Three-day weather outlook

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that as of January 2, two lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) have been added to the Kansas Newborn Screening blood spot panel: Pompe Disease and Mucopolysaccharidoses I (MPS I).

With this change, Kansas is now screening for 34 of the 35 conditions on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. This screening will be part of the standard blood spot screening conducted shortly after birth.

 While Kansas is not the first state to add Pompe and MPS I to the blood spot screening panel, it is now one of only 23 states to routinely screen for these two LSDs.

Lysosomal storage disorders are a group of diseases that prevent cells from breaking down fats and sugar, causing them to swell. Cells that swell due to LSD causes tissue damage that can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as muscle weakness, enlarged heart, feeding difficulties, intellectual disability and retinal degeneration.

Pompe and MPS I are disorders that are inherited from unaffected parents. When both parents carry a gene for one of these disorders there is a 25% chance their child will be affected by the disorder. Pompe has an incidence rate of 1 in 40,000 and MPS I has an incidence rate of 1 in 100,000. Given these rates, KDHE’s Kansas Newborn Screening Program expects to identify approximately one Kansas infant per year affected by Pompe and one every year and half affected by MPS I.

As with all conditions on the Kansas Newborn Screening panel, treatments are available for these conditions and are most effective when started early. Early detection and treatment for LSDs can help prevent severe disability, early death and can help babies have the best possible quality of life.

About the Kansas Newborn Screening Program

The Kansas Newborn Screening Program has screened babies for rare and serious conditions at no charge to families since 1965, starting with screening newborns for phenylketonuria (PKU). Most babies are born healthy. However, some are born with serious medical conditions that may not be visible at birth. Left untreated, these conditions can cause permanent disability or death. 

Over the years the program has added 31 additional disorders to its panel including hearing loss, critical congenital heart defects, and 29 additional genetic and metabolic disorders.

&nbsp;<a>Over 36,700 babies received this essential service in 2019, saving 20 lives and preventing serious illness or disability for more than 200 Kansas children.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606254798986.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHEThe Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that as of January 2, two lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) have been added to the Kansas Newborn Screening blood spot panel: Pompe Disease and Mucopolysaccharidoses I (MPS I).With this change, Kansas is now screening for 34 of the 35 conditions on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. This screening will be part of the standard blood spot screening conducted shortly after birth. While Kansas is not the first state to add Pompe and MPS I to the blood spot screening panel, it is now one of only 23 states to routinely screen for these two LSDs.Lysosomal storage disorders are a group of diseases that prevent cells from breaking down fats and sugar, causing them to swell. Cells that swell due to LSD causes tissue damage that can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as muscle weakness, enlarged heart, feeding difficulties, intellectual disability and retinal degeneration.Pompe and MPS I are disorders that are inherited from unaffected parents. When both parents carry a gene for one of these disorders there is a 25% chance their child will be affected by the disorder. Pompe has an incidence rate of 1 in 40,000 and MPS I has an incidence rate of 1 in 100,000. Given these rates, KDHE’s Kansas Newborn Screening Program expects to identify approximately one Kansas infant per year affected by Pompe and one every year and half affected by MPS I.As with all conditions on the Kansas Newborn Screening panel, treatments are available for these conditions and are most effective when started early. Early detection and treatment for LSDs can help prevent severe disability, early death and can help babies have the best possible quality of life.About the Kansas Newborn Screening ProgramThe Kansas Newborn Screening Program has screened babies for rare and serious conditions at no charge to families since 1965, starting with screening newborns for phenylketonuria (PKU). Most babies are born healthy. However, some are born with serious medical conditions that may not be visible at birth. Left untreated, these conditions can cause permanent disability or death. Over the years the program has added 31 additional disorders to its panel including hearing loss, critical congenital heart defects, and 29 additional genetic and metabolic disorders.&nbsp;<a>Over 36,700 babies received this essential service in 2019, saving 20 lives and preventing serious illness or disability for more than 200 Kansas children.</a>

KDHE: Kansas expands newborn screening

TOPEKA –&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is accepting entries for the 2021 Missing Children’s Day poster contest, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced.

All Kansas fifth grade students, from public, private, or home schools, are invited to create and submit artwork that represents the contest theme “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.” The artwork must be original, handcrafted, 8 ½ x 14 inches in size, and contain the words “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.”

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day. The annual national poster contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and/or exploited children with youth, parents and guardians and to promote child safety.

“This contest creates awareness for the children who are missing, while also providing parents and teachers an opportunity to talk to kids about what to do if they’re approached by strangers,” Schmidt said.

KBI Director Kirk Thompson added, “While this contest is for fifth graders, we know how important it is for parents to take time to discuss appropriate safety measures with each of their children.”

The winner’s poster will also represent Kansas in the national contest. 

The national poster contest winner, along with his or her parents and teacher, will be eligible for a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony in May 2021.

Complete contest rules and application forms are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg</a>.

Kansas has been participating in the annual “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” poster contest since 2008. 

The 2020 state contest winner was Josiah Mdoe of Topeka who attends Stout Elementary School. Josiah’s winning poster can be viewed at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609796474669.jpeg" alt="2020 state contest winning poster by Josiah Mdoe of Topeka who attends Stout Elementary School." />
 <figcaption>2020 state contest winning poster by Josiah Mdoe of Topeka who attends Stout Elementary School.</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Attorney GeneralTOPEKA –&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is accepting entries for the 2021 Missing Children’s Day poster contest, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced.All Kansas fifth grade students, from public, private, or home schools, are invited to create and submit artwork that represents the contest theme “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.” The artwork must be original, handcrafted, 8 ½ x 14 inches in size, and contain the words “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.”In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day. The annual national poster contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and/or exploited children with youth, parents and guardians and to promote child safety.“This contest creates awareness for the children who are missing, while also providing parents and teachers an opportunity to talk to kids about what to do if they’re approached by strangers,” Schmidt said.KBI Director Kirk Thompson added, “While this contest is for fifth graders, we know how important it is for parents to take time to discuss appropriate safety measures with each of their children.”The winner’s poster will also represent Kansas in the national contest. The national poster contest winner, along with his or her parents and teacher, will be eligible for a trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony in May 2021.Entries must be received by Feb. 19. Complete contest rules and application forms are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg</a>.Kansas has been participating in the annual “Bringing Our Missing Children Home” poster contest since 2008. The 2020 state contest winner was Josiah Mdoe of Topeka who attends Stout Elementary School. Josiah’s winning poster can be viewed at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2P4CVfg</a>.

National Missing Children's Day poster contest opens to 5th graders

The TMP boys and girls open the 2021 calendar year in Salina tonight against Sacred Heart. Both Monarchs teams are 4-1 on the year.

The girls game is set for 6 p.m. with the pregame show set for 5:40 p.m.

&nbsp; &nbsp; You can also listen to the games&nbsp; on&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHAZ">99.5 KHAZ</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The TMP boys and girls open the 2021 calendar year in Salina tonight against Sacred Heart. Both Monarchs teams are 4-1 on the year.The girls game is set for 6 p.m. with the pregame show set for 5:40 p.m.Girls game<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M2ZTGORhhyU"></iframe>
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 </figure>Boys game<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M2ZTGORhhyU"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; &nbsp; You can also listen to the games&nbsp; on&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHAZ">99.5 KHAZ</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

 🏀WATCH: TMP-Marian at Sacred Heart

The Hays High basketball teams travel to Liberal Friday night for a&nbsp;Western Athletic Conference matchup.

