DODGE CITY -&nbsp;The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from noon today to 6 PM CST this evening.

Affected counties include Trego, Ellis, Ness, Rush, Pawnee, Stafford,&nbsp; Edwards, and Pratt.&nbsp;

Winds will be out of the north 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and relative humidity as low as 16 percent.


Impacts...Any fires that start will have extreme fire behavior
  and spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not advised.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583414627630.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NWSDODGE CITY -&nbsp;The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from noon today to 6 PM CST this evening.Affected counties include Trego, Ellis, Ness, Rush, Pawnee, Stafford,&nbsp; Edwards, and Pratt.&nbsp;Winds will be out of the north 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and relative humidity as low as 16 percent.
Impacts...Any fires that start will have extreme fire behavior
 and spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not advised.&nbsp;

Red Flag Warning today for Ellis, area counties

	National Signing Day takes place all over the country for star athletes, however, NCK Tech in Beloit and Hays recently held a National Signing Day for students who have committed to attend NCK Tech in the fall. This event took place on social media. NC3 National Signing Day is a national event, which brings attention to students who plan to further their education at a technical college. The signing day took place on February 20 and included over seventy students from 35 high schools across Kansas and four states.

	Students who have completed the application process and been accepted at NCK Tech received a letter of intent and a hat to wear at their signing. Shane Britt, Dean of Student Experience located on the Beloit Campus, ran with the idea of the digital signing. 

“Once we sent the information to high school counselors, we encouraged them to take pictures or videos and send them back to us. We then posted these to social media. The results were overwhelming,” stated Britt. “We had hundreds of ‘likes.’ Family and friends who normally would not get to take part in such an important day were able to share in the excitement.”&nbsp; 

Ashley Steiner, Student Experience Coordinator on the Hays Campus shared her excitement with the Digital Signing Day. 

“It was so much fun and exciting to have social media blow up with encouragement for these students.&nbsp; They truly were stars for a day,” added Steiner.

Students interested in attending NCK Tech in the fall are encouraged to contact either campus location or visit the website <a href="http://www.ncktc.edu">www.ncktc.edu</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583357650613.png" alt="Ethan Werth – TMP-M" />
 <figcaption>Ethan Werth – TMP-M</figcaption>
 </figure>NCK Tech	National Signing Day takes place all over the country for star athletes, however, NCK Tech in Beloit and Hays recently held a National Signing Day for students who have committed to attend NCK Tech in the fall. This event took place on social media. NC3 National Signing Day is a national event, which brings attention to students who plan to further their education at a technical college. The signing day took place on February 20 and included over seventy students from 35 high schools across Kansas and four states.	Students who have completed the application process and been accepted at NCK Tech received a letter of intent and a hat to wear at their signing. Shane Britt, Dean of Student Experience located on the Beloit Campus, ran with the idea of the digital signing. “Once we sent the information to high school counselors, we encouraged them to take pictures or videos and send them back to us. We then posted these to social media. The results were overwhelming,” stated Britt. “We had hundreds of ‘likes.’ Family and friends who normally would not get to take part in such an important day were able to share in the excitement.”&nbsp; Ashley Steiner, Student Experience Coordinator on the Hays Campus shared her excitement with the Digital Signing Day. “It was so much fun and exciting to have social media blow up with encouragement for these students.&nbsp; They truly were stars for a day,” added Steiner.	Students interested in attending NCK Tech in the fall are encouraged to contact either campus location or visit the website <a href="http://www.ncktc.edu">www.ncktc.edu</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583357704691.jpeg" alt="Kordy Stull and Amy Miller" />
 <figcaption>Kordy Stull and Amy Miller</figcaption>
 </figure>

NCK Tech: National Signing Day not just for athletes

Shaun and Heather Musil didn't even know they had won the award until Barb Wasinger, 111th District state representative from Hays, texted the Hays couple that their store had been honored by the Kansas Small Business Development Center as "an excellent example of small businesses that have learned to adapt and succeed in challenging times."&nbsp;

The <a href="https://paisleypear.net/">Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market</a>, 1100 Main, has been declared one of eight SBDC "Existing Businesses of the Year."

"It's been a long three years," Shaun Musil said.&nbsp; "Fun, but a long three years with a lot of learning. This is very rewarding."&nbsp;

The Musils purchased The Paisley Pear, an existing business in downtown Hays from Jocelyn Brungardt, in July 2017 and added the wine bar two months later.

They took advantage of the local SBDC's no-cost consulting services and minimal-cost workshops.

"I asked what do I need to do to start a business, and of course, had to get together a business plan."

The Musils also worked with Commerce Bank in Hays to acquire their small business loan.

"They kind of did the rest for us," Musil explained, "for which we're very thankful.

"Starting a new business, there's a lot of stressful nights on figuring out how you're going to get everything done."&nbsp;

Several downtown Hays business owners have offered their expertise to the Musils.&nbsp;

"I can't thank them enough for all they did. They could have looked at me as competition — or they could have wanted me to be successful, which I feel like they did."&nbsp;

Shaun and Heather already had full-time careers before they decided to take the plunge — after lots of discussion — and become small business owners. 

Heather is an educator. She currently works as an instructor in the FHSU Department of Teacher Education and previously taught at Hays Middle School.

Shaun was working for Coca-Cola in Victoria and said that's where he gets his "business sense."&nbsp;

"I wasn't a disgruntled employee. I'd done the corporate world for 22 years and everything I have is from that."

But he missed the customer service side of the job.

"I'm one of those crazy people that loves serving the public, in many different ways."

Musil is also currently the mayor of Hays.

Heather told Shaun she would support his dream to own a business.

"We just dove right in and worked every day and night and figured it out," Heather said with a smile. "It's still a learning curve but our children have granted us a little grace, so we appreciate that."

The entire Musil family is often together at the Paisley Pear. 

Their sons, Brandon, 17 and Corey, 14, work nights in the kitchen when it gets busy. Heather also gets called in occasionally. Eight-year-old Meghan helps promote the family business and has her own hangout in the store basement.

"We hope our business shows them how to work hard," say their parents.

They currently have about a dozen employees, all part-time. The majority are Fort Hays State University students.

Customer service is their highest priority, according to Shaun.&nbsp;

 "Most of our employees had no prior experience working in a bar or restaurant. We're a little bit different from other places. We really [interact] with our customers," Shaun said.&nbsp;

The couple has made several changes to the business over the past three years.&nbsp;

When they bought it, the Paisley Pear was an upscale kitchen and design store with a small cafe in the back.

They expanded the bistro lunch menu and created seating for 64 people, with a party area in the formal back room.

"We've had baby showers, bridal showers, a surprise wedding," said Heather, and another wedding is planned.

There are regular meetings of some groups including a monthly book club and an afternoon bridge club. Other times feature poetry readings and trivia nights.

Saturday mornings, the self-named "Paisley Pear Ladies," whose ages range from 4 to 98, gather to visit and check in with each other. They've even bought matching shirts featuring the Paisley Pear logo.&nbsp;

Breakfast might be coffee and cheesecake, waffles or quiche.

"On the Saturdays they don't come, we worry," Heather said, "and so now they call Shaun if they're going to be out of town or something."

