By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/macy-byars">MACY BYARS</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-12-05/for-seniors-on-medicare-advantage-lower-costs-can-mean-gambling-with-health-care">Midwest Newsroom</a>

Medicare Advantage, a private alternative to traditional Medicare, offers extra benefits and low monthly premiums. However, prior authorizations and claim denials complicate this increasingly popular — and profitable — program for Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers.

On a mid-November morning, Rick Cuddeford talked with Medicare-eligible Nebraskans about their options at the Saving Seniors Money office in Lincoln. His one-on-one discussions were timely, as the year’s open enrollment period ended on Dec. 7.

“We don’t push people one way or the other,” Cuddeford said. “Our job is to educate people about both options, and then whatever they are comfortable with, we go with for their coverage.”

Cuddeford said Saving Seniors Money —&nbsp;a group of independent insurance agents specializing in Medicare options&nbsp;— has helped over 5,000 households find Medicare options that work for them through educational seminars, one-on-one meetings and phone calls.

“When you do a good job, your name gets out there, and that’s how we grow,” Cuddeford said.

There are two paths that older Americans can take to secure health care insurance: traditional Medicare or a private Medicare Advantage plan.

Offering extra benefits and low monthly premiums, the lower upfront costs of Medicare Advantage plans can be appealing. But critics say choosing Medicare Advantage, which is seeing increased enrollment, can come with financial and health risks for many older Americans.

Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, is wary of Medicare Advantage.

“With a lot of Medicare Advantage plans, you’re taking more of a financial risk,” Nordquist said. “You may pay less up front, but you’re taking a bigger financial risk as you age and move forward.”

Nordquist said private insurance companies, including Medicare Advantage plan providers, typically require approval before certain medical services are provided and covered. This can take time, and doctors and insurers don’t always agree. Nordquist said prior authorization procedures can delay timely access to care.

Around 2.8 million people across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri are on Medicare Advantage plans this year. Nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/July2025_MedPAC_DataBook_Sec9_SEC.pdf" target="_blank">62 million people</a>&nbsp;are eligible for Medicare Advantage. About 36 million are using it.

In a 2025&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskahospitals.org/welcome.html?ss360Query=medicare%20advantage%20report%202025" target="_blank">Nebraska Hospital Association survey</a>, 83% of member hospitals reported care was denied to their Medicare Advantage patients. A majority of member hospitals also reported negative financial consequences related to dealing with Medicare Advantage companies, such as lost time for medical staff or low reimbursement rates.

Nordquist said seniors can also be stuck in the hospital when plans don’t cover skilled nursing or post-acute care.

About half of the Nebraska Hospital Association’s member hospitals no longer contract with certain Medicare Advantage plan providers. Around 10% of member hospitals – all in rural areas – no longer accept any Medicare Advantage plans.

“We’ve heard so many horror stories,” Nordquist said. “One that really sticks out to me was a cancer patient. It took the doctor seven months – the doctor knew, in their medical judgment, this service was medically necessary for the patient – seven months to get a cancer patient the treatment they needed, because the insurance company and Medicare-Advantage-plan-slash-insurance-company continued to deny that coverage.”

Providers also need to be “in network” with the Medicare Advantage plan, which could create a mismatch between an enrollee’s preferred providers and the plan’s covered providers. Most health systems accept traditional Medicare, giving those beneficiaries a larger pool of providers to choose from.

Nordquist said Medicare Advantage is better for seniors with few health issues.

“If you don’t think you’re going to need health care – great,” Nordquist said. “But very few seniors are healthy enough to avoid that, so they need to know these challenges up front.”

While traditional Medicare does not use prior authorization, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-new-model-target-wasteful-inappropriate-services-original-medicare" target="_blank">pilot program</a>&nbsp;will test it out in six states starting in January 2026. A list of expensive services flagged as “unnecessary and often costly” will be subject to prior authorization under the pilot.

In traditional Medicare, provided by the federal government, enrollees typically start with Part A hospital insurance and Part B outpatient, home health and preventative care coverage. Enrollees can also add Part D drug coverage and “Medigap” supplement plans from private companies. Part A is free, Part B has an income-based monthly premium, and Part D drug and supplement plan costs vary.

Medicare Advantage enrollees pay their Part B premium and the plan’s monthly premium, which is typically free or low cost. Dental, vision or hearing coverage – which are not included with traditional Medicare – are commonly offered as extra benefits. Some plans even offer gym memberships or grocery vouchers.

However, unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage enrollees typically have co-pays and a maximum out-of-pocket amount tacked onto their coverage. Traditional Medicare enrollees pay 20% of their health care costs after they’ve met their deductible, unless they have a supplement that kicks in.

Cuddeford compared Medicare Advantage plans to the health insurance plans most people under age 65 are familiar with.

“Your health care insurance you have right now – it’s basically an Advantage plan,” Cuddeford said. “It works the same way. You probably have a deductible, then you probably have co-pays and cost shares up to a max out of pocket. That’s exactly what an Advantage plan is.”

In 2011, 26% of Medicare beneficiaries were on a Medicare Advantage plan, according to a report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/July2025_MedPAC_DataBook_Sec9_SEC.pdf" target="_blank">Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</a>&nbsp;(CMS). Now, in 2025, about 55% of Medicare beneficiaries use Medicare Advantage.

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has increased steadily for more than a decade.

KFF is a nonprofit health education and policy organization. Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, associate director of KFF’s program on Medicare policy, said it’s difficult to know how many claims are denied by Medicare Advantage insurers.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have data to really say how often there was a misalignment between what people’s providers, their doctors and their families thought that they needed and what the insurer said,” Fuglesten Biniek said. “We’ve just heard stories where people have faced these challenges at a time when they’re actually pretty vulnerable.”

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services does track how often claims are denied on plans offered through Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges, but not all Medicare Advantage plans are required to report why they denied claims.

“There’s just a disconnect or a difference in what is required in the different insurance markets,” Fuglesten Biniek said.

Fuglesten Biniek said Medicare Advantage plan providers use prior authorization, referrals and provider networks to control costs.

“Most insurers will tell you that it is a tool that they need in order to make sure that people don’t get inappropriate care and there’s not wasteful spending,” Fuglesten Biniek said. “But they have talked about doing it better, using it for fewer services that are really the higher-risk services.”

With free or low-cost monthly premiums, Cuddeford said many of his clients choose Medicare Advantage plans as a more affordable alternative to steadily rising Medicare supplement costs.

“I had a gentleman call me. It’s been a couple years ago now,” Cuddeford said. “It’s the biggest one I ever found. His supplement was $750 a month,” Cuddeford said.

When the man said he would soon have to choose between health care and putting food on the table, Cuddeford recommended a Medicare Advantage plan.

“He has not had any medical issues in the last two years. Nothing major to speak of,” Cuddeford said. “He has saved nearly $20,000 by being on a Medicare Advantage plan.”

With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles" target="_blank">Part B premiums increasing</a>&nbsp;9.7% next year, a standard Medicare enrollee’s bill can add up quickly. Supplement premiums can range from $30 to well over $600. As the cost of traditional Medicare rises, a larger share of Americans are turning to Medicare Advantage.

“All of a sudden, it’s a viable offer, especially when that supplement premium is unaffordable for someone who’s living off Social Security,” Cuddeford said.

The federal government pays Medicare Advantage plan providers per person each month to distribute an enrollee’s Medicare benefits. Cuddeford said those payments used to be lower, but as enrollment climbed, so did government payments. More insurance companies entered the Medicare Advantage market, using television commercials, mailers and online advertisements to push extra benefits and $0 premiums while leaving out crucial details like network requirements and co-pay information.

“It’s easy to sell free,” Cuddeford said.

The Saving Seniors Money team is made up of independent insurance agents that contract with multiple insurance companies to sell their products.

<a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/managed-care-marketing/medicare-marketing-guidelines/agent-broker-compensation" target="_blank">According to Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services data,</a>&nbsp;agent commissions for selling a Medicare Advantage plan to a first-time enrollee ranged from $92 to $780 in 2025, though caps on commission amounts vary by state. Commissions for Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans are regulated and capped by Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, but this is not the case for Medicare supplement providers that cover copays and deductibles under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/ready-to-buy/how#:~:text=Medicare%20Supplement%20Insurance%20sold%20by,gaps%E2%80%9D%20in%20Original%20Medicare%20coverage." target="_blank">MediGap</a>.