The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow. The pregame show is set for 5:40 p.m.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;You can also listen to the games on&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">96.9 KFIX</a>

The Hays High basketball teams travel to Liberal Friday night for a&nbsp;Western Athletic Conference matchup.The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow. The pregame show is set for 5:40 p.m.Girls game<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/96KyNNl9ubw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Boys game<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sCDIlKecW98"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;You can also listen to the games on&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">96.9 KFIX</a>

 🏀WATCH: Hays High at Liberal

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday reported the average number of new coronavirus cases per day in the last seven days rose from six on Wednesday to eight on Friday.

There were 28 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Wednesday. There are currently 85 active cases, including 10 active hospitalizations of Ellis County residents, and 3,166 recovered cases.&nbsp;

As of Friday, there were 24 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, up from 22 Thursday, with 23 of those cases active and one in the recovery phase.

The seven-day average of percent of positive tests increase from 12.2 percent Wednesday to 14.7 percent Friday.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,295 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 44 coronavirus-related deaths.

Of the total 18,051 tests administered, 17.1 percent have returned positive for COVID-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610133998563.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="ECHS COVID-19 Weekly Update: Jan. 8, 2021" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/r7aqn-f70960?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth=&btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>The Ellis County Health Department on Friday reported the average number of new coronavirus cases per day in the last seven days rose from six on Wednesday to eight on Friday.There were 28 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Wednesday. There are currently 85 active cases, including 10 active hospitalizations of Ellis County residents, and 3,166 recovered cases.&nbsp;As of Friday, there were 24 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, up from 22 Thursday, with 23 of those cases active and one in the recovery phase.The seven-day average of percent of positive tests increase from 12.2 percent Wednesday to 14.7 percent Friday.Since reporting began, there have been 3,295 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 44 coronavirus-related deaths.Of the total 18,051 tests administered, 17.1 percent have returned positive for COVID-19.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rnw0R-SGsnA"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Sponsored</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎙 Per-day virus rate rises in Ellis Co.; 28 new cases reported

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday announced that 28 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,295 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7db295cd-2b88-4e97-9c8b-1ba46d3527f6">RELATED: Per-day virus rate rises in Ellis County.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610133998563.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday announced that 28 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.Since reporting began, there have been 3,295 cases of coronavirus identified in Ellis County.As of Friday, there were 24 COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, up from 22 Thursday, with 23 of those cases active and one in the recovery phase.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7db295cd-2b88-4e97-9c8b-1ba46d3527f6">RELATED: Per-day virus rate rises in Ellis County.</a><figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rnw0R-SGsnA"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Sponsored</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: 28 new cases of COVID-19 in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell.

*This episode originally aired on Oct. 30, 2020.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/egf5k-f0dfc6?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell.*This episode originally aired on Oct. 30, 2020.

🎤Forward Ever: NCTA President and CEO Michael Powell

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A new group in Plainville has plans to build three sets of trails in Rooks County with designs on expanding trails throughout northwest Kansas.

Newly chartered in 2020, the Prairie Frontier Trails Association hopes to build a pump track within Plainville city limits. This would be a short looping track for mountain bikers and BMX riders to practice their basic skills.

The second project is a park with looping ATV trails.&nbsp;Bret Greenwood, executive director of the trails association, said a site for this park has yet to be determined. The park would have about 5 miles of trails once it is complete.

The third project would be phased improvements to the trails at the Plainville Township Lake. Although those trails are heavily used by ATVs, the association would like to convert them into walking, biking and equestrian trails with a total distance of 6 to 7 miles in the system once the project is fully complete. The lake trails would be eventually closed to ATVs.

In its most recent round of grants, the Heartland Community Foundation awarded the association $20,000 for what Greenwood called a "wish list" of items to help volunteers begin working on the trail projects.

Among the items the association will purchase with the grant money will be a Kansas Trail Council Trail in a Box. This package includes shovels, picks and chainsaws that are necessary to clear and maintain trails.

The association will buy surveying equipment so the trails can be laid out with the appropriate grade.

The grant funds will be used to purchase a drone for the association that will be used for a variety of purposes.

During the planning process, the drone will be used to help with surveying. It will also be used for marketing purposes to film the progress of the trails as they are developed. The association can use it to track unauthorized users on the trail. Greenwood said the association would also make the drone available to the local fire department.

The last item on the list will be trail cameras to be used on the lake trails to document trail use. The group hopes to see trail use increase over time, and the camera will allow the association to track if the trails are being used by pedestrians, bicyclists or horseback riders.&nbsp;

The association doesn't wish to capture faces, Greenwood said, and the footage will be erased after the group gathers the data it needs.&nbsp;

The association was in part sparked by Greenwood's passion for the outdoors. He is an avid cyclist and found when he moved to Plainville from Topeka, few opportunities for biking were available.

Rural northwest Kansas doesn't have a lot of paved roads, and the highways can be dangerous for cyclists because they have narrow shoulders and heavy truck and farm traffic.

About the same time Greenwood moved to the area, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation was conducting its Strategic Doing focus groups. Activities for both youth and older residents were among the needs identified. Greenwood said trails fill the need for both groups.

The Kansas Trail Council also was conducting meetings in the area to determine the need and interest for trails in northwest Kansas at the time.

The association has become a partner with the Plainville Wellness Coalition, which received a $200,000 grant in July from Blue Cross Blue Shield to promote health initiatives in the community during the next four years.

"I certainly believe there is a positive vibe for increasing the opportunities for healthy living and healthy choices through getting out and walking, running, hiking cycling, and that kind of exercise, Greenwood said. ...

"Research is showing more and more [getting outdoors] has such a positive impact on our physical health as well as our emotional health."

The timing of the association's projects is heavily dependent on funding, Greenwood said. Each mile of trail will cost $20,000 to $30,000. In addition, the lake trail project will require two bridges, which will cost an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 each.

The first phase of the lake trails project would be 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 miles, depending on the final design.

"Our goal as the&nbsp;Prairie Frontier Trails Association is to not just slap things together. We want to design and build the trails to the highest quality standards according to best practices established in this field," Greenwood said.

The association plans to use the national parks and national forest guidelines as well as transportation load specification for the bridges.

Greenwood said he would like to start work on the first phase of lake trail project as soon as this year. However, he said each phase could take two to three years to complete, depending on fundraising.&nbsp;

He also hopped to begin work on the pump track this year if the estimated $30,ooo in funding needed can be secured. A majority of the cost will be for special soil that will need to be trucked into the site.

The ATV trail park will be a longer term project because land may need to purchased. Cost of the ATV trail would likely be about $20,000 per mile for five miles, plus the cost to purchase land or a lease agreement.

"Once land is acquired, it will take a year or two to design and build the initial courses on the land, and we will probably see long-term expansion over the next 10 to 20 years as we add trails and make improvements to the property as we go," Greenwood said.&nbsp;

"That is not a bad thing because year to year you may come out to visit and find a new trail or loop you haven't seen before and that's exciting. 'I'm going to go ride that and see how it goes.' "

Group hopes trails bring new faces to community

Association members hope the trails will bring new faces to Plainville.

