JAY HARRIS Cottonwood Extension District

As we turn the calendar to December and reflect on the year behind us, one theme continues to stand out across the Cottonwood Extension District: community matters. Not just as a concept, but as a lived experience; built through relationships, shared learning, and people willing to step forward and make a difference.

Cooperative Extension has existed in Kansas for more than a century, but its strength today is the same as it was in 1914: local people helping local people, supported by university research. And when you look closely, you’ll find Extension woven into the fabric of nearly every part of community life.

You see it in a 4-H member learning leadership skills for the first time while preparing a project for the county fair. You see it in a producer seeking support during drought or planning for next year’s pasture and forage needs. You see it in families who attend wellness or financial programs and leave with tools to improve their quality of life. And you see it in the countless volunteers who give time, talent, and heart to strengthen their communities.

Extension work is diverse; agriculture, youth development, health, family resources, community vitality, but it is all driven by the same belief: Knowledge is most powerful when it is shared.

In a world with search engines, apps, and endless online information, some might ask: Why do we still need Extension?

· Google can provide information, but it can’t provide connection.

· Technology can offer data, but it cannot replace trusted relationships.

· And online advice can be generic, but Extension is specific to Kansas, our climate, our challenges, and our way of life.

Extension doesn’t just deliver facts. It delivers understanding, context, and support grounded in real-world experience.

Even more importantly, Extension builds confidence, especially in young people. When a 4-H member gives their first speech, masters a skill, or discovers a new interest that may become a career, they’re experiencing something much bigger than a moment. They’re experiencing growth — the kind that stays with them long after awards and ribbons are forgotten.

As we prepare to enter a new year, I want to offer sincere gratitude to the Cottonwood District communities, partners, and volunteers who make this work meaningful. Your support ensures that Extension remains strong, relevant, and accessible.

And as always, we are here for you. Whether you’re producing food, raising a family, strengthening a community organization, or simply trying something new, Extension is your partner.

Because Extension isn’t just a service. It’s a relationship. It’s a commitment. And most of all, Extension is community.

Wishing you a season of peace, gratitude, and connection. We look forward to serving you in the new year.

Jay Harris&nbsp; is the District Director for K-State Extension, Cottonwood District (Ellis and Barton Counties).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745338245919.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>JAY HARRIS Cottonwood Extension DistrictAs we turn the calendar to December and reflect on the year behind us, one theme continues to stand out across the Cottonwood Extension District: community matters. Not just as a concept, but as a lived experience; built through relationships, shared learning, and people willing to step forward and make a difference.Cooperative Extension has existed in Kansas for more than a century, but its strength today is the same as it was in 1914: local people helping local people, supported by university research. And when you look closely, you’ll find Extension woven into the fabric of nearly every part of community life.You see it in a 4-H member learning leadership skills for the first time while preparing a project for the county fair. You see it in a producer seeking support during drought or planning for next year’s pasture and forage needs. You see it in families who attend wellness or financial programs and leave with tools to improve their quality of life. And you see it in the countless volunteers who give time, talent, and heart to strengthen their communities.Extension work is diverse; agriculture, youth development, health, family resources, community vitality, but it is all driven by the same belief: Knowledge is most powerful when it is shared.In a world with search engines, apps, and endless online information, some might ask: Why do we still need Extension?The answer is simple:· Google can provide information, but it can’t provide connection.· Technology can offer data, but it cannot replace trusted relationships.· And online advice can be generic, but Extension is specific to Kansas, our climate, our challenges, and our way of life.Extension doesn’t just deliver facts. It delivers understanding, context, and support grounded in real-world experience.Even more importantly, Extension builds confidence, especially in young people. When a 4-H member gives their first speech, masters a skill, or discovers a new interest that may become a career, they’re experiencing something much bigger than a moment. They’re experiencing growth — the kind that stays with them long after awards and ribbons are forgotten.As we prepare to enter a new year, I want to offer sincere gratitude to the Cottonwood District communities, partners, and volunteers who make this work meaningful. Your support ensures that Extension remains strong, relevant, and accessible.And as always, we are here for you. Whether you’re producing food, raising a family, strengthening a community organization, or simply trying something new, Extension is your partner.Because Extension isn’t just a service. It’s a relationship. It’s a commitment. And most of all, Extension is community.Wishing you a season of peace, gratitude, and connection. We look forward to serving you in the new year.Jay Harris&nbsp; is the District Director for K-State Extension, Cottonwood District (Ellis and Barton Counties).

HARRIS: Extension is community: Why local engagement matters

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

I recently saw a Facebook post from Amanda Sellers in Arkansas, sharing her feelings concerning comments she received about a hunting picture she’d posted. Her reply sincerely struck a chord with me, so I asked for, and received her permission to share her post as a weekly column. 