According to KFF, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/key-facts-about-medigap-enrollment-and-premiums-for-medicare-beneficiaries/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#777bab66-1392-428d-8638-e855deb77c13--premiums-vary-across-medigap-policies" target="_blank">average monthly premium of a Medigap supplement</a>&nbsp;in 2023 was $217, making $520 an average agent’s commission. Medigap supplement commissions for a first-time enrollee are typically around 20% of the plan’s annual premium, which can vary by insurance provider and plan type. Commissions go down each year that an enrollee stays on a Medicare Advantage, Part D or supplemental plan.

In 2024, the federal government spent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/trustees-report-trust-funds" target="_blank">$1.1 trillion</a>&nbsp;on the Medicare program as a whole. Around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/July2025_MedPAC_DataBook_Sec9_SEC.pdf" target="_blank">$494 billion</a>&nbsp;was paid out to Medicare Advantage plan providers – nearly 45% of total Medicare expenditures. That dollar amount has more than quadrupled since 2011.

Payments will rise again this year. In April, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finalizes-2026-payment-policy-updates-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-programs" target="_blank">rates would rise 5.06%</a>&nbsp;for 2026.

When Medicare Advantage was introduced in 1997 as Medicare+Choice, it was intended to provide more options to seniors while saving the federal government money through partial privatization of the Medicare program.

However, Great Plains Health CEO Ivan Mitchell doubts the program’s original intentions are being carried out.

“I think we’re to a point where we need to start over and scrap the program,” Mitchell said.

Recently, Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services’ Medicare Payment Advisory Commission reported that payments to Medicare Advantage plans are about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Mar25_Ch11_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf" target="_blank">20% higher</a>&nbsp;than spending for similar enrollees in traditional Medicare, adding up to $84 billion in payments to insurance companies for 2025 alone.

KFF’s Fuglesten Biniek said extra benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans could partially account for the higher cost.

“It’s not exactly apples to apples in terms of what the person is getting, and it is quite possible that the higher spending and Medicare Advantage is delivering value to the enrollee that justifies the cost,” Fuglesten Biniek said.

Studies have been commissioned by insurance companies or groups with a vested interest in the success of Medicare Advantage. There is not unbiased or comprehensive data on how Medicare Advantage plans’ extra benefits affect enrollee health.

Fuglesten Biniek said the government is also aware of prior authorization concerns.

“[Health and Human Services] did an analysis of this and actually found that Medicare Advantage plans were denying services in cases where it was likely traditional Medicare would have covered it,” Fuglesten Biniek said. “[Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services] issued new regulations clarifying that they were supposed to be covering services in these cases.”

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services uses “a five-star rating system” to rate plan quality and consumer satisfaction of Part D, Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans, based on 40 measurement criteria and consumer satisfaction. Plans with high star ratings get bonus payments from the government. Plans with low star ratings can be sanctioned and not allowed to enroll new members.

For 2026, about 40% of plans are rated at four or more stars, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2026-star-ratings-fact-sheet.pdf" target="_blank">a CMS fact sheet.</a>&nbsp;Weighted by enrollment, 64% of enrollees are currently on plans that earned four or more stars as their 2026 rating.

Notably, a Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/12/2023-07115/medicare-program-contract-year-2024-policy-and-technical-changes-to-the-medicare-advantage-program" target="_blank">rule from 2023</a>&nbsp;decreased the weight of patient experiences for calculating star ratings. In 2024, Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services was the subject of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcarelabyrinth.com/lawsuits-against-cms-on-stars-show-the-system-is-breaking/" target="_blank">several lawsuits</a>&nbsp;from Medicare Advantage providers alleging inaccurate or unfair calculations of star ratings.

A practice called “upcoding” also factors into higher government payments. If a plan has many patients with severe medical issues, chronic conditions or complications, the plan has a higher “risk score.” The higher the risk score, the higher the payments from the government.

“One of the ways in which plans collect diagnosis codes to increase their risk scores is through something called chart reviews, where they can take an artificial intelligence and they go through all the medical records and find diagnoses that were not submitted as part of that encounter with the provider, but they think there’s evidence of,” Fuglesten Biniek said.

MedPAC reported Medicare Advantage plan risk scores were 17% higher on average compared with traditional Medicare beneficiaries. While Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services is required by law to reduce MA plan risk scores to bring payments closer to traditional Medicare costs, risk scores are still high after adjustment.

Those chart reviews cost the government $24 billion in 2023, around 6% of total Medicare Advantage payments that year.

“That started to get a lot of bipartisan attention,” Fuglesten Biniek said. “I don’t know what that will mean in terms of specific policy changes, but it’s an area that both people in the [Trump] administration and Congress are interested in, and both Republicans and Democrats are interested in. It’s not often that something has all of those things aligned.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-pushes-for-answers-on-unitedhealth-groups-medicare-advantage-billing-practices" target="_blank">criticized</a>&nbsp;Medicare Advantage earlier this year following a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/unitedhealth-medicare-doj-diagnosis-investigation-66b9f1db?msockid=11bf9ab3740b6ef53e478fc875aa6fac" target="_blank">February Wall Street Journal report</a>&nbsp;on a Department of Justice investigation into UnitedHealth Group’s billing practices.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall introduced a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1816/text" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;in May increasing transparency by requiring Medicare Advantage plans to report to the government how many claims are denied each year. The bill has 63 bipartisan co-sponsors, including all four Nebraska and Missouri senators, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran. An identical version was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3514/cosponsors?q=%7B%22cosponsor-state%22%3A%22Kansas%22%7D" target="_blank">introduced in the House</a>&nbsp;with widespread support, but no action has been taken on the House or Senate version since May.

A “No Upcode Act” has bipartisan support in the Senate, according to Fuglesten Biniek, and a House member proposed a bill to extend ACA tax credits by changing how risk scores are calculated.

Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has also expressed problems with upcoding and lack of transparency from Medicare Advantage plans. Oz was previously a staunch supporter of Medicare Advantage on the “Dr. Oz Show” and throughout his failed bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Issues of delayed care, prior authorization and time lost to paperwork have led to tough decisions for health care providers. And all the while, more people are learning about Medicare Advantage.

“We’ve started to see more advertising, more outreach, more engagement in rural areas, and that, I think, is creating some of the pushback from our members saying it’s bad for patients,” said Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. “When a big, out-of-state insurance company comes in and tries to force us to take a contract, you don’t, as a small hospital, have any real leverage to negotiate on that, other than it’s take it or leave it.”

Major health systems such as Mayo Clinic and Scripps have stopped accepting Medicare Advantage plans. Across the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/20-health-systems-dropping-medicare-advantage-plans-2025/" target="_blank">Becker’s Hospital Review reports</a>&nbsp;33 health systems have announced they will not accept some or all MA plans past 2025, including Iowa’s MercyOne, Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas-based LMH Health and Kimball Health Services in Nebraska.

<a href="https://www.gphealth.org/" target="_blank">Great Plains Health</a>, a small health system in North Platte, announced it would no longer take any Medicare Advantage plans starting on Jan. 1, 2025.

“The largest employer in our community, at the end of 2023, sent a letter to their retirees saying that they were going to switch them all to a Medicare Advantage plan that we were not in network with, versus a traditional Medicare plan with a supplement,” Great Plains Health CEO Ivan Mitchell said.

Mitchell said Great Plains Health had already seen issues during its limited adoption of Medicare Advantage plans. The employer assured the health system that patients could be served on an out-of-network basis with no prior authorizations.

“We said, ‘OK, well, we don’t really believe you, but we’re going to go ahead and give it a shot,’” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said problems started almost immediately. As an example of Great Plains Health’s issues with Medicare Advantage plans, he shared a patient’s story.

The patient had an infection that went septic. The patient was put on a ventilator at Great Plains Health, and eventually, their condition improved. For a full recovery, the patient needed rehabilitative care. In order to get a spot at the rehabilitation hospital, the patient needed prior authorization from their Medicare Advantage plan.

Care was denied multiple times. Doctors sat on hold. The patient stayed an extra six weeks at Great Plains Health.

“If you look at keeping this patient here an additional six weeks, that was an additional 10 patients that could have been admitted to our hospital that were not able to be admitted here,” Mitchell said. “And the next closest hospital to us that provides the same level of care is 100 miles away.”

Mitchell said that wasn’t the only case. As more issues arose, he said doctors were spending precious time that could be used caring for patients on the phone, fighting with the insurance company.

“According to statute, they are supposed to follow traditional Medicare guidelines,” Mitchell said. “I can tell you that they don’t, and there are clearly patients that would have received care that were denied it and not given any rationale that said they didn’t meet Medicare guidelines.”

