Three-day weather outlook

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

With this year quickly wrapping up, it is definitely time to start talking about agricultural leases for the coming year. For the most part, there is speculation within the agriculture community that tenants and landlords may not talk to each other enough. This then leads to the number one problem that some of us in Extension run into with ag leases, lack of communication.&nbsp;

I know of situations where leases have been in existence between families, and non-family members for over 30 years. In many cases, the terms of those leases haven’t changed much in those three decades. Yet, if you look at agriculture over that same time frame, there has been significant changes.&nbsp;

It is imperative that landlords and tenants get together and talk. Talk about how the crops did this year. Talk about cropping plans for next year if you need to, talk about the uncomfortable stuff.&nbsp;

When you start getting down to the nitty gritty and talk about cash rental rates, shares or what expenses the landlord is going to share, it can get uncomfortable. This is why far too many landlord/tenant discussions don’t get that deep and that is a shame.&nbsp;

Frustration can build up with either party, or the tenant simply can’t afford to continue with a current lease. At this time the tenant may let go of a lease or the landlord decides it’s easier to find a different tenant than to negotiate new terms.&nbsp;

We can easily look at what crop production expenses are shared and figure out how the crop should be shared. But sometimes landlords come into the lease and state what share of the crop they want, and what expenses they are willing to share. Without even seeing if the crop expenses share is equitable to the amount of the crop they want. This process seems to be backwards of what it should be.

Then ideally the discussion can take an even deeper track. Let’s talk about all the things that come up that are never talked about. Can the tenant double crop after corn or soybeans? Can the tenant graze the crop residue after harvest? Can the tenant fall or spring graze the wheat crop or cover crops if cover crops are planted? Actually, if it’s a verbal lease, a tenant has a right to do all of these things. Their lease may not be renewed if it wasn’t discussed, but in the eyes of the law, they have the right. This is why communication is so vitally important.&nbsp;

For many years now it has been talked about at Extension programs that written leases vs. verbal leases are important in spelling out the specifics, which should help to alleviate problems later on.&nbsp;

A K-State Research &amp; Extension, County and District Extension office is in every county of Kansas and will have simple and more complex written leases available and other info. on leasing laws and arrangements.

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours please leave a voice-mail for a return call.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609860170277.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictWith this year quickly wrapping up, it is definitely time to start talking about agricultural leases for the coming year. For the most part, there is speculation within the agriculture community that tenants and landlords may not talk to each other enough. This then leads to the number one problem that some of us in Extension run into with ag leases, lack of communication.&nbsp;I know of situations where leases have been in existence between families, and non-family members for over 30 years. In many cases, the terms of those leases haven’t changed much in those three decades. Yet, if you look at agriculture over that same time frame, there has been significant changes.&nbsp;It is imperative that landlords and tenants get together and talk. Talk about how the crops did this year. Talk about cropping plans for next year if you need to, talk about the uncomfortable stuff.&nbsp;When you start getting down to the nitty gritty and talk about cash rental rates, shares or what expenses the landlord is going to share, it can get uncomfortable. This is why far too many landlord/tenant discussions don’t get that deep and that is a shame.&nbsp;Frustration can build up with either party, or the tenant simply can’t afford to continue with a current lease. At this time the tenant may let go of a lease or the landlord decides it’s easier to find a different tenant than to negotiate new terms.&nbsp;We can easily look at what crop production expenses are shared and figure out how the crop should be shared. But sometimes landlords come into the lease and state what share of the crop they want, and what expenses they are willing to share. Without even seeing if the crop expenses share is equitable to the amount of the crop they want. This process seems to be backwards of what it should be.Then ideally the discussion can take an even deeper track. Let’s talk about all the things that come up that are never talked about. Can the tenant double crop after corn or soybeans? Can the tenant graze the crop residue after harvest? Can the tenant fall or spring graze the wheat crop or cover crops if cover crops are planted? Actually, if it’s a verbal lease, a tenant has a right to do all of these things. Their lease may not be renewed if it wasn’t discussed, but in the eyes of the law, they have the right. This is why communication is so vitally important.&nbsp;For many years now it has been talked about at Extension programs that written leases vs. verbal leases are important in spelling out the specifics, which should help to alleviate problems later on.&nbsp;A K-State Research &amp; Extension, County and District Extension office is in every county of Kansas and will have simple and more complex written leases available and other info. on leasing laws and arrangements.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours please leave a voice-mail for a return call.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure>

CAMPBELL: Time to start talking about ag leases

Beginning Wednesday morning, westbound 27th Street will be closed between Canal and Hall for gas line work. 

 Westbound traffic will be detoured north on Canal to 29th.

  Motorists should use caution and allow a bit more time as traffic may become congested at 29th and Hall.

  Eastbound 27th will remain open to traffic.&nbsp;Work should be completed next week. 

Questions can be directed to Midwest Energy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609883982594.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysBeginning Wednesday morning, westbound 27th Street will be closed between Canal and Hall for gas line work. Westbound traffic will be detoured north on Canal to 29th. Motorists should use caution and allow a bit more time as traffic may become congested at 29th and Hall. Eastbound 27th will remain open to traffic.&nbsp;Work should be completed next week. Questions can be directed to Midwest Energy.

Portion of westbound 27th in north Hays to close for gas line work

🎥 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

The Ellis County Health Department announced Tuesday morning the free drive-through COVID-19 testing at Big Creek Crossing in Hays will continue through the end of January.&nbsp;

The testing is in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and @tourhealth.

Tests are available every day between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609858117772.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Ellis County Health Department announced Tuesday morning the free drive-through COVID-19 testing at Big Creek Crossing in Hays will continue through the end of January.&nbsp;The testing is in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and @tourhealth.&nbsp;No appointment is necessary.Tests are available every day between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609858841405.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Free COVID-19 drive-through testing continues in Hays through Jan. 31

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

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🎙 Post Podcast: Roths completes Ellis County Commission term

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After being homeless and battling both mental illness and substance abuse, Art Summers is trying to give back to others who have struggled by using peer support.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.

NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local affiliates, including one in Hays, who work in communities to raise awareness about mental illness and provide support and education.

Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, Peer to Peer includes activities, discussions and informative videos. However, as with all NAMI programs, it does not include recommendations for treatment approaches.

The course will help attendees: • Set a vision and goals for the future • Partner with health care providers • Develop confidence for making decisions • Practice relaxation and stress reduction tools • Share your story • Strengthen relationships • Enhance communication skills • Learn about mental health treatment options

Summers is one of three new Certified Peer to Peer Teachers trained this fall in Western Kansas. The other educators are&nbsp;Brenna Hernandez and Wiyanna Burge.

Summers had a rocky beginning in life, living with a mom who also struggled with mental illness. When&nbsp;Summers was a boy, his mother set fire to their home, and Art ended up in foster care.

Substance abuse also started early in Art's life. Art remembers taking his first drink when he was 3 and was drinking regularly by the time he was a teenager.

Trying to find help is difficult for someone who has a dual diagnosis — someone who struggles with both mental illness and substance abuse. Many program won't take Summers for that reason.

After having multiple issue with law and being in and out of rehab, Summers landed in an Oxford House recovery program in Kansas. He took a job with NAMI working 10 hours a week in July. He was eventually hired by NAMI to work full time as program coordinator for Western Kansas.

"It has given me purpose," Summers said of his work with NAMI. "It has given me a canvas to paint on with people. I love helping people, and I love helping people realize that they do matter and they can recover and they can have a good life. ...

"Addicts can't keep what they have unless they give it away."

He said he hopes to use his experiences to benefit others.&nbsp;

"With three attempted suicides and divorces and just all that pain and tears — that stuff was just God using that to fertilize other people's fields and give them some hope," he said.

He self-medicated for years as means to deal with his mental illness and he knows many others do the same. He has reached out to others in recovery.&nbsp;

"It has helped me with a lot of people I've known in recovery, who wanted to get clean and sober and get their mental illness under control," he said.

Summers' girlfriend is also a NAMI Peer to Peer Teacher.&nbsp;

"Like me and my girlfriend like to say, 'We are here to set the captives free,'" he said. "We want to be instruments of NAMI to help people with their mental illness and their diagnosis and their families to live a prosperous life — a life worth living."

Summers is also working with Valley Hope in Norton to develop Peer to Peer classes for their program so the program's clients can do aftercare through NAMI.

The next NAMI Peer to Peer class for Western Kansas will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays for eight weeks, starting Thursday, Jan. 7.&nbsp;

You can find links to sign up for the class on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nationalallianceonmentalillness/">National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI- Hays.</a>&nbsp;You can also find more about NAMI and where programs can be found elsewhere in Kansas and nationwide at <a href="http://nami.org">nami.org</a>.

NAMI-Hays also has a Connections group that meets in person and online from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. Both those who have mental illness and family members are welcome. You can also find details on the this group on the NAMI-Hays Facebook page.