"I feel like they're extended family," added Shaun.

Live music by local musicians was started on the weekends and draws a crowd. It's become so popular that musicians are now contacting them and asking to play in the small venue at the front of the store.

Food delivery orders are available. Shaun personally delivers most of the lunch requests. Hays2Go will deliver anytime the Pear is open.

Because the kitchen is so small, dinner is sometimes provided by other Hays businesses on special occasions. Smokin' Co.&nbsp; BBQ catered a sold-out Valentine's Day event last month. Gella's Diner + Lb. Brewing Company, just around the corner, has also catered meals.

One of the most popular desserts — cheesecake — is made by Augustine's Bakery, also located in downtown Hays.

Other customer favorites are strawberry-rhubarb pie and pumpkin bars. "We have one gentleman who comes in around&nbsp; 2 o'clock specifically for pie, which he likes warmed up, and coffee."

The bar offers wine flights - four different kinds of wine. Shaun admits he previously knew nothing about wine.&nbsp;

The wine stock changes about every six months. "We do a lot of research and lots of wine tasting," Heather says.&nbsp;

Products from Kansas wineries sit alongside more exotic bottles from Germany, Italy, Argentina and other countries.

Whiskey, Shaun's preference, was added to the bar by customer request during Christmas. Whiskey flights are now available and Irish whiskeys will be featured during March.

"Our customers want to try different drinks while they're listening to good music."

The market side of the business offers for sale Kansas-made foods and other products, such as candles.

The back of the store, now being used for storage, has been rented to Hays Nutrition, which will move in mid-March from the Hadley Center to where the old bistro was.&nbsp;

Paisley Pear participates in many events offered by the Downtown Hays Development Corp., including art walks organized by the Hays Arts Council.

The store is closed Sunday and Monday for "family time," the Musils say. "That's a must."

Every year, eight regional Kansas SBDC offices nominate their existing, emerging, and exporting businesses of the year. 

Fort Hays State University is home to one of those <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/ksbdc/">offices</a>. It serves the counties of Barton, Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego and Wallace.

The Kansas SBDC at FHSU is part of the national organization sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and works in partnership with Kansas Department of Commerce.

This year’s nominees were selected from more than 2,400 businesses that received advising services from the Kansas SBDC in 2019.&nbsp;

 The winners, including the Musils and their three children, will be recognized at the annual E3 Small Business Awards ceremony at the state Capitol in Topeka today. Heather's mom and dad will join them on the trip.

Mayor Musil will miss tonight's Hays city commission work session.

Following is the complete list of SBDC business nominees:

The Sweet Granada – Emporia; Kim Redeker

Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market – Hays; Shaun and Heather Musil

Blue Valley Physical Therapy – Overland Park; Ann Todd-Cooper and Ryan Klusman

Young Sign Company – Leavenworth; Ann and John Hoins

ADI, Inc. – Chanute; Merrill and Wendy Cunningham

Dodge City Brewing – Dodge City; Larry and Sheri Cook

Connie’s Mexico Café – Wichita; Carmen Renteria, Adele Jordan, and Carla Rosales-Banuelos

The Marie Antoinette Gluten Free Baking Co. – Wathena; Rani Navarro-Force and Shawn Force

EMP Shield, LLC – Burlington; Timothy Carty

Mind Sculpt Games,
LLC – Great Bend; Darcy Leech

LC BioPlastics, LLC – Prairie Village; Paul Black

Julie Bear Don’t Walk Acupuncture + Integrative Health – Lawrence; Julie Bear Don’t Walk

Smallville CrossFit – Fort Scott; Aaron and Lindsey Watts

The Red Rock Experience &amp; Venue – Ulysses; Tammy Lane-Reese and Jessica Reese

Ember Technology, LLC – Wichita; Jonathan Sanchez and Tariq Azmi

Anneal Initiative, Inc. – Topeka; Amy Billinger, Jeremy Jackson, and Jennie Jackson