"What we are hoping for is that once we have the trails developed here in Plainville, we'll be able to draw in people not just from neighboring communities to use our trails," Greenwood said, "but across the state and Nebraska and Colorado — that people passing through will take time to stop and see what we have, like what we have and hopefully come back."

Trails in a community also tend to mean higher home prices, Greendwood said.

"Plainville has a lot of vacant lots, and some of those lots are slowly filling in" he said. "I think once we have an established trail system at the nearby township lake that buyer demand for homes in Plainville will increase."

The association is starting in Plainville because that is where Greenwood and the current members live. However, Greenwood said he would like to see the trail building effort spread across northwest Kansas.

Those interested in donating to or volunteering with the association can follow the group on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pftrails">Facebook page</a>. A website for the association is set to launch this week. Once the website launches, people will be able to donate through the website using a credit card or electronic check.

Those who are wishing to make a large donation or are interested in a sponsorship should email the group at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@prairiefrontiertrails.org" target="_blank">info@prairiefrontiertrails.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609968661327.jpeg" alt="Prairie Frontier Trails Association Secretary Nathaniel Sanchez takes measurements for a pump track in Plainville. The track will be used by BMX and mountain bikers to improve their basic skills. Courtesy photos " />
 <figcaption>Prairie Frontier Trails Association Secretary Nathaniel Sanchez takes measurements for a pump track in Plainville. The track will be used by BMX and mountain bikers to improve their basic skills. Courtesy photos </figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA new group in Plainville has plans to build three sets of trails in Rooks County with designs on expanding trails throughout northwest Kansas.Newly chartered in 2020, the Prairie Frontier Trails Association hopes to build a pump track within Plainville city limits. This would be a short looping track for mountain bikers and BMX riders to practice their basic skills.The second project is a park with looping ATV trails.&nbsp;Bret Greenwood, executive director of the trails association, said a site for this park has yet to be determined. The park would have about 5 miles of trails once it is complete.The third project would be phased improvements to the trails at the Plainville Township Lake. Although those trails are heavily used by ATVs, the association would like to convert them into walking, biking and equestrian trails with a total distance of 6 to 7 miles in the system once the project is fully complete. The lake trails would be eventually closed to ATVs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609968860407.jpeg" alt="As many as 30 people turned out for the 1 p.m. First Day Trail Hike at Plainville Township Lake. The&nbsp;Prairie Frontier Trails Association hopes to build a series of trails at the lake for hiking, biking and horseback riding." />
 <figcaption>As many as 30 people turned out for the 1 p.m. First Day Trail Hike at Plainville Township Lake. The&nbsp;Prairie Frontier Trails Association hopes to build a series of trails at the lake for hiking, biking and horseback riding.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Heartland Foundation funds 'wish list'</h2>In its most recent round of grants, the Heartland Community Foundation awarded the association $20,000 for what Greenwood called a "wish list" of items to help volunteers begin working on the trail projects.Among the items the association will purchase with the grant money will be a Kansas Trail Council Trail in a Box. This package includes shovels, picks and chainsaws that are necessary to clear and maintain trails.The association will buy surveying equipment so the trails can be laid out with the appropriate grade.The grant funds will be used to purchase a drone for the association that will be used for a variety of purposes.During the planning process, the drone will be used to help with surveying. It will also be used for marketing purposes to film the progress of the trails as they are developed. The association can use it to track unauthorized users on the trail. Greenwood said the association would also make the drone available to the local fire department.The last item on the list will be trail cameras to be used on the lake trails to document trail use. The group hopes to see trail use increase over time, and the camera will allow the association to track if the trails are being used by pedestrians, bicyclists or horseback riders.&nbsp;The association doesn't wish to capture faces, Greenwood said, and the footage will be erased after the group gathers the data it needs.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609968961747.jpeg" alt="Walkers following a guided tour of proposed trail expansion at Plainville Township Lake as part of a First Day Hike presented by Prairie Frontier Trails Association." />
 <figcaption>Walkers following a guided tour of proposed trail expansion at Plainville Township Lake as part of a First Day Hike presented by Prairie Frontier Trails Association.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Trails connect community to outdoors</h2>The association was in part sparked by Greenwood's passion for the outdoors. He is an avid cyclist and found when he moved to Plainville from Topeka, few opportunities for biking were available.Rural northwest Kansas doesn't have a lot of paved roads, and the highways can be dangerous for cyclists because they have narrow shoulders and heavy truck and farm traffic.About the same time Greenwood moved to the area, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation was conducting its Strategic Doing focus groups. Activities for both youth and older residents were among the needs identified. Greenwood said trails fill the need for both groups.The Kansas Trail Council also was conducting meetings in the area to determine the need and interest for trails in northwest Kansas at the time.The association has become a partner with the Plainville Wellness Coalition, which received a $200,000 grant in July from Blue Cross Blue Shield to promote health initiatives in the community during the next four years."I certainly believe there is a positive vibe for increasing the opportunities for healthy living and healthy choices through getting out and walking, running, hiking cycling, and that kind of exercise, Greenwood said. ..."Research is showing more and more [getting outdoors] has such a positive impact on our physical health as well as our emotional health."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609969021406.jpeg" alt="Walkers tread on snow and ice in the shadows during a tour of proposed trail expansion on a First Day Hike at Plainville Township Lake." />
 <figcaption>Walkers tread on snow and ice in the shadows during a tour of proposed trail expansion on a First Day Hike at Plainville Township Lake.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Funding to dictate timing</h2>The timing of the association's projects is heavily dependent on funding, Greenwood said. Each mile of trail will cost $20,000 to $30,000. In addition, the lake trail project will require two bridges, which will cost an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 each.The first phase of the lake trails project would be 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 miles, depending on the final design."Our goal as the&nbsp;Prairie Frontier Trails Association is to not just slap things together. We want to design and build the trails to the highest quality standards according to best practices established in this field," Greenwood said.The association plans to use the national parks and national forest guidelines as well as transportation load specification for the bridges.Greenwood said he would like to start work on the first phase of lake trail project as soon as this year. However, he said each phase could take two to three years to complete, depending on fundraising.&nbsp;He also hopped to begin work on the pump track this year if the estimated $30,ooo in funding needed can be secured. A majority of the cost will be for special soil that will need to be trucked into the site.The ATV trail park will be a longer term project because land may need to purchased. Cost of the ATV trail would likely be about $20,000 per mile for five miles, plus the cost to purchase land or a lease agreement."Once land is acquired, it will take a year or two to design and build the initial courses on the land, and we will probably see long-term expansion over the next 10 to 20 years as we add trails and make improvements to the property as we go," Greenwood said.&nbsp;"That is not a bad thing because year to year you may come out to visit and find a new trail or loop you haven't seen before and that's exciting. 'I'm going to go ride that and see how it goes.' "<h2>Group hopes trails bring new faces to community</h2>Association members hope the trails will bring new faces to Plainville."What we are hoping for is that once we have the trails developed here in Plainville, we'll be able to draw in people not just from neighboring communities to use our trails," Greenwood said, "but across the state and Nebraska and Colorado — that people passing through will take time to stop and see what we have, like what we have and hopefully come back."Trails in a community also tend to mean higher home prices, Greendwood said."Plainville has a lot of vacant lots, and some of those lots are slowly filling in" he said. "I think once we have an established trail system at the nearby township lake that buyer demand for homes in Plainville will increase."The association is starting in Plainville because that is where Greenwood and the current members live. However, Greenwood said he would like to see the trail building effort spread across northwest Kansas.Those interested in donating to or volunteering with the association can follow the group on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pftrails">Facebook page</a>. A website for the association is set to launch this week. Once the website launches, people will be able to donate through the website using a credit card or electronic check.Those who are wishing to make a large donation or are interested in a sponsorship should email the group at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@prairiefrontiertrails.org" target="_blank">info@prairiefrontiertrails.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

On foot, hoof or wheels: Group plans trail systems around Plainville

By DANIEL MCCLURE Fort Hays State University

A recent <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-misinformation-123020">poll by NPR/Ipsos</a> outlines the new reality for the United States: Conspiracies have entered the mainstream of political thought.