The third Wednesday of month, NAMI-Kansas offers a statewide online support group open to anyone. NAMI also offers a statewide support group for essential workers online on the third Monday of the month. Information on both of these groups can be found&nbsp; at <a href="https://namikansas.org/">namikansas.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609431272766.jpeg" alt="Wiyanna Burge, Art Summers and&nbsp;Brenna Hernandez are new Peer to Peer Teachers for NAMI-Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Wiyanna Burge, Art Summers and&nbsp;Brenna Hernandez are new Peer to Peer Teachers for NAMI-Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter being homeless and battling both mental illness and substance abuse, Art Summers is trying to give back to others who have struggled by using peer support.The National Alliance on Mental Illness Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.NAMI is an alliance of more than 600 local affiliates, including one in Hays, who work in communities to raise awareness about mental illness and provide support and education.Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, Peer to Peer includes activities, discussions and informative videos. However, as with all NAMI programs, it does not include recommendations for treatment approaches.The course will help attendees: • Set a vision and goals for the future • Partner with health care providers • Develop confidence for making decisions • Practice relaxation and stress reduction tools • Share your story • Strengthen relationships • Enhance communication skills • Learn about mental health treatment options Summers is one of three new Certified Peer to Peer Teachers trained this fall in Western Kansas. The other educators are&nbsp;Brenna Hernandez and Wiyanna Burge.Summers had a rocky beginning in life, living with a mom who also struggled with mental illness. When&nbsp;Summers was a boy, his mother set fire to their home, and Art ended up in foster care.Substance abuse also started early in Art's life. Art remembers taking his first drink when he was 3 and was drinking regularly by the time he was a teenager.Trying to find help is difficult for someone who has a dual diagnosis — someone who struggles with both mental illness and substance abuse. Many program won't take Summers for that reason.After having multiple issue with law and being in and out of rehab, Summers landed in an Oxford House recovery program in Kansas. He took a job with NAMI working 10 hours a week in July. He was eventually hired by NAMI to work full time as program coordinator for Western Kansas."It has given me purpose," Summers said of his work with NAMI. "It has given me a canvas to paint on with people. I love helping people, and I love helping people realize that they do matter and they can recover and they can have a good life. ..."Addicts can't keep what they have unless they give it away."He said he hopes to use his experiences to benefit others.&nbsp;"With three attempted suicides and divorces and just all that pain and tears — that stuff was just God using that to fertilize other people's fields and give them some hope," he said.He self-medicated for years as means to deal with his mental illness and he knows many others do the same. He has reached out to others in recovery.&nbsp;"It has helped me with a lot of people I've known in recovery, who wanted to get clean and sober and get their mental illness under control," he said.Summers' girlfriend is also a NAMI Peer to Peer Teacher.&nbsp;"Like me and my girlfriend like to say, 'We are here to set the captives free,'" he said. "We want to be instruments of NAMI to help people with their mental illness and their diagnosis and their families to live a prosperous life — a life worth living."Summers is also working with Valley Hope in Norton to develop Peer to Peer classes for their program so the program's clients can do aftercare through NAMI.The next NAMI Peer to Peer class for Western Kansas will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays for eight weeks, starting Thursday, Jan. 7.&nbsp;You can find links to sign up for the class on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nationalallianceonmentalillness/">National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI- Hays.</a>&nbsp;You can also find more about NAMI and where programs can be found elsewhere in Kansas and nationwide at <a href="http://nami.org">nami.org</a>.NAMI-Hays also has a Connections group that meets in person and online from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. Both those who have mental illness and family members are welcome. You can also find details on the this group on the NAMI-Hays Facebook page.The third Wednesday of month, NAMI-Kansas offers a statewide online support group open to anyone. NAMI also offers a statewide support group for essential workers online on the third Monday of the month. Information on both of these groups can be found&nbsp; at <a href="https://namikansas.org/">namikansas.org</a>.

Mental illness sufferers seek to help others through NAMI Peer to Peer program

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The new year brings good news to Fly Hays passengers at the Hays Regional Airport, especially for business travelers.

Beginning Jan. 6, the new daily departure time to Denver will be 8:30 a.m., allowing for passengers to easily connect to flights in Denver. The evening flight arrival time in Hays will be 9:35 p.m.

"The early morning flight schedule is obviously the most important to people, allowing them to make those connections and cut down on travel time," says Jamie Salter, Hays Regional Airport director.

Salter says the prior lag times between flights have prevented some people from flying out of Hays because passengers have been unable to make connections — especially flying west — unless they were willing to spend significant down time or even overnight in Denver or somewhere else. The first inbound flight to Denver from Hays arrived at 12:30 p.m. MT.

"That is what we've heard from the public is most critical to flying out of Hays. ... As long as they keep costs reasonable, people are very willing to fly out of Hays and prefer that as opposed to driving somewhere else," Salter said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a Dec. 10 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1db1204e-1e97-4e28-85c9-2e00a842af02">news release</a> from the city of Hays, United Airlines has discounted fares to Denver to encourage bookings. United has also eliminated all change fees, allowing passengers to reschedule travel dates if needed.

All flight schedules are set by SkyWest, which provides contracted air service for United Airlines.

An additional afternoon flight to Denver will depart Hays at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The full flight schedule can be viewed at <a href="https://flyhays.com/">FlyHays.com</a>.

The United Express jet will overnight in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;There will no longer be any "tagged" flights with the Salina airport.

Salter expects boardings to increase significantly at the Hays airport as a result of the returning early morning flight.

"When we had a similar schedule, in 2019 we had our best year ever. We flew almost 15,000 people that year," she said.

Air travel decreased dramatically across the country in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Along with an inconvenient flight schedule, Salter says there was a "double whammy" at the Hays airport.&nbsp;

In 2020 — through November — there were just 4,900 enplanements, according to Salter.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2019 — the record year for passenger boardings — there were 13,309 enplanements through November.&nbsp;

Salter, City Manager Toby Dougherty and the city's airline consultant, Gary Foss with ArkStar Group, met with SkyWest officials at their St. George, Utah headquarters in November.&nbsp;

"Gary put together the presentation pitching the idea of what we were thinking and what's critical to our traveling public.

"It's not just the Hays community. It's the surrounding communities as well," Salter said, "and what is the most important to them.

"They liked our idea and where we're going, so we worked with them to get what we have coming January 6th."&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609799073987.jpeg" alt="Early morning departures will again be available at Hays Regional Airport beginning Wednesday. (Photo courtesy city of Hays)" />
 <figcaption>Early morning departures will again be available at Hays Regional Airport beginning Wednesday. (Photo courtesy city of Hays)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe new year brings good news to Fly Hays passengers at the Hays Regional Airport, especially for business travelers.Beginning Jan. 6, the new daily departure time to Denver will be 8:30 a.m., allowing for passengers to easily connect to flights in Denver. The evening flight arrival time in Hays will be 9:35 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609798870155.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"The early morning flight schedule is obviously the most important to people, allowing them to make those connections and cut down on travel time," says Jamie Salter, Hays Regional Airport director.Salter says the prior lag times between flights have prevented some people from flying out of Hays because passengers have been unable to make connections — especially flying west — unless they were willing to spend significant down time or even overnight in Denver or somewhere else. The first inbound flight to Denver from Hays arrived at 12:30 p.m. MT."That is what we've heard from the public is most critical to flying out of Hays. ... As long as they keep costs reasonable, people are very willing to fly out of Hays and prefer that as opposed to driving somewhere else," Salter said.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to a Dec. 10 <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1db1204e-1e97-4e28-85c9-2e00a842af02">news release</a> from the city of Hays, United Airlines has discounted fares to Denver to encourage bookings. United has also eliminated all change fees, allowing passengers to reschedule travel dates if needed.All flight schedules are set by SkyWest, which provides contracted air service for United Airlines.An additional afternoon flight to Denver will depart Hays at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The full flight schedule can be viewed at <a href="https://flyhays.com/">FlyHays.com</a>.The United Express jet will overnight in Hays.&nbsp;&nbsp;There will no longer be any "tagged" flights with the Salina airport.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609803984644.jpeg" alt="Jamie Salter, Hays Regional Airport director, discusses design plans for improvements to the airport in 2021 with city commissioners at their final meeting in 2020." />
 <figcaption>Jamie Salter, Hays Regional Airport director, discusses design plans for improvements to the airport in 2021 with city commissioners at their final meeting in 2020.</figcaption>
 </figure>Salter expects boardings to increase significantly at the Hays airport as a result of the returning early morning flight."When we had a similar schedule, in 2019 we had our best year ever. We flew almost 15,000 people that year," she said.Air travel decreased dramatically across the country in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.Along with an inconvenient flight schedule, Salter says there was a "double whammy" at the Hays airport.&nbsp;In 2020 — through November — there were just 4,900 enplanements, according to Salter.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2019 — the record year for passenger boardings — there were 13,309 enplanements through November.&nbsp;Salter, City Manager Toby Dougherty and the city's airline consultant, Gary Foss with ArkStar Group, met with SkyWest officials at their St. George, Utah headquarters in November.&nbsp;"Gary put together the presentation pitching the idea of what we were thinking and what's critical to our traveling public."It's not just the Hays community. It's the surrounding communities as well," Salter said, "and what is the most important to them."They liked our idea and where we're going, so we worked with them to get what we have coming January 6th."&nbsp;

SALTER: Enplanements should 'significantly change' with return of early morning flight