In this post, she shows such an awareness and gives such a good and simple explanation of the importance hunting plays in our country, that I thought it needed to be passed-on. So here, in her own words is Amanda’s perception of the role hunting plays in their lifestyle.

“I am a homeschooling mom of 12 kids, raised in north-central Arkansas. I have traveled to many countries and lived halfway across the U.S. just to sell everything and move back to our roots. We do mission work local and foreign, and I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to raise my family the way we do - connected to the land and our heritage!

"I shared a hunting photo recently and it brought in a lot of strong reactions. I understand why. Hunting can feel uncomfortable if you didn't grow up around it. But I want to share why it matters where we live and why so many families in this region still participate in it.

"For generations, people here processed their own food. They understood where it came from. They used the meat to feed their families and honored the animal by not wasting it.

"Today most of us are so disconnected from our food system that we forget what actually has to happen for food to reach a store shelf.

"Hunting in our area is also part of caring for the land. When wildlife populations grow beyond what the ecosystem can support, animals face starvation, disease, and slow painful deaths. Regulated hunting keeps the population healthy and prevents suffering. It is one of the ways we protect the wildlife that lives in the forests around us.

"There is another point that matters to me. If we care this deeply about protecting life in the woods, we should care even more about protecting life in the womb. Human life begins at conception. It is precious from the very first moment it exists and deserves protection just as fiercely.

"My heart in sharing any of this is simple. Connection matters. Stewardship matters. Life matters. And understanding where our food comes from, and why we value all forms of life, is something worth talking about.”

Given the distance our country as a whole has chosen to distance itself from God, and given the fact that now, so many opinions are formed and so many decisions are made using emotions alone, with little or no factual input, its refreshing and comforting to hear the above. 

Thank you, Amanda… Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsI recently saw a Facebook post from Amanda Sellers in Arkansas, sharing her feelings concerning comments she received about a hunting picture she’d posted. Her reply sincerely struck a chord with me, so I asked for, and received her permission to share her post as a weekly column. In this post, she shows such an awareness and gives such a good and simple explanation of the importance hunting plays in our country, that I thought it needed to be passed-on. So here, in her own words is Amanda’s perception of the role hunting plays in their lifestyle.“I am a homeschooling mom of 12 kids, raised in north-central Arkansas. I have traveled to many countries and lived halfway across the U.S. just to sell everything and move back to our roots. We do mission work local and foreign, and I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to raise my family the way we do - connected to the land and our heritage!"I shared a hunting photo recently and it brought in a lot of strong reactions. I understand why. Hunting can feel uncomfortable if you didn't grow up around it. But I want to share why it matters where we live and why so many families in this region still participate in it."For generations, people here processed their own food. They understood where it came from. They used the meat to feed their families and honored the animal by not wasting it."Today most of us are so disconnected from our food system that we forget what actually has to happen for food to reach a store shelf."Hunting in our area is also part of caring for the land. When wildlife populations grow beyond what the ecosystem can support, animals face starvation, disease, and slow painful deaths. Regulated hunting keeps the population healthy and prevents suffering. It is one of the ways we protect the wildlife that lives in the forests around us."There is another point that matters to me. If we care this deeply about protecting life in the woods, we should care even more about protecting life in the womb. Human life begins at conception. It is precious from the very first moment it exists and deserves protection just as fiercely."My heart in sharing any of this is simple. Connection matters. Stewardship matters. Life matters. And understanding where our food comes from, and why we value all forms of life, is something worth talking about.”Given the distance our country as a whole has chosen to distance itself from God, and given the fact that now, so many opinions are formed and so many decisions are made using emotions alone, with little or no factual input, its refreshing and comforting to hear the above. Thank you, Amanda… Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Amanda’s perception

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

By any honest measure, too many Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet. 

The latest State of ALICE in Kansas report—ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—finds that 38% of Kansas households were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023, meaning they could not afford the basics even while working. That includes 12% living in poverty and another 26% who earn too much to qualify for aid but still can’t cover essentials like housing, child care, food, transportation, and healthcare.

This isn’t a fringe problem; it’s the working backbone of our economy. These are Kansans we depend on daily, like child‑care providers, home‑health aides, cashiers, and delivery drivers. Kansans feel the squeeze. 

In the 2025 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey—conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University—36.1% said the Kansas economy is getting worse, and 46.5% reported feeling very or moderately concerned that the state’s economy could seriously threaten their family’s welfare—a worry that ticked up from last year. When people don’t see a path to stability, they pull back on spending, on investing in education, on starting businesses. That feeds a cycle of slower growth.

Inflation adds insult to injury. In September, prices across the Midwest rose 3.1%. Housing costs are up 4.5% and rent surged 5.0% compared to 3.4% nationally. For a Kansas renter already under ALICE’s budget pressure, that is the difference between paying for a car repair or skipping the prescription refill.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that lower-income households experience greater impact from inflation than higher-income ones, meaning Kansans living on tighter budgets face disproportionate pressures. After adjusting for inflation, Kansas’ median household incomes have barely budged post-COVID, lagging behind national progress. Inflation’s heavier burden on lower-income families widens this gap, as working families spend more of their limited incomes on essentials.