<a href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-12/topline_npr_misinformation_poll_123020.pdf">More than one in three Americans</a>
 embrace the idea of a “deep state” seeking to undermine President 
Donald Trump, and 40% believe “COVID-19 was created in a lab in China.” 
When asked whether “a group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child 
sex ring are trying to control our politics and media,” only 47% said it
 was false, while 37% were “unsure whether this theory backed by QAnon 
is true or false” and 17% “believe it’s true.”

As Joe Biden assumes the 
presidency, this hyper-polarization doesn’t look good. At the same time,
 conspiracy theories are at the root of United States history, including
 in Kansas. One of the driving forces of the American Revolution was the
 conspiracy suggesting the British were going to deprive the colonists 
of their liberties — particularly the right to enslave, as the abolition
 of slavery in the British empire became increasingly inevitable.

As Kansans cautiously enter 2021, historian <a href="https://history.uoregon.edu/profile/jostler/">Jeffrey Ostler</a>’s work on conspiracy theories during the state’s populist movement of the 1890s helps make sense of the seemingly insensible.

Dismissing psychological 
reasons for conspiracies, Ostler approaches them as a core element of 
politics rooted in the idea of liberty, individual rights, the 
sovereignty of the people, and virtuous citizens performing civic duties
 — i.e., “republican virtues” (republican with a small R). Just as 
today’s world of wealth concentration and technological surveillance 
provokes a nation of anxious people worried about losing their sovereign
 rights, Kansas populists also believed their individual liberties were 
threatened by forces out of their control.

In attempting to create a 
third political party, Kansas populist leaders embraced a conspiracy 
theory drawn from Sarah E. V. Emery’s “<a href="https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203947">Seven Financial Conspiracies Which Have Enslaved the American People</a>”
 (printed in various editions between 1887 and 1896) to mobilize people.
 This pamphlet targeted the GOP — the dominant party in Kansas in the 
late 19th century — charging it with aiding nefarious forces that had 
supposedly pushed Kansans from being independent and prosperous people 
into a new life of “unremitting, half-requited toil.”

In response to genuine 
economic realities, Kansas populists saw their republican virtues under 
attack from these nefarious forces. In particular, Emery’s pamphlet 
charged Wall Street with seizing the national economy in the wake of the
 Civil War, as well as older national villains, such as the English, in 
accomplishing this anti-republican putsch. Drawing off still smoldering 
Jacksonian ideas about the “money power” of banks and their danger 
towards liberties, the new conspiracy drew on what Ostler suggests was 
“the need for a new antimonopoly party.” Emery’s conspiracy provided a 
balm for the patchwork of anxieties imagining the death of the republic.

Rather than simply 
dismissing beliefs in conspiracies, Ostler highlights how embracing 
conspiracy theories reflected the political impotency, economic hardship
 and indifference from mainstream political parties felt by many Kansas 
farmers and workers between the 1870s and 1890s. Emery’s pamphlet 
“helped explain the GOP’s intransigence” and was not simply a product of
 simplistic psychological naivety. Rather, it justified “political 
independence” from the GOP.

These familiar patterns offer a starting point for bipartisan engagement.

Ostler points to one 
inconvenient political truth for 21st century U.S. politics. A key 
element of unrest in Kansas was the populists’ complex relationship to 
capitalism and the American republic: They “accepted some aspects of a 
market economy, but they invoked ideals of liberty and independence to 
denounce monopoly, speculation, inequality of wealth, and deferential 
politics.”

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/23/were-so-close-to-civil-war-everyone-can-smell-the-smoke/">Today’s polarization</a>
 and embrace of Trumpian conspiracies reflects a similar unrest, as many
 people struggle within an economic system put in place by conservatives
 in the 1980s that has largely failed to deliver to the constituents 
supporting the GOP. Only the rich have prospered. Meanwhile, Democrats 
fail to capitalize on this discontent because they, too, were complicit.

Struggling to overturn 
conspiracies appears to only harden the lines of polarization. If Kansas
 progressives, Democrats and Republicans want to seek some sort of 
dialogue with folks more inclined to view <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/04/why-students-in-an-emporia-state-alternative-facts-class-are-not-happy-with-their-elders/">QAnon as the gospel truth</a>, they must invest party resources in outreach addressing concrete needs.

They should critique the 
concentration of wealth — what populists called “monopoly” — and focus 
on ways to keep money circulating through local communities via the 
support of small business and farmers who do not receive generous 
subsidies. And they should embrace infrastructure development aimed 
toward the needs of the 95% rather than the 1%.

These policies should be transparent and constructive. This is the way out — and this is progress.