After Great Plains Health stopped taking Medicare Advantage plans, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services granted a special enrollment period to patients so they could enroll in traditional Medicare with a supplement or find a different option. Great Plains Health still accepts Medicare Advantage patients who need emergency care, but those patients won’t be able to schedule regular appointments.

Even with all the turmoil behind the scenes, Mitchell said, denying Medicare Advantage patients was a tough decision to land on.

“Running a hospital, the last thing you want to do is not accept care,” Mitchell said. “And it does really bother me that there’s around 400 members in our county that can’t access Great Plains Health for their routine specialty care. It looked to me to be a choice of being shot or stabbed, and I think we had to pick the best of the worst options.”

Generally, Mitchell said, Great Plains Health can serve its community better with space and time freed up from dealing with Medicare Advantage insurers. He doesn’t see a future where Medicare Advantage works for everyone.

“We basically raided the Medicare trust fund with these for-profit insurance companies that, in my opinion, have been extremely unethical in what they’ve done,” Mitchell said.

For seniors on Medicare Advantage, lower costs can mean gambling with health care 

Kansas State University will see more than 1,500 candidates for graduation this fall at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/">commencement ceremonies</a>&nbsp;set for Friday, Dec. 12, in Manhattan and Salina and Saturday, Dec. 13, in Manhattan. Candidates from both the summer 2025 and fall 2025 semesters will be recognized.

Ceremony information, including parking, accommodations and a livestream of the Manhattan campus ceremonies, will be available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/">K-State graduation website.</a>

The university will award approximately 1,050 bachelor's degrees, 350 master's degrees and 100 doctorates this fall. Seventy students will be earning multiple degrees and majors. The graduates-to-be also include more than 300 students who are earning their degrees through a K-State Online program.

By hosting graduates from multiple academic colleges in three combined ceremonies on Saturday, in addition to an Army ROTC commissioning ceremony, the university aims to amplify the best of its commencement traditions.

Schedule and speakers for Friday, Dec. 12 ceremonies

• 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum: Graduate School. Regent John Dicus will represent the Kansas Board of Regents at the ceremony. J. Ernest Minton, professor of animal sciences and industry, will be the speaker. • 7 p.m., Student Life Center, Salina: K-State Salina. Lt. Col. Matthew Shelly, U.S. Air Force, will be the speaker.

Schedule and speakers for Saturday, Dec. 13 ceremonies

• 8:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum: College of Architecture, Planning &amp; Design; College of Arts and Sciences; and College of Education. The student speakers will be Tinashe Sekabanja, bachelor's candidate in statistics,&nbsp;Kampala, Uganda, and Jordan White, bachelor's candidate in secondary education and chemistry,&nbsp;Shawnee. • 10 a.m., Forum Hall, K-State Student Union: Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion commissioning ceremony. The commissioning officer and guest speaker is U.S. Army Col. Dallas McMullen, Brigade Commander of the 69th Troop Command, Kansas Army National Guard. • Noon, Bramlage Coliseum: College of Agriculture and College of Business Administration. Mike Leikam, '87, the president and chief executive officer of Centralized Supply Chain Services, LLC, will be the speaker. Weston Schrader, bachelor's candidate in animal sciences and industry,&nbsp;Minneapolis, Kansas, and Max Roberts, bachelor's candidate in finance,&nbsp;Olathe, will be the student speakers. • 3:30 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum: Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and College of Health and Human Sciences. The student speakers are Robert Holt, bachelor's candidate in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Overland Park, and Cara Johnson, bachelor's candidate in communication sciences and disorders,&nbsp;Lenexa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764946286410.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas State University" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas State University</figcaption>
 </figure>KSU News ServiceKansas State University will see more than 1,500 candidates for graduation this fall at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/">commencement ceremonies</a>&nbsp;set for Friday, Dec. 12, in Manhattan and Salina and Saturday, Dec. 13, in Manhattan. Candidates from both the summer 2025 and fall 2025 semesters will be recognized.Ceremony information, including parking, accommodations and a livestream of the Manhattan campus ceremonies, will be available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/">K-State graduation website.</a>The university will award approximately 1,050 bachelor's degrees, 350 master's degrees and 100 doctorates this fall. Seventy students will be earning multiple degrees and majors. The graduates-to-be also include more than 300 students who are earning their degrees through a K-State Online program.By hosting graduates from multiple academic colleges in three combined ceremonies on Saturday, in addition to an Army ROTC commissioning ceremony, the university aims to amplify the best of its commencement traditions.<h2>Schedule and speakers for Friday, Dec. 12 ceremonies</h2>• 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum: Graduate School. Regent John Dicus will represent the Kansas Board of Regents at the ceremony. J. Ernest Minton, professor of animal sciences and industry, will be the speaker. • 7 p.m., Student Life Center, Salina: K-State Salina. Lt. Col. Matthew Shelly, U.S. Air Force, will be the speaker.<h2>Schedule and speakers for Saturday, Dec. 13 ceremonies</h2>• 8:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum: College of Architecture, Planning &amp; Design; College of Arts and Sciences; and College of Education. The student speakers will be Tinashe Sekabanja, bachelor's candidate in statistics,&nbsp;Kampala, Uganda, and Jordan White, bachelor's candidate in secondary education and chemistry,&nbsp;Shawnee. • 10 a.m., Forum Hall, K-State Student Union: Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion commissioning ceremony. The commissioning officer and guest speaker is U.S. Army Col. Dallas McMullen, Brigade Commander of the 69th Troop Command, Kansas Army National Guard. • Noon, Bramlage Coliseum: College of Agriculture and College of Business Administration. Mike Leikam, '87, the president and chief executive officer of Centralized Supply Chain Services, LLC, will be the speaker. Weston Schrader, bachelor's candidate in animal sciences and industry,&nbsp;Minneapolis, Kansas, and Max Roberts, bachelor's candidate in finance,&nbsp;Olathe, will be the student speakers. • 3:30 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum: Carl R. Ice College of Engineering and College of Health and Human Sciences. The student speakers are Robert Holt, bachelor's candidate in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Overland Park, and Cara Johnson, bachelor's candidate in communication sciences and disorders,&nbsp;Lenexa.

K-State's fall 2025 commencement ceremonies celebrate Wildcat excellence

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts has led the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on a steady march of increasing the power of the presidency, starting well before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's time in the White House</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-332">Click here for a replay</a>&nbsp;of the Supreme Court oral argument

The justices could take the next step in a case being argued Monday that calls for a unanimous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/humphreys-executor-supreme-court-trump-independent-agencies-8facfe6107fa94b28f391734d1620fe4">90-year-old decision</a>&nbsp;limiting executive authority to be overturned.

The court's conservatives, liberal Justice Elena Kagan noted in September, seem to be “raring to take that action.”

They already have allowed Trump, in the opening months of the Republican's second term, to fire almost everyone he has wanted, despite the court's 1935 decision in&nbsp;<a href="https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep295/usrep295602/usrep295602.pdf">Humphrey's Executor</a>&nbsp;that prohibits the president from removing the heads of independent agencies without cause.

The officials include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ftc-supreme-court-dbe174d342817e1ae84bce3e9c40bd48">Rebecca Slaughter</a>, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ftc-firings-bedoya-slaughter-488bfe5419e48d5acbd95d3f9401404b">firing</a>&nbsp;from the Federal Trade Commission is at issue in the current case, as well as officials from the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The only officials who have so far survived efforts to remove them are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-federal-reserve-lisa-cook-5a48941a9e30017b0ed3e5837492d288">Lisa Cook</a>, a Federal Reserve governor, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-copyright-official-firing-c5ccca29ff5413815347340ffa300f69">Shira Perlmutter</a>, a copyright official with the Library of Congress. The court already has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a966_1b8e.pdf">suggested</a>&nbsp;that it will view the Fed differently from other independent agencies, and Trump has said he wants her out because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-cook-trump-fed-independence-firing-d06dfb46fbd300195c3cedc8cb5adadb">allegations of mortgage fraud</a>. Cook says she did nothing wrong.

Humphrey's Executor has long been a target of the conservative legal movement that has embraced an expansive view of presidential power known as the unitary executive.

The case before the high court involves the same agency, the FTC, that was at issue in 1935. The justices established that presidents — Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt at the time — could not fire the appointed leaders of the alphabet soup of federal agencies without cause.

The decision ushered in an era of powerful independent federal agencies charged with regulating labor relations, employment discrimination, the air waves and much else.