Meanwhile, the recent federal government shutdown made a bad situation worse. Kansas Action for Children reports that the shutdown disrupted key economic data flows (including unemployment statistics) and contributed to state revenues missing estimates by $3.4 million in September due to a steep $35.4 million shortfall in corporate income tax receipts, despite&nbsp;stronger individual income and sales taxes. Overall receipts for the month were about 1.9% lower than in September 2024.

Beyond numbers on a page, the shutdown threatened essential benefits: SNAP and WIC faced imminent disruption, putting nearly 190,000 Kansans at risk of losing food assistance, with 48,000 WIC recipients depending on nutrition support for mothers and children. When Washington cannot keep the lights on, the ripple effects hit our paychecks, our schools, our main streets, and exacerbated those among us who are already vulnerable.

When federal policy falters, Kansas families pay the price first. Stabilize the basics—food assistance, health insurance support, small‑business lending, predictable budgets—and we give vulnerable households the breathing room to become the bedrock of the state’s growth rather than the warning siren of its fragility.

If we want a Kansas where hard work reliably leads to stability, we need policies that stop pushing families underwater and start helping them reach the shore.

As the Kansas Legislature gears up for its 2026 session, lawmakers are already sending signals about where priorities lie—the initial bills suggest little additional support for working families. Early filings include a proposal to delay school start dates until after Labor Day; legislation aimed at loosening library-district governance; and a “Kansas Teacher Shortage Relief Act” to ease re-entry for retired educators.

These bills signal lawmakers’ attention to core community institutions like schools and libraries, but if our state truly wants to lift those families hovering near or beneath the ALICE threshold, the session must go further.

Legislators should prioritize enhanced affordability—expanding access to affordable child care, increasing housing subsidies, and upgrading income thresholds to reflect changing living costs. Federal programs remain vital, but state action can shield families when Washington falters.

The 2026 Legislature has a choice: tinker at the edges or invest in Kansans’ ability to thrive. If leadership is serious about long-term economic resilience, it must anchor its agenda in policies that pair educational and community improvements with real financial support. That means not just making communities stronger, but lifting the families who live in them.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740007073583.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight KansasBy any honest measure, too many Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet. The latest State of ALICE in Kansas report—ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—finds that 38% of Kansas households were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023, meaning they could not afford the basics even while working. That includes 12% living in poverty and another 26% who earn too much to qualify for aid but still can’t cover essentials like housing, child care, food, transportation, and healthcare.This isn’t a fringe problem; it’s the working backbone of our economy. These are Kansans we depend on daily, like child‑care providers, home‑health aides, cashiers, and delivery drivers. Kansans feel the squeeze. In the 2025 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey—conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University—36.1% said the Kansas economy is getting worse, and 46.5% reported feeling very or moderately concerned that the state’s economy could seriously threaten their family’s welfare—a worry that ticked up from last year. When people don’t see a path to stability, they pull back on spending, on investing in education, on starting businesses. That feeds a cycle of slower growth.Inflation adds insult to injury. In September, prices across the Midwest rose 3.1%. Housing costs are up 4.5% and rent surged 5.0% compared to 3.4% nationally. For a Kansas renter already under ALICE’s budget pressure, that is the difference between paying for a car repair or skipping the prescription refill.The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that lower-income households experience greater impact from inflation than higher-income ones, meaning Kansans living on tighter budgets face disproportionate pressures. After adjusting for inflation, Kansas’ median household incomes have barely budged post-COVID, lagging behind national progress. Inflation’s heavier burden on lower-income families widens this gap, as working families spend more of their limited incomes on essentials.Meanwhile, the recent federal government shutdown made a bad situation worse. Kansas Action for Children reports that the shutdown disrupted key economic data flows (including unemployment statistics) and contributed to state revenues missing estimates by $3.4 million in September due to a steep $35.4 million shortfall in corporate income tax receipts, despite&nbsp;stronger individual income and sales taxes. Overall receipts for the month were about 1.9% lower than in September 2024.Beyond numbers on a page, the shutdown threatened essential benefits: SNAP and WIC faced imminent disruption, putting nearly 190,000 Kansans at risk of losing food assistance, with 48,000 WIC recipients depending on nutrition support for mothers and children. When Washington cannot keep the lights on, the ripple effects hit our paychecks, our schools, our main streets, and exacerbated those among us who are already vulnerable.When federal policy falters, Kansas families pay the price first. Stabilize the basics—food assistance, health insurance support, small‑business lending, predictable budgets—and we give vulnerable households the breathing room to become the bedrock of the state’s growth rather than the warning siren of its fragility.If we want a Kansas where hard work reliably leads to stability, we need policies that stop pushing families underwater and start helping them reach the shore.As the Kansas Legislature gears up for its 2026 session, lawmakers are already sending signals about where priorities lie—the initial bills suggest little additional support for working families. Early filings include a proposal to delay school start dates until after Labor Day; legislation aimed at loosening library-district governance; and a “Kansas Teacher Shortage Relief Act” to ease re-entry for retired educators.These bills signal lawmakers’ attention to core community institutions like schools and libraries, but if our state truly wants to lift those families hovering near or beneath the ALICE threshold, the session must go further.Legislators should prioritize enhanced affordability—expanding access to affordable child care, increasing housing subsidies, and upgrading income thresholds to reflect changing living costs. Federal programs remain vital, but state action can shield families when Washington falters.The 2026 Legislature has a choice: tinker at the edges or invest in Kansans’ ability to thrive. If leadership is serious about long-term economic resilience, it must anchor its agenda in policies that pair educational and community improvements with real financial support. That means not just making communities stronger, but lifting the families who live in them.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD, is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

