<h2>Health Champions</h2>Mike Goodwin&nbsp;of Topeka is a longtime volunteer and board member with Kansas Trails Council (KTC), an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining natural-surface trails for public use. However, Goodwin’s commitment to ensuring that every community has access to a safe place to walk, hike or bike far transcends even KTC’s laudable mission.Elizabeth Burger of Sunflower Foundation, who nominated Goodwin, said, “Our foundation has had the honor of working with Mike for the past nine years. During this time, I have witnessed how he has donated his time to travel the entire state of Kansas to personally mentor, guide and work along dozens of communities and nonprofits that want to build a trail in order to have a safe, accessible place to be physically active in the outdoors. Mike listens to each community and their specific needs and priorities regarding a trail and provides invaluable support and technical assistance every step of the way.”Salud + Bienestar’s mission is to provide information to empower, lead and connect community members to live a healthier life within the traditional Spanish-speaking cultures. They provide relevant health information and education to help Spanish-speaking individuals work through the barriers they face when addressing complex issues, such as navigating the health care system, gaining access to affordable fresh and nutritious foods and bringing community members closer together.Shelley Rich, who nominated Salud + Bienestar, said, “They are passionate about the health of residents in North Wichita and are a trusted source of information. Salud + Bienestar goes above and beyond to promote health and fitness to those they serve. Their work as a liaison between health and social services and the community has improved the access, quality control and cultural competence of the service delivery to the Spanish-speaking community.”&nbsp;Honorable Mentions&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643368667934.png" alt="Clyde Jones during the virtual honor ceremony&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Clyde Jones during the virtual honor ceremony&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Clyde Jones&nbsp;of Manhattan turned 99 years old in December 2021. For nearly a century, he has modeled, encouraged, and promoted health, fitness, and wellness in the broadest sense. Jones was the leading force in organizing the Community Health Council, bringing community partners (city, county hospital, school board, public health, etc.). In addition, Jones wrapped up his 10th Annual C. Clyde Run last fall, which raises funds each year for Shepherd’s Crossing, a local philanthropic organization.&nbsp;Connie Satzler, who nominated Jones, said, “Physical activity and fitness are a pillar of Clyde’s lifestyle and legacy. His efforts in developing coordination and collaboration among health care providers has had a lasting effect of making health more accessible to low-income populations and more efficiently delivered. He is always looking for new opportunities to get involved in the years ahead to better his community and to keep making new friends along the way.”&nbsp;Colby United Methodist Church&nbsp;(UMC)&nbsp;has participated in programs that seek to address food insecurity, such as partnering with the school district and other organizations to support the Summer Food Service Program for their community. They have worked with the Thomas County Coalition to start a community garden, plus Colby UMC has worked with additional partners in the community to support a free bike-share program.Katie Schoenhoff, who nominated Colby UMC, said, “Colby United Methodist Church has long demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment and service to the health and wellness of both congregation and community, going beyond expectations to address not only immediate needs but also the underlying social determinants of health. Their partnerships with local organizations have supported both the sustainability of their efforts and increased community engagement.”

NW Kan. church recognized among KDHE health champions

Jon Armstrong always looks forward to Fort Hays State University’s Student Recognition Programs. But he is especially anticipating getting back on the road for the annual Tiger Road Show this year.

Armstrong, director of Admissions at FHSU, will join 30 to 40 university personnel on the month-long, 12-city series that recognizes high school and transfer students are interested in learning more about Fort Hays State. The SRPs tour is reverting to in-person events after pivoting to an online version last year.

“We are definitely ready to be back in person,” Armstrong said. “This is a way to have personal contact and start building relationships with our students and their parents.”

The SRPs, in their 34th year, span from one end of the state to the other – and beyond. FHSU also holds SRPs in Denver and Kearney, Neb. Local COVID-19 protocols for each location will be followed.