Proponents of the unitary executive theory have said the modern administrative state gets the Constitution all wrong: Federal agencies that are part of the executive branch answer to the president, and that includes the ability to fire their leaders at will.

As Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in a 1988 dissent that has taken on mythical status among conservatives, “this does not mean some of the executive power, but all of the executive power.”

Since 2010 and under Roberts' leadership, the Supreme Court has steadily whittled away at laws restricting the president's ability to fire people.

In 2020, Roberts wrote for the court that “the President’s removal power is the rule, not the exception” in a decision upholding Trump’s firing of the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau despite job protections similar to those upheld in Humphrey’s case.

In the 2024 immunity decision that spared Trump from being prosecuted for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Roberts included the power to fire among the president's “conclusive and preclusive” powers that Congress lacks the authority to restrict.

But according to legal historians and even a prominent proponent of the originalism approach to interpreting the Constitution that is favored by conservatives, Roberts may be wrong about the history underpinning the unitary executive.

“Both the text and the history of Article II are far more equivocal than the current Court has been suggesting,” wrote Caleb Nelson, a University of Virginia law professor who once served as a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas.

Jane Manners, a Fordham University law professor, said she and other historians filed briefs with the court to provide history and context about the removal power in the country's early years that also could lead the court to revise its views. “I'm not holding my breath,” she said.

Slaughter's lawyers embrace the historians' arguments, telling the court that limits on Trump's power are consistent with the Constitution and U.S. history.

The Justice Department argues Trump can fire board members for any reason as he works to carry out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/">his agenda</a>&nbsp;and that the precedent should be tossed aside.

“Humphrey’s Executor was always egregiously wrong,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote.

A second question in the case could affect Cook, the Fed governor. Even if a firing turns out to be illegal, the court wants to decide whether judges have the power to reinstate someone.

Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote earlier this year that fired employees who win in court can likely get back pay, but not reinstatement.

That might affect Cook's ability to remain in her job. The justices have seemed wary about the economic uncertainty that might result if Trump can fire the leaders of the central bank. The court will hear separate arguments in January about whether Cook can remain in her job as her court case challenging her firing proceeds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764798462400.png" alt="&nbsp;President Trump in the Oval Office last week -File image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;President Trump in the Oval Office last week -File image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice John Roberts has led the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;'s conservative majority on a steady march of increasing the power of the presidency, starting well before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's time in the White House</a>.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-332">Click here for a replay</a>&nbsp;of the Supreme Court oral argumentThe justices could take the next step in a case being argued Monday that calls for a unanimous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/humphreys-executor-supreme-court-trump-independent-agencies-8facfe6107fa94b28f391734d1620fe4">90-year-old decision</a>&nbsp;limiting executive authority to be overturned.The court's conservatives, liberal Justice Elena Kagan noted in September, seem to be “raring to take that action.”They already have allowed Trump, in the opening months of the Republican's second term, to fire almost everyone he has wanted, despite the court's 1935 decision in&nbsp;<a href="https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep295/usrep295602/usrep295602.pdf">Humphrey's Executor</a>&nbsp;that prohibits the president from removing the heads of independent agencies without cause.The officials include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ftc-supreme-court-dbe174d342817e1ae84bce3e9c40bd48">Rebecca Slaughter</a>, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ftc-firings-bedoya-slaughter-488bfe5419e48d5acbd95d3f9401404b">firing</a>&nbsp;from the Federal Trade Commission is at issue in the current case, as well as officials from the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.The only officials who have so far survived efforts to remove them are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-federal-reserve-lisa-cook-5a48941a9e30017b0ed3e5837492d288">Lisa Cook</a>, a Federal Reserve governor, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supreme-court-copyright-official-firing-c5ccca29ff5413815347340ffa300f69">Shira Perlmutter</a>, a copyright official with the Library of Congress. The court already has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a966_1b8e.pdf">suggested</a>&nbsp;that it will view the Fed differently from other independent agencies, and Trump has said he wants her out because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-cook-trump-fed-independence-firing-d06dfb46fbd300195c3cedc8cb5adadb">allegations of mortgage fraud</a>. Cook says she did nothing wrong.Humphrey's Executor has long been a target of the conservative legal movement that has embraced an expansive view of presidential power known as the unitary executive.The case before the high court involves the same agency, the FTC, that was at issue in 1935. The justices established that presidents — Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt at the time — could not fire the appointed leaders of the alphabet soup of federal agencies without cause.The decision ushered in an era of powerful independent federal agencies charged with regulating labor relations, employment discrimination, the air waves and much else.Proponents of the unitary executive theory have said the modern administrative state gets the Constitution all wrong: Federal agencies that are part of the executive branch answer to the president, and that includes the ability to fire their leaders at will.As Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in a 1988 dissent that has taken on mythical status among conservatives, “this does not mean some of the executive power, but all of the executive power.”Since 2010 and under Roberts' leadership, the Supreme Court has steadily whittled away at laws restricting the president's ability to fire people.In 2020, Roberts wrote for the court that “the President’s removal power is the rule, not the exception” in a decision upholding Trump’s firing of the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau despite job protections similar to those upheld in Humphrey’s case.In the 2024 immunity decision that spared Trump from being prosecuted for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Roberts included the power to fire among the president's “conclusive and preclusive” powers that Congress lacks the authority to restrict.But according to legal historians and even a prominent proponent of the originalism approach to interpreting the Constitution that is favored by conservatives, Roberts may be wrong about the history underpinning the unitary executive.“Both the text and the history of Article II are far more equivocal than the current Court has been suggesting,” wrote Caleb Nelson, a University of Virginia law professor who once served as a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas.Jane Manners, a Fordham University law professor, said she and other historians filed briefs with the court to provide history and context about the removal power in the country's early years that also could lead the court to revise its views. “I'm not holding my breath,” she said.Slaughter's lawyers embrace the historians' arguments, telling the court that limits on Trump's power are consistent with the Constitution and U.S. history.The Justice Department argues Trump can fire board members for any reason as he works to carry out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/">his agenda</a>&nbsp;and that the precedent should be tossed aside.“Humphrey’s Executor was always egregiously wrong,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote.A second question in the case could affect Cook, the Fed governor. Even if a firing turns out to be illegal, the court wants to decide whether judges have the power to reinstate someone.Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote earlier this year that fired employees who win in court can likely get back pay, but not reinstatement.That might affect Cook's ability to remain in her job. The justices have seemed wary about the economic uncertainty that might result if Trump can fire the leaders of the central bank. The court will hear separate arguments in January about whether Cook can remain in her job as her court case challenging her firing proceeds.

 🎧Supreme Court weighs another step in favor of broad presidential power

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas-based chapters of nonprofit organizations focused on wildlife conservation or promoting hunting and fishing have a special fundraising opportunity thanks to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. Through the Commission’s Big Game Permit program, administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), eligible organizations can enter a random drawing for one of seven special big game hunting permits, which may then be sold to raise money funds for conservation projects. Applications are due by December 26, 2025.

Each year, the program offers up to seven Commission Big Game permits (no more than one elk and one antelope, and up to seven deer permits), depending on the applicants’ preferences. Deer permits are either-species/either-sex and are valid statewide during any season with the legal equipment for that season; and they do not count against other big game permits the license holder may obtain.

“Organizations that win a Commission Big Game Permit typically raffle or auction it, which does two important things,” said&nbsp;Sarah Navarro, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ chief of licensing. “It helps them raise funds for its mission, and it generates dedicated dollars for a mutually agreed-upon conservation project that KDWP and the organization approve together.”

Winning organizations keep 15 percent of their sale price of the Commission Big Game Permit to support their missions. The remaining 85 percent is held by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks until a mutually agreed-upon conservation project is approved. (If Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry is drawn, they may keep 85 percent of their sale price in order to offset donated deer processing fees.) Organizations may not win a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.

The 2025 winners were Ducks Unlimited Wyandotte Chapter, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Kansas Chapter, Kansas Bowhunters Association, Ducks Unlimited Kansas University Chapters, Pheasants Forever Southwest Kansas Ringnecks Chapter, Pheasants Forever Osborne Chapter, and National Wild Turkey Foundation Salty Spurs Chapter.