INSIGHST KANSAS: Kansas families are drowning. Will 2026 lawmakers throw a lifeline?

I know some might think, heavens no, December doesn’t need another holiday. After all, it has Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but those living in deer country need to make opening day of firearms deer season the kind of holiday that frees kids from school and employees from work. Even for those who don’t hunt, advantages exist.

For families that put wholesome meat on the table the old-fashioned way, the first Wednesday in December is a red-letter calendar date. It signals opportunities for every licensed hunter in the house to provide pure, unadulterated protein for loved ones. Diners who eat venison harvested in the wild consume meat produced by natural diets. Protein in this form is low in fat so it’s better for folks whose docs have told them to cut back on marbled beef.

Family hunts build bonds between spouses and among parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren. Spending time on a frosty morning waiting to see a healthy buck or doe pass forms memories and stories that liven up family gatherings for decades. The meat in the freezer may be long gone, but tales of making difficult shots or recovering a deer from a field far from the road make great fireside tales year after year.

Not only do such events create family legends, they enable experienced outdoors folk to teach patience, observational skills, and respect for nature and gifts it provides. Youngsters too young to carry a gun learn to sit quietly while waiting for game to come into range. Every hunt includes lessons from studying wind patterns to discovering how still and silent a person can be when a skunk wanders near the blind.

Once a successful hunt ends, family bonding and learning continue as youngsters help prepare for the butchering. Much of my understanding of anatomy occurred as I helped first my dad then my husband cut up deer meat. Helping field dress a fresh carcass made high school biology dissections seem easier. These experiences gave me an appreciation for where protein comes that helps me better understand when I buy shrink-wrapped packages from a grocery store meat case.

For non-hunters and vegetarians, reducing deer populations through controlled harvests lead to safer driving. In addition, managing populations improves herd health. Too many critters occupying an area not only makes driving dangerous, it also means more depredation on crops and native plants. A pitiful sight for any who have experienced it is a sick herd. In regions where residents discourage hunting, disease whittles populations in only a few seasons.

While the idea of an official holiday is tongue in cheek, I love hearing stories from families that make this day and the rest of the season an annual event. Not only do these folks reduce deer populations that make driving to work a game of real-life pinball with the car as the flicker and the deer as the puck, but they also strengthen family bonds, provide healthy protein, and teach respect for nature

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765376060338.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN I know some might think, heavens no, December doesn’t need another holiday. After all, it has Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but those living in deer country need to make opening day of firearms deer season the kind of holiday that frees kids from school and employees from work. Even for those who don’t hunt, advantages exist.For families that put wholesome meat on the table the old-fashioned way, the first Wednesday in December is a red-letter calendar date. It signals opportunities for every licensed hunter in the house to provide pure, unadulterated protein for loved ones. Diners who eat venison harvested in the wild consume meat produced by natural diets. Protein in this form is low in fat so it’s better for folks whose docs have told them to cut back on marbled beef.Family hunts build bonds between spouses and among parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren. Spending time on a frosty morning waiting to see a healthy buck or doe pass forms memories and stories that liven up family gatherings for decades. The meat in the freezer may be long gone, but tales of making difficult shots or recovering a deer from a field far from the road make great fireside tales year after year.Not only do such events create family legends, they enable experienced outdoors folk to teach patience, observational skills, and respect for nature and gifts it provides. Youngsters too young to carry a gun learn to sit quietly while waiting for game to come into range. Every hunt includes lessons from studying wind patterns to discovering how still and silent a person can be when a skunk wanders near the blind.Once a successful hunt ends, family bonding and learning continue as youngsters help prepare for the butchering. Much of my understanding of anatomy occurred as I helped first my dad then my husband cut up deer meat. Helping field dress a fresh carcass made high school biology dissections seem easier. These experiences gave me an appreciation for where protein comes that helps me better understand when I buy shrink-wrapped packages from a grocery store meat case.For non-hunters and vegetarians, reducing deer populations through controlled harvests lead to safer driving. In addition, managing populations improves herd health. Too many critters occupying an area not only makes driving dangerous, it also means more depredation on crops and native plants. A pitiful sight for any who have experienced it is a sick herd. In regions where residents discourage hunting, disease whittles populations in only a few seasons.While the idea of an official holiday is tongue in cheek, I love hearing stories from families that make this day and the rest of the season an annual event. Not only do these folks reduce deer populations that make driving to work a game of real-life pinball with the car as the flicker and the deer as the puck, but they also strengthen family bonds, provide healthy protein, and teach respect for natureKaren Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Add another December holiday