Armstrong said that registration numbers are steady this year, and he&nbsp;encourages all juniors and seniors in high school, as well as all prospective transfer students, to attend these free events. High school juniors, seniors, and transfer students have already been invited to SRPs in their areas.&nbsp;

There is still time for students and their families to sign up, if they haven’t already, by going to&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtJQgSEc35-2FdcBL0tMQWS4czO3Q99-2FWoU2BEdmDSZhDH2YGRsKZG7-2FtQYWNAshASG-2BAYPeGBp4mq-2FBPV2nsEWdlo-3Dn5QY_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIempgJt2Jo9YwsvKYS52jbIKkFc8G-2FE3XSfn1J825sLV92njAWNA-2F7kIhnTQa0-2FQuawWgTsTmBmzIqSbA0UGJbVD1BBmh-2B2sTGEL9xCRuH6zf03v5ENxPzr31C4eKyEFiD6nPtjTAXZkk18SeUxLOX9LbJdRqpGEUUrA3-2BYCVKcW2h0Nn05d4ICj58gZu5a5-2Fu9aptUPTIMaerrfWp7fKo6kd8LvSEkiBahQpif5H5MahfuY5MPsAE5qrAx9x17GtK8wxVnMX5nQ-2BUqfl8BUlTYtA-3D-3D">www.fhsu.edu/admissions/events/srp/hays-srp-registration.</a>

The 2022 series will began Sunday, Jan. 30, in Garden City and Dodge City, and conclude in Denver on March 6. The local Hays SRP, in the university’s Memorial Union, is set for Feb. 20. Other SRP locations are Beloit, Kansas City area (Olathe), Topeka, Colby, Wichita, Salina, Great Bend, and Kearney, Neb. Time, date, and location for each event can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtJQgSEc35-2FdcBL0tMQWS4czO3Q99-2FWoU2BEdmDSZhDH2-2BiflmaYXvSelQEFO21XqWg-3D-3DkSZa_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIempgJt2Jo9YwsvKYS52jbIKkFc8G-2FE3XSfn1J825sLV92njAWNA-2F7kIhnTQa0-2FQuawWgTsTmBmzIqSbA0UGJbVD9-2FmsI9qyVcoZRehb0xHXz-2Fy11pPVA-2FaY3FIVRNsPnyGlWvhGKDlp1bjO4eVxI4propMYaz4iNoNQH846NvSzTrew1Jk5E5bZEO8lmdTVUO2GZQJcAXDEFVXRDOjRYBUYJvqClvN64wmLWp7iJEmqRmgidtMZSv9R0VQIwi4KPFaboGxB36tGBn9o71zCj-2F3jA-3D-3D">https://www.fhsu.edu/admissions/events/srp/</a>.

Armstrong said he and his team learned a lot last year while transitioning to remote mode for the SRPs. His office received positive feedback with the switch, and plans are underway to furnish another virtual SRP option for other out-of-state students later in March. Nonetheless, Armstrong still favors the in-person format.

“Every student at each of the events are introduced personally, and it’s easier to speak one-on-one with them that way,” Armstrong said. “We hope that sends them a positive message that we care about them at Fort Hays State.”

Each of the 12 events will feature four scholarships with award levels ranging from $15,000 to $6,000 over four years, or $3,750 to $1,500 yearly. They are the $3,750 Tiger Pride Scholarship; the $2,750 Victor E. &nbsp;Scholarship; the $2,000 Black and Gold Scholarship; and the $1,500 Hays City Scholarship. These scholarships are not need-based, and there are no built-in award amount reduction for students who secure additional financial awards from other sources.&nbsp;

Fort Hays State’s enhanced scholarship program will include three levels of transfer scholarship awards, ranging from $500 to $1,500. &nbsp;These awards are based on the student’s cumulative GPA.&nbsp;

FHSU President Tisa Mason or another FHSU administrator will individually introduce all students attending each event. Those being awarded scholarships to Fort Hays State for the next academic year will be recognized. Other university officers, administrators, and faculty also attend the programs to answer questions and to visit with prospective students and their families and friends.