SkuTouch Solutions, LLC – Lenexa; Doug and Terry Obershaw

Progressive Products, Inc. – Pittsburg; Todd Allison

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583353903249.png" alt="Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays has been honored by the Kansas Small Business Development Center. (Photo by Cristina Janney)" />
 <figcaption>Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays has been honored by the Kansas Small Business Development Center. (Photo by Cristina Janney)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>By BECKY KISER Hays Post</div>Shaun and Heather Musil didn't even know they had won the award until Barb Wasinger, 111th District state representative from Hays, texted the Hays couple that their store had been honored by the Kansas Small Business Development Center as "an excellent example of small businesses that have learned to adapt and succeed in challenging times."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583274715275.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The <a href="https://paisleypear.net/">Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market</a>, 1100 Main, has been declared one of eight SBDC "Existing Businesses of the Year.""It's been a long three years," Shaun Musil said.&nbsp; "Fun, but a long three years with a lot of learning. This is very rewarding."&nbsp;The Musils purchased The Paisley Pear, an existing business in downtown Hays from Jocelyn Brungardt, in July 2017 and added the wine bar two months later.They took advantage of the local SBDC's no-cost consulting services and minimal-cost workshops."I asked what do I need to do to start a business, and of course, had to get together a business plan."The Musils also worked with Commerce Bank in Hays to acquire their small business loan."They kind of did the rest for us," Musil explained, "for which we're very thankful."Starting a new business, there's a lot of stressful nights on figuring out how you're going to get everything done."&nbsp;Several downtown Hays business owners have offered their expertise to the Musils.&nbsp;"I can't thank them enough for all they did. They could have looked at me as competition — or they could have wanted me to be successful, which I feel like they did."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583350158083.png" alt="Heather Musil waits on a Hays couple enjoying the Paisley Pear for the first time." />
 <figcaption>Heather Musil waits on a Hays couple enjoying the Paisley Pear for the first time.</figcaption>
 </figure>Shaun and Heather already had full-time careers before they decided to take the plunge — after lots of discussion — and become small business owners. Heather is an educator. She currently works as an instructor in the FHSU Department of Teacher Education and previously taught at Hays Middle School.Shaun was working for Coca-Cola in Victoria and said that's where he gets his "business sense."&nbsp;"I wasn't a disgruntled employee. I'd done the corporate world for 22 years and everything I have is from that."But he missed the customer service side of the job."I'm one of those crazy people that loves serving the public, in many different ways."Musil is also currently the mayor of Hays.Heather told Shaun she would support his dream to own a business."We just dove right in and worked every day and night and figured it out," Heather said with a smile. "It's still a learning curve but our children have granted us a little grace, so we appreciate that."<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-jutwys6lBw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The entire Musil family is often together at the Paisley Pear. Their sons, Brandon, 17 and Corey, 14, work nights in the kitchen when it gets busy. Heather also gets called in occasionally. Eight-year-old Meghan helps promote the family business and has her own hangout in the store basement."We hope our business shows them how to work hard," say their parents.They currently have about a dozen employees, all part-time. The majority are Fort Hays State University students.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583350400443.png" alt="Creating a cheese platter is employee Ray Urrutia, an FHSU student from Garden City." />
 <figcaption>Creating a cheese platter is employee Ray Urrutia, an FHSU student from Garden City.</figcaption>
 </figure>Customer service is their highest priority, according to Shaun.&nbsp; "Most of our employees had no prior experience working in a bar or restaurant. We're a little bit different from other places. We really [interact] with our customers," Shaun said.&nbsp;The couple has made several changes to the business over the past three years.&nbsp;When they bought it, the Paisley Pear was an upscale kitchen and design store with a small cafe in the back.They expanded the bistro lunch menu and created seating for 64 people, with a party area in the formal back room."We've had baby showers, bridal showers, a surprise wedding," said Heather, and another wedding is planned.There are regular meetings of some groups including a monthly book club and an afternoon bridge club. Other times feature poetry readings and trivia nights.Saturday mornings, the self-named "Paisley Pear Ladies," whose ages range from 4 to 98, gather to visit and check in with each other. They've even bought matching shirts featuring the Paisley Pear logo.&nbsp;Breakfast might be coffee and cheesecake, waffles or quiche."On the Saturdays they don't come, we worry," Heather said, "and so now they call Shaun if they're going to be out of town or something.""I feel like they're extended family," added Shaun.Live music by local musicians was started on the weekends and draws a crowd. It's become so popular that musicians are now contacting them and asking to play in the small venue at the front of the store.Food delivery orders are available. Shaun personally delivers most of the lunch requests. Hays2Go will deliver anytime the Pear is open.Because the kitchen is so small, dinner is sometimes provided by other Hays businesses on special occasions. Smokin' Co.&nbsp; BBQ catered a sold-out Valentine's Day event last month. Gella's Diner + Lb. Brewing Company, just around the corner, has also catered meals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583354312769.png" alt="Cheesecake made by Augustine's Bakery" />
 <figcaption>Cheesecake made by Augustine's Bakery</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the most popular desserts — cheesecake — is made by Augustine's Bakery, also located in downtown Hays.Other customer favorites are strawberry-rhubarb pie and pumpkin bars. "We have one gentleman who comes in around&nbsp; 2 o'clock specifically for pie, which he likes warmed up, and coffee."The bar offers wine flights - four different kinds of wine. Shaun admits he previously knew nothing about wine.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583352720544.jpeg" alt="The wine stock, with selections from Kansas and around the world, is changed every six months.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The wine stock, with selections from Kansas and around the world, is changed every six months.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The wine stock changes about every six months. "We do a lot of research and lots of wine tasting," Heather says.&nbsp;Products from Kansas wineries sit alongside more exotic bottles from Germany, Italy, Argentina and other countries.Whiskey, Shaun's preference, was added to the bar by customer request during Christmas. Whiskey flights are now available and Irish whiskeys will be featured during March."Our customers want to try different drinks while they're listening to good music."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583350981254.png" alt="The market, filled with Kansas made products, is at the front of Paisley Pear." />
 <figcaption>The market, filled with Kansas made products, is at the front of Paisley Pear.</figcaption>
 </figure>The market side of the business offers for sale Kansas-made foods and other products, such as candles.The back of the store, now being used for storage, has been rented to Hays Nutrition, which will move in mid-March from the Hadley Center to where the old bistro was.&nbsp;Paisley Pear participates in many events offered by the Downtown Hays Development Corp., including art walks organized by the Hays Arts Council.The store is closed Sunday and Monday for "family time," the Musils say. "That's a must."Every year, eight regional Kansas SBDC offices nominate their existing, emerging, and exporting businesses of the year. Fort Hays State University is home to one of those <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/ksbdc/">offices</a>. It serves the counties of Barton, Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego and Wallace.The Kansas SBDC at FHSU is part of the national organization sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and works in partnership with Kansas Department of Commerce.This year’s nominees were selected from more than 2,400 businesses that received advising services from the Kansas SBDC in 2019.&nbsp; The winners, including the Musils and their three children, will be recognized at the annual E3 Small Business Awards ceremony at the state Capitol in Topeka today. Heather's mom and dad will join them on the trip.Mayor Musil will miss tonight's Hays city commission work session.Following is the complete list of SBDC business nominees:EXISTING BUSINESSES OF THE YEARThe Sweet Granada – Emporia; Kim RedekerPaisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market – Hays; Shaun and Heather Musil
Blue Valley Physical Therapy – Overland Park; Ann Todd-Cooper and Ryan Klusman
Young Sign Company – Leavenworth; Ann and John Hoins
ADI, Inc. – Chanute; Merrill and Wendy Cunningham
Dodge City Brewing – Dodge City; Larry and Sheri Cook
Connie’s Mexico Café – Wichita; Carmen Renteria, Adele Jordan, and Carla Rosales-Banuelos
The Marie Antoinette Gluten Free Baking Co. – Wathena; Rani Navarro-Force and Shawn Force
EMERGING BUSINESSES OF THE YEAREMP Shield, LLC – Burlington; Timothy Carty
Mind Sculpt Games,
LLC – Great Bend; Darcy Leech LC BioPlastics, LLC – Prairie Village; Paul Black
Julie Bear Don’t Walk Acupuncture + Integrative Health – Lawrence; Julie Bear Don’t Walk
Smallville CrossFit – Fort Scott; Aaron and Lindsey Watts
The Red Rock Experience &amp; Venue – Ulysses; Tammy Lane-Reese and Jessica Reese
Ember Technology, LLC – Wichita; Jonathan Sanchez and Tariq Azmi
Anneal Initiative, Inc. – Topeka; Amy Billinger, Jeremy Jackson, and Jennie Jackson
EXPORTING BUSINESSES OF THE YEARSkuTouch Solutions, LLC – Lenexa; Doug and Terry Obershaw
Progressive Products, Inc. – Pittsburg; Todd Allison

🎥 Paisley Pear wins state award for 'succeeding in challenging times'

Seeing through eagles' eyes, extracting strawberry DNA, and a bingo scavenger hunt are among the activities created by the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to entertain and educate budding young scientists over the spring break in March.&nbsp;

From March 9 through March 20, the KWEC will host drop-in science camps for students of all ages, taught by Fort Hays State University students. No registration and no fee is required.&nbsp;

The activities will be from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.&nbsp;

Monday, March 9 &amp; 16 –&nbsp;Sprout into spring by discovering all about seeds. How can a tiny seed contain all the parts of a plant? Campers will dissect seeds to see what's inside, learn how to plant and grow them, and they will make take home a garden veggie seed tape and a plantable gift tag of flower seeds.&nbsp;

Tuesday, March 10 &amp; 17 –&nbsp;DNA is in all living things, and students in this lab will become lab scientists when they extract, isolate and observe the DNA of a strawberry – in minutes. It is an easy and fun experiment that can be performed with common household items.&nbsp;

Wednesday, March 11 &amp; 18 –&nbsp;For those who like scavenger hunts, bingo, and nature, this activity is for them. They can win a game of bingo by filling in their cards with natural finds at the education center. In case of inclement weather, the activity will be indoors.&nbsp;

Thursday, March 12 &amp; 19, &amp; Sunday, March 15 –&nbsp;Whether you are exploring motion, gravity, or water, physics can be found everywhere, and the inner workings of the universe can be observed through experiments with many household items. In this camp, students will build a balloon powered car, determine the center of gravity for balancing any object, and explore how water infiltrates different substances.&nbsp;