For more information about the Commission Big Game Permits, contact Sarah Navarro, KDWP Chief of Licensing, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sarah.navarro@ks.gov">sarah.navarro@ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719599829444.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks&nbsp;TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas-based chapters of nonprofit organizations focused on wildlife conservation or promoting hunting and fishing have a special fundraising opportunity thanks to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. Through the Commission’s Big Game Permit program, administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), eligible organizations can enter a random drawing for one of seven special big game hunting permits, which may then be sold to raise money funds for conservation projects. Applications are due by December 26, 2025.Each year, the program offers up to seven Commission Big Game permits (no more than one elk and one antelope, and up to seven deer permits), depending on the applicants’ preferences. Deer permits are either-species/either-sex and are valid statewide during any season with the legal equipment for that season; and they do not count against other big game permits the license holder may obtain.To apply:<ol>
 <li>Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Commission/Commission-Big-Game-Permits/?utm_source=news&amp;utm_medium=press-release&amp;utm_campaign=commission">https://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Commission/Commission-Big-Game-Permits</a>.</li><li>Download&nbsp;the 2026 Commission Big Game Permit Application and review the guidelines.</li><li>Return the completed application&nbsp;by mail or email to the addresses listed on the application.</li>
 </ol>“Organizations that win a Commission Big Game Permit typically raffle or auction it, which does two important things,” said&nbsp;Sarah Navarro, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ chief of licensing. “It helps them raise funds for its mission, and it generates dedicated dollars for a mutually agreed-upon conservation project that KDWP and the organization approve together.”Winning organizations keep 15 percent of their sale price of the Commission Big Game Permit to support their missions. The remaining 85 percent is held by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks until a mutually agreed-upon conservation project is approved. (If Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry is drawn, they may keep 85 percent of their sale price in order to offset donated deer processing fees.) Organizations may not win a Commission Big Game Permit more than once in a three-year period.The 2025 winners were Ducks Unlimited Wyandotte Chapter, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Kansas Chapter, Kansas Bowhunters Association, Ducks Unlimited Kansas University Chapters, Pheasants Forever Southwest Kansas Ringnecks Chapter, Pheasants Forever Osborne Chapter, and National Wild Turkey Foundation Salty Spurs Chapter.For more information about the Commission Big Game Permits, contact Sarah Navarro, KDWP Chief of Licensing, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sarah.navarro@ks.gov">sarah.navarro@ks.gov</a>.

Application period for Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission Big Game Hunting Permits now open

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Does it feel like the holidays come around faster and faster every year? If you’re looking to save time by avoiding the crowds and doing some holiday shopping online, know that scammers camp out online all year long. So if you’re planning to shop online for holiday gifts, how can you avoid accidentally running into a scam?

Scammers are everywhere online — ESPECIALLY on social media. They sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams">impersonate real companies</a>&nbsp;and run ads for brand-name products at unusually low prices. But if you click the link in the ad, it could send you to a scammy website designed to take your money in exchange for a counterfeit item, something that looks completely different from the picture in the ad, or nothing at all.

When you’re shopping online, here are some ways to protect yourself during the holidays and year-round:

Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/online-shopping">ftc.gov/OnlineShopping</a>&nbsp;to learn more. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764164056452.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Federal Trade CommissionWASHINGTON, D.C. — Does it feel like the holidays come around faster and faster every year? If you’re looking to save time by avoiding the crowds and doing some holiday shopping online, know that scammers camp out online all year long. So if you’re planning to shop online for holiday gifts, how can you avoid accidentally running into a scam?Scammers are everywhere online — ESPECIALLY on social media. They sometimes&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams">impersonate real companies</a>&nbsp;and run ads for brand-name products at unusually low prices. But if you click the link in the ad, it could send you to a scammy website designed to take your money in exchange for a counterfeit item, something that looks completely different from the picture in the ad, or nothing at all.When you’re shopping online, here are some ways to protect yourself during the holidays and year-round:<ul>
 <li>Do some research.&nbsp;Before you buy, search online for the seller’s name and the website URL the ad sends you to, plus words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam” to&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-evaluate-online-reviews">see what others have to say</a>.</li><li>Pay by credit card, when possible. If you’re charged twice, billed for something you never got, or get a wrong or damaged item, you can&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/using-credit-cards-and-disputing-charges">dispute the charge</a>&nbsp;with your credit card company. And if the seller says you can&nbsp;only&nbsp;pay with a&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams">gift card</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/you-wire-money">wire transfer</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/mobile-payment-apps-how-avoid-scam-when-you-use-one">payment app</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-cryptocurrency-and-scams">cryptocurrency</a>, it’s probably a scam.</li><li>Keep records.&nbsp;If&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/solving-problems-business-returns-refunds-other-resolutions">something goes wrong</a>,&nbsp;having your receipt and order confirmation number can help you get your money back from the seller. Also, sellers have to ship your order&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-youre-billed-things-you-never-got-or-you-get-unordered-products">by the time they or their ads say they will</a>&nbsp;— or give you the chance to get your money back.</li>
 </ul>Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/online-shopping">ftc.gov/OnlineShopping</a>&nbsp;to learn more. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC: How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Whether it’s camping under the stars, hiking new trails, or enjoying a cabin by the lake, now is the time to plan ahead. Mark your calendars for upcoming dates to purchase annual permits and reserve campsites at Kansas State Parks.

“Kansas State Parks are where family memories are made,” said Conner O’Flannagan, Kansas State Parks director. “Annual permits and campsite reservations are a gift you can give yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.”

Annual Vehicle Entrance and Camping Permits Available December 1

Beginning December 1, 2025, annual permits for visiting and camping at Kansas State Parks throughout 2026 will be available&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.campitks.gov%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/d01Nnwjp2EnlPDMqcVuqUCnfbYRPXxwNNpZAWbqsQ7w=432">online</a>&nbsp;and at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ksoutdoors.gov%2Fstate-parks%2Flocations%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/5d-GPXVG49QFqcOL5XOeWFPd5xW41VVWM_4Lo5AuHWo=432">state park offices.</a>

*Note: Camping permits do not cover additional daily utility fees or prime site fees, and valid state park vehicle permits are also required. You must be 18 or older to rent a campsite or cabin at Kansas State Parks.&nbsp;

Reservations for campsites during the prime season (April 1–October 31) open at 12 p.m. CST on:

Holiday Weekend Minimum Stay Requirements

For those planning to visit Kansas State Parks during holiday weekends, please note these minimum stay requirements for campsite and cabin reservations:

Tips for a Smooth Reservation Experience

To improve your chances of securing your preferred dates:

For maps, amenities, and a complete list of Kansas State Parks, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ksoutdoors.gov%2Fstate-parks%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/ioK-KXxbtIY1iAEyfQEtmKcpWBkKfQ9-iq6FXsTsBbs=432">ksoutdoors.gov/State-Parks</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764346287330.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of Wildlife and ParksTOPEKA&nbsp;– Whether it’s camping under the stars, hiking new trails, or enjoying a cabin by the lake, now is the time to plan ahead. Mark your calendars for upcoming dates to purchase annual permits and reserve campsites at Kansas State Parks.“Kansas State Parks are where family memories are made,” said Conner O’Flannagan, Kansas State Parks director. “Annual permits and campsite reservations are a gift you can give yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.”Annual Vehicle Entrance and Camping Permits Available December 1Beginning December 1, 2025, annual permits for visiting and camping at Kansas State Parks throughout 2026 will be available&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.campitks.gov%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/d01Nnwjp2EnlPDMqcVuqUCnfbYRPXxwNNpZAWbqsQ7w=432">online</a>&nbsp;and at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ksoutdoors.gov%2Fstate-parks%2Flocations%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/5d-GPXVG49QFqcOL5XOeWFPd5xW41VVWM_4Lo5AuHWo=432">state park offices.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764345683276.png" alt="14-Night Camping Permits* $112.50 for 14 nights of camping (utility fees still apply)" />
 <figcaption>14-Night Camping Permits* $112.50 for 14 nights of camping (utility fees still apply)</figcaption>
 </figure>*Note: Camping permits do not cover additional daily utility fees or prime site fees, and valid state park vehicle permits are also required. You must be 18 or older to rent a campsite or cabin at Kansas State Parks.&nbsp;Prime Season Reservation DatesReservations for campsites during the prime season (April 1–October 31) open at 12 p.m. CST on:<ul>
 <li>December 10, 2025&nbsp;– Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Clinton, Eisenhower, Hillsdale, Kanopolis, Meade, Milford, Pomona, Perry, Sandhills, and Tuttle Creek State Parks.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>December 17, 2025&nbsp;– Crawford, Cross Timbers, El Dorado, Elk City, Fall River, Glen Elder, Historic Lake Scott, Lovewell, Prairie Dog, Webster, and Wilson State Parks.</li>
 </ul>Holiday Weekend Minimum Stay RequirementsFor those planning to visit Kansas State Parks during holiday weekends, please note these minimum stay requirements for campsite and cabin reservations:Campsites:<ul>
 <li>Memorial Day Weekend -&nbsp;4-night minimum, customer choice ofThursday through Sunday nights, May 21-24, 2026 orFriday through Monday nights, May 22-25, 2026</li><li>Thursday through Sunday nights, May 21-24, 2026 or</li><li>Friday through Monday nights, May 22-25, 2026</li><li>July 4th Weekend -&nbsp;3-night minimum, customer choice ofThursday through Saturday nights, July 2-4, 2026 orFriday through Sunday nights, July 3-5, 2026</li><li>Thursday through Saturday nights, July 2-4, 2026 or</li><li>Friday through Sunday nights, July 3-5, 2026</li><li>Labor Day Weekend -&nbsp;4-night minimum, customer choice ofThursday through Sunday nights, September 3-6, 2026 orFriday through Monday nights, September 4-7, 2026</li><li>Thursday through Sunday nights, September 3-6, 2026 or</li><li>Friday through Monday nights, September 4-7, 2026</li>
 </ul>Cabins<ul>
 <li>Memorial Day Weekend -&nbsp;3-night minimum&nbsp;including May 22-24, 2026</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>July 4th&nbsp;Weekend -&nbsp;2-night minimum&nbsp;including July 3-4, 2026</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Labor Day Weekend -&nbsp;3-night minimum&nbsp;including September 4-6, 2026</li>
 </ul>Tips for a Smooth Reservation ExperienceTo improve your chances of securing your preferred dates:<ol>
 <li>Familiarize yourself with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.campitks.gov%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/2/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/6L2G7s-fLCEEl9SjXJWJ2oB0kPTKjxKJHaj1Hf8pydQ=432">CampItKS.gov</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.reserveamerica.com%2F/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/nx047B_d7wO0FhPsaj8NNSPuZNDbi55nmmGfHtfi1Mo=432">ReserveAmerica.com</a>&nbsp;before the December opening dates.</li><li>Ensure your login information is current or create a new account if needed.</li><li>Download the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FLicense-Permits%2FKDWP-Mobile-Apps%2FCampIt-KS%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/VV7iRH_5ABQWJbxs34jruUpdQy8pjkAiGbAFlM9TMVg=432">CampItKS mobile app</a>&nbsp;for easy access on the go.</li><li>Set reminders for permit sales and reservation dates.</li>
 </ol>For maps, amenities, and a complete list of Kansas State Parks, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ksoutdoors.gov%2Fstate-parks%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=print%26utm_campaign=parks/1/0101019a9ca40087-546980be-fd8b-4b51-a777-9edd03b92178-000000/ioK-KXxbtIY1iAEyfQEtmKcpWBkKfQ9-iq6FXsTsBbs=432">ksoutdoors.gov/State-Parks</a>.

Kansas State Park annual permits, 2026 campsite reservations starts Dec. 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West Virginia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186">National Guard members</a>&nbsp;who deployed to the nation’s capital were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence that the mayor described as a targeted attack.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/muriel-bowser-washington-dc-trump-0e9f3cfc668fd70faa9820c8bfb4e7a3">Mayor Muriel Bowser</a>&nbsp;said they were hospitalized in critical condition.

The rare shooting of National Guard members comes as the presence of the troops in the nation’s capital and other cities around the country has been a flashpoint issue for months, fueling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-dc-deployment-c1c2b13a7102632632267bf1262506ff">court fights</a>&nbsp;and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.

Jeffrey Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.

“This was a targeted shooting,” Bowser said.

Two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter said the suspect was believed to be an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021 and has been living in Washington state.

The suspect has been identified by law enforcement officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, but authorities were still working to fully confirm his background, they said. The people could not discuss details of an ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially said the troops had died, but he later walked that statement back to say his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition.

A suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following the shooting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump asked him to send the extra troops.

Nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government’s latest update.

The shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station.

After hearing gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the gunman after he was shot, Carroll said.

“It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Carroll said, adding that it was not clear whether one of the guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect.

“At this point we have no other suspects,” Carroll said at a news conference.

At least one of the guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter, said another law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a glass-covered sidewalk.

Stacy Walters said she was in a car when she heard two gunshots and saw people running. Almost instantly, law enforcement swarmed the area. “It’s such a beautiful day. Who would do this? And we’re getting ready for the holidays?”

Emma McDonald, who exited a metro station just after the shots were fired, said she and a friend sought safety with others in a cafe. McDonald told AP that minutes later she saw first responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in blood.

More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed to Washington in August. Last week about 160 of them volunteered to extend their deployment until the end of the year, while the others returned to West Virginia just over a week ago.

Police tape cordoned off the scene, and fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead. Agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were there, and National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.

The president, who was in Florida for Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the “animal” who shot the guard members “will pay a very steep price.”

“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”

In Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Vice President JD Vance urged “everybody who’s a person of faith” to pray for the two guard members. He cautioned that much remained unknown, including the motive.

“I think it’s a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vance said as he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troops.

Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, scrapped plans to spend the holiday with troops at Guantanamo Bay in order to travel to D.C. and be with guard members there instead. “We are devastated by this senseless act of violence,” he said in a video posted on the social platform X.

Trump issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">emergency order</a>&nbsp;in August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.

Last week a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision.

The guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and guard sports events.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764188250922.png" alt="Photo courtesy WTTG" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WTTG</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West Virginia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186">National Guard members</a>&nbsp;who deployed to the nation’s capital were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence that the mayor described as a targeted attack.FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/muriel-bowser-washington-dc-trump-0e9f3cfc668fd70faa9820c8bfb4e7a3">Mayor Muriel Bowser</a>&nbsp;said they were hospitalized in critical condition.The rare shooting of National Guard members comes as the presence of the troops in the nation’s capital and other cities around the country has been a flashpoint issue for months, fueling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-dc-deployment-c1c2b13a7102632632267bf1262506ff">court fights</a>&nbsp;and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.Jeffrey Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.“This was a targeted shooting,” Bowser said.Two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter said the suspect was believed to be an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021 and has been living in Washington state.The suspect has been identified by law enforcement officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, but authorities were still working to fully confirm his background, they said. The people could not discuss details of an ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially said the troops had died, but he later walked that statement back to say his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition.A suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following the shooting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump asked him to send the extra troops.Nearly 2,200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government’s latest update.<h2>Troops held down the shooter</h2>The shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station.After hearing gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the gunman after he was shot, Carroll said.“It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Carroll said, adding that it was not clear whether one of the guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect.“At this point we have no other suspects,” Carroll said at a news conference.At least one of the guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter, said another law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a glass-covered sidewalk.<h2>Witnesses saw people fleeing</h2>Stacy Walters said she was in a car when she heard two gunshots and saw people running. Almost instantly, law enforcement swarmed the area. “It’s such a beautiful day. Who would do this? And we’re getting ready for the holidays?”Emma McDonald, who exited a metro station just after the shots were fired, said she and a friend sought safety with others in a cafe. McDonald told AP that minutes later she saw first responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in blood.More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed to Washington in August. Last week about 160 of them volunteered to extend their deployment until the end of the year, while the others returned to West Virginia just over a week ago.Police tape cordoned off the scene, and fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead. Agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were there, and National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.<h2>Trump vows that shooter will pay</h2>The president, who was in Florida for Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the “animal” who shot the guard members “will pay a very steep price.”“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”In Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Vice President JD Vance urged “everybody who’s a person of faith” to pray for the two guard members. He cautioned that much remained unknown, including the motive.“I think it’s a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vance said as he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troops.Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, scrapped plans to spend the holiday with troops at Guantanamo Bay in order to travel to D.C. and be with guard members there instead. “We are devastated by this senseless act of violence,” he said in a video posted on the social platform X.Trump issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">emergency order</a>&nbsp;in August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.Last week a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision.The guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and guard sports events.___

Alleged shooter of National Guard Troops in DC identified

 Madison, WISCONSIN — The Kevin Wiltse family, Timken, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award®.

The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.

Kevin Wiltse and his wife Amanda and their three children farm with his mother. Wiltse Family Farms consists of native range and dryland cropland near Timken. They were presented with the $10,000 award at the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention.