Daniel Robert McClure is an assistant professor of United States history at Fort Hays State University. His scholarship explores the history of conservatism, capitalism, popular media and African American history. McClure’s forthcoming book, "Winter in America: A Cultural History of Neoliberalism, from the Sixties to the Reagan Revolution," will be published in 2021 by the University of North Carolina Press. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/08/kansas-history-suggests-a-path-away-from-conspiracy-theories-and-their-violent-mobs/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610139898275.png" alt="The scene at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka on Feb. 15, 1893. According to the Kansas State Historical Society, a mob gathered "after an attempt to disarm a member of the militia during the Populist War. This dispute began when both the Republican and Populist parties claimed victory in the Kansas House elections in 1892. A number of contests were still being disputed when the legislative session began in January 1893. The conflict between the parties reached a crisis when the Populists locked themselves in the House Hall. The Republicans used a sledgehammer to break down the doors to the hall." (kansasmemory.org/Kansas State Historical Society)" />
 <figcaption>The scene at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka on Feb. 15, 1893. According to the Kansas State Historical Society, a mob gathered "after an attempt to disarm a member of the militia during the Populist War. This dispute began when both the Republican and Populist parties claimed victory in the Kansas House elections in 1892. A number of contests were still being disputed when the legislative session began in January 1893. The conflict between the parties reached a crisis when the Populists locked themselves in the House Hall. The Republicans used a sledgehammer to break down the doors to the hall." (kansasmemory.org/Kansas State Historical Society)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANIEL MCCLURE Fort Hays State UniversityA recent <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/npr-misinformation-123020">poll by NPR/Ipsos</a> outlines the new reality for the United States: Conspiracies have entered the mainstream of political thought.<a href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2020-12/topline_npr_misinformation_poll_123020.pdf">More than one in three Americans</a>
 embrace the idea of a “deep state” seeking to undermine President 
Donald Trump, and 40% believe “COVID-19 was created in a lab in China.” 
When asked whether “a group of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child 
sex ring are trying to control our politics and media,” only 47% said it
 was false, while 37% were “unsure whether this theory backed by QAnon 
is true or false” and 17% “believe it’s true.”As Joe Biden assumes the 
presidency, this hyper-polarization doesn’t look good. At the same time,
 conspiracy theories are at the root of United States history, including
 in Kansas. One of the driving forces of the American Revolution was the
 conspiracy suggesting the British were going to deprive the colonists 
of their liberties — particularly the right to enslave, as the abolition
 of slavery in the British empire became increasingly inevitable.As Kansans cautiously enter 2021, historian <a href="https://history.uoregon.edu/profile/jostler/">Jeffrey Ostler</a>’s work on conspiracy theories during the state’s populist movement of the 1890s helps make sense of the seemingly insensible.Dismissing psychological 
reasons for conspiracies, Ostler approaches them as a core element of 
politics rooted in the idea of liberty, individual rights, the 
sovereignty of the people, and virtuous citizens performing civic duties
 — i.e., “republican virtues” (republican with a small R). Just as 
today’s world of wealth concentration and technological surveillance 
provokes a nation of anxious people worried about losing their sovereign
 rights, Kansas populists also believed their individual liberties were 
threatened by forces out of their control.In attempting to create a 
third political party, Kansas populist leaders embraced a conspiracy 
theory drawn from Sarah E. V. Emery’s “<a href="https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/203947">Seven Financial Conspiracies Which Have Enslaved the American People</a>”
 (printed in various editions between 1887 and 1896) to mobilize people.
 This pamphlet targeted the GOP — the dominant party in Kansas in the 
late 19th century — charging it with aiding nefarious forces that had 
supposedly pushed Kansans from being independent and prosperous people 
into a new life of “unremitting, half-requited toil.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610139965047.jpeg" alt="Sarah E. V. Emery’s “Seven Financial Conspiracies Which Have Enslaved the American People” targeted the Kansas GOP in the late nineteenth century, charging it with aiding nefarious forces that had supposedly pushed Kansans from being independent and prosperous people into a new life of “unremitting, half-requited toil.”" />
 <figcaption>Sarah E. V. Emery’s “Seven Financial Conspiracies Which Have Enslaved the American People” targeted the Kansas GOP in the late nineteenth century, charging it with aiding nefarious forces that had supposedly pushed Kansans from being independent and prosperous people into a new life of “unremitting, half-requited toil.”</figcaption>
 </figure>In response to genuine 
economic realities, Kansas populists saw their republican virtues under 
attack from these nefarious forces. In particular, Emery’s pamphlet 
charged Wall Street with seizing the national economy in the wake of the
 Civil War, as well as older national villains, such as the English, in 
accomplishing this anti-republican putsch. Drawing off still smoldering 
Jacksonian ideas about the “money power” of banks and their danger 
towards liberties, the new conspiracy drew on what Ostler suggests was 
“the need for a new antimonopoly party.” Emery’s conspiracy provided a 
balm for the patchwork of anxieties imagining the death of the republic.Rather than simply 
dismissing beliefs in conspiracies, Ostler highlights how embracing 
conspiracy theories reflected the political impotency, economic hardship
 and indifference from mainstream political parties felt by many Kansas 
farmers and workers between the 1870s and 1890s. Emery’s pamphlet 
“helped explain the GOP’s intransigence” and was not simply a product of
 simplistic psychological naivety. Rather, it justified “political 
independence” from the GOP.These familiar patterns offer a starting point for bipartisan engagement.Ostler points to one 
inconvenient political truth for 21st century U.S. politics. A key 
element of unrest in Kansas was the populists’ complex relationship to 
capitalism and the American republic: They “accepted some aspects of a 
market economy, but they invoked ideals of liberty and independence to 
denounce monopoly, speculation, inequality of wealth, and deferential 
politics.”<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/23/were-so-close-to-civil-war-everyone-can-smell-the-smoke/">Today’s polarization</a>
 and embrace of Trumpian conspiracies reflects a similar unrest, as many
 people struggle within an economic system put in place by conservatives
 in the 1980s that has largely failed to deliver to the constituents 
supporting the GOP. Only the rich have prospered. Meanwhile, Democrats 
fail to capitalize on this discontent because they, too, were complicit.Struggling to overturn 
conspiracies appears to only harden the lines of polarization. If Kansas
 progressives, Democrats and Republicans want to seek some sort of 
dialogue with folks more inclined to view <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/12/04/why-students-in-an-emporia-state-alternative-facts-class-are-not-happy-with-their-elders/">QAnon as the gospel truth</a>, they must invest party resources in outreach addressing concrete needs.They should critique the 
concentration of wealth — what populists called “monopoly” — and focus 
on ways to keep money circulating through local communities via the 
support of small business and farmers who do not receive generous 
subsidies. And they should embrace infrastructure development aimed 
toward the needs of the 95% rather than the 1%.These policies should be transparent and constructive. This is the way out — and this is progress.Daniel Robert McClure is an assistant professor of United States history at Fort Hays State University. His scholarship explores the history of conservatism, capitalism, popular media and African American history. McClure’s forthcoming book, "Winter in America: A Cultural History of Neoliberalism, from the Sixties to the Reagan Revolution," will be published in 2021 by the University of North Carolina Press. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/08/kansas-history-suggests-a-path-away-from-conspiracy-theories-and-their-violent-mobs/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

OPINION: Kan. history suggests path away from conspiracy theories, mobs

By Becky Kiser Hays Post

The operating procedures of the Kansas legislature will be different for the 2021 session due to the coronavirus pandemic, "we don't want problems to be brushed aside," said Rep. Barb Wasinger, Hays.

The second-term legislator and incumbent Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland, both Republicans, spoke , Thursday night during the Hays city commission work session about issues they anticipate will be considered this year.

Beginning Monday, the 125 state representatives will be in session in Topeka every day as normal, but will communicate with each other in their offices using video conferencing software Webex and the internet, Wasinger reported.

When it's time to vote on a bill, the House reps will be on the floor - just one day a week - and they'll be spread out, even into the visitors' gallery. They'll be using laptop computers to vote.

State law requires legislators to vote on the statehouse floor and nowhere else.

"So whatever day it ends up being we vote, we'll be doing a lot of voting and a lot of discussions," Wasinger said. "It's all new. We're going to try everything and see how it goes."

Social distancing - and business as usual - will be easier for the Kansas senate, with just 40 members.

Wasinger remains on the same committees as she was last term and for the first time will serve as vice-chair of the Higher Education Budget Committee. She will also chair the Joint Rules and Regulations Committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Although she expects the first few days of the session to be jumbled, Wasinger said there are a lot of pre-filed bills. "I know there is a [anti-] stalking bill that's coming up."

"We'll most certainly be discussing emergency powers for the governor because as they were written in the last session, they expire on January 26th."

According to Sen. Billinger, this is the first time the Emergency Powers Act has been used for a pandemic. 