Friday, March 13 &amp; 20 &amp; Saturday, March 14 –&nbsp;How do predatory birds use their eyes to catch prey, and why do owls, eagles, and hawks have eyes in the front of their heads? These questions and others will be answered in a fun activity that lets participants play at being a bird of prey trying to catch its next meal. In the process, they will learn about the importance of stereoscopic vision.&nbsp;

Bonus KWEC WILD Activity –&nbsp;Monday, March 9 &amp; 16 at 9:30 a.m. The WILD Club is looking for new families. The club is an initiative of the Kansas Green School Network for school-age kids who want to explore nature and get outside. Participants in this activity will construct and paint bird house gourds to attract feathered friends to their backyards this spring. Registration is required for this program by calling KWC at 877-243-9268.&nbsp;

The KWEC is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend along K-156 Highway at Cheyenne Bottoms. Hours for the KWEC from March 9-20 are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call 877-243-9268.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583186004522.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsSeeing through eagles' eyes, extracting strawberry DNA, and a bingo scavenger hunt are among the activities created by the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to entertain and educate budding young scientists over the spring break in March.&nbsp;From March 9 through March 20, the KWEC will host drop-in science camps for students of all ages, taught by Fort Hays State University students. No registration and no fee is required.&nbsp;The activities will be from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.&nbsp;The schedule:&nbsp;Monday, March 9 &amp; 16 –&nbsp;Sprout into spring by discovering all about seeds. How can a tiny seed contain all the parts of a plant? Campers will dissect seeds to see what's inside, learn how to plant and grow them, and they will make take home a garden veggie seed tape and a plantable gift tag of flower seeds.&nbsp;Tuesday, March 10 &amp; 17 –&nbsp;DNA is in all living things, and students in this lab will become lab scientists when they extract, isolate and observe the DNA of a strawberry – in minutes. It is an easy and fun experiment that can be performed with common household items.&nbsp;Wednesday, March 11 &amp; 18 –&nbsp;For those who like scavenger hunts, bingo, and nature, this activity is for them. They can win a game of bingo by filling in their cards with natural finds at the education center. In case of inclement weather, the activity will be indoors.&nbsp;Thursday, March 12 &amp; 19, &amp; Sunday, March 15 –&nbsp;Whether you are exploring motion, gravity, or water, physics can be found everywhere, and the inner workings of the universe can be observed through experiments with many household items. In this camp, students will build a balloon powered car, determine the center of gravity for balancing any object, and explore how water infiltrates different substances.&nbsp;Friday, March 13 &amp; 20 &amp; Saturday, March 14 –&nbsp;How do predatory birds use their eyes to catch prey, and why do owls, eagles, and hawks have eyes in the front of their heads? These questions and others will be answered in a fun activity that lets participants play at being a bird of prey trying to catch its next meal. In the process, they will learn about the importance of stereoscopic vision.&nbsp;Bonus KWEC WILD Activity –&nbsp;Monday, March 9 &amp; 16 at 9:30 a.m. The WILD Club is looking for new families. The club is an initiative of the Kansas Green School Network for school-age kids who want to explore nature and get outside. Participants in this activity will construct and paint bird house gourds to attract feathered friends to their backyards this spring. Registration is required for this program by calling KWC at 877-243-9268.&nbsp;The KWEC is located 10 miles northeast of Great Bend along K-156 Highway at Cheyenne Bottoms. Hours for the KWEC from March 9-20 are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu/">wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call 877-243-9268.&nbsp;

Kan. Wetlands Education Center makes plans for science over spring

By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing&nbsp;

School children in China won’t return to their classrooms until mid-March because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;

But students at Quality Schools International (QSI) of Zhuhai are still busy learning in their homes, and David Kalberg is still able to fulfill his student teaching requirements for his teaching degree from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;

Kalberg, who will earn his bachelor’s degree in elementary education online in May, moved with his wife, Kimberley, from their home in Idaho to China a few months ago when she took a job as a third-grade teacher at QSI of Zhuhai. He continued taking classes online and was pleasantly surprised when he learned he could student teach in China as well.&nbsp;

Even when the coronavirus disease outbreak was declared a public health emergency – &nbsp;thus closing schools all across China on Feb. 3 – Kalberg’s student teaching wasn’t interrupted.&nbsp;

QSI is a group of non-profit international schools offering education in the English language in 37 different countries. So, in preparing for any type of unusual circumstances, its teachers already have been trained online, and students are enrolled in an online system.&nbsp;

Incorporating the skills he learned while taking classes online at FHSU, Kalberg converted the classroom curriculum for his QSI fifth-graders to an online format.&nbsp;

“This is definitely not what I’d ever been trained for before,” said Kalberg, a retired diesel mechanic who followed his wife into teaching as a second career. “The technology classes at Fort Hays State set me up for all this. I am very fortunate.”&nbsp;

He credits Scott Gregory, the field experience director for FHSU’s student teachers, for the seamless process.&nbsp;

One day, while Gregory was conducting a Zoom meeting online with some of the 100-plus student teachers he has this semester, Kalberg spoke of his situation in China.&nbsp;

While student teachers at many universities are supervised by on-campus professors, often limiting the distance for student teaching destinations, Fort Hays State is unique in the fact that it has a separate director for its student teaching programs. Coupled with its large online presence, FHSU can meet the needs of students anywhere, whether in a physical classroom setting in another state or online from China.&nbsp;

“Learning has just changed a lot,” Gregory said, “and the online unit is a huge component. Because of that, we can be very, very flexible, which makes us very marketable.”&nbsp;

Kalberg’s days start a little earlier these days than when he taught in the classroom. About 6 a.m., he begins correcting homework that his students have sent him online. Soon afterward, he begins the conversations that he has with his students every day, both individually and as a group, using online conferencing call techniques.&nbsp;

“I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial the FHSU online program has been for me personally,” Kalberg said. “I couldn’t be happier with the entire program.”&nbsp;

Kalberg is planning to fly to Hays to walk across the stage at graduation in May. It will be his first trip ever to Fort Hays State, but he is anxious to meet Gregory and professors he had in his four years at FHSU – and to check out the campus version of his soon-to-be alma mater.&nbsp;