<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUknw56AlQHG8hanrwNji22dEShBtVW7Lp53uPMvUjOpVtITNVh_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYe-2BQgtdHIk-2BUtTqDB8nE-2BBrItRwRujyQbIo1lIuiFtUmFrxEq6FU-2B77h6MzDnS74HdBxIsjtleys9FPFGpiXzinFXK54tCLxicdB0bx1tvC7mFr0Z6gpy3kBfW1ogKijeOu5n7yeyuvHLOyr-2BSh3abPqrIc0ZA13yzG9tLW5OKF8">Sand County Foundation</a>&nbsp;and national sponsor&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUknwpaChiUjNIknvCWa2eYxGLMe1uT817cqIx8UzWykzdAMGPB_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYR3aD9akdlV8skncnJ2hriCFip5tUaPBdOLY-2BRQQ0b4kYA0Ppw-2BkO2NIYLR1VACPqgD-2BO6nN5LVdTmV7WfSpG1VZxJ1LJbZjWK37DDs3-2FsC7CUy-2Bx9OwRVh7ivhL2i2beUQA32toxmtV4eZWL8MdloQdu605pWvJjJd-2Fhsoqjkrr">American Farmland Trust</a>&nbsp;will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year. In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.VIL9jfuiBorA5-2Ft4OXrzUjgz80DRzp4vT117GcNIaur5uiyd8iw3ioojYLzDJvdXjbzk3Ku5qhElvBIKl-2FwGfu7ACQ3CvAG-2FZdGUMPZ7J6EYitK5-2BSJfXp1Mg-2BX94gYUAkTPr-2F3hm828mC5nE13zig-3D-3Db55L_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYbXbuIzOlw6h3hZjn2-2FslLeBoTeK3pJxUlYo75d4zOppliX5mp3FlXUPy3UCRuhM39x4Jl-2F2mcW9Qsp0PMls83U1rXKkT3kFYY6Hrc7cp9PVtnnuHmxQmS59SeZ9PqtOA3z7-2FNzk-2Fv5ezcN0LlB0yvcza85t7i-2Bw3iSn2RM4mX-2F-2F">Kansas</a>&nbsp;the award is presented with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUkn6Uein2YRSC1RCIiwtmh0EKq8q2fGX3olN-2Be-2FYMFFH622v4S_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYWKUK41JmSzJWB52gzstiQ6G8pyAh3gW05CB8zWwd4oEtsh3F1xobA-2F6hd9MhgX4U-2FWr6WbpGYEAiR2H9TYGxAHK2sjO9t2-2BBAlQdKTRuLG74nVRiDkX-2B5JQKggaxxF5UNUE927RggXQIplGAoswtajOpgiZONR-2BXtdo2K04h31t">Kansas Association of Conservation Districts</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.VIL9jfuiBorA5-2Ft4OXrzUhdFlRaD-2FJmCWO9nS3x2vG54PNksz3xyqxtAwXSSav8ir-Ja_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYeyOyzRbXdb8NzjZRxFGPFYPR8dJGN26KVuqDr45LZD2dGzqLpW9jOfmbdPYDPFB0pNMJBzeZLZKx1hrSMMfn-2FZaBqAr-2FtOXz7bF-2FVx2GpFhaTJMaNqVecusFTe5yMzm5bvS3ghfnis6s5hwsBCafOTNjDd17fpO1Vhft6GWUJSm">Kansas Farm Bureau</a>, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUkn0Y-2B3Uky6DWfODbAYrY-2Bajz6WNzEXOgCG-2FbqD9iVZbmgKOmq_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYa3deAacL1-2FFCMKbMeTcndPwYGlZeEgLI4R0qcYM29wBp0k82eLsqsA1g3-2B-2BrM4doyzYvtWFvw9SqSAIrEyVkz-2B13RCblnU3FkeqiPPUh2zpKvBlwPrsZfzGSDhzpgxhtr6eG69KBmDAOFCIfEwqZNakp-2BLuH-2FmpbavllZpLTx6E">Ranchland Trust of Kansas</a>.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement.&nbsp;In his influential 1949 book,&nbsp;A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Kansas landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award this year. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Kansas.

Kevin Wiltse’s conservation journey began on a bus.

He traveled with his father to Dakota Lakes in 1996 to learn about soil health. The day after returning home, they sold their tillage equipment and bought a no-till drill. But soil health success didn’t come overnight, nor was it achieved relying solely on not tilling the soil.

Ever since that fateful trip, Wiltse’s commitment to conservation has driven him to challenge conventional approaches and pursue untested methods of farming. The result has been a more profitable business, one less reliant on commercial inputs and subsidies, while balancing agricultural productivity with ecological integrity.&nbsp;

One of the most transformative aspects of his strategy has been successfully transitioning more than 500 acres of conventional cropland to native perennial grasses and forbs, without cost-share assistance. By fostering deep-rooted plants, he improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and mitigates the impact of drought.

Enhancing biodiversity while preventing erosion is why Kevin also began growing cover crops within his normal rotation of crops. The presence of continuous ground cover provided more options to graze beef cattle year-round.

Beyond individual farming techniques, Wiltse’s success lies in his mindset. He partners with nature rather than trying to control it. This philosophy drives experimentation with interseeding crops, biological amendments, and perennial cool-season planting. Each practice reinforces his farm’s ability to withstand unpredictable weather and market conditions.

Kevin, and his wife Amanda and their three children farm with his mother. Wiltse Family Farms consists of native range and dryland cropland spread across three counties.

Wiltse made sweeping changes to the farm’s business model after attending the Ranching for Profit School in 2013 amid a three-year drought. He decided to rely less on cash crops and more on grazing cattle.

The large, intact land base at Wiltse Family Farms has made grazing and moving livestock easier. The borders of farm fields, planted with diverse perennial vegetation, are fenced in to serve as travel lanes between pastures for cattle. These perennial borders attract beneficial pollinators and pheasants. About 30,000 feet of water lines were installed to distribute water to stock tanks. The only cash crops grown now are, milo, triticale and rye, all of which can double as forage for livestock and wildlife.