"It needs further adjustment," Billinger said.&nbsp;

In an attempt to bring down the 6.5 percent sales tax on food, Wasinger said the state will look at enforcing equitable sales taxes for online companies doing business in Kansas as bricks and mortar businesses charge their customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Apparently, Kindle (a series of e-readers designed and marketed by Amazon) and other places have not been taxed in Kansas. It would bring in about $26 million a year, bringing down the food sales tax down incrementally."

Kansas is among the top 13 states with the highest food sales tax in the country.

Vice-mayor Sandy Jacobs - who will be installed as mayor next week - asked about the trending population shift from rural counties to urban areas such as Wichita.

"That means less political clout," Jacobs said, "and it's going to be tougher to get things done in western Kansas. How do you hope to work through that?"

"It's something that we can't avoid," Wasinger answered. She talked about the possibility of redistricting.

"The rural caucus that we have in the house - and I know that the senate does too - we have to stand together. We can't be bickering. Look at our national [Congress.]&nbsp;

"We're fortunate that Rick has been such a strong voice for western Kansas and has always stood up for us."&nbsp;

Wasinger also talked about problems in the state's foster care system and alleged harassment and intimidation issues within the Kansas Highway Patrol that still need to be addressed.&nbsp;

"I've talked to foster care parents around here and they want the state to follow foster care kids wherever they go. And they're right. So many times you can't see where a child was before.

"Communication needs to improve. You can find your phone from anywhere but we can't find our foster care kids. That's a sin," Wasinger declared.

Billinger's role in the Kansas Senate has changed in 2021.

"I've agreed to chair the Ways and Means Committee and by doing that I'm not going to serve on any other committees," Billinger told city commissioners. "I'll be involved in every budget that comes through. That's enough on one plate," he laughed.

Billinger has been spending a lot of time working with Kansans who are in dire need of financial help because of the pandemic.

"Months and months into this we still have folks that have not received unemployment.&nbsp;

"We have a disaster in the [Kansas] Department of Labor. We can blame everybody we want to blame but we're not fixing it.

"When you get an email from folks that don't have food, can't pay the gas or electric bill, the water's being shut off, they're losing their cars and homes, it's sad," Billinger said.

 "We've got to do better. Barb and I are going to do everything we can to make sure people get help."

Billinger also talked about COVID-19 vaccines in Kansas, saying the state is not doing a good job of distributing the supplies and eligible people are being left out of the process.&nbsp;

He talked on Wednesday with Dr. Norman Lee, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, about the need for better communication between the state and local entities providing the shots. 

"We just need to get it distributed, especially to our seniors."

Property tax relief is likely to be among the first bills up for debate in the senate, Billinger predicts. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill last year which would have eliminated the tax lid.&nbsp;

Despite the pandemic, sales tax revenues have been better than expected for the state, as well as the city of Hays.

"Pretty much all of our taxes have been ahead of projections," Billinger reported, "including income and corporate.&nbsp;A year ago we quickly passed a budget to get out of town (ahead of pandemic restrictions). I thought at the time our projections were very, very low.

"I'm glad we're above those. It's going to make things easier, but it's still going to be tough. We're looking at some shortfalls."&nbsp;

Although many Kansas businesses have seen drastic reductions in their sales and some have even had to close their doors, Billinger noted there's been an uptick for restaurants with drive-throughs for food orders or have been able to create takeout and delivery services.

"In Goodland, the Pizza Hut said they've done so much more business that they do in a normal year."&nbsp;

Both Billinger and Wasinger promised commissioners they would continue to support Hays in seeing through its long-term water supply project at the R9 Ranch in Edwards County.&nbsp;

The Kansas legislature convenes Monday morning. Gov. Kelly will deliver her state of the state address Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610073477810.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, presented a preview of the 2021 Kansas legislative session to Hays city commissioners Thursday night." />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, presented a preview of the 2021 Kansas legislative session to Hays city commissioners Thursday night.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Becky Kiser Hays PostThe operating procedures of the Kansas legislature will be different for the 2021 session due to the coronavirus pandemic, "we don't want problems to be brushed aside," said Rep. Barb Wasinger, Hays.The second-term legislator and incumbent Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland, both Republicans, spoke , Thursday night during the Hays city commission work session about issues they anticipate will be considered this year.Beginning Monday, the 125 state representatives will be in session in Topeka every day as normal, but will communicate with each other in their offices using video conferencing software Webex and the internet, Wasinger reported.When it's time to vote on a bill, the House reps will be on the floor - just one day a week - and they'll be spread out, even into the visitors' gallery. They'll be using laptop computers to vote.State law requires legislators to vote on the statehouse floor and nowhere else."So whatever day it ends up being we vote, we'll be doing a lot of voting and a lot of discussions," Wasinger said. "It's all new. We're going to try everything and see how it goes."Social distancing - and business as usual - will be easier for the Kansas senate, with just 40 members.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rvM5ymi19_Q"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wasinger remains on the same committees as she was last term and for the first time will serve as vice-chair of the Higher Education Budget Committee. She will also chair the Joint Rules and Regulations Committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;Although she expects the first few days of the session to be jumbled, Wasinger said there are a lot of pre-filed bills. "I know there is a [anti-] stalking bill that's coming up.""We'll most certainly be discussing emergency powers for the governor because as they were written in the last session, they expire on January 26th."According to Sen. Billinger, this is the first time the Emergency Powers Act has been used for a pandemic. "It needs further adjustment," Billinger said.&nbsp;In an attempt to bring down the 6.5 percent sales tax on food, Wasinger said the state will look at enforcing equitable sales taxes for online companies doing business in Kansas as bricks and mortar businesses charge their customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Apparently, Kindle (a series of e-readers designed and marketed by Amazon) and other places have not been taxed in Kansas. It would bring in about $26 million a year, bringing down the food sales tax down incrementally."Kansas is among the top 13 states with the highest food sales tax in the country.Vice-mayor Sandy Jacobs - who will be installed as mayor next week - asked about the trending population shift from rural counties to urban areas such as Wichita."That means less political clout," Jacobs said, "and it's going to be tougher to get things done in western Kansas. How do you hope to work through that?""It's something that we can't avoid," Wasinger answered. She talked about the possibility of redistricting."The rural caucus that we have in the house - and I know that the senate does too - we have to stand together. We can't be bickering. Look at our national [Congress.]&nbsp;"We're fortunate that Rick has been such a strong voice for western Kansas and has always stood up for us."&nbsp;Wasinger also talked about problems in the state's foster care system and alleged harassment and intimidation issues within the Kansas Highway Patrol that still need to be addressed.&nbsp;"I've talked to foster care parents around here and they want the state to follow foster care kids wherever they go. And they're right. So many times you can't see where a child was before."Communication needs to improve. You can find your phone from anywhere but we can't find our foster care kids. That's a sin," Wasinger declared.Billinger's role in the Kansas Senate has changed in 2021."I've agreed to chair the Ways and Means Committee and by doing that I'm not going to serve on any other committees," Billinger told city commissioners. "I'll be involved in every budget that comes through. That's enough on one plate," he laughed.Billinger has been spending a lot of time working with Kansans who are in dire need of financial help because of the pandemic."Months and months into this we still have folks that have not received unemployment.&nbsp;"We have a disaster in the [Kansas] Department of Labor. We can blame everybody we want to blame but we're not fixing it."When you get an email from folks that don't have food, can't pay the gas or electric bill, the water's being shut off, they're losing their cars and homes, it's sad," Billinger said. "We've got to do better. Barb and I are going to do everything we can to make sure people get help."Billinger also talked about COVID-19 vaccines in Kansas, saying the state is not doing a good job of distributing the supplies and eligible people are being left out of the process.&nbsp;He talked on Wednesday with Dr. Norman Lee, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, about the need for better communication between the state and local entities providing the shots. "We just need to get it distributed, especially to our seniors."Property tax relief is likely to be among the first bills up for debate in the senate, Billinger predicts. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill last year which would have eliminated the tax lid.&nbsp;Despite the pandemic, sales tax revenues have been better than expected for the state, as well as the city of Hays."Pretty much all of our taxes have been ahead of projections," Billinger reported, "including income and corporate.&nbsp;A year ago we quickly passed a budget to get out of town (ahead of pandemic restrictions). I thought at the time our projections were very, very low."I'm glad we're above those. It's going to make things easier, but it's still going to be tough. We're looking at some shortfalls."&nbsp;Although many Kansas businesses have seen drastic reductions in their sales and some have even had to close their doors, Billinger noted there's been an uptick for restaurants with drive-throughs for food orders or have been able to create takeout and delivery services."In Goodland, the Pizza Hut said they've done so much more business that they do in a normal year."&nbsp;Both Billinger and Wasinger promised commissioners they would continue to support Hays in seeing through its long-term water supply project at the R9 Ranch in Edwards County.&nbsp;The Kansas legislature convenes Monday morning. Gov. Kelly will deliver her state of the state address Tuesday night.