Russell Arben Fox’s recent column,&nbsp; <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/788bc415-cbb0-4bb7-8509-378203a26761">"Questions for, and about, city managers in Kansas,”</a> raises timely and important points about how our cities are governed.

As a civic-minded Kansan and a retired city manager, I appreciate his reminder that debates over the council-manager form of government are neither trivial nor temporary. I write to offer historical context on why the city manager profession emerged more than a century ago and to address the concerns he raises about democracy, accountability, and effectiveness.

The council-manager model took shape during the Progressive Era, when many American cities were plagued by corruption, patronage, and inefficiency. 

Reformers believed that trained, nonpartisan administrators could manage public services more honestly and effectively than political machines. This belief led the National Civic League and what is now the International City/County Management Association to publish the first Model City Charter in 1915, introducing a system in which an elected council sets policy and a professional manager executes it. 

Early adopters reported immediate improvements in fiscal management, service delivery, and ethical integrity. In short, the city manager position was created to clean up city hall and restore public trust.

Over the past century, this system has proven its value. Today, a majority of U.S. cities with populations over 2,500 use the council-manager model, including most communities in Kansas. Here, elected mayors serve as part of the council, while a professional manager oversees day-to-day operations. This structure has helped Kansas cities avoid the hyper-partisanship seen at higher levels of government and focus instead on pragmatic problem-solving.

City managers bring professional training in public administration, finance, and urban policy, and they serve all residents regardless of political affiliation. Their recommendations are grounded in analysis, not political advantage. 

Research supports these benefits: one comprehensive study found that cities with council-manager governments have roughly 57 percent fewer corruption convictions than strong-mayor cities. Public trust is also higher at the local level than at the federal or state level, due in part to the nonpartisan, professional nature of council-manager governance.

Professor Fox raises an important question about democratic accountability: if managers and staff help shape complex policies and budgets, does this create a “democratic deficit”? 

It is a reasonable concern, but one that the council-manager system was designed to address. Managers serve entirely at the pleasure of the elected council and can be removed by a simple majority. 

The council/commission sets the community’s vision, adopts ordinances and budgets, and represents voter priorities; the manager implements these policies and provides professional options for consideration. 

Managers are evaluated—and retained—based on how effectively they carry out the council’s direction. Rather than diluting democracy, this model reinforces it by ensuring that elected officials make policy while administrative professionals carry it out responsibly.

Dr. John Nalbandian of Lawrence captures this balance well: city managers stand “at the intersection of the political and administrative arenas,” helping bridge what is politically acceptable with what is operationally sustainable. This connection strengthens democratic governance by allowing elected leaders to focus on community vision while relying on professional staff to deliver results.

To be sure, supporters of the council-manager model must take citizen engagement seriously. If voters sense that their voices matter less because professionals run daily operations, turnout may suffer. 

The solution, however, is greater transparency and more opportunities for public involvement—not abandoning a system that has served Kansas communities well. 

Wichita’s recent debate over its manager hiring process demonstrates that residents expect openness, even within a professionally administered government. We should welcome that expectation.

Comparing this model with the strong-mayor system underscores what is at stake. In strong-mayor cities, executive power is concentrated in one elected individual who oversees departments, prepares budgets, and can veto council actions. While this structure can produce decisive leadership, it also allows the city’s priorities—and personnel—to shift dramatically with each new administration.

 A strong-mayor model can energize a community when leadership is sound, but when it is not, the consequences can be destabilizing. Numerous cities that experienced turbulence or scandal under powerful mayors later added professional oversight or shifted toward council-manager governance. Concentrating executive authority in one office is inherently risky.

Kansas’s experience has shown the advantages of balanced, professional administration. Under home-rule authority, each city chooses its governing structure, and the vast majority have selected the council-manager form. This is because it helps ensure stability, ethical conduct, and long-term planning that transcends election cycles. 

Our governing bodies still debate vigorously, but city services remain steady and centered on community needs rather than personal politics. As Fox himself notes, this model “fosters pragmatic governance” in a time when pragmatism is sorely needed.