“And,” he said with a laugh, “I need to get some more FHSU black and gold items.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339794737.jpeg" alt="David Kalberg" />
 <figcaption>David Kalberg</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing&nbsp;School children in China won’t return to their classrooms until mid-March because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;But students at Quality Schools International (QSI) of Zhuhai are still busy learning in their homes, and David Kalberg is still able to fulfill his student teaching requirements for his teaching degree from Fort Hays State University.&nbsp;Kalberg, who will earn his bachelor’s degree in elementary education online in May, moved with his wife, Kimberley, from their home in Idaho to China a few months ago when she took a job as a third-grade teacher at QSI of Zhuhai. He continued taking classes online and was pleasantly surprised when he learned he could student teach in China as well.&nbsp;Even when the coronavirus disease outbreak was declared a public health emergency – &nbsp;thus closing schools all across China on Feb. 3 – Kalberg’s student teaching wasn’t interrupted.&nbsp;QSI is a group of non-profit international schools offering education in the English language in 37 different countries. So, in preparing for any type of unusual circumstances, its teachers already have been trained online, and students are enrolled in an online system.&nbsp;Incorporating the skills he learned while taking classes online at FHSU, Kalberg converted the classroom curriculum for his QSI fifth-graders to an online format.&nbsp;“This is definitely not what I’d ever been trained for before,” said Kalberg, a retired diesel mechanic who followed his wife into teaching as a second career. “The technology classes at Fort Hays State set me up for all this. I am very fortunate.”&nbsp;He credits Scott Gregory, the field experience director for FHSU’s student teachers, for the seamless process.&nbsp;One day, while Gregory was conducting a Zoom meeting online with some of the 100-plus student teachers he has this semester, Kalberg spoke of his situation in China.&nbsp;While student teachers at many universities are supervised by on-campus professors, often limiting the distance for student teaching destinations, Fort Hays State is unique in the fact that it has a separate director for its student teaching programs. Coupled with its large online presence, FHSU can meet the needs of students anywhere, whether in a physical classroom setting in another state or online from China.&nbsp;Kalberg is proof of that.&nbsp;“Learning has just changed a lot,” Gregory said, “and the online unit is a huge component. Because of that, we can be very, very flexible, which makes us very marketable.”&nbsp;Kalberg’s days start a little earlier these days than when he taught in the classroom. About 6 a.m., he begins correcting homework that his students have sent him online. Soon afterward, he begins the conversations that he has with his students every day, both individually and as a group, using online conferencing call techniques.&nbsp;“I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial the FHSU online program has been for me personally,” Kalberg said. “I couldn’t be happier with the entire program.”&nbsp;Kalberg is planning to fly to Hays to walk across the stage at graduation in May. It will be his first trip ever to Fort Hays State, but he is anxious to meet Gregory and professors he had in his four years at FHSU – and to check out the campus version of his soon-to-be alma mater.&nbsp;“And,” he said with a laugh, “I need to get some more FHSU black and gold items.”&nbsp;

Coronavirus can’t stop one FHSU student’s education in China

Those throw-away plastic bags are in the news. Recently a bill was passed by a state House committee that would, if signed into law, make it illegal for cities to limit or ban their use. Given that activists have been working for many months in cities like Lawrence, Salina, Wichita and elsewhere to make the case against our over-reliance on environmentally damaging plastics, this bill attracted fair amount of attention. It’s been withdrawn from the legislative calendar for now, but those persuaded by the harms tied to disposable (but not biodegradable) plastics in our lives will want to keep a close watch on Topeka.

Aside from the environmental issue of plastic bags, straws and the like, there is a question of governance here. Why does the state government get to decide what a city government – presumably in response to local organizing, persuasion, and votes – can or cannot do?

The immediate answer is that states can tell cities what to do in the same way that the national government can tell states what to do. Except that, as anyone who follows the news or the basics of American history knows, the latter isn’t entirely true. Under the Constitution’s federal arrangement, there are powers delegated to states which the national government supposedly cannot intrude upon. The fight over state vs. national power has been a constant throughout the United States’s existence.

Cities, however, cannot constitutionally struggle with their states over government power in the same way. Federal courts have generally found that cities lack any kind of sovereign, delegated authority. While some state courts have affirmed that cities enjoy an inherent right to self-determination—called “home rule”—most have not. Thus, legally speaking, most city governments are expected to administer within state-set parameters, nothing more.

Still, the American judicial system is always open to appeals, and plenty of exceptions exist. In recent decades, many cities have successfully worked around their state governments and established new legal precedents, allowing them to enact municipal ordinances on the minimum wage, marijuana usage, gun possession, bicycle traffic, and much more, often in ways that contradict relevant state policies.

That cities may develop a distinct political culture reflected in their local laws is hardly new, but the contemporary ideological divide is different. America’s urban areas–especially, but not only, its large metropolitan ones–are becoming increasingly progressive and diverse. This is happening, slowly but surely, even in an otherwise conservative state like Kansas. The result is areas like Johnson County or Wichita, many of whose residents are increasingly liberal as regards the environment, criminal justice, gun safety, or economic inequality, regularly butt heads with a state government accustomed to a more conservative perspective.

This political struggle, tied up as it is with demographic change, will not end anytime soon. Whatever the cause, voters in Kansas’s increasingly blue, or at least purple, cities will keep attempting to vote into place the policies they democratically prefer, while state legislators will keep trying to legally restrict these actions. An argument over banning or limiting plastic bags may seem to be a small dispute, compared to other debates in our state. But in reality, the fight reflects the battle over state vs. local government power, one that will likely grow here in the years to come.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Those throw-away plastic bags are in the news. Recently a bill was passed by a state House committee that would, if signed into law, make it illegal for cities to limit or ban their use. Given that activists have been working for many months in cities like Lawrence, Salina, Wichita and elsewhere to make the case against our over-reliance on environmentally damaging plastics, this bill attracted fair amount of attention. It’s been withdrawn from the legislative calendar for now, but those persuaded by the harms tied to disposable (but not biodegradable) plastics in our lives will want to keep a close watch on Topeka.Aside from the environmental issue of plastic bags, straws and the like, there is a question of governance here. Why does the state government get to decide what a city government – presumably in response to local organizing, persuasion, and votes – can or cannot do?The immediate answer is that states can tell cities what to do in the same way that the national government can tell states what to do. Except that, as anyone who follows the news or the basics of American history knows, the latter isn’t entirely true. Under the Constitution’s federal arrangement, there are powers delegated to states which the national government supposedly cannot intrude upon. The fight over state vs. national power has been a constant throughout the United States’s existence.Cities, however, cannot constitutionally struggle with their states over government power in the same way. Federal courts have generally found that cities lack any kind of sovereign, delegated authority. While some state courts have affirmed that cities enjoy an inherent right to self-determination—called “home rule”—most have not. Thus, legally speaking, most city governments are expected to administer within state-set parameters, nothing more.Still, the American judicial system is always open to appeals, and plenty of exceptions exist. In recent decades, many cities have successfully worked around their state governments and established new legal precedents, allowing them to enact municipal ordinances on the minimum wage, marijuana usage, gun possession, bicycle traffic, and much more, often in ways that contradict relevant state policies.That cities may develop a distinct political culture reflected in their local laws is hardly new, but the contemporary ideological divide is different. America’s urban areas–especially, but not only, its large metropolitan ones–are becoming increasingly progressive and diverse. This is happening, slowly but surely, even in an otherwise conservative state like Kansas. The result is areas like Johnson County or Wichita, many of whose residents are increasingly liberal as regards the environment, criminal justice, gun safety, or economic inequality, regularly butt heads with a state government accustomed to a more conservative perspective.This political struggle, tied up as it is with demographic change, will not end anytime soon. Whatever the cause, voters in Kansas’s increasingly blue, or at least purple, cities will keep attempting to vote into place the policies they democratically prefer, while state legislators will keep trying to legally restrict these actions. An argument over banning or limiting plastic bags may seem to be a small dispute, compared to other debates in our state. But in reality, the fight reflects the battle over state vs. local government power, one that will likely grow here in the years to come.Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: What plastic bag debate says about our cities

<a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583354406782.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Three-day weather outlook

You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. You don’t even know that it’s there, but it has the potential to do serious harm. Radon! – a radioactive soil gas which moves from the ground under and around a home through cracks and crevices in the foundation to collect inside.&nbsp;

	Why all the concern about radon?&nbsp; Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, after cigarette smoking. Nearly one out of every 4 homes in Kansas may have elevated radon levels, but levels can vary even from home to home in the same neighborhood.