Wiltse credits rotationally grazing livestock on cover crops and diverse perennial pastures with accelerated restoration of the soil. His pastures have remained green during recent periods of drought. More grass on the ground attracts more wildlife and insects, which Kevin considers a good indicator of success.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764156914652.jpeg" alt="The Kevin Wiltse family. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The Kevin Wiltse family. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Sand County Foundation Madison, WISCONSIN — The Kevin Wiltse family, Timken, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award®.The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.Kevin Wiltse and his wife Amanda and their three children farm with his mother. Wiltse Family Farms consists of native range and dryland cropland near Timken. They were presented with the $10,000 award at the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention.<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUknw56AlQHG8hanrwNji22dEShBtVW7Lp53uPMvUjOpVtITNVh_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYe-2BQgtdHIk-2BUtTqDB8nE-2BBrItRwRujyQbIo1lIuiFtUmFrxEq6FU-2B77h6MzDnS74HdBxIsjtleys9FPFGpiXzinFXK54tCLxicdB0bx1tvC7mFr0Z6gpy3kBfW1ogKijeOu5n7yeyuvHLOyr-2BSh3abPqrIc0ZA13yzG9tLW5OKF8">Sand County Foundation</a>&nbsp;and national sponsor&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUknwpaChiUjNIknvCWa2eYxGLMe1uT817cqIx8UzWykzdAMGPB_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYR3aD9akdlV8skncnJ2hriCFip5tUaPBdOLY-2BRQQ0b4kYA0Ppw-2BkO2NIYLR1VACPqgD-2BO6nN5LVdTmV7WfSpG1VZxJ1LJbZjWK37DDs3-2FsC7CUy-2Bx9OwRVh7ivhL2i2beUQA32toxmtV4eZWL8MdloQdu605pWvJjJd-2Fhsoqjkrr">American Farmland Trust</a>&nbsp;will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year. In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.VIL9jfuiBorA5-2Ft4OXrzUjgz80DRzp4vT117GcNIaur5uiyd8iw3ioojYLzDJvdXjbzk3Ku5qhElvBIKl-2FwGfu7ACQ3CvAG-2FZdGUMPZ7J6EYitK5-2BSJfXp1Mg-2BX94gYUAkTPr-2F3hm828mC5nE13zig-3D-3Db55L_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYbXbuIzOlw6h3hZjn2-2FslLeBoTeK3pJxUlYo75d4zOppliX5mp3FlXUPy3UCRuhM39x4Jl-2F2mcW9Qsp0PMls83U1rXKkT3kFYY6Hrc7cp9PVtnnuHmxQmS59SeZ9PqtOA3z7-2FNzk-2Fv5ezcN0LlB0yvcza85t7i-2Bw3iSn2RM4mX-2F-2F">Kansas</a>&nbsp;the award is presented with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUkn6Uein2YRSC1RCIiwtmh0EKq8q2fGX3olN-2Be-2FYMFFH622v4S_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYWKUK41JmSzJWB52gzstiQ6G8pyAh3gW05CB8zWwd4oEtsh3F1xobA-2F6hd9MhgX4U-2FWr6WbpGYEAiR2H9TYGxAHK2sjO9t2-2BBAlQdKTRuLG74nVRiDkX-2B5JQKggaxxF5UNUE927RggXQIplGAoswtajOpgiZONR-2BXtdo2K04h31t">Kansas Association of Conservation Districts</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.VIL9jfuiBorA5-2Ft4OXrzUhdFlRaD-2FJmCWO9nS3x2vG54PNksz3xyqxtAwXSSav8ir-Ja_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYeyOyzRbXdb8NzjZRxFGPFYPR8dJGN26KVuqDr45LZD2dGzqLpW9jOfmbdPYDPFB0pNMJBzeZLZKx1hrSMMfn-2FZaBqAr-2FtOXz7bF-2FVx2GpFhaTJMaNqVecusFTe5yMzm5bvS3ghfnis6s5hwsBCafOTNjDd17fpO1Vhft6GWUJSm">Kansas Farm Bureau</a>, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUkn0Y-2B3Uky6DWfODbAYrY-2Bajz6WNzEXOgCG-2FbqD9iVZbmgKOmq_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYa3deAacL1-2FFCMKbMeTcndPwYGlZeEgLI4R0qcYM29wBp0k82eLsqsA1g3-2B-2BrM4doyzYvtWFvw9SqSAIrEyVkz-2B13RCblnU3FkeqiPPUh2zpKvBlwPrsZfzGSDhzpgxhtr6eG69KBmDAOFCIfEwqZNakp-2BLuH-2FmpbavllZpLTx6E">Ranchland Trust of Kansas</a>.Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement.&nbsp;In his influential 1949 book,&nbsp;A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.Kansas landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award this year. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Kansas.ABOUT KEVIN WILTSEKevin Wiltse’s conservation journey began on a bus.He traveled with his father to Dakota Lakes in 1996 to learn about soil health. The day after returning home, they sold their tillage equipment and bought a no-till drill. But soil health success didn’t come overnight, nor was it achieved relying solely on not tilling the soil.Ever since that fateful trip, Wiltse’s commitment to conservation has driven him to challenge conventional approaches and pursue untested methods of farming. The result has been a more profitable business, one less reliant on commercial inputs and subsidies, while balancing agricultural productivity with ecological integrity.&nbsp;One of the most transformative aspects of his strategy has been successfully transitioning more than 500 acres of conventional cropland to native perennial grasses and forbs, without cost-share assistance. By fostering deep-rooted plants, he improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and mitigates the impact of drought.Enhancing biodiversity while preventing erosion is why Kevin also began growing cover crops within his normal rotation of crops. The presence of continuous ground cover provided more options to graze beef cattle year-round.Beyond individual farming techniques, Wiltse’s success lies in his mindset. He partners with nature rather than trying to control it. This philosophy drives experimentation with interseeding crops, biological amendments, and perennial cool-season planting. Each practice reinforces his farm’s ability to withstand unpredictable weather and market conditions.Kevin, and his wife Amanda and their three children farm with his mother. Wiltse Family Farms consists of native range and dryland cropland spread across three counties.Wiltse made sweeping changes to the farm’s business model after attending the Ranching for Profit School in 2013 amid a three-year drought. He decided to rely less on cash crops and more on grazing cattle.The large, intact land base at Wiltse Family Farms has made grazing and moving livestock easier. The borders of farm fields, planted with diverse perennial vegetation, are fenced in to serve as travel lanes between pastures for cattle. These perennial borders attract beneficial pollinators and pheasants. About 30,000 feet of water lines were installed to distribute water to stock tanks. The only cash crops grown now are, milo, triticale and rye, all of which can double as forage for livestock and wildlife.Wiltse credits rotationally grazing livestock on cover crops and diverse perennial pastures with accelerated restoration of the soil. His pastures have remained green during recent periods of drought. More grass on the ground attracts more wildlife and insects, which Kevin considers a good indicator of success.Wiltse’s impact extends beyond his own farm with speaking engagements and mentoring other landowners. Leading experts in regenerative agriculture seek his insights. Yet, he admits that 30 years ago as a Kansas State graduate, he was more concerned with crop yields than soil health and bird habitat.“You need to be at your place and time to do this,” he said.Much like the bus tour he took years ago, he encourages others to visit farms and ranches that utilize conservation practices, and to then experiment on a few acres at home.Peers and visitors are consistently inspired by Kevin’s quiet and humble stewardship. His willingness to test and refine methods is pushing conservation agriculture forward, while establishing a model for future generations.ACCOLADES“The management practices of Wiltse Family Farms prove the impact that can be made toward improved soil and land sustainability,” said Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. “We appreciate Kevin Wiltse’s commitment to conservation on his land over several decades. This award is a testament to his bold leadership in demonstrating the value of land preservation in agriculture.”“Through adaptive rotational grazing of livestock on perennial grasses and cover crops, Kevin and Amanda improve soil health on their farm while supporting pollinator and wildlife habitat,” said Dan Meyerhoff, Hays, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts executive director. “Their dedication to regenerative agriculture and willingness to share their journey has been benefitted many others that are looking to implement conservation practices on their farms.”“RTK is delighted to announce that Kevin and Amanda Wiltse of Timken are the Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipients,” said Barth Crouch, Ranchland Trust of Kansas Board chairman. “They have worked hard to fulfill their commitment to conservation for many years. Kevin has been very strong in sharing his efforts and projects with other ranchers and farming families across the state.”“We’re so grateful for stewards like the Wiltse family who recognize conservation is an investment in the prosperity of future generations,” said Joe Newland, Kansas Farm Bureau president. “Kevin and Amanda show the tangible rewards of caring for their land, and they are an extraordinary example for the rest of us in agriculture.”“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation president and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT president and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”Among the many outstanding landowners nominated for the award were finalists Daryl and Jody Donohue’s DL Cattle Company in Fredonia. The first Kansas Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Sproul Ranch of Sedan in 2015. Last year’s recipient was the Barby Ranch of Protection. &nbsp;The Leopold Conservation Award in Kansas is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Kansas Farm Bureau, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, ITC Great Plains, Kansas Department of Agriculture (Division of Conservation), Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Green Cover Seed.For more information, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUkny96AxOXIBLbxDEx6s4D5WJxe7tcyyPI9zV1Re8T9lLdERusj3IlBi-2Fp4ac3-2F3nfTw-3D-3DkWKX_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYV02OXGYgjKfH-2FBzP4W-2Br6FACxGRXStFkLBEAorbGrzxLuOFrAy4H7xUC5qYs2zxUI3ujWs0uRduEbAcSm7iRMR6PGQKFq-2FxN2whAQsHLK70q0ViQLSnObmxpeJvELZO2YZ7Qplv-2BKW13dxxRZJ4JjL3-2FpG-2Br9hdSlRKCYP76yWL">www.leopoldconservationaward.org</a>.&nbsp;SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION&nbsp;The Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers private landowners to ethically manage natural resources so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qSW5kAw05dclrbVmNgUknw56AlQHG8hanrwNji22dEQy3gK-2BPbOAbjeNPjEe0XqhHF1I_z0lN4MXn3XcA-2BK261L44dkFJ3kj1-2BN2dVAKws7NsnptMoH8h4RsbdxvVwAXUmVrIW-2BjSHkZ5XCCMn-2BEa9ArqBhE7zUJPK6X0X5fJ0QV4w-2BiFe3ky4ypcDaiodFIrR04io-2BpbP1ijdCntU9oXzK3NbtYZw-2FPAStUMs4NapC0UVvfGnhikdWjpARH4qYvsxZc-2B7johguM6V5El5szTKVdYYfujqrMsefrnlargJ1ci0K-2FfljcgHUOSwLJ3pGX3F3qgZwUpOo90deUYkOaGTOIPpWGht2VzQGw9GrxLMigk4JeqVf-2Bqtq53n4bGD-2BOR7LztSifwgdzrCvO9h7MC7QgTMQFT440cKa2-2FY8r-2BXMBjn5Wa9I-2Bs3GaeKYxEZsfsqQmM">www.sandcountyfoundation.org</a>

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