Pizza is served at each of the evening events, while the afternoon SRPs feature a dessert buffet. Students and their friends and families have the opportunity to mingle with FHSU faculty, staff, and administrators before and after the scholarship presentations.&nbsp;

Since its beginning in the 1988-89 year, Fort Hays State’s Scholarship Recognition Program – unique in higher education – has had the mission of recognizing all students interested in college, and their friends and families.&nbsp;

Each SRP event features three drawings – one for a $600 book scholarship, one for a $1,000 tuition scholarship, and another for a laptop computer.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643227847113.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>FHSU University CommunicationsJon Armstrong always looks forward to Fort Hays State University’s Student Recognition Programs. But he is especially anticipating getting back on the road for the annual Tiger Road Show this year.Armstrong, director of Admissions at FHSU, will join 30 to 40 university personnel on the month-long, 12-city series that recognizes high school and transfer students are interested in learning more about Fort Hays State. The SRPs tour is reverting to in-person events after pivoting to an online version last year.“We are definitely ready to be back in person,” Armstrong said. “This is a way to have personal contact and start building relationships with our students and their parents.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643564263321.png" alt="Armstrong" />
 <figcaption>Armstrong</figcaption>
 </figure>The SRPs, in their 34th year, span from one end of the state to the other – and beyond. FHSU also holds SRPs in Denver and Kearney, Neb. Local COVID-19 protocols for each location will be followed.Armstrong said that registration numbers are steady this year, and he&nbsp;encourages all juniors and seniors in high school, as well as all prospective transfer students, to attend these free events. High school juniors, seniors, and transfer students have already been invited to SRPs in their areas.&nbsp;There is still time for students and their families to sign up, if they haven’t already, by going to&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtJQgSEc35-2FdcBL0tMQWS4czO3Q99-2FWoU2BEdmDSZhDH2YGRsKZG7-2FtQYWNAshASG-2BAYPeGBp4mq-2FBPV2nsEWdlo-3Dn5QY_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIempgJt2Jo9YwsvKYS52jbIKkFc8G-2FE3XSfn1J825sLV92njAWNA-2F7kIhnTQa0-2FQuawWgTsTmBmzIqSbA0UGJbVD1BBmh-2B2sTGEL9xCRuH6zf03v5ENxPzr31C4eKyEFiD6nPtjTAXZkk18SeUxLOX9LbJdRqpGEUUrA3-2BYCVKcW2h0Nn05d4ICj58gZu5a5-2Fu9aptUPTIMaerrfWp7fKo6kd8LvSEkiBahQpif5H5MahfuY5MPsAE5qrAx9x17GtK8wxVnMX5nQ-2BUqfl8BUlTYtA-3D-3D">www.fhsu.edu/admissions/events/srp/hays-srp-registration.</a>The 2022 series will began Sunday, Jan. 30, in Garden City and Dodge City, and conclude in Denver on March 6. The local Hays SRP, in the university’s Memorial Union, is set for Feb. 20. Other SRP locations are Beloit, Kansas City area (Olathe), Topeka, Colby, Wichita, Salina, Great Bend, and Kearney, Neb. Time, date, and location for each event can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtJQgSEc35-2FdcBL0tMQWS4czO3Q99-2FWoU2BEdmDSZhDH2-2BiflmaYXvSelQEFO21XqWg-3D-3DkSZa_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIempgJt2Jo9YwsvKYS52jbIKkFc8G-2FE3XSfn1J825sLV92njAWNA-2F7kIhnTQa0-2FQuawWgTsTmBmzIqSbA0UGJbVD9-2FmsI9qyVcoZRehb0xHXz-2Fy11pPVA-2FaY3FIVRNsPnyGlWvhGKDlp1bjO4eVxI4propMYaz4iNoNQH846NvSzTrew1Jk5E5bZEO8lmdTVUO2GZQJcAXDEFVXRDOjRYBUYJvqClvN64wmLWp7iJEmqRmgidtMZSv9R0VQIwi4KPFaboGxB36tGBn9o71zCj-2F3jA-3D-3D">https://www.fhsu.edu/admissions/events/srp/</a>.Armstrong said he and his team learned a lot last year while transitioning to remote mode for the SRPs. His office received positive feedback with the switch, and plans are underway to furnish another virtual SRP option for other out-of-state students later in March. Nonetheless, Armstrong still favors the in-person format. “Every student at each of the events are introduced personally, and it’s easier to speak one-on-one with them that way,” Armstrong said. “We hope that sends them a positive message that we care about them at Fort Hays State.”Each of the 12 events will feature four scholarships with award levels ranging from $15,000 to $6,000 over four years, or $3,750 to $1,500 yearly. They are the $3,750 Tiger Pride Scholarship; the $2,750 Victor E. &nbsp;Scholarship; the $2,000 Black and Gold Scholarship; and the $1,500 Hays City Scholarship. These scholarships are not need-based, and there are no built-in award amount reduction for students who secure additional financial awards from other sources.&nbsp;Fort Hays State’s enhanced scholarship program will include three levels of transfer scholarship awards, ranging from $500 to $1,500. &nbsp;These awards are based on the student’s cumulative GPA.&nbsp;FHSU President Tisa Mason or another FHSU administrator will individually introduce all students attending each event. Those being awarded scholarships to Fort Hays State for the next academic year will be recognized. Other university officers, administrators, and faculty also attend the programs to answer questions and to visit with prospective students and their families and friends.Pizza is served at each of the evening events, while the afternoon SRPs feature a dessert buffet. Students and their friends and families have the opportunity to mingle with FHSU faculty, staff, and administrators before and after the scholarship presentations.&nbsp;Since its beginning in the 1988-89 year, Fort Hays State’s Scholarship Recognition Program – unique in higher education – has had the mission of recognizing all students interested in college, and their friends and families.&nbsp;Each SRP event features three drawings – one for a $600 book scholarship, one for a $1,000 tuition scholarship, and another for a laptop computer.&nbsp;