🎥 'A lot of challenges'; Billinger, Wasinger look ahead to 2021 Kan. legislative session 

January is National Stalking Awareness Month. Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking victimization at some point in their life (SPARC, 2018).

Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. 

It occurs in many different forms, including being followed/approached, unsolicited and repetitive phone calls or texts, unwanted notes or gifts, as well as showing up at the targeted person’s workplace or home. 

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and military and tribal lands.

 The crime of stalking is often misunderstood, minimized and/or ignored.

Stalking is a terrifying and psychologically harmful crime as well as a predictor of other forms of serious violence. In 85% of cases where an intimate partner or ex intimate partner attempted to murder their partner, stalking took place in the year prior to the attack (SPARC, 2019). 

The behaviors used to stalk are manipulative tools used to gain power and keep control over another person. Victims of stalking often feel isolated, intimidated, fearful, and vulnerable.

Tips to consider if you or someone you know is being stalked:

1. Trust your instincts. Many times we tend to downplay a stalker’s behaviors, but stalking can possess a real threat.

2. Keep a record or log of any contact a stalker makes.

3. Since stalking can occur through technology, save emails, text messages, voicemails, or any posts online for evidence.

4. Contact your local domestic violence agency to create a safety plan.

5. Call 911 if you feel you are in danger.

We, at <a href="https://www.janascampaign.org/">Jana’s Campaign</a>, believe we all have a role to play in identifying and preventing stalking behaviors as well as supporting victims and survivors.

Learn more about these behaviors and how to prevent stalking by visiting <a href="https://www.stalkingawareness.org/">www.stalkingawareness.org</a>.

Hays-based Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Hays native Jana Mackey and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609952443296.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jana’s Campaign&nbsp;January is National Stalking Awareness Month. Nearly 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men have experienced stalking victimization at some point in their life (SPARC, 2018).Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. It occurs in many different forms, including being followed/approached, unsolicited and repetitive phone calls or texts, unwanted notes or gifts, as well as showing up at the targeted person’s workplace or home. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, U.S. Territories, the District of Columbia, and military and tribal lands. The crime of stalking is often misunderstood, minimized and/or ignored.Stalking is a terrifying and psychologically harmful crime as well as a predictor of other forms of serious violence. In 85% of cases where an intimate partner or ex intimate partner attempted to murder their partner, stalking took place in the year prior to the attack (SPARC, 2019). The behaviors used to stalk are manipulative tools used to gain power and keep control over another person. Victims of stalking often feel isolated, intimidated, fearful, and vulnerable.Tips to consider if you or someone you know is being stalked:1. Trust your instincts. Many times we tend to downplay a stalker’s behaviors, but stalking can possess a real threat.2. Keep a record or log of any contact a stalker makes.3. Since stalking can occur through technology, save emails, text messages, voicemails, or any posts online for evidence.4. Contact your local domestic violence agency to create a safety plan.5. Call 911 if you feel you are in danger.We, at <a href="https://www.janascampaign.org/">Jana’s Campaign</a>, believe we all have a role to play in identifying and preventing stalking behaviors as well as supporting victims and survivors. Learn more about these behaviors and how to prevent stalking by visiting <a href="https://www.stalkingawareness.org/">www.stalkingawareness.org</a>.Hays-based Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Hays native Jana Mackey and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.

LETTER: January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Adams Brown, Strategic Allies and CPAs, one of the top 200 largest CPA firms in the nation, announced this week it was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms. This is the second consecutive year of recognition and the second year Forbes has produced this study.

Of the nearly 300 firms identified, Adams Brown is one of 172 firms that were recognized for both tax and accounting and is one of only four firms recognized in Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/best-tax-firms/#632bb8ae24bd">You can view the entire list here.</a>

Forbes worked with Statistica, an independent market research company, to survey industry peers and clients to determine the top recommended tax and accounting firms. In addition to the survey, participants submitted recommendations for specializations, services, and professional experiences.

“We’re honored to be selected as one of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms by Forbes again this year. Each and every member of our team made this recognition possible by going&nbsp;above+beyond&nbsp;for our clients,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner. “Thank you to our clients, friends, communities, and team for making this possible!”&nbsp;

Founded in 1917, Forbes is a leading financial publication focused on business, investing and lifestyles.

Adams Brown, Strategic Allies and CPAs, provides a wide range of traditional and specialized CPA and consulting services to clients throughout the nation, with specialized teams focusing on agriculture organizations, construction companies, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, governmental and not-for-profit organizations, and small family-held businesses. Founded in 1945, today the firm maintains numerous office locations throughout the central United States. For more information about Adams Brown, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/">www.adamsbrowncpa.com</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575990342251.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedAdams Brown, Strategic Allies and CPAs, one of the top 200 largest CPA firms in the nation, announced this week it was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms. This is the second consecutive year of recognition and the second year Forbes has produced this study.Of the nearly 300 firms identified, Adams Brown is one of 172 firms that were recognized for both tax and accounting and is one of only four firms recognized in Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/best-tax-firms/#632bb8ae24bd">You can view the entire list here.</a>Forbes worked with Statistica, an independent market research company, to survey industry peers and clients to determine the top recommended tax and accounting firms. In addition to the survey, participants submitted recommendations for specializations, services, and professional experiences.“We’re honored to be selected as one of America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms by Forbes again this year. Each and every member of our team made this recognition possible by going&nbsp;above+beyond&nbsp;for our clients,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner. “Thank you to our clients, friends, communities, and team for making this possible!”&nbsp;Founded in 1917, Forbes is a leading financial publication focused on business, investing and lifestyles.Adams Brown, Strategic Allies and CPAs, provides a wide range of traditional and specialized CPA and consulting services to clients throughout the nation, with specialized teams focusing on agriculture organizations, construction companies, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, governmental and not-for-profit organizations, and small family-held businesses. Founded in 1945, today the firm maintains numerous office locations throughout the central United States. For more information about Adams Brown, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/">www.adamsbrowncpa.com</a>.&nbsp;

Adams Brown recognized by Forbes 

Assembling to protest is our right under the First Amendment — it’s how we talk to each other as a nation.