Year-end numbers from the Kansas Corporation Commission reflect a dramatic drop in drilling activity last year across the state and here at home. Regulators in Kansas approved just 560 new intent-to-drill notices across Kansas last year, less than half of the total from 2019, nearly 2,000 fewer than five years ago, and a far cry from the more than 7,000 intents filed back in 2014. For the year, Barton and Ellis counties each reported 16 intents for the year, Russell County had six, and Stafford County notched 12. CHS in McPherson raised its prices slightly last week to end the year, and start the new year, at $38.75 per barrel. That's up a dollar from a week ago, but down more than twelve dollars from the first of last year. The average price for the month of December was $37.44, compared to $31.55 in November of 2019. The average for December of 2019 was over $50. U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped more than six million barrels last week to nearly 494 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration says Stockpiles are about 11% above the five-year average. EIA reports total U.S. production last week dropped slightly, but ended the year above eleven million barrels per day for the fifth week in a row. A year ago at this time, U.S. production was approaching 13 million barrels per day. Imports dropped more than a quarter million barrels per day last week. The four-week average for imports is down nearly 15% from last year at this time. The government Wednesday said the crude-storage facilities at Cushing, Oklahoma have reached 74% of working capacity. Analysts first started to worry about storage capacity during the price crash in April, when prices dipped below zero briefly and producers fled the market to put crude production into storage, either on board tankers or at the tank farms in Oklahoma. In late April the world's largest independent offshore storage firm ran out of space, and Cushing reached 83% of capacity in early May. North Dakota’s top oil regulator says 2020 will be known for the rapid collapse of crude prices, dismantled drilling rigs and idled wells. All in all, says Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, it was a pretty terrible year for the industry. Helms told the Bismarck Tribune that next year does not look very promising in terms of growth. He says we will need a year or more before oil and gas prices prompt sustained growth in North Dakota. Regulators say total crude oil and condensate production in the top U.S. producing state declined for the third straight month, reaching its lowest total since May. The Railroad Commission of Texas reports monthly output of 128 million barrels, or 4.1 million barrels per day. That's down from over five million barrels per day before the pandemic. Colorado officials have agreed to enact more stringent regulations on ozone emissions from the oil and natural gas industry at the instruction of Governor Jared Polis. The state is hoping to avoid a dramatic downgrade under the federal Clean Air Act, which could require reformulated gasoline blends in some areas. Weekly oil-by-rail deliveries are down more than ten percent on the week and nine percent year-over-year. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,296 rail cars hauling petroleum during the week ending December 26th. The trade group reports the year-to-date totals are down nearly 14%. Canada reported an 18% drop for the week, with an annual total more than 20% below 2019. Triple-A reports the national average reached two-and-a-quarter per gallon last week, the highest prices since stay-at-home guidance was issued in March. Nearly twenty states reported average prices at least three cents higher than a week earlier. Kansas was not one of them, sporting a statewide average of just over two-oh-one per gallon on December 31. That's up three tenths of a cent on the week and about fourteen cents per gallon higher than a month earlier. Prices were up to $2.05 per gallon in Great Bend, and we spotted $2.03 at several retailers in Hays. Filling up your 15-gallon tank will cost you a dime more than a week earlier, two dollars more than last month, and a dollar more than six months ago. Russia is speeding up work on a natural gas pipeline to Germany in a race against the clock before the U.S. tightens sanctions against the project. Bloomberg reports the 764-mile NordStream-2 pipeline reached a milestone on Monday with the completion of pipe-laying in German’s exclusive economic zone. Among the next steps is resuming work in Denmark’s part of the Baltic Sea, where the bulk of the remaining sections will be located. The pipeline would bypass the traditional transport corridor through Ukraine. Work on the project was stopped a year ago by U.S. sanctions, but resumed earlier this month when the Russian state-run natural gas company found its own ship to lay the pipeline. The outlook for the crude market in the Mediterranean Sea next year is heavily dependent on recently restored crude-oil exports from Libyan. But, at least one analyst is not optimistic that the new supplies will be reliable. Argus Media reports that in the weeks since restrictions on Libyan oil development were lifted, prices for competing Algerian crude have gone up rather than down, with regional refiners wary of Libyan stability. Since the ceasefire deal was struck between warring factions, Algerian prices gained around thirty cents per barrel. Libyan production was nearly 1.3 million [["one point three million"]] barrels per day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOHN P. TRETBARYear-end numbers from the Kansas Corporation Commission reflect a dramatic drop in drilling activity last year across the state and here at home. Regulators in Kansas approved just 560 new intent-to-drill notices across Kansas last year, less than half of the total from 2019, nearly 2,000 fewer than five years ago, and a far cry from the more than 7,000 intents filed back in 2014. For the year, Barton and Ellis counties each reported 16 intents for the year, Russell County had six, and Stafford County notched 12. CHS in McPherson raised its prices slightly last week to end the year, and start the new year, at $38.75 per barrel. That's up a dollar from a week ago, but down more than twelve dollars from the first of last year. The average price for the month of December was $37.44, compared to $31.55 in November of 2019. The average for December of 2019 was over $50. U.S. crude-oil inventories dropped more than six million barrels last week to nearly 494 million barrels. The Energy Information Administration says Stockpiles are about 11% above the five-year average. EIA reports total U.S. production last week dropped slightly, but ended the year above eleven million barrels per day for the fifth week in a row. A year ago at this time, U.S. production was approaching 13 million barrels per day. Imports dropped more than a quarter million barrels per day last week. The four-week average for imports is down nearly 15% from last year at this time. The government Wednesday said the crude-storage facilities at Cushing, Oklahoma have reached 74% of working capacity. Analysts first started to worry about storage capacity during the price crash in April, when prices dipped below zero briefly and producers fled the market to put crude production into storage, either on board tankers or at the tank farms in Oklahoma. In late April the world's largest independent offshore storage firm ran out of space, and Cushing reached 83% of capacity in early May. North Dakota’s top oil regulator says 2020 will be known for the rapid collapse of crude prices, dismantled drilling rigs and idled wells. All in all, says Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, it was a pretty terrible year for the industry. Helms told the Bismarck Tribune that next year does not look very promising in terms of growth. He says we will need a year or more before oil and gas prices prompt sustained growth in North Dakota. Regulators say total crude oil and condensate production in the top U.S. producing state declined for the third straight month, reaching its lowest total since May. The Railroad Commission of Texas reports monthly output of 128 million barrels, or 4.1 million barrels per day. That's down from over five million barrels per day before the pandemic. Colorado officials have agreed to enact more stringent regulations on ozone emissions from the oil and natural gas industry at the instruction of Governor Jared Polis. The state is hoping to avoid a dramatic downgrade under the federal Clean Air Act, which could require reformulated gasoline blends in some areas. Weekly oil-by-rail deliveries are down more than ten percent on the week and nine percent year-over-year. The Association of American Railroads reports 10,296 rail cars hauling petroleum during the week ending December 26th. The trade group reports the year-to-date totals are down nearly 14%. Canada reported an 18% drop for the week, with an annual total more than 20% below 2019. Triple-A reports the national average reached two-and-a-quarter per gallon last week, the highest prices since stay-at-home guidance was issued in March. Nearly twenty states reported average prices at least three cents higher than a week earlier. Kansas was not one of them, sporting a statewide average of just over two-oh-one per gallon on December 31. That's up three tenths of a cent on the week and about fourteen cents per gallon higher than a month earlier. Prices were up to $2.05 per gallon in Great Bend, and we spotted $2.03 at several retailers in Hays. Filling up your 15-gallon tank will cost you a dime more than a week earlier, two dollars more than last month, and a dollar more than six months ago. Russia is speeding up work on a natural gas pipeline to Germany in a race against the clock before the U.S. tightens sanctions against the project. Bloomberg reports the 764-mile NordStream-2 pipeline reached a milestone on Monday with the completion of pipe-laying in German’s exclusive economic zone. Among the next steps is resuming work in Denmark’s part of the Baltic Sea, where the bulk of the remaining sections will be located. The pipeline would bypass the traditional transport corridor through Ukraine. Work on the project was stopped a year ago by U.S. sanctions, but resumed earlier this month when the Russian state-run natural gas company found its own ship to lay the pipeline. The outlook for the crude market in the Mediterranean Sea next year is heavily dependent on recently restored crude-oil exports from Libyan. But, at least one analyst is not optimistic that the new supplies will be reliable. Argus Media reports that in the weeks since restrictions on Libyan oil development were lifted, prices for competing Algerian crude have gone up rather than down, with regional refiners wary of Libyan stability. Since the ceasefire deal was struck between warring factions, Algerian prices gained around thirty cents per barrel. Libyan production was nearly 1.3 million [["one point three million"]] barrels per day.

News From the Oil Patch: Drilling activity down dramatically in 2020

Ranking right up there with man’s greatest accomplishments like five-gallon buckets, Ziploc bags and double stuff Oreos has to be the front porch. Call them stoops, decks, verandas or whatever else you please, the front porch is crucial in maintaining life as we know it.

My brother’s secluded cabin in the middle of a couple hundred acres of southeastern Ohio woods sports a splendid front porch of fifty feet or more that spans the entire length of their cabin; its suspended ten feet above the driveway below, and even higher above the gurgling creek beyond. From that front porch the coming day is planned and the completed day is discussed. From it, deer, turkey, pig and mushroom hunts are designed in advance, and successes or failures of each are analyzed later. I believe it to be the premier bird watching platform in the state. From there, innumerable species of song birds are seen and heard as they visit the porches many feeders, and geese and wood ducks call as they fly back and forth through the valley below. Most nights find someone on the front porch well into the darkness listening for the coyote howls that echo eerily through the surrounding hills, and hoping to be serenaded by the several varieties of owls calling the forest home.

Besides the usual accumulation of comfy chairs, a barbecue grill and bird feeders, my brother’s front porch offers some very unique but necessary furnishings. A couple empty Pringles cans, now repurposed as arrow holders are fastened to porch posts. There are several bow hunters in the family, so the cans hold the variety of different arrows necessary to cover every possible target, whether it be chipmunks, squirrels or coons at the deer feeder along the creek, a simple archery target in the meadow or “Bucky” the deer decoy prominently situated on the hillside below.