Fort Hays State back on the road for annual SRP tour

By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among young people were the leading causes of disability and poor life outcomes, <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">according to the U.S. Surgeon General. </a>

But now after almost two years of enduring a life-changing pandemic, area mental health professionals say the need for mental health services has increased dramatically — compounded by factors such as social media, political divisions in communities and an overloaded mental health care system.

"Especially toward the fall of 2020, we were starting to see an increase after kids were at home for six months," said Carie Brown of Great Bend-based <a href="https://heartofkansas.com/">Heart of Kansas Family Heath Care</a>. "Symptoms have been more exacerbated by the pandemic."

Brown, a licensed specialist clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions counselor, said the isolation caused by stay-at-home orders was traumatic for many young people. 

"We have kids whose home lives are not good. Food is an issue or safety is an issue," said Brown, a Fort Hays State University graduate and Logan, Kan., native. "During that pandemic time, they were all alone in that."

If you’re in crisis, get immediate help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- 8255,&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/">chat</a>&nbsp;with trained counselors 24/7, or&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/">get help in other ways through the Lifeline.</a>&nbsp;You can also contact the National Crisis Textline by texting HOME to 741741.

Pediatric psychologist Matthew Wassom of <a href="https://www.katieswaymanhattan.com">Katie's Way</a> in Manhattan agreed.

"From March 2020 through the summer and into the fall of 2020 ... they were losing the routine and structure of life," he said. "And then, obviously, you take away one of the most valuable things, which is social functioning.

"Children were spending more time with family. ... That's nice for some families, but not for all families, especially in vulnerable populations," he said.

In rural northwest Nebraska, Catherine Jones-Hazledine, a psychologist with <a href="https://www.westernnebraskabehavioralhealth.com/">Western Nebraska Behavior Health</a>, said mental health issues among her patients have been magnified by current circumstances.