After ten decades of practice, the council-manager system remains a proven framework that upholds both democratic accountability and professional competence. It was created to curb corruption and improve performance, and those goals are as vital today as they were 100 years ago. 

Rather than concentrating power in a single elected executive, we should continue strengthening the partnership between our elected councils and the professional managers who carry out their vision.

Mr. Fox is right that Kansans should regularly examine how we govern ourselves. But before considering a shift to strong-mayor systems, we should recall what the council-manager model was designed to prevent and what it continues to provide: stability, transparency, ethical administration, and a collaborative balance between democratic leadership and professional expertise. Our communities deserve nothing less.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Russell Arben Fox’s recent column,&nbsp; <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/788bc415-cbb0-4bb7-8509-378203a26761">"Questions for, and about, city managers in Kansas,”</a> raises timely and important points about how our cities are governed. As a civic-minded Kansan and a retired city manager, I appreciate his reminder that debates over the council-manager form of government are neither trivial nor temporary. I write to offer historical context on why the city manager profession emerged more than a century ago and to address the concerns he raises about democracy, accountability, and effectiveness.The council-manager model took shape during the Progressive Era, when many American cities were plagued by corruption, patronage, and inefficiency. Reformers believed that trained, nonpartisan administrators could manage public services more honestly and effectively than political machines. This belief led the National Civic League and what is now the International City/County Management Association to publish the first Model City Charter in 1915, introducing a system in which an elected council sets policy and a professional manager executes it. Early adopters reported immediate improvements in fiscal management, service delivery, and ethical integrity. In short, the city manager position was created to clean up city hall and restore public trust.Over the past century, this system has proven its value. Today, a majority of U.S. cities with populations over 2,500 use the council-manager model, including most communities in Kansas. Here, elected mayors serve as part of the council, while a professional manager oversees day-to-day operations. This structure has helped Kansas cities avoid the hyper-partisanship seen at higher levels of government and focus instead on pragmatic problem-solving.City managers bring professional training in public administration, finance, and urban policy, and they serve all residents regardless of political affiliation. Their recommendations are grounded in analysis, not political advantage. Research supports these benefits: one comprehensive study found that cities with council-manager governments have roughly 57 percent fewer corruption convictions than strong-mayor cities. Public trust is also higher at the local level than at the federal or state level, due in part to the nonpartisan, professional nature of council-manager governance.Professor Fox raises an important question about democratic accountability: if managers and staff help shape complex policies and budgets, does this create a “democratic deficit”? It is a reasonable concern, but one that the council-manager system was designed to address. Managers serve entirely at the pleasure of the elected council and can be removed by a simple majority. The council/commission sets the community’s vision, adopts ordinances and budgets, and represents voter priorities; the manager implements these policies and provides professional options for consideration. Managers are evaluated—and retained—based on how effectively they carry out the council’s direction. Rather than diluting democracy, this model reinforces it by ensuring that elected officials make policy while administrative professionals carry it out responsibly.Dr. John Nalbandian of Lawrence captures this balance well: city managers stand “at the intersection of the political and administrative arenas,” helping bridge what is politically acceptable with what is operationally sustainable. This connection strengthens democratic governance by allowing elected leaders to focus on community vision while relying on professional staff to deliver results.To be sure, supporters of the council-manager model must take citizen engagement seriously. If voters sense that their voices matter less because professionals run daily operations, turnout may suffer. The solution, however, is greater transparency and more opportunities for public involvement—not abandoning a system that has served Kansas communities well. Wichita’s recent debate over its manager hiring process demonstrates that residents expect openness, even within a professionally administered government. We should welcome that expectation.Comparing this model with the strong-mayor system underscores what is at stake. In strong-mayor cities, executive power is concentrated in one elected individual who oversees departments, prepares budgets, and can veto council actions. While this structure can produce decisive leadership, it also allows the city’s priorities—and personnel—to shift dramatically with each new administration. A strong-mayor model can energize a community when leadership is sound, but when it is not, the consequences can be destabilizing. Numerous cities that experienced turbulence or scandal under powerful mayors later added professional oversight or shifted toward council-manager governance. Concentrating executive authority in one office is inherently risky.Kansas’s experience has shown the advantages of balanced, professional administration. Under home-rule authority, each city chooses its governing structure, and the vast majority have selected the council-manager form. This is because it helps ensure stability, ethical conduct, and long-term planning that transcends election cycles. Our governing bodies still debate vigorously, but city services remain steady and centered on community needs rather than personal politics. As Fox himself notes, this model “fosters pragmatic governance” in a time when pragmatism is sorely needed.After ten decades of practice, the council-manager system remains a proven framework that upholds both democratic accountability and professional competence. It was created to curb corruption and improve performance, and those goals are as vital today as they were 100 years ago. Rather than concentrating power in a single elected executive, we should continue strengthening the partnership between our elected councils and the professional managers who carry out their vision.Mr. Fox is right that Kansans should regularly examine how we govern ourselves. But before considering a shift to strong-mayor systems, we should recall what the council-manager model was designed to prevent and what it continues to provide: stability, transparency, ethical administration, and a collaborative balance between democratic leadership and professional expertise. Our communities deserve nothing less.— Jon Quinday, Russell

LETTER: City managers: Century of balancing professionalism, democracy in local government

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By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

One of the perks of having had an interesting and memorable childhood full of interesting and memorable characters, is having a treasure chest full of stories at one’s disposal should all other inspiration elude me as I sit down to pen a weekly column. And with deer rifle season beginning in Kansas, here is a story full of those characters.