Another feature possibly unique to this front porch is an assortment of tennis and badminton rackets hung from nails on the posts. As temperatures warm, large wood bees and big bumble bees seem to flock to the porch, and nothing zings them across the porch railing like a well placed shot from a badminton racket. When the family’s all present, this “bee batting” quickly turns into a competition.&nbsp;

Yes, there’s just something about sitting on a front porch with a cold glass of ice tea or lemonade that brings calmness and clarity to the world around us, and boy howdy do we need buckets full of calmness and clarity right now. Maybe congress should meet on a front porch somewhere (I’m just sayin’!)&nbsp; And I can’t help but think that if world summits were held on someone’s front porch, the world would be a better place for it; any grievances could be settled on the spot with badminton rackets. And of course, it would help immensely if the front porch, like my brothers, was smack in the middle of God’s creation…I think Joyce said it best when she observed “I have a feeling this is what Heaven will be like – one huge front porch full of rocking chairs.” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Ranking right up there with man’s greatest accomplishments like five-gallon buckets, Ziploc bags and double stuff Oreos has to be the front porch. Call them stoops, decks, verandas or whatever else you please, the front porch is crucial in maintaining life as we know it.My brother’s secluded cabin in the middle of a couple hundred acres of southeastern Ohio woods sports a splendid front porch of fifty feet or more that spans the entire length of their cabin; its suspended ten feet above the driveway below, and even higher above the gurgling creek beyond. From that front porch the coming day is planned and the completed day is discussed. From it, deer, turkey, pig and mushroom hunts are designed in advance, and successes or failures of each are analyzed later. I believe it to be the premier bird watching platform in the state. From there, innumerable species of song birds are seen and heard as they visit the porches many feeders, and geese and wood ducks call as they fly back and forth through the valley below. Most nights find someone on the front porch well into the darkness listening for the coyote howls that echo eerily through the surrounding hills, and hoping to be serenaded by the several varieties of owls calling the forest home.Besides the usual accumulation of comfy chairs, a barbecue grill and bird feeders, my brother’s front porch offers some very unique but necessary furnishings. A couple empty Pringles cans, now repurposed as arrow holders are fastened to porch posts. There are several bow hunters in the family, so the cans hold the variety of different arrows necessary to cover every possible target, whether it be chipmunks, squirrels or coons at the deer feeder along the creek, a simple archery target in the meadow or “Bucky” the deer decoy prominently situated on the hillside below.Another feature possibly unique to this front porch is an assortment of tennis and badminton rackets hung from nails on the posts. As temperatures warm, large wood bees and big bumble bees seem to flock to the porch, and nothing zings them across the porch railing like a well placed shot from a badminton racket. When the family’s all present, this “bee batting” quickly turns into a competition.&nbsp;Yes, there’s just something about sitting on a front porch with a cold glass of ice tea or lemonade that brings calmness and clarity to the world around us, and boy howdy do we need buckets full of calmness and clarity right now. Maybe congress should meet on a front porch somewhere (I’m just sayin’!)&nbsp; And I can’t help but think that if world summits were held on someone’s front porch, the world would be a better place for it; any grievances could be settled on the spot with badminton rackets. And of course, it would help immensely if the front porch, like my brothers, was smack in the middle of God’s creation…I think Joyce said it best when she observed “I have a feeling this is what Heaven will be like – one huge front porch full of rocking chairs.” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: In celebration of the front porch

Nex-Tech, a leader in technology and connectivity, and an avid supporter of community, education and athletics, is giving back to service-area schools through a cumulative donation of over $10,000 amongst 26 area high schools. For the 2020 season, schools that signed up received $20 for each home game touchdown.

The Football Donation Campaign, instituted in 2005, expands Nex-Tech’s dedication to community involvement by championing athletic programs located in the communities in which we live. It also supports another of our core beliefs — having fun — because high school football is just plain fun for us.

“Here at Nex-Tech, our passion is to make life better for our friends, neighbors and our customers," Director of Customer Engagement Dustin Schlaefli said. "Getting more involved in the communities we serve while being able to provide some booster support at the same time means a lot to us as a company.”

To area high school coaches, teachers, and students, thank you for letting us be a part of your 2020 football season. It matters when a coach says to us, “Awesome program! Thanks for including us. The money really does help little schools.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601562391147.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedNex-Tech, a leader in technology and connectivity, and an avid supporter of community, education and athletics, is giving back to service-area schools through a cumulative donation of over $10,000 amongst 26 area high schools. For the 2020 season, schools that signed up received $20 for each home game touchdown.The Football Donation Campaign, instituted in 2005, expands Nex-Tech’s dedication to community involvement by championing athletic programs located in the communities in which we live. It also supports another of our core beliefs — having fun — because high school football is just plain fun for us.“Here at Nex-Tech, our passion is to make life better for our friends, neighbors and our customers," Director of Customer Engagement Dustin Schlaefli said. "Getting more involved in the communities we serve while being able to provide some booster support at the same time means a lot to us as a company.”To area high school coaches, teachers, and students, thank you for letting us be a part of your 2020 football season. It matters when a coach says to us, “Awesome program! Thanks for including us. The money really does help little schools.”

Nex-Tech 2020 Football Donation Campaign supports area high schools

If you are considering purchasing fruit trees this spring, there are certain factors that should be considered for some of our fruit tree species. &nbsp;Spring in Kansas is often unsettled with apricot and peach tree flowers being very vulnerable to late frosts that can kill fruit buds. Of course, the tree itself will be fine but there will be little to no fruit for that year. 

Other species of trees can also be affected but apricots and peaches are by far the most sensitive. &nbsp;Also, the closer a tree is to full bloom, the more sensitive it becomes to frost.

Apricots are more likely to have frost kill flowers than peaches because they bloom a bit earlier. Though there are late-blooming apricot varieties, the differences between full bloom on early and late-blooming varieties appear to be slight. Research at Virginia Tech in the '90s showed a maximum of a 4-day difference between early and late varieties. However, in some years that may be all that is needed. The trees in the study that were considered late blooming included Hungarian Rose, Tilton, and Harlayne. Harglow was not included in the study but is also considered late-blooming. 

See&nbsp;<a href="https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/422/422-761/422-761.html">https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/422/422-761/422-761.html</a>for more info.​Peaches are next on the list for being likely to be caught by a late frost. With peaches, two characteristics become important when considering whether they will be damaged. Like apricots, bloom time is very important but fruit bud hardiness should also be considered. In this case, fruit bud hardiness refers to hardiness to late frosts rather than the ability to survive extremely low temperatures during the winter. Late bloomers included ‘China Pearl’, ‘Encore’, ‘Intrepid’, and ‘Risingstar.’ See&nbsp;<a href="http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/RR782.pdf">http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/RR782.pdf</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;. The ‘Intrepid’ cultivar also has shown excellent cold hardiness when in flower. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357">http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357</a>

<a href="http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357"></a> So, are there other considerations when looking at frost damage? Location can be very important. Planting on a hill that allows cold air to drain to lower elevations can help. &nbsp;Also, a location in town will be more likely to have a warmer micro-climate than an exposed location. Some gardeners will add a heat source under a tree during cold nights if they are close to a building. Heat lamps and charcoal briquettes are sometimes used but safety should be the first consideration. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>If you are considering purchasing fruit trees this spring, there are certain factors that should be considered for some of our fruit tree species. &nbsp;Spring in Kansas is often unsettled with apricot and peach tree flowers being very vulnerable to late frosts that can kill fruit buds. Of course, the tree itself will be fine but there will be little to no fruit for that year. Other species of trees can also be affected but apricots and peaches are by far the most sensitive. &nbsp;Also, the closer a tree is to full bloom, the more sensitive it becomes to frost.Apricots are more likely to have frost kill flowers than peaches because they bloom a bit earlier. Though there are late-blooming apricot varieties, the differences between full bloom on early and late-blooming varieties appear to be slight. Research at Virginia Tech in the '90s showed a maximum of a 4-day difference between early and late varieties. However, in some years that may be all that is needed. The trees in the study that were considered late blooming included Hungarian Rose, Tilton, and Harlayne. Harglow was not included in the study but is also considered late-blooming. See&nbsp;<a href="https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/422/422-761/422-761.html">https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/422/422-761/422-761.html</a>for more info.​Peaches are next on the list for being likely to be caught by a late frost. With peaches, two characteristics become important when considering whether they will be damaged. Like apricots, bloom time is very important but fruit bud hardiness should also be considered. In this case, fruit bud hardiness refers to hardiness to late frosts rather than the ability to survive extremely low temperatures during the winter. Late bloomers included ‘China Pearl’, ‘Encore’, ‘Intrepid’, and ‘Risingstar.’ See&nbsp;<a href="http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/RR782.pdf">http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/RR782.pdf</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;. The ‘Intrepid’ cultivar also has shown excellent cold hardiness when in flower. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357">http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357</a><a href="http://www.google.com/patents/USPP12357"></a> So, are there other considerations when looking at frost damage? Location can be very important. Planting on a hill that allows cold air to drain to lower elevations can help. &nbsp;Also, a location in town will be more likely to have a warmer micro-climate than an exposed location. Some gardeners will add a heat source under a tree during cold nights if they are close to a building. Heat lamps and charcoal briquettes are sometimes used but safety should be the first consideration. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Fruit trees and frost

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🎙 Post Podcast: Hays Public Library reopens as construction continues

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday announced that 30 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.

Due to the holiday, there was no report from the Ellis County Health Department on Friday. The next report is expected Wednesday, as the department is currently aggregating 2020 case numbers.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/68168042-00c8-4c1b-8817-4b26e7c7f51d">RELATED:&nbsp;Who gets vaccinated in Kansas and when</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609784186505.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday announced that 30 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ellis County since Wednesday.Due to the holiday, there was no report from the Ellis County Health Department on Friday. The next report is expected Wednesday, as the department is currently aggregating 2020 case numbers.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/68168042-00c8-4c1b-8817-4b26e7c7f51d">RELATED:&nbsp;Who gets vaccinated in Kansas and when</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: 30 new cases of COVID-19 in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that to help keep Kansans warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will begin accepting applications for its Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Monday, Jan. 4.&nbsp;

“During the cold winter months, it is important that all Kansans have access to the resources they need to heat their homes and ensure their families can stay safe and healthy,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“I encourage all those who qualify to apply for this program. My administration is committed to protecting Kansas families now, throughout the pandemic, and into the future.”

LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2020, about 34,000 households received an average benefit of $960.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Winters in Kansas have the likelihood of bringing frigid temperatures, add in the financial pressures of the pandemic, it’s especially important this year that families have access to this important service to avoid financial concerns,”&nbsp;DCF Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;“Our staff is prepared to begin processing LIEAP applications, so families have warm homes this winter season.”

To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.&nbsp;

Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies starting Jan. 4. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043.