By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among young people were the leading causes of disability and poor life outcomes, <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">according to the U.S. Surgeon General. </a>But now after almost two years of enduring a life-changing pandemic, area mental health professionals say the need for mental health services has increased dramatically — compounded by factors such as social media, political divisions in communities and an overloaded mental health care system."Especially toward the fall of 2020, we were starting to see an increase after kids were at home for six months," said Carie Brown of Great Bend-based <a href="https://heartofkansas.com/">Heart of Kansas Family Heath Care</a>. "Symptoms have been more exacerbated by the pandemic."Brown, a licensed specialist clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions counselor, said the isolation caused by stay-at-home orders was traumatic for many young people. "We have kids whose home lives are not good. Food is an issue or safety is an issue," said Brown, a Fort Hays State University graduate and Logan, Kan., native. "During that pandemic time, they were all alone in that."If you’re in crisis, get immediate help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- 8255,&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/">chat</a>&nbsp;with trained counselors 24/7, or&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/">get help in other ways through the Lifeline.</a>&nbsp;You can also contact the National Crisis Textline by texting HOME to 741741.Pediatric psychologist Matthew Wassom of <a href="https://www.katieswaymanhattan.com">Katie's Way</a> in Manhattan agreed."From March 2020 through the summer and into the fall of 2020 ... they were losing the routine and structure of life," he said. "And then, obviously, you take away one of the most valuable things, which is social functioning."Children were spending more time with family. ... That's nice for some families, but not for all families, especially in vulnerable populations," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306004920.png" alt="Wassom" />
 <figcaption>Wassom</figcaption>
 </figure>In rural northwest Nebraska, Catherine Jones-Hazledine, a psychologist with <a href="https://www.westernnebraskabehavioralhealth.com/">Western Nebraska Behavior Health</a>, said mental health issues among her patients have been magnified by current circumstances. "We see all of the normal things that we would see, but they are just intensifying. A lot of us as providers are worried about parent-child interactions because there were no breaks, worried about parents coping and increases in maladaptive parenting," she said. "We are seeing depressed kids, really lonely kids, especially in high school, where those kids lost milestone after milestone after milestone."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306047888.jpeg" alt="Brown" />
 <figcaption>Brown</figcaption>
 </figure>School referrals make up a significant portion of the juvenile patient loads for most mental health providers. Brown said that during the early days of the pandemic, juvenile cases actually saw a slight decrease. "Kids with behavior or emotional issues, those issues tend to come out in a school setting, in a a structured setting," Brown said. "During that March of 2020 to the fall, there were not a lot of new referrals. But once kids got back into schools, that's when we really started seeing that influx in referrals."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306132278.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>Wassom said his patient load was a mixed bag during that time period."Some vulnerable populations had less access to care ... but kids with better resources, more involved parents, more financial resources, we saw them seeking out care for the first time," he said. The situation was different for Jones-Hazledine, whose practice is integrated in medical settings along with other health providers."The doctors are still the first person that people call when they're concerned about their kids out here, that and their pastors and priests," she said. "The kids were still finding their way to us."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306082797.jpeg" alt="Jones-Hazledine" />
 <figcaption>Jones-Hazledine</figcaption>
 </figure>Jones-Hazledine said the politics of COVID, coupled with other events on a national scale, have "coalesced into this big ball of conflict" — adding to the stressors for young people.&nbsp;"We're in a very rural red areas, and there's a lot of division about what it all means and what to think. That's been hard for everybody, but especially to the young people. It's super confusing," she said. "There are kiddos out there whose family believes in the science, and those kids go to school and go to class with kids who believe differently. ... And can be teased or mocked."Bullying is always something with young people, but it's jut different now," she added. "The kids see there are adults often engaging in conflict over medical issues, issues of what students should learn."<h2>Social media</h2>Social media and "screens" also have played an enormous role in mental health challenges, the providers said. "Electronics are a huge issue. They've become the babysitter. They've become an easier method than actively engaging and trying to do things as a family," Brown said. "As parents, we all have to look at that and be honest about it. ... It creates more obstacles than people realize."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306305522.