	As health concerns about radon increase, the Kansas Radon Program at Kansas State University can help to shed some light on this elusive danger. Brian Hanson, Radon Program Coordinator, will be in Hays on March 10th to present two programs about radon. A free three-hour continuing education course for real estate professionals will be held from 1- 4 pm at the Extension Office, 601 Main in Hays. The registration brochure for real estate professionals is available from the Hays Board of Realtors. To receive credit for the “Radon for Real Estate Professionals” course realtors must provide their Realtor License number.

	A one-hour public information program will be held at 601 Main in Hays on March 10th at 5:15 pm. Pre-registration for either radon class is requested by March 5th.&nbsp; The program for the general public will provide basic information about radon, its health effects, how to test and what to do about a test that comes back with a high radon rating.&nbsp;

	The first 25 participants to register for the 5:15 pm public meeting will receive a free radon test kit (limit of one per household). Please call 628-9430 to register for the March 10th public meeting by March 5th.&nbsp;

	The only way to know if there is radon in a home is to test. Winter is the best time for testing when homes are closed up from outside air. Radon screening kits can be purchased at the Extension Office for $6.50.&nbsp; The self-mailer kit includes full instructions for completing the test and returning it to a lab for analysis.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576703253818.png" alt="Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. You don’t even know that it’s there, but it has the potential to do serious harm. Radon! – a radioactive soil gas which moves from the ground under and around a home through cracks and crevices in the foundation to collect inside.&nbsp;	Why all the concern about radon?&nbsp; Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, after cigarette smoking. Nearly one out of every 4 homes in Kansas may have elevated radon levels, but levels can vary even from home to home in the same neighborhood.	As health concerns about radon increase, the Kansas Radon Program at Kansas State University can help to shed some light on this elusive danger. Brian Hanson, Radon Program Coordinator, will be in Hays on March 10th to present two programs about radon. A free three-hour continuing education course for real estate professionals will be held from 1- 4 pm at the Extension Office, 601 Main in Hays. The registration brochure for real estate professionals is available from the Hays Board of Realtors. To receive credit for the “Radon for Real Estate Professionals” course realtors must provide their Realtor License number.	A one-hour public information program will be held at 601 Main in Hays on March 10th at 5:15 pm. Pre-registration for either radon class is requested by March 5th.&nbsp; The program for the general public will provide basic information about radon, its health effects, how to test and what to do about a test that comes back with a high radon rating.&nbsp;	The first 25 participants to register for the 5:15 pm public meeting will receive a free radon test kit (limit of one per household). Please call 628-9430 to register for the March 10th public meeting by March 5th.&nbsp;	The only way to know if there is radon in a home is to test. Winter is the best time for testing when homes are closed up from outside air. Radon screening kits can be purchased at the Extension Office for $6.50.&nbsp; The self-mailer kit includes full instructions for completing the test and returning it to a lab for analysis.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Learn about radon at upcoming seminar

By DANIEL CAUDILL <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-moves-get-suspended-drivers-back-road-some-say-its-not-enough#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas has one of the highest rates
 of suspended drivers in the country, and the majority of those more 
than 215,000 licenses are suspended for unpaid fines or court fees — 
sometimes unrelated to driving.&nbsp;

Both the Kansas <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hb2547/" target="_blank">House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/sb275/" target="_blank">Senate</a>
 approved separate bills last month aimed at getting drivers back on the
 road. While some advocates say the state could do more, others are 
concerned any changes will lead to hundreds of thousands less for the 
court system.&nbsp;

Together, the bills would make it cheaper for 
suspended drivers with multiple unpaid fines to get back their full 
license once their suspension is up. The changes would also qualify more
 suspended drivers for a restricted driver’s license, which allows them 
to get to work, church and/or school.&nbsp;

Democratic Rep. Gail 
Finney said current Kansas law unfairly affects the working class and 
former inmates trying to re-enter society. About half of the 6,000 
inmates released each year in Kansas either have a suspended driver’s 
license or no license at all, according to the Kansas Criminal Justice 
Reform Commission’s 2019 report.&nbsp;

“Without a driver’s license, 
it’s very difficult to look for a job. It’s very difficult to look for a
 home,” Finney said on the House floor. “I mean, you can’t get your 
children to and from school. The list goes on and on.”

Currently,
 people who are caught driving with a suspended license face an added 
90-day suspension. The bills shorten that suspension from 90 days to 30,
 and exempt drivers who were suspended for unpaid fines.&nbsp;

The changes would not affect drivers whose licenses were suspended for driving under the influence.

Finney
 introduced a bill this session that would have revoked the state’s 
authority to suspend licenses for unpaid fines, but it appears to have 
failed. Opponents of that bill, including the League of Kansas 
Municipalities and law enforcement groups, said license suspension is 
important to encourage compliance with fines.&nbsp;

Kansas Appleseed 
is advocating for changes to the criminal justice system, including this
 issue. The nonprofit’s campaign director, Mike Fonkert, said suspended 
licenses don’t actually encourage people to settle their fines.&nbsp;

“What
 it does is create a class of 140,000 Kansans that are trapped in a debt
 cycle for what amounts to being too poor to pay,” he said.

All but six states suspend 
licenses for unpaid fines. Some elected officials say Kansas’ high rate 
of suspended licenses leads to higher insurance rates and limits who’s 
in the workforce.&nbsp;

About a quarter of Kansas’ suspended licenses 
are in Sedgwick County, the second most populous county in the state. 
Republican County Commissioner Jim Howell said suspended drivers who 
cannot afford to pay their fines are likely to be uninsured and continue
 to drive in “desperation.”

“Everybody seems to know somebody who
 was in a car accident and they said the other driver didn’t have 
insurance,” Howell said. “We’re all paying higher rates of insurance 
because of the higher rates of uninsured drivers.”&nbsp;

Howell said 
he believes the proposed changes are a step in the right direction, but 
he hopes to see the state reduce the weeks-long waiting period for a 
restricted license.&nbsp;

“(Shortening the wait period) would allow 
many Kansans to continue to abide by the law and do responsible things 
like earn income and take care of their children,” he said.&nbsp;

But 
the changes advancing in Kansas could be detrimental to the state court 
system’s revenue stream and for staffers who aren’t judges.&nbsp;

Under
 current state law, drivers have to pay $100 for each unpaid citation in
 order to get their license back, sometimes reaching more than $1,000. 
The House bill would cap that to a flat $100 fee per person.

Revenue
 from those reinstatement fees helps pay employees — not judges — in the
 courts system. The Office of Judicial Administration estimated the 
changes proposed in the House bill would lead to about $750,000 in 
losses each fiscal year.