To apply online, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMzAuMzI2NDEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAxLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZjc3NwLmtlZXMua3MuZ292JTJGYXBzcHNzcCUyRnNzcE5vbk1lZC5wb3J0YWwmZGF0YT0wNCU3QzAxJTdDUmF5bmEuS2Fyc3QlNDBrcy5nb3YlN0MwYjA5YzA5ZjZjZmI0YzBiOTllNTA4ZDhhY2UzZDFlZiU3Q2RjYWU4MTAxYzkyZDQ4MGNiYzQzYzY3NjFjY2NjYzVhJTdDMCU3QzAlN0M2Mzc0NDk0NDE3NTg5NjI0MjglN0NVbmtub3duJTdDVFdGcGJHWnNiM2Q4ZXlKV0lqb2lNQzR3TGpBd01EQWlMQ0pRSWpvaVYybHVNeklpTENKQlRpSTZJazFoYVd3aUxDSlhWQ0k2TW4wJTNEJTdDMTAwMCZzZGF0YT00S0FiM3JsN0lOaHdVb1dWTHpSMG84U254ZlQ4cU1qTHA0VnQ3OEZYSjZZJTNEJnJlc2VydmVkPTAifQ.fYrobyydoTxFMH1DLIoCQgruTcca10nD1LsXflV15VA/s/1303135927/br/92500422825-l" target="_blank">https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal</a>. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMzAuMzI2NDEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAxLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5kY2Yua3MuZ292JTJGc2VydmljZXMlMkZlZXMlMkZQYWdlcyUyRkVuZXJneUFzc2lzdGFuY2UuYXNweCZkYXRhPTA0JTdDMDElN0NSYXluYS5LYXJzdCU0MGtzLmdvdiU3QzBiMDljMDlmNmNmYjRjMGI5OWU1MDhkOGFjZTNkMWVmJTdDZGNhZTgxMDFjOTJkNDgwY2JjNDNjNjc2MWNjY2NjNWElN0MwJTdDMCU3QzYzNzQ0OTQ0MTc1ODk2MjQyOCU3Q1Vua25vd24lN0NUV0ZwYkdac2IzZDhleUpXSWpvaU1DNHdMakF3TURBaUxDSlFJam9pVjJsdU16SWlMQ0pCVGlJNklrMWhhV3dpTENKWFZDSTZNbjAlM0QlN0MxMDAwJnNkYXRhPUJWcTg5JTJCb2JzcEpOWHNxYWZoZ1hKVEw4TmVqR3AyOTFCdUxwVzIwRDFsZyUzRCZyZXNlcnZlZD0wIn0.8kbVZWTQfFh66uJUThtUtBgGdFep7_lweBHdWB9o3Go/s/1303135927/br/92500422825-l" target="_blank">http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/EnergyAssistance.aspx</a>.

Applications will be accepted from Jan. 4 to March 31.&nbsp;

Income eligibility determination:&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588195629664.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Gov.TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced that to help keep Kansans warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) will begin accepting applications for its Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Monday, Jan. 4.&nbsp;“During the cold winter months, it is important that all Kansans have access to the resources they need to heat their homes and ensure their families can stay safe and healthy,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“I encourage all those who qualify to apply for this program. My administration is committed to protecting Kansas families now, throughout the pandemic, and into the future.”LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2020, about 34,000 households received an average benefit of $960.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Winters in Kansas have the likelihood of bringing frigid temperatures, add in the financial pressures of the pandemic, it’s especially important this year that families have access to this important service to avoid financial concerns,”&nbsp;DCF Secretary Laura Howard said.&nbsp;“Our staff is prepared to begin processing LIEAP applications, so families have warm homes this winter season.”To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel and utility rates.&nbsp;&nbsp;Applicants need to have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less.&nbsp;Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies starting Jan. 4. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. To apply online, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.fYrobyydoTxFMH1DLIoCQgruTcca10nD1LsXflV15VA/s/1303135927/br/92500422825-l" target="_blank">https://cssp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal</a>. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.8kbVZWTQfFh66uJUThtUtBgGdFep7_lweBHdWB9o3Go/s/1303135927/br/92500422825-l" target="_blank">http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/EnergyAssistance.aspx</a>.Applications will be accepted from Jan. 4 to March 31.&nbsp;Income eligibility determination:&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609366921238.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Low-income energy assistance program applications start Jan. 4

Joyce and I don’t normally hunt for trophy deer; we’re happy with a nice buck or a plump doe that puts good meat in the freezer. Last year we each shot deer and still have plenty of meat in our freezer, so this year I decided to wait for a big buck. The first morning of rifle season, I watched a bruiser buck walk past our blind in the early morning shadows before legal shooting time. Then another big buck came along with a group of does and fawns and was so entertaining I decided to let him go too, thinking “Certainly I’ll see them both again before season is done. I never saw either of them again; … that’s what I get for thinkin’!&nbsp;

The last Saturday morning of deer rifle season, I watched the usual group of does begin their trek toward our blind, followed by a dandy buck. “He’ll certainly follow his harem,” I surmised. He disappeared like a ghost never to be seen again; … that’s what I get for thinkin’.

I should have known better. It seems my record for being correct on important decisions is subpar lately; it all seems to have begun with my choices to win the TV show “The Voice.” We followed The Voice off-and-on this season, then tuned-in to see who won. Five contestants were in the finale; I chose the three I knew absolutely, unequivocally, would rank first, second and third. My choices ranked third, fourth and dead last...that’s what I get for thinkin’.

When I’m setting coyote traps, I watch the weather very closely for precipitation. Rain is bad because it makes a muddy mess of things, rendering the traps which are covered with a half inch or so of dirt, ineffective. Then if it freezes after the rain, the dirt over the traps becomes a frozen muddy mess, making the traps completely inoperable. On top of it all, it becomes impossible to drive over crop fields to get to the traps. Snow on the other hand is OK in small amounts as long as the weather stays cold enough so as not to melt the snow, which again would make for a muddy mess. When I set traps last week, the weather prediction was for a small amount of snow 2 days later, about a 60% chance. Now, all summer long, a 60% chance of precipitation had usually gotten us no precipitation at all, so “I’m good-to-go,” I thought. We got about an inch of snow, which promptly melted the next day, freezing all the traps in place and causing me a boat-load of extra work… that’s what I get for thinkin.’&nbsp;

I have a love-hate relationship with the local squirrels; they’re fun to watch as they chase each other around-and-around the two oak trees in our front lawn, but when they riddle my lawn with holes, dug to bury their “prizes,” I take it personally. This fall, I built one of those squirrel feeders that employs a one-gallon glass jar to hold the corn, peanuts etc. “This will be fun to watch the little beggars crawl around and sit in the jar like in all the pictures,” I thought. Our squirrels lean in about half-way, pull entire ears of corn out of the jar, and about anything else they can do to keep from crawling into the jar like “in all the pictures” …once again, that’s what I get for thinkin.’&nbsp;

It seems the phrase “that’s what I get for thinkin’” completely sums up the year 2020. I don’t think I could have done much personally to make 2020 any better, and I’m not sure what I can do to make 2021 any better either, but I just know I’m not gonna’ stop thinkin’.” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Joyce and I don’t normally hunt for trophy deer; we’re happy with a nice buck or a plump doe that puts good meat in the freezer. Last year we each shot deer and still have plenty of meat in our freezer, so this year I decided to wait for a big buck. The first morning of rifle season, I watched a bruiser buck walk past our blind in the early morning shadows before legal shooting time. Then another big buck came along with a group of does and fawns and was so entertaining I decided to let him go too, thinking “Certainly I’ll see them both again before season is done. I never saw either of them again; … that’s what I get for thinkin’!&nbsp;The last Saturday morning of deer rifle season, I watched the usual group of does begin their trek toward our blind, followed by a dandy buck. “He’ll certainly follow his harem,” I surmised. He disappeared like a ghost never to be seen again; … that’s what I get for thinkin’.I should have known better. It seems my record for being correct on important decisions is subpar lately; it all seems to have begun with my choices to win the TV show “The Voice.” We followed The Voice off-and-on this season, then tuned-in to see who won. Five contestants were in the finale; I chose the three I knew absolutely, unequivocally, would rank first, second and third. My choices ranked third, fourth and dead last...that’s what I get for thinkin’.When I’m setting coyote traps, I watch the weather very closely for precipitation. Rain is bad because it makes a muddy mess of things, rendering the traps which are covered with a half inch or so of dirt, ineffective. Then if it freezes after the rain, the dirt over the traps becomes a frozen muddy mess, making the traps completely inoperable. On top of it all, it becomes impossible to drive over crop fields to get to the traps. Snow on the other hand is OK in small amounts as long as the weather stays cold enough so as not to melt the snow, which again would make for a muddy mess. When I set traps last week, the weather prediction was for a small amount of snow 2 days later, about a 60% chance. Now, all summer long, a 60% chance of precipitation had usually gotten us no precipitation at all, so “I’m good-to-go,” I thought. We got about an inch of snow, which promptly melted the next day, freezing all the traps in place and causing me a boat-load of extra work… that’s what I get for thinkin.’&nbsp;I have a love-hate relationship with the local squirrels; they’re fun to watch as they chase each other around-and-around the two oak trees in our front lawn, but when they riddle my lawn with holes, dug to bury their “prizes,” I take it personally. This fall, I built one of those squirrel feeders that employs a one-gallon glass jar to hold the corn, peanuts etc. “This will be fun to watch the little beggars crawl around and sit in the jar like in all the pictures,” I thought. Our squirrels lean in about half-way, pull entire ears of corn out of the jar, and about anything else they can do to keep from crawling into the jar like “in all the pictures” …once again, that’s what I get for thinkin.’&nbsp;It seems the phrase “that’s what I get for thinkin’” completely sums up the year 2020. I don’t think I could have done much personally to make 2020 any better, and I’m not sure what I can do to make 2021 any better either, but I just know I’m not gonna’ stop thinkin’.” Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Well, that’s what I get for thinkin’

Despite being native to the Great Plains, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) escapes from shelterbelt and ornamental plantings have resulted in widespread infestation of range and pasture that often require management. It is thought that the tree was originally confined to ridges and bluffs, but is now found in diverse sites, ranging from rocky uplands to swampy bottomlands. Eastern redcedars do provide food and shelter for many wild animals, but consuming leaves may be harmful to pregnant cows.&nbsp;