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>During the isolation period, young people used social media increasingly to stay connected with their peers, but also faced a heightened risk of being bullied or engaging in risky online behavior."Digital stuff is always worse," said Jones-Hazledine. "As a society, we'll say things to each other and treat each other on social media that we would never say in person. It's grown over time, and there is no consequence. "One of her student patients recently paraphrased a quote from Oscar Wilde: "Give a man a mask, and he'll tell you the truth.""Not just the positive, but the negative. ... It's more honest, but we are also more harsh," she said. While Wassom said he doesn't have "blanket hate" for screens and social media, he agreed the isolation drove more kids to increased screen time, often to the detriment of those children."If a family system doesn't have a good process set up, then you see the negative side of social media and the internet," he said. "We've seen a higher rate of tech addiction-type behaviors and a lot of issues of negative side effects of social media platforms."Wassom compared device use among young people to driver's education. "It's about social media literacy, trying to teach children before they ever lay hands on a device how to use that device in an healthy manner," he said, noting no one would give the keys to a car to an untrained child an expect them to drive safely away.<h2>Outcomes</h2>While those in junior high and high school are experiencing a "new normal," some younger children will retain little, if any, recollection of what life was like pre-COVID — which could be a positive, Wassom said. "If you have a 5- or 6-year-old who is now 8 or 9, they have a good stretch of their early elementary development done during a pandemic," he said. "They may not have a clear picture of how things are when there is not a pandemic, and maybe some of them are doing a bit better, and they've adapted in their resilience."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306361441.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>In Jones-Hazledine's area of western Nebraska, one of the most troubling aspects of COVID is what she is hearing from teachers and schools."We have heard over and over again that the kids they're teaching right now are a good year behind socio-emotionally. The year of isolation really took a toll on everything," she said. "Kids are resilient, but to hear that across the board in all different kinds of schools, it's kind of mind-blowing.In a June 2021 study, the U.S. Surgeon General's office reported depressive and anxiety symptoms double during the pandemic, with 25 percent of young people experiencing depressive symptoms and 20 percent experiencing anxiety. Suspected suicide attempts increased 51 percent for girls and 4 percent for boys compared to 2019."It's a combination of everything we've talked about — feelings of isolation, exposure to things through screen time, this extremely difficult situation for kids and for parents," Brown said. "There's been an increase in suicidal behaviors and that is very concerning."<h2>Staffing </h2>Like most every sector in the U.S. economy, mental health health providers are struggling with staffing issues in their clinics."We are absolutely overwhelmed, much more so than we were in the first year of the pandemic. The need is through the roof," Jones-Hazledine said. "Most practices out here, there are two- to three-month waiting lists. This is source of great stress to the providers in my practice."Wassom said Katie's Way sees patients from eastern to far western Kansas."It speaks to the shortage of certain types of providers across the whole state," he said. Brown agreed, noting her clinic is seeking an additional behavior health professional, as well a additional nursing staff.Jones-Hazledine said she had to enforce a mandated break over the holidays. Her staff is actively doing things to prevent what she called "compassion fatigue" and burnout. &nbsp;<h2>Solutions</h2>The U.S. Surgeon General's office said "there is much to be done" to support the mental health of children, including:•&nbsp;Recognizing mental health is an essential part of overall health. •&nbsp;Empowering youth and their families to recognize, manage and learn from difficult emotions. •&nbsp;Ensuring every child has access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent mental health care. •&nbsp;Supporting the mental health of children in educational, community and child care settings. •&nbsp;Addressing economic and social barriers to care. •&nbsp;Increasing data collection to more rapidly identify mental health needs.Brown said access to services is crucial, as well as shaking the concept that mental health concerns is viewed through a stigmatized lens."Mental health has been seen like it's something to be ashamed of forever. The reality is it's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Everyone has felt sad, anxious, depressed —&nbsp;but there is help. It's important for people not to enter with that bias that it's something wrong."The more open people are to getting help, the more likely it is that it can be overcome and it can get better."Wassom said there might be a silver lining in the pandemic for some children."I've got some hopeful optimism. When you look at research of adverse events, there are still a lot of kids out there who have good resiliency, good support and positive relationships," he said. "They can come through fairly stressful situations fairly well developed. They could be strengthened and have developed new skills that other generations don't have."<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">The U.S. Surgeon General's report</a> issued a series of recommendations for schools, families, communities, the media, providers and others to help more young people navigate mental health issues."If we each start reorienting our priorities to create accessible space in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities for seeking and giving assistance, we can all start building a culture that normalizes and promotes mental health care," the report said. "This is the moment to demand change — with our voices and with our actions. Only when we do will we be able to protect, strengthen, and support the health and safety of all children, adolescents, and young adults — and ensure everyone has a platform to thrive."Cover image by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@vesky?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Vesky</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/teen-depression?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>