I’ve often mentioned that during our first several years of deer hunting my brother and I were part of a neighborhood group of landowners and farmers that often hunted deer together. We would converge on a property, “post” two or three guys along one edge, then walk through from the other side as a group and attempt to run the deer out past the “posters” for a shot. 

We had some colorful and amusing individuals in our assembly. As in every group, we had Dave, the local cop who always shot straight, looked sharp and made no mistakes. Many deer were spotted from his kitchen window as we all sat around warming up with a hot drink. Someone (usually Dave) would spot a deer crossing the road, and coffee cups and chairs would fly as we headed for the trucks.

The Beck clan, brothers Don and Paul and most of Paul’s kids made up the bulk of the group. As I talked with my brother the other evening, he reminded me that the first advice I gave him when he began hunting with us was, “When the Becks start shootin’, just get on the ground!”

 I remember standing beside Don one day in the woods when a big buck erupted from a brush pile in front of us. I was behind the pile and couldn’t see well enough for a shot, but Don emptied both barrels of his old double barrel at the fleeing buck. The buck danced away unscathed and the next day Don had a different gun. 

His brother Paul (known to all of us as junior) had a live-in girl friend named Elaine. They were both pretty coarse and crude around the edges, and the best way I know to describe Paul is to compare him to Jackie Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden - always grousing and whining over something. Elaine hunted with us, too, and when they were dressed in hunting garb, the only way to tell them apart was that Elaine was the bigger one. Her favorite line, uttered often as we stood somewhere loitering and planning our assault was “I’m goin’ deer huntin’, you pansies!”

Of the Becks, Ralph, who was my age, was my favorite. He was a big, hairy guy (that earned him the nickname Wolf) who didn’t know his own strength. Turkey shoots were popular back in those days and sponsored by numerous organizations. For a fee you were given one shotgun shell and stood in a line in front of a row of paper targets. After everyone had shot, the targets were pulled down and the number of pellets was counted in each target. The winner was obviously the person putting the most pellets in their target and the prize was a turkey or a ham.

 Ralph had an old single-shot 12-gauge shotgun that broke open to load. The mechanism that allowed it to hinge open had long since ceased to function, so to load it, he simply pulled the pin and the gun became two pieces. He’d load the shell, reinsert the pin and close the gun. It was worth going with him to turkey shoots just to watch. All other shooters up and down the firing line sporting expensive custom-built shotguns would sneer and snicker as he walked up and broke the battered old 12-gauge in half and loaded his shell. The reactions became quite different, though as he fired the old cannon and walked away with the turkey every time.

As with most childhood stories, everything has changed now. I moved to Kansas and have lost touch with most of the old hunting gaggle. 