Eastern redcedar can be recognized by its opposite, evergreen leaves. Each leaf is actually a small (0.05-inch-long) triangle that pressed tightly over the margins of neighboring leaves. Younger leaves are not pressed together and are actually longer than more mature leaves. The canopy is pyramid-shaped, comprised of slender gray branches. It is a relatively slow-growing species with mature trees reaching heights of up to 65 feet. Bark is reddish brown and shreds into long, narrow strips.&nbsp;

Eastern redcedar is a dioecious species, meaning some plants only produce male reproductive structures while others only female structures. Eastern redcedar ‘berries’ are actually female cones. Cones are small (1/10 to 1/3-inch diameter), blue to purple colored spheres covered with a white wax. Each cone contains one to three small, egg-shaped seeds. Pollen cones are found at the end of branches.&nbsp;

Eastern redcedar can be managed with prescribed fire, especially trees that are less than 3 feet tall. For larger trees, cutting below the lowest branches is effective because eastern redcedar does not resprout. Grazon P+D, Surmount, and Tordon 22K are among the more effective herbicides; however, control by broadcast applications decreases rapidly as trees height increases. Soil-applied herbicides that can control eastern redcedar include Velpar L and Prononone Power Pellets.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, grazing management that promotes a health grass sward is important to preventing the spread of eastern redcedar.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite being native to the Great Plains, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) escapes from shelterbelt and ornamental plantings have resulted in widespread infestation of range and pasture that often require management. It is thought that the tree was originally confined to ridges and bluffs, but is now found in diverse sites, ranging from rocky uplands to swampy bottomlands. Eastern redcedars do provide food and shelter for many wild animals, but consuming leaves may be harmful to pregnant cows.&nbsp;Identification&nbsp;Eastern redcedar can be recognized by its opposite, evergreen leaves. Each leaf is actually a small (0.05-inch-long) triangle that pressed tightly over the margins of neighboring leaves. Younger leaves are not pressed together and are actually longer than more mature leaves. The canopy is pyramid-shaped, comprised of slender gray branches. It is a relatively slow-growing species with mature trees reaching heights of up to 65 feet. Bark is reddish brown and shreds into long, narrow strips.&nbsp;Eastern redcedar is a dioecious species, meaning some plants only produce male reproductive structures while others only female structures. Eastern redcedar ‘berries’ are actually female cones. Cones are small (1/10 to 1/3-inch diameter), blue to purple colored spheres covered with a white wax. Each cone contains one to three small, egg-shaped seeds. Pollen cones are found at the end of branches.&nbsp;Management&nbsp;Eastern redcedar can be managed with prescribed fire, especially trees that are less than 3 feet tall. For larger trees, cutting below the lowest branches is effective because eastern redcedar does not resprout. Grazon P+D, Surmount, and Tordon 22K are among the more effective herbicides; however, control by broadcast applications decreases rapidly as trees height increases. Soil-applied herbicides that can control eastern redcedar include Velpar L and Prononone Power Pellets.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, grazing management that promotes a health grass sward is important to preventing the spread of eastern redcedar.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

BOOR: Ecology of eastern redcedar 

Bear with me readers as I make my case that we are not the "United States of America," but the "divided states" of America."&nbsp; We are a divided country in many ways, but there's an issue within this division that is very troublesome to me and has been for some time.&nbsp;&nbsp; In the past month or so, I have written that we have become a lawless third world country.&nbsp; In a second letter to the editor, I make the point we have a political party that is allowed to do most anything without accountability.&nbsp; &nbsp;In this letter to the editor, I claim we have basically become a country of "unequal justice."&nbsp;&nbsp; There appears to be one set of rules for Democrats and a different set for Republicans.&nbsp; I'm referring to our laws especially, but not exclusively.&nbsp; Call it "inequality of justice" that appears completely out of whack as if we have two different Americas. Since when does one political party have the right to be lawless while the other party is required to hold the line?&nbsp; The word that comes to mind is "hypocrisy."&nbsp; Are we headed for a socialistic one party rule of this country?&nbsp; Unless something dramatic happens between now and January 20 that could happen as I see it.&nbsp; Socialist government is one party rule no different than in Russia or China. Democrat Hillary broke some twelve laws with her email server when Secretary of State.&nbsp; Her emails were scattered all over the world endangering our national security.&nbsp; So what?&nbsp; Did she pay a price?&nbsp; Nope!&nbsp; No accountability whatsoever.&nbsp; The Clinton Foundation, raking in millions upon millions from foreign adversaries for charitable purposes, was a farce.&nbsp; Pay to play by Hillary was the name of the game as was the case with Joe Biden when he was Vice President.&nbsp; The Biden family, including Joe, were getting millions from Russia and China. How can an American official, without breaking the law, say to a foreign country, if you fill my pockets I will return the favor with taxpayer monies?&nbsp; &nbsp; Even Trump's Attorney General Barr wouldn't touch the Biden scandal and ran for the hills as he sheepishly resigned.&nbsp; The humongous scandal could have made a difference in the election, but the "deep state" of Democrat forces intervened as usual.&nbsp; Barr couldn't take the heat and it appears our Supreme Court is being cowardly as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;God help us if they are!&nbsp; The most telling issue that we are a third world country, where people can do anything, and not worry about justice is the coup to destroy a Trump presidency by former president Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary, which I mention in all of my writings.&nbsp; Why wouldn't I when it is one of the worst possible scandals in all of American history.&nbsp; To date nobody is held accountable and, of course, that's why Trump must be destroyed.&nbsp; Reverse these scenarios with Republicans involved in such corruption and you can bet the farm all hell would break loose.&nbsp; Many ending up in orange jump suits.&nbsp; During the infamous Mueller investigation and coup to destroy Trump the FBI in bed with Dems engaged in the worst prosecutorial misconduct in recent American history.&nbsp; When they couldn't get Trump associates Michael Flynn, George Papadopolous, Roger Stone and many others to nail Trump on Russia collusion they prosecuted everybody on superfluous stuff and threw the book at them anyway ruining their lives in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp; On a different note, not in our wildest dreams, looking at more inequality,&nbsp; could conservative Republicans get away with supporting groups that engage in violent protests, maiming police, burning buildings after stealing TV sets, etc.&nbsp; The Democrat controlled states and cities look the other way and threaten law enforcement if they don't stand down.&nbsp; Defund the police is obvious lawlessness and insanity, and will only get worse.&nbsp; Democrat governors and mayors in states and cities are trampling the constitutional rights (right and left) of its people and business owners with lockdowns.&nbsp; So what? Interesting!&nbsp; Voter fraud by Republicans is unheard of, but off the charts by Democrats.&nbsp; Hundreds, maybe thousands, of Biden voters committed voter fraud which is a felony.&nbsp; I haven't seen one case of anybody getting prosecuted so what's to prevent the same countless irregularities the next time?&nbsp; At this rate, there will never be another Republican occupying the White House. America's media took sides with one political party.&nbsp; Media protected a terribly poor candidate to be president who hung out in his basement and didn't even campaign for the job.&nbsp; If Joe Biden is inaugurated January 20 he owes it all to media which no longer reports news instead perpetuates Democrat's ideology, even censoring reports they don't like.&nbsp; That's no different than the media in socialist countries like Russia and China.&nbsp;&nbsp; If Democrats have already put in place no rules for themselves, but only for Republicans, one can only imagine what's to come should there be a Biden presidency.&nbsp; Let's hope there's a miracle on its way.&nbsp;&nbsp; If Democrats pretty much have their own way now without control of our Senate, what makes one think that Democrats won't be able to do just about anything anyway even if Republicans retain control of the Senate following the Georgia runoff?&nbsp; In as much as we do not have equality of justice, Dems will continue to operate under the radar of any kind of meaningful justice.&nbsp; We conservatives better be prepared to fight (figuratively speaking) by speaking out this is not the kind of America we want.&nbsp; I for one will never accept that the election wasn't stolen, nor give up hope that God fearing conservative Americans can still make a difference by supporting a man called Donald J. Trump whether president or not.&nbsp;