Shawn Jurgensen, a spokesman for the 
state agency, said the judicial branch does not oppose the policy 
underlying the House bill, but said Kansas would have to find money to 
make up for lost revenue.&nbsp;

“If not replaced with a separate, equal amount of funding, that loss would threaten court operations,” Jurgensen said.&nbsp;

The
 House bill does, however, renew a recently expired provision allowing 
the Supreme Court to charge $22 each time a suspended driver gets their 
license reinstated, which would help cover non-judicial salaries.&nbsp;

Daniel Caudill is a Statehouse intern for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/bydanielcaudill" target="_blank"> @byDanielCaudill</a>.
 The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public 
Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and 
well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583268780795.png" alt=" About one in 10 Kansas drivers have a suspended license. Lawmakers want to change that. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service file photo" />
 <figcaption> About one in 10 Kansas drivers have a suspended license. Lawmakers want to change that. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANIEL CAUDILL <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-moves-get-suspended-drivers-back-road-some-say-its-not-enough#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Kansas has one of the highest rates
 of suspended drivers in the country, and the majority of those more 
than 215,000 licenses are suspended for unpaid fines or court fees — 
sometimes unrelated to driving.&nbsp;Both the Kansas <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/hb2547/" target="_blank">House</a> and <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/sb275/" target="_blank">Senate</a>
 approved separate bills last month aimed at getting drivers back on the
 road. While some advocates say the state could do more, others are 
concerned any changes will lead to hundreds of thousands less for the 
court system.&nbsp;Together, the bills would make it cheaper for 
suspended drivers with multiple unpaid fines to get back their full 
license once their suspension is up. The changes would also qualify more
 suspended drivers for a restricted driver’s license, which allows them 
to get to work, church and/or school.&nbsp;Democratic Rep. Gail 
Finney said current Kansas law unfairly affects the working class and 
former inmates trying to re-enter society. About half of the 6,000 
inmates released each year in Kansas either have a suspended driver’s 
license or no license at all, according to the Kansas Criminal Justice 
Reform Commission’s 2019 report.&nbsp;“Without a driver’s license, 
it’s very difficult to look for a job. It’s very difficult to look for a
 home,” Finney said on the House floor. “I mean, you can’t get your 
children to and from school. The list goes on and on.”Currently,
 people who are caught driving with a suspended license face an added 
90-day suspension. The bills shorten that suspension from 90 days to 30,
 and exempt drivers who were suspended for unpaid fines.&nbsp;The changes would not affect drivers whose licenses were suspended for driving under the influence.Finney
 introduced a bill this session that would have revoked the state’s 
authority to suspend licenses for unpaid fines, but it appears to have 
failed. Opponents of that bill, including the League of Kansas 
Municipalities and law enforcement groups, said license suspension is 
important to encourage compliance with fines.&nbsp;Kansas Appleseed 
is advocating for changes to the criminal justice system, including this
 issue. The nonprofit’s campaign director, Mike Fonkert, said suspended 
licenses don’t actually encourage people to settle their fines.&nbsp;“What
 it does is create a class of 140,000 Kansans that are trapped in a debt
 cycle for what amounts to being too poor to pay,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583268862504.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Financial impact</h2>All but six states suspend 
licenses for unpaid fines. Some elected officials say Kansas’ high rate 
of suspended licenses leads to higher insurance rates and limits who’s 
in the workforce.&nbsp;About a quarter of Kansas’ suspended licenses 
are in Sedgwick County, the second most populous county in the state. 
Republican County Commissioner Jim Howell said suspended drivers who 
cannot afford to pay their fines are likely to be uninsured and continue
 to drive in “desperation.”“Everybody seems to know somebody who
 was in a car accident and they said the other driver didn’t have 
insurance,” Howell said. “We’re all paying higher rates of insurance 
because of the higher rates of uninsured drivers.”&nbsp;Howell said 
he believes the proposed changes are a step in the right direction, but 
he hopes to see the state reduce the weeks-long waiting period for a 
restricted license.&nbsp;“(Shortening the wait period) would allow 
many Kansans to continue to abide by the law and do responsible things 
like earn income and take care of their children,” he said.&nbsp;But 
the changes advancing in Kansas could be detrimental to the state court 
system’s revenue stream and for staffers who aren’t judges.&nbsp;Under
 current state law, drivers have to pay $100 for each unpaid citation in
 order to get their license back, sometimes reaching more than $1,000. 
The House bill would cap that to a flat $100 fee per person.Revenue
 from those reinstatement fees helps pay employees — not judges — in the
 courts system. The Office of Judicial Administration estimated the 
changes proposed in the House bill would lead to about $750,000 in 
losses each fiscal year.Shawn Jurgensen, a spokesman for the 
state agency, said the judicial branch does not oppose the policy 
underlying the House bill, but said Kansas would have to find money to 
make up for lost revenue.&nbsp;“If not replaced with a separate, equal amount of funding, that loss would threaten court operations,” Jurgensen said.&nbsp;The
 House bill does, however, renew a recently expired provision allowing 
the Supreme Court to charge $22 each time a suspended driver gets their 
license reinstated, which would help cover non-judicial salaries.&nbsp;Daniel Caudill is a Statehouse intern for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/bydanielcaudill" target="_blank"> @byDanielCaudill</a>.
 The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public 
Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and 
well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.&nbsp;

Kan. moves to get suspended drivers back on the road

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

<a href="https://hayschamber.com/">To find out more about the Hays Chamber visit hayschamber.com.</a>

<div><iframe title="Hays Chamber working to develop relationships" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/s4zhr-d57463?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&skin=3&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile notifications click here.</a><a href="https://hayschamber.com/">To find out more about the Hays Chamber visit hayschamber.com.</a>

🎤Post Podcast: Hays Chamber working to develop relationships

Grow Hays announces that Doug and Jill Shaw, Ellis, have finalized a donation to the Ellis County Development Corp. consisting of four large residential real estate lots southeast of Hays valued in excess of $100,000.  

"Doug and Jill Shaw have been significant contributors to our community for many years" said Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays. "They have provided affordable housing through residential developments in Hays and Ellis where they constructed over 50 affordable homes. They also developed and operated the Ellis Travel Plaza (now Love's Travel Stop) in Ellis. This generous gift is another example of their commitment to Ellis County and will allow the Ellis County Development Corp. to continue its efforts in promoting affordable housing in our community." 

The Ellis County Development Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Grow Hays. It is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation dedicated to the development of affordable housing, entrepreneurship and workforce development in Ellis County. For further information regarding the Ellis County Development Corp. and its activities, contact Grow Hays at 785.628.3102 or by email at <a href="mailto:info@growhays.com">info@growhays.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579031366928.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Grow HaysGrow Hays announces that Doug and Jill Shaw, Ellis, have finalized a donation to the Ellis County Development Corp. consisting of four large residential real estate lots southeast of Hays valued in excess of $100,000. "Doug and Jill Shaw have been significant contributors to our community for many years" said Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays. "They have provided affordable housing through residential developments in Hays and Ellis where they constructed over 50 affordable homes. They also developed and operated the Ellis Travel Plaza (now Love's Travel Stop) in Ellis. This generous gift is another example of their commitment to Ellis County and will allow the Ellis County Development Corp. to continue its efforts in promoting affordable housing in our community." The Ellis County Development Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Grow Hays. It is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation dedicated to the development of affordable housing, entrepreneurship and workforce development in Ellis County. For further information regarding the Ellis County Development Corp. and its activities, contact Grow Hays at 785.628.3102 or by email at <a href="mailto:info@growhays.com">info@growhays.com</a>.