Sometimes politely. But often not. Occasionally at the top of our 
lungs. Frequently with brutally frank messages. And often in ways that 
spark counterprotests.

Just as the nation’s founders intended — and it is still a good thing we do.

What happened Wednesday when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol was not a
 protest protected by the First Amendment. It was a criminal act. A 
stain upon the fabric of democracy.

Freedom of speech and press, as well as to assemble and to petition 
for change, provide the real means to speak to each other across the 
nation’s deepest divides. Those freedoms are the way we give voice to 
those who feel ignored by the powerful.

One aspect of those freedoms is to provide a kind of national safety 
valve for the normal frustrations built into democracy — where elections
 and legislative decisions by their very nature are a form of majority 
rule until the next election.

We have been doing a lot of talking lately. Mostly peaceably. But 
when mobs replace protest with chaos, it betrays the core principles on 
which the United States was founded and the role is has played for more 
than two centuries as a worldwide beacon of freedom and the rule of law.
 There is no First Amendment shield for violence, no matter the motive.

Yes, we are intently discussing and debating some of the most 
important challenges that the nation faces, from Black Lives Matter 
protests over racial bias and racial dignity, to COVID-19 demonstrations
 for and against pandemic health restrictions. Waiting in the wings are 
the demonstrations, marches and protests over ongoing issues such as 
abortion, gun laws and voting rights. The venues will range from the web
 to public meetings to city sidewalks and rural byways and, yes, the 
steps of the Capitol.

As differing as the subjects, points of view and mediums may be 
across 330 million citizens, there are some fundamental facts for all to
 acknowledge — and in the wake of Wednesday’s violence, reaffirm:

To be sure, there is no provision in the First Amendment’s 45 words 
for universal agreement or quick solutions to what ails the republic. 
The First Amendment is a constitutional starting point, not a finish 
line.

The very real tension of the First Amendment’s promise to produce 
positive change is this: Sometimes it doesn’t. The pace of change is 
often too slow for advocates and too fast for opponents. Perhaps that’s 
why assembly and petition lag behind the other First Amendment freedoms 
in public understanding. But as many as a third of our fellow citizens 
have trouble even naming one of the First Amendment freedoms (which also
 include religion, speech and press).

While we tend today to choose speech as the most important freedom 
among those five, petition was the keystone for many of our nation’s 
founders. Protecting the right to speak the truth as each of us sees it,
 they reasoned, would protect the other four freedoms in law and 
democracy in practice.

If we want our ideas to be heard, we must encourage the rights of our
 opponents to speak also. We must disavow those on the right and left 
who would demonize dissent, discourage debate or deny a platform for all
 to be heard. And we must resist resorting to violence when conversation
 lags or fails to produce the results we seek.

Our nation’s history shows us that when we talk to each other, and 
when we listen, we are making progress at solving problems, correcting 
wrongs and admittedly, often imperfectly, making better the lives of 
ourselves and our fellow citizens.

That applies whether we are gathering in the nation’s capital city 
over election results or in our hometowns where we are free to publicly 
express views on everyday matters like school policies or streets that 
need to be paved.

Those difficult conversations are worth having, despite the 
frustrations. Those contrary views are worth expressing, peaceably, no 
matter the tensions of the moment.

And those rights are worth preserving, no matter our divisions — and no matter the actions of a mob.

Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593729871227.png" alt="Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. " />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. </figcaption>
 </figure>Assembling to protest is our right under the First Amendment — it’s how we talk to each other as a nation.Sometimes politely. But often not. Occasionally at the top of our 
lungs. Frequently with brutally frank messages. And often in ways that 
spark counterprotests.Just as the nation’s founders intended — and it is still a good thing we do.What happened Wednesday when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol was not a
 protest protected by the First Amendment. It was a criminal act. A 
stain upon the fabric of democracy.Freedom of speech and press, as well as to assemble and to petition 
for change, provide the real means to speak to each other across the 
nation’s deepest divides. Those freedoms are the way we give voice to 
those who feel ignored by the powerful.One aspect of those freedoms is to provide a kind of national safety 
valve for the normal frustrations built into democracy — where elections
 and legislative decisions by their very nature are a form of majority 
rule until the next election.We have been doing a lot of talking lately. Mostly peaceably. But 
when mobs replace protest with chaos, it betrays the core principles on 
which the United States was founded and the role is has played for more 
than two centuries as a worldwide beacon of freedom and the rule of law.
 There is no First Amendment shield for violence, no matter the motive.Yes, we are intently discussing and debating some of the most 
important challenges that the nation faces, from Black Lives Matter 
protests over racial bias and racial dignity, to COVID-19 demonstrations
 for and against pandemic health restrictions. Waiting in the wings are 
the demonstrations, marches and protests over ongoing issues such as 
abortion, gun laws and voting rights. The venues will range from the web
 to public meetings to city sidewalks and rural byways and, yes, the 
steps of the Capitol.As differing as the subjects, points of view and mediums may be 
across 330 million citizens, there are some fundamental facts for all to
 acknowledge — and in the wake of Wednesday’s violence, reaffirm:<ul>
 <li>A democracy is only as strong as those willing to exercise their freedoms in the service of a better nation;</li><li>We sometimes must hear voices and messages that challenge our 
fundamental beliefs, if only to be better prepared to defend our own 
positions.</li>
 </ul>To be sure, there is no provision in the First Amendment’s 45 words 
for universal agreement or quick solutions to what ails the republic. 
The First Amendment is a constitutional starting point, not a finish 
line.The very real tension of the First Amendment’s promise to produce 
positive change is this: Sometimes it doesn’t. The pace of change is 
often too slow for advocates and too fast for opponents. Perhaps that’s 
why assembly and petition lag behind the other First Amendment freedoms 
in public understanding. But as many as a third of our fellow citizens 
have trouble even naming one of the First Amendment freedoms (which also
 include religion, speech and press).While we tend today to choose speech as the most important freedom 
among those five, petition was the keystone for many of our nation’s 
founders. Protecting the right to speak the truth as each of us sees it,
 they reasoned, would protect the other four freedoms in law and 
democracy in practice.If we want our ideas to be heard, we must encourage the rights of our
 opponents to speak also. We must disavow those on the right and left 
who would demonize dissent, discourage debate or deny a platform for all
 to be heard. And we must resist resorting to violence when conversation
 lags or fails to produce the results we seek.Our nation’s history shows us that when we talk to each other, and 
when we listen, we are making progress at solving problems, correcting 
wrongs and admittedly, often imperfectly, making better the lives of 
ourselves and our fellow citizens.That applies whether we are gathering in the nation’s capital city 
over election results or in our hometowns where we are free to publicly 
express views on everyday matters like school policies or streets that 
need to be paved.Those difficult conversations are worth having, despite the 
frustrations. Those contrary views are worth expressing, peaceably, no 
matter the tensions of the moment.And those rights are worth preserving, no matter our divisions — and no matter the actions of a mob.Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

FIRST FIVE: Violence isn’t protest

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