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LES KNOLLBear with me readers as I make my case that we are not the "United States of America," but the "divided states" of America."&nbsp; We are a divided country in many ways, but there's an issue within this division that is very troublesome to me and has been for some time.&nbsp;&nbsp; In the past month or so, I have written that we have become a lawless third world country.&nbsp; In a second letter to the editor, I make the point we have a political party that is allowed to do most anything without accountability.&nbsp; &nbsp;In this letter to the editor, I claim we have basically become a country of "unequal justice."&nbsp;&nbsp; There appears to be one set of rules for Democrats and a different set for Republicans.&nbsp; I'm referring to our laws especially, but not exclusively.&nbsp; Call it "inequality of justice" that appears completely out of whack as if we have two different Americas. Since when does one political party have the right to be lawless while the other party is required to hold the line?&nbsp; The word that comes to mind is "hypocrisy."&nbsp; Are we headed for a socialistic one party rule of this country?&nbsp; Unless something dramatic happens between now and January 20 that could happen as I see it.&nbsp; Socialist government is one party rule no different than in Russia or China. Democrat Hillary broke some twelve laws with her email server when Secretary of State.&nbsp; Her emails were scattered all over the world endangering our national security.&nbsp; So what?&nbsp; Did she pay a price?&nbsp; Nope!&nbsp; No accountability whatsoever.&nbsp; The Clinton Foundation, raking in millions upon millions from foreign adversaries for charitable purposes, was a farce.&nbsp; Pay to play by Hillary was the name of the game as was the case with Joe Biden when he was Vice President.&nbsp; The Biden family, including Joe, were getting millions from Russia and China. How can an American official, without breaking the law, say to a foreign country, if you fill my pockets I will return the favor with taxpayer monies?&nbsp; &nbsp; Even Trump's Attorney General Barr wouldn't touch the Biden scandal and ran for the hills as he sheepishly resigned.&nbsp; The humongous scandal could have made a difference in the election, but the "deep state" of Democrat forces intervened as usual.&nbsp; Barr couldn't take the heat and it appears our Supreme Court is being cowardly as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;God help us if they are!&nbsp; The most telling issue that we are a third world country, where people can do anything, and not worry about justice is the coup to destroy a Trump presidency by former president Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary, which I mention in all of my writings.&nbsp; Why wouldn't I when it is one of the worst possible scandals in all of American history.&nbsp; To date nobody is held accountable and, of course, that's why Trump must be destroyed.&nbsp; Reverse these scenarios with Republicans involved in such corruption and you can bet the farm all hell would break loose.&nbsp; Many ending up in orange jump suits.&nbsp; During the infamous Mueller investigation and coup to destroy Trump the FBI in bed with Dems engaged in the worst prosecutorial misconduct in recent American history.&nbsp; When they couldn't get Trump associates Michael Flynn, George Papadopolous, Roger Stone and many others to nail Trump on Russia collusion they prosecuted everybody on superfluous stuff and threw the book at them anyway ruining their lives in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp; On a different note, not in our wildest dreams, looking at more inequality,&nbsp; could conservative Republicans get away with supporting groups that engage in violent protests, maiming police, burning buildings after stealing TV sets, etc.&nbsp; The Democrat controlled states and cities look the other way and threaten law enforcement if they don't stand down.&nbsp; Defund the police is obvious lawlessness and insanity, and will only get worse.&nbsp; Democrat governors and mayors in states and cities are trampling the constitutional rights (right and left) of its people and business owners with lockdowns.&nbsp; So what? Interesting!&nbsp; Voter fraud by Republicans is unheard of, but off the charts by Democrats.&nbsp; Hundreds, maybe thousands, of Biden voters committed voter fraud which is a felony.&nbsp; I haven't seen one case of anybody getting prosecuted so what's to prevent the same countless irregularities the next time?&nbsp; At this rate, there will never be another Republican occupying the White House. America's media took sides with one political party.&nbsp; Media protected a terribly poor candidate to be president who hung out in his basement and didn't even campaign for the job.&nbsp; If Joe Biden is inaugurated January 20 he owes it all to media which no longer reports news instead perpetuates Democrat's ideology, even censoring reports they don't like.&nbsp; That's no different than the media in socialist countries like Russia and China.&nbsp;&nbsp; If Democrats have already put in place no rules for themselves, but only for Republicans, one can only imagine what's to come should there be a Biden presidency.&nbsp; Let's hope there's a miracle on its way.&nbsp;&nbsp; If Democrats pretty much have their own way now without control of our Senate, what makes one think that Democrats won't be able to do just about anything anyway even if Republicans retain control of the Senate following the Georgia runoff?&nbsp; In as much as we do not have equality of justice, Dems will continue to operate under the radar of any kind of meaningful justice.&nbsp; We conservatives better be prepared to fight (figuratively speaking) by speaking out this is not the kind of America we want.&nbsp; I for one will never accept that the election wasn't stolen, nor give up hope that God fearing conservative Americans can still make a difference by supporting a man called Donald J. Trump whether president or not.&nbsp;Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

LETTER: America's justice or injustice?

WASHINGTON — Congress convened Sunday for a new session with lawmakers sworn in in separate groups including new First District Representative Tracey Mann.

Elbow bumps replaced handshakes under strict COVID-19 protocols at the Capitol.

Mann wrote on social media, "I’m deeply humbled by the faith you have put in me to represent the First District of Kansas."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609718014523.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swore in the freshman members of the 117th Congress late Sunday afternoon including First District Rep. Tracey Mann(front row, left center with the red tie)-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swore in the freshman members of the 117th Congress late Sunday afternoon including First District Rep. Tracey Mann(front row, left center with the red tie)-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Congress convened Sunday for a new session with lawmakers sworn in in separate groups including new First District Representative Tracey Mann.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609707619091.png" alt="Early Sunday afternoon, Mann stood when his name was called in the U.S. House of Representatives.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Early Sunday afternoon, Mann stood when his name was called in the U.S. House of Representatives.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Elbow bumps replaced handshakes under strict COVID-19 protocols at the Capitol.Mann wrote on social media, "I’m deeply humbled by the faith you have put in me to represent the First District of Kansas."

First District Rep. Mann sworn in as member of Congress

*This episode originally aired on Oct. 15, 2020.

<div><iframe title="Celebrate food diversity with this delicious and nutritious ingredient" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/tcatu-ef7393?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div>*This episode originally aired on Oct. 15, 2020.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Celebrate food diversity with this delicious and nutritious ingredient

Kirsten Ellard of Hay was among the 2,050 prospective candidates for degree attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee virtual commencement exercises Sunday, Dec. 20 in Milwaukee.

Ellard graduated from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare with a Master of Social Work

UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Kirsten Ellard of Hay was among the 2,050 prospective candidates for degree attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee virtual commencement exercises Sunday, Dec. 20 in Milwaukee.Ellard graduated from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare with a Master of Social WorkUWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin, with over 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Hays student graduates from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

State and local governments were told they had to spend the money quickly, and couldn't necessarily spend it on things they already had on their wish lists.

<a href="http://ksnewsservice.org">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE —&nbsp;In north Lawrence, the city set up 20 white-and-gray tents in a park to house people who are homeless.

It’s not health care, or COVID-19 tests, but federal coronavirus tax dollars are paying for the camp.

“If we put our homeless population into the shelter, there’s a higher chance that they’ll get the virus and then they’ll spread it across the community,” Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly said.

The camp marks but one example of the creative ways communities are using the federal money. They scrambled to spend the cash before a deadline at the end of December, but Congress is now giving them more time. Restrictions also mean that money can’t go to some of the top priorities in local budgets.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2020/12/20/congress-reaches-an-agreement-on-a-relief-package-including-new-stimulus-checks/?sh=67acee7dc5e6" target="_blank">a deal just days before the deadline</a>, congressional leaders decided to give&nbsp;state and local governments&nbsp;an extra year to spend the money as part of a larger&nbsp;economic&nbsp;stimulus plan.

The state allocated the $1 billion in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/committees/ctte_spc_2020_economic_recovery_1/documents/testimony/20201208_01.pdf" target="_blank">three rounds</a>, with plans to have the rest spent by the deadline later this month. Of that, $400 million was&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/covid-data/" target="_blank">sent to local governments</a>&nbsp;to spend on the particular needs in those communities.

The camp in Lawrence might seem unconventional, but much of the $25 million allocated to Douglas County is going to things more obviously tied to the pandemic. Testing, protective equipment and financial help for local businesses, including music clubs.

“We have a lot of live music here in Lawrence, Kansas,” Kelly said, “and they came to us very early and said they were the first to shut down and there’ll be the last to open up.”

Douglas County isn’t the only place getting creative with spending the $1 billion. A group of counties used money to upgrade their emergency response radio system.

Bourbon County in southeast Kansas is helping pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.koamnewsnow.com/new-grocery-store-coming-to-downtown-fort-scott/" target="_blank">a grocery store.</a>

Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz heads the governor’s office that works with counties on spending the federal money. She said the grocery store plan needed some tweaking to have a solid connection to the pandemic.

“They’ve seen a spike in their unemployment because of COVID, which then made their food desert situation even worse,” Lorenz said in an interview.

The state and local governments worked fast because the money had to be used by the end of this month, and there were contingency plans so it could be spent in time.

Earlier this month, Lorenz said she hoped Congress would give them some relief.

“My holiday wish from Congress would be a big three-part,” she said, “more money, more time and more flexibility.”

In the last-minute deal, Lorenz will get the extra time she wished for.

Congress forced the unconventional thinking with the original deadline and spending rules. It wanted states and counties to have money to cover pandemic costs, not replace tax revenue that dried up during the pandemic.

“You can’t just say, ‘We’ve got a budget hole somewhere, we want to patch it with this,’” said Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects with the right-leaning Tax Foundation.

Some states might risk getting a little too&nbsp;creative. In West Virginia, there was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2020/08/questions-raised-over-west-virginia-using-cares-act-funds-for-road-repairs/" target="_blank">pushback</a>&nbsp;over spending the money on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/08/07/critics-question-cares-act-spending-in-some-states" target="_blank">road projects</a>.

Walczak warns states to be careful because federal auditors could demand the money go back to Washington if the spending’s not connected to the pandemic.

“(The Department of the) Treasury will probably give them some latitude, but it’s not unlimited,” he said. “You start going out there and doing bold economic development projects that have nothing to do with COVID-19 and you’re going to get some scrutiny.”

The unorthodox thinking has also spread to implementing programs paid for with federal money, to make them most effective.

On a sunny Sunday this month, workers from Lawrence Memorial Hospital handed out COVID-19 tests in the city’s downtown. The day before, this group had distributed almost 2,000 tests.

Lesli Smith came out to get tests for herself and her kids.

“I work in the service industry and they go hybrid learning,” she said, “so it’s just nice to know.”

Douglas County had started with drive-through events managed by the hospital. Those continue, but the strategy has shifted to simply handing out the tests in busy places.

Sarah Hartsig, community health planner with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, said the goal is testing the widest cross section of people possible.

“To identify asymptomatic, positive people,” she said, “we have to try a lot of different strategies and reach people in a lot of different ways.”

Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank">@kprkoranda</a>.