Shaws donate $100K+ in residential lots to Grow Hays subsidiary

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Ellis County Appraiser notified the county commission Monday property tax valuation notices will be mailed late.

Appraiser Lisa Ree told commissioners she applied for a 30-day extension to mail the valuations because she has a shortage of staff in her office.

The office is down three-quarters of a position due to budget cuts.

Ree said the state has granted her a 15-day extension to March 15. However, she said she was not confident the office would be able to finish the appraisals by that date.

She said she anticipates asking the state for another extension with the hope the valuations could be mailed by April 1.

If the appraisals are not mailed on time, the county would lose points on its compliance grade. If the office does not receive a certain number of points, it will be considered out of compliance.&nbsp;

An office that remains out of compliance for two years or more can be taken over by the state at the county's cost, Ree said.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Ellis County Appraiser notified the county commission Monday property tax valuation notices will be mailed late.Appraiser Lisa Ree told commissioners she applied for a 30-day extension to mail the valuations because she has a shortage of staff in her office.The office is down three-quarters of a position due to budget cuts.Ree said the state has granted her a 15-day extension to March 15. However, she said she was not confident the office would be able to finish the appraisals by that date.She said she anticipates asking the state for another extension with the hope the valuations could be mailed by April 1.If the appraisals are not mailed on time, the county would lose points on its compliance grade. If the office does not receive a certain number of points, it will be considered out of compliance.&nbsp;An office that remains out of compliance for two years or more can be taken over by the state at the county's cost, Ree said.

Ellis County tax valuations to be mailed late

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is excited to announce that the Cat in the Hat is coming to Hays on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  This free Family Fun Day event will be at the Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.  

The Family Fun Day event gives kids a chance to meet and take pictures with the Cat in the Hat. 

 “We are excited to bring Family Fun Day back to Hays,” said Tricia Flax, event coordinator.  “Family Fun Day is a great event for the entire family.  Plus, it’s free! It’s another great thing we do for our viewers in central and western Kansas.” 

· Jammin’ Randy to entertain the kids while they wait to take pictures.   

· The Hays Lions Club with their vision screenings.   

· Sternberg Museum will be there with animals.   

Family Fun Day is an educational and entertaining event that Smoky Hills PBS puts on approximately four times a year across central and western Kansas.  Smoky Hills PBS brings a special PBS character to visit and FREE books and educational gifts are distributed to those children in attendance.  

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 </figure>SHPBSBUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is excited to announce that the Cat in the Hat is coming to Hays on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free Family Fun Day event will be at the Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine. The Family Fun Day event gives kids a chance to meet and take pictures with the Cat in the Hat. “We are excited to bring Family Fun Day back to Hays,” said Tricia Flax, event coordinator. “Family Fun Day is a great event for the entire family. Plus, it’s free! It’s another great thing we do for our viewers in central and western Kansas.” Alongside the Cat in the Hat will be: · Jammin’ Randy to entertain the kids while they wait to take pictures. · The Hays Lions Club with their vision screenings. · Sternberg Museum will be there with animals. · Craft table of fun! Family Fun Day is an educational and entertaining event that Smoky Hills PBS puts on approximately four times a year across central and western Kansas. Smoky Hills PBS brings a special PBS character to visit and FREE books and educational gifts are distributed to those children in attendance.

'Cat in the Hat' Family Fun Day will be Saturday in Hays

Pre-trial motions were heard Thursday in a malpractice case in the death of a newborn baby at Rooks County Health Center.

The child's parents,&nbsp;Derek and Mireya Stiles of Hays, are seeking $10 million in damages for wrongful death and pain and suffering in the death of their son, Eli, who died hours after birth.

They are also seeking $500,000 in damages for injuries sustained to Mireya during the delivery.

In addition to the hospital, the Stiles are also suing Dr. Beth Oller, a family practice physician, who attended the birth.&nbsp;

Mireya Stiles was admitted to Rooks County Health Center on Aug. 19, 2016. She was in labor from noon until 4:29 a.m. the next day.&nbsp;

During labor, Dr. Oller attempted vacuum suction multiple times to assist in the baby's delivery, according to court records.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPre-trial motions were heard Thursday in a malpractice case in the death of a newborn baby at Rooks County Health Center.The child's parents,&nbsp;Derek and Mireya Stiles of Hays, are seeking $10 million in damages for wrongful death and pain and suffering in the death of their son, Eli, who died hours after birth.They are also seeking $500,000 in damages for injuries sustained to Mireya during the delivery.In addition to the hospital, the Stiles are also suing Dr. Beth Oller, a family practice physician, who attended the birth.&nbsp;Mireya Stiles was admitted to Rooks County Health Center on Aug. 19, 2016. She was in labor from noon until 4:29 a.m. the next day.&nbsp;During labor, Dr. Oller attempted vacuum suction multiple times to assist in the baby's delivery, according to court records.Shortly after Eli's birth, he was transferred to Wesley Medial Center in Wichita. Eli was pronounced dead 13 hours after his birth.The Stiles allege Eli died as a result of injuries sustained during delivery. They assert Oller was negligent in attempting repeated vacuum procedures rather than referring&nbsp;Mireya Stiles for a cesarean section.During the hearing on Feb. 27, the issue of whether Eli was conscious was raised before Judge Glenn Braun. This led the defense to question if Eli was not conscious, did he feel pain.The judge did not rule on this question but rather has taken it under advisement and will rule on the issue at another pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, March 18.The defense also argued against expert testimony for two doctors for the plaintiffs, Dr.&nbsp;Lawrence Borow and Dr. Amy Hair.Borow is a OB/GYN from Philadelphia. He is set to testify on the standard of care administered to Eli and&nbsp;Mireya during Eli's birth.&nbsp;The defense argued Borow's testimony should not be admitted because he has not delivered a baby in 13 years. However, Borow has been an OBGYN for more than 40 years. The defense also argued Borow has no experience practicing in a small, rural community and therefore is unqualified to render an opinion about the care of a family physician in Rooks County.Braun ruled Borow did not need to have practiced in a small hospital to have knowledge of standards of care and could be used as an expert.The defense also argued Borow laid no foundation for a deviation from the standard of care&nbsp; for&nbsp;Mireya Stiles. The defense is asking that portion of the suit be dropped. The judge is yet to make a ruling on that issue.Hair is set to testify as to the cause of Eli's injuries. The defense objected to comments in Hair's testimony they argued were opinions on standards of care provided to Eli Stiles.The judge ordered the plaintiff's attorneys to provide language they will use to avoid Dr. Hair from directly or indirectly providing opinions on standards of care.The next hearing in this case is set for 9:30 a.m. March 18 in Hays.The trial in the case is set for March 23 and is estimated to take two weeks.

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