The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.&nbsp;<a href="https://ksnewsservice.org/" target="_blank">ksnewsservice.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609357262692.png" alt="Federal money helped pay for free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. Stephen Koranda/Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Federal money helped pay for free COVID-19 testing in downtown Lawrence. Stephen Koranda/Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>State and local governments were told they had to spend the money quickly, and couldn't necessarily spend it on things they already had on their wish lists.</h2><a href="http://ksnewsservice.org">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE —&nbsp;In north Lawrence, the city set up 20 white-and-gray tents in a park to house people who are homeless.It’s not health care, or COVID-19 tests, but federal coronavirus tax dollars are paying for the camp.“If we put our homeless population into the shelter, there’s a higher chance that they’ll get the virus and then they’ll spread it across the community,” Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly said.The camp marks but one example of the creative ways communities are using the federal money. They scrambled to spend the cash before a deadline at the end of December, but Congress is now giving them more time. Restrictions also mean that money can’t go to some of the top priorities in local budgets.In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2020/12/20/congress-reaches-an-agreement-on-a-relief-package-including-new-stimulus-checks/?sh=67acee7dc5e6" target="_blank">a deal just days before the deadline</a>, congressional leaders decided to give&nbsp;state and local governments&nbsp;an extra year to spend the money as part of a larger&nbsp;economic&nbsp;stimulus plan.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6fb370a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2686x1519+0+0/resize/880x498!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4a%2F74%2F1a2553e740a5a940afe8a98e1875%2Ftents-in-lawrence-2-1.jpg" alt="Federal COVID-19 aid helped pay for tents for the homeless in Lawrence.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda" />
 <figcaption>Federal COVID-19 aid helped pay for tents for the homeless in Lawrence.&nbsp;Stephen Koranda</figcaption>
 </figure>The state allocated the $1 billion in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/committees/ctte_spc_2020_economic_recovery_1/documents/testimony/20201208_01.pdf" target="_blank">three rounds</a>, with plans to have the rest spent by the deadline later this month. Of that, $400 million was&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/covid-data/" target="_blank">sent to local governments</a>&nbsp;to spend on the particular needs in those communities.The camp in Lawrence might seem unconventional, but much of the $25 million allocated to Douglas County is going to things more obviously tied to the pandemic. Testing, protective equipment and financial help for local businesses, including music clubs.“We have a lot of live music here in Lawrence, Kansas,” Kelly said, “and they came to us very early and said they were the first to shut down and there’ll be the last to open up.”Douglas County isn’t the only place getting creative with spending the $1 billion. A group of counties used money to upgrade their emergency response radio system.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ae20da/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3202x1801+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2F06%2F67e2c8f749a3bd5071afc04fd9b5%2Fkelly-1.jpg" alt="Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly. Stephen Koranda" />
 <figcaption>Douglas County Commissioner Patrick Kelly. Stephen Koranda</figcaption>
 </figure>Bourbon County in southeast Kansas is helping pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.koamnewsnow.com/new-grocery-store-coming-to-downtown-fort-scott/" target="_blank">a grocery store.</a>Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz heads the governor’s office that works with counties on spending the federal money. She said the grocery store plan needed some tweaking to have a solid connection to the pandemic.“They’ve seen a spike in their unemployment because of COVID, which then made their food desert situation even worse,” Lorenz said in an interview.The state and local governments worked fast because the money had to be used by the end of this month, and there were contingency plans so it could be spent in time.Earlier this month, Lorenz said she hoped Congress would give them some relief.“My holiday wish from Congress would be a big three-part,” she said, “more money, more time and more flexibility.”In the last-minute deal, Lorenz will get the extra time she wished for.Congress forced the unconventional thinking with the original deadline and spending rules. It wanted states and counties to have money to cover pandemic costs, not replace tax revenue that dried up during the pandemic.“You can’t just say, ‘We’ve got a budget hole somewhere, we want to patch it with this,’” said Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects with the right-leaning Tax Foundation.Some states might risk getting a little too&nbsp;creative. In West Virginia, there was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2020/08/questions-raised-over-west-virginia-using-cares-act-funds-for-road-repairs/" target="_blank">pushback</a>&nbsp;over spending the money on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/08/07/critics-question-cares-act-spending-in-some-states" target="_blank">road projects</a>.Walczak warns states to be careful because federal auditors could demand the money go back to Washington if the spending’s not connected to the pandemic.“(The Department of the) Treasury will probably give them some latitude, but it’s not unlimited,” he said. “You start going out there and doing bold economic development projects that have nothing to do with COVID-19 and you’re going to get some scrutiny.”The unorthodox thinking has also spread to implementing programs paid for with federal money, to make them most effective.On a sunny Sunday this month, workers from Lawrence Memorial Hospital handed out COVID-19 tests in the city’s downtown. The day before, this group had distributed almost 2,000 tests.Lesli Smith came out to get tests for herself and her kids.“I work in the service industry and they go hybrid learning,” she said, “so it’s just nice to know.”Douglas County had started with drive-through events managed by the hospital. Those continue, but the strategy has shifted to simply handing out the tests in busy places.Sarah Hartsig, community health planner with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, said the goal is testing the widest cross section of people possible.“To identify asymptomatic, positive people,” she said, “we have to try a lot of different strategies and reach people in a lot of different ways.”Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank">@kprkoranda</a>.The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.&nbsp;<a href="https://ksnewsservice.org/" target="_blank">ksnewsservice.org</a>.

Tents, police radios, grocery: Some ways Kansas Is using $1B In COVID-19 aid

TOPEKA - Kansans are being afforded an active role in the development of the state's first Active Transportation Plan (ATP) in 25 years.&nbsp;

Active transportation refers to human-powered modes of transportation such as walking or cycling. The Kansas ATP will serve as a guide for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) on how to include active transportation infrastructure when planning roads, bridges and various improvement projects. Funding for active transportation projects is included in the 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE.

“Providing access to safe, direct, continuous and pleasant routes whether driving, walking or cycling is essential for a healthy multi-modal transportation system,” said Matt Messina, KDOT Comprehensive Planning Unit manager. “Our intent is for Kansas residents to have a direct voice in development of the ATP.”

The Kansas ATP will focus on how active transportation can be improved through better policies, planning, design and partnerships with other state agencies and local communities. Whether Kansans use active transportation regularly, rarely or somewhere in between, public input and ideas are critical to developing the plan. All Kansans are encouraged to get involved by participating in the online opinion survey and providing stories about how and why they are incorporating active transportation into their lives.

KDOT is conducting an ongoing opinion survey through Jan. 31, 2021, at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FKansasATP&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Blhr4uE57LkJSyi%2Bx7XkJmAc0eI6N8QQdWFO7FWeWE0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasATP</a>. Persons with active transportation stories can share at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FKansasATPStories&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=h5iG%2B9l%2BT26GMtXvd2tMzv22%2BBIP%2FZciHy%2BTuJ8gHLw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasATPStories</a>.

Additional information and video are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FKansasATP.asp&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=LsKJb8C1EaOna4GXRpLwo9XNCAyRWg%2FKrBqwF2zMpkw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.ksdot.org/KansasATP.asp</a>.

“We know that over the last several months many people have discovered walking, cycling, rolling and other forms of active transportation are fun and healthy ways to get around.” said Secretary Julie Lorenz. “For others, active transportation has long provided an essential need, an affordable way to get to work, school, transit, the store and other destinations. At KDOT, we are committed to providing transportation options that help people travel safely and conveniently – and to do that well, we need to hear from Kansans.”

The planning process for the Kansas ATP will continue through 2021 and will involve national and local experts in planning, design and safety.&nbsp;The final plan will be a key tool for KDOT staff and local officials to use and include KDOT's vision, recommendations and decision-making criteria related to active transportation.

Follow ATP activity on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasATP&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472384787%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=aKFvk9LWZg7HZuip%2BpuANihKmx0Aks8WE1ONT89H%2BO4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/KansasATP</a>&nbsp;and use the #KansasATP hashtag.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609239249457.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDOTTOPEKA - Kansans are being afforded an active role in the development of the state's first Active Transportation Plan (ATP) in 25 years.&nbsp;Active transportation refers to human-powered modes of transportation such as walking or cycling. The Kansas ATP will serve as a guide for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) on how to include active transportation infrastructure when planning roads, bridges and various improvement projects. Funding for active transportation projects is included in the 10-year Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE.“Providing access to safe, direct, continuous and pleasant routes whether driving, walking or cycling is essential for a healthy multi-modal transportation system,” said Matt Messina, KDOT Comprehensive Planning Unit manager. “Our intent is for Kansas residents to have a direct voice in development of the ATP.”The Kansas ATP will focus on how active transportation can be improved through better policies, planning, design and partnerships with other state agencies and local communities. Whether Kansans use active transportation regularly, rarely or somewhere in between, public input and ideas are critical to developing the plan. All Kansans are encouraged to get involved by participating in the online opinion survey and providing stories about how and why they are incorporating active transportation into their lives.KDOT is conducting an ongoing opinion survey through Jan. 31, 2021, at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FKansasATP&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Blhr4uE57LkJSyi%2Bx7XkJmAc0eI6N8QQdWFO7FWeWE0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasATP</a>. Persons with active transportation stories can share at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surveymonkey.com%2Fr%2FKansasATPStories&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=h5iG%2B9l%2BT26GMtXvd2tMzv22%2BBIP%2FZciHy%2BTuJ8gHLw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.surveymonkey.com/r/KansasATPStories</a>. Additional information and video are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksdot.org%2FKansasATP.asp&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472374828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=LsKJb8C1EaOna4GXRpLwo9XNCAyRWg%2FKrBqwF2zMpkw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.ksdot.org/KansasATP.asp</a>.“We know that over the last several months many people have discovered walking, cycling, rolling and other forms of active transportation are fun and healthy ways to get around.” said Secretary Julie Lorenz. “For others, active transportation has long provided an essential need, an affordable way to get to work, school, transit, the store and other destinations. At KDOT, we are committed to providing transportation options that help people travel safely and conveniently – and to do that well, we need to hear from Kansans.”The planning process for the Kansas ATP will continue through 2021 and will involve national and local experts in planning, design and safety.&nbsp;The final plan will be a key tool for KDOT staff and local officials to use and include KDOT's vision, recommendations and decision-making criteria related to active transportation.Plan implementation will be ongoing.Follow ATP activity on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasATP&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C360482c8a3a14e01890008d8a124f61b%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637436527472384787%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=aKFvk9LWZg7HZuip%2BpuANihKmx0Aks8WE1ONT89H%2BO4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/KansasATP</a>&nbsp;and use the #KansasATP hashtag.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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