My brother and I and our families remain active deer hunters and trappers, I’d say in part because of those early experiences. Back then, we harvested few deer, but I learned respect for nature and for my elders. I learned hunter safety without a book or video to teach me. I also learned I’m glad that here in Kansas I can hunt deer with a rifle instead of a shotgun! 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors One of the perks of having had an interesting and memorable childhood full of interesting and memorable characters, is having a treasure chest full of stories at one’s disposal should all other inspiration elude me as I sit down to pen a weekly column. And with deer rifle season beginning in Kansas, here is a story full of those characters.I’ve often mentioned that during our first several years of deer hunting my brother and I were part of a neighborhood group of landowners and farmers that often hunted deer together. We would converge on a property, “post” two or three guys along one edge, then walk through from the other side as a group and attempt to run the deer out past the “posters” for a shot. We had some colorful and amusing individuals in our assembly. As in every group, we had Dave, the local cop who always shot straight, looked sharp and made no mistakes. Many deer were spotted from his kitchen window as we all sat around warming up with a hot drink. Someone (usually Dave) would spot a deer crossing the road, and coffee cups and chairs would fly as we headed for the trucks.The Beck clan, brothers Don and Paul and most of Paul’s kids made up the bulk of the group. As I talked with my brother the other evening, he reminded me that the first advice I gave him when he began hunting with us was, “When the Becks start shootin’, just get on the ground!” I remember standing beside Don one day in the woods when a big buck erupted from a brush pile in front of us. I was behind the pile and couldn’t see well enough for a shot, but Don emptied both barrels of his old double barrel at the fleeing buck. The buck danced away unscathed and the next day Don had a different gun. His brother Paul (known to all of us as junior) had a live-in girl friend named Elaine. They were both pretty coarse and crude around the edges, and the best way I know to describe Paul is to compare him to Jackie Gleason’s character Ralph Kramden - always grousing and whining over something. Elaine hunted with us, too, and when they were dressed in hunting garb, the only way to tell them apart was that Elaine was the bigger one. Her favorite line, uttered often as we stood somewhere loitering and planning our assault was “I’m goin’ deer huntin’, you pansies!”Of the Becks, Ralph, who was my age, was my favorite. He was a big, hairy guy (that earned him the nickname Wolf) who didn’t know his own strength. Turkey shoots were popular back in those days and sponsored by numerous organizations. For a fee you were given one shotgun shell and stood in a line in front of a row of paper targets. After everyone had shot, the targets were pulled down and the number of pellets was counted in each target. The winner was obviously the person putting the most pellets in their target and the prize was a turkey or a ham. Ralph had an old single-shot 12-gauge shotgun that broke open to load. The mechanism that allowed it to hinge open had long since ceased to function, so to load it, he simply pulled the pin and the gun became two pieces. He’d load the shell, reinsert the pin and close the gun. It was worth going with him to turkey shoots just to watch. All other shooters up and down the firing line sporting expensive custom-built shotguns would sneer and snicker as he walked up and broke the battered old 12-gauge in half and loaded his shell. The reactions became quite different, though as he fired the old cannon and walked away with the turkey every time.As with most childhood stories, everything has changed now. I moved to Kansas and have lost touch with most of the old hunting gaggle. My brother and I and our families remain active deer hunters and trappers, I’d say in part because of those early experiences. Back then, we harvested few deer, but I learned respect for nature and for my elders. I learned hunter safety without a book or video to teach me. I also learned I’m glad that here in Kansas I can hunt deer with a rifle instead of a shotgun! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Whitetails, shotguns and turkey shoots

By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

Last month, two Kansas cities made decisions central to their future. 

The first city was Prairie Village, a town of barely 20,000 people; the second was Wichita, the largest municipality in the state, with almost 20 times PV’s population. Despite their differences and the many distinct issues in play in both cities, though, their decisions reflect a common argument.

Hiring a professional manager to handle the executive functions of a city is a common form of urban government, though not the one experienced by the greatest number of Americans. Most larger cities—as well as many smaller ones—have a “strong mayor” system, with voters electing a mayor with authority to deal with the agendas presented by an elected city council, in the same way the legislative and executive branches function on the state and national level. The replacement of that system in many places with one of supposedly apolitical professionalization is over 100 years old—yet challenges to it remain.

Those challenges were on display in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/24/prairie-village-abandon-question-2025-election/">municipal election in Prairie Village</a>. PV’s government includes a traditional elected mayor with veto power, and elected council members representing their constituents’ interests.

But a group of citizens organized under the name PV United had pushed forward a ballot referendum, asking Prairie Village’s residents if they wished to “abandon” their current system. PV United’s official goals, as stated by various supporters, are to reduce the size of the council and move more urban responsibilities over to a “professionally trained and experienced city manager” instead.

Of course, like every other form of government in existence, PV is not lacking in hired staff to research ordinances, administer policies, and enforce laws; they in fact already have someone serving as “city administrator.” But such supporting staff wasn’t enough for PV United; in their view, a “professionally run city” would ideally have a “council-mayor-manager” system instead.

That ballot referendum&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/11/05/prairie-village-rejects-abandon-question-273254/">lost badly</a>. The defeat was likely more about stopping various political and business actors who opposed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2023/05/04/prairie-village-housing-rezoning-ballot-200895/">easier zoning changes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/10/23/prairie-village-city-hall-election-272064/">civic development plans</a>&nbsp;than it was about government, but given that strong mayor systems&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/what-does-tulsa-have-that-wichita">arguably handle matters pertaining to growth and diversity more positively</a>&nbsp;than council-manager ones, the vote remains relevant.

By contrast, Wichita’s decision—made by city leaders, rather than voters—was to maintain their council-manager system of government, as their city manager of 17 years is retiring. His&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.zippia.com/city-manager-jobs/demographics/">unusually long tenure</a>&nbsp;had garnered much praise, but also controversy, and when he announced his plans months ago, there were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article303451121.html">some</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article303335736.html">suggestions</a>&nbsp;(including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wide-open/id1853863873">an entire podcast series</a>) that it was time for Wichita to debate the representativeness, and effectiveness, of continuing with a system that nominally (<a target="_blank" href="https://klcjournal.com/local-nonpartisan-elections-2021/">though rarely actually</a>) tries to leaves politics out of city decisions.

Such conversations never truly took place, however—and, with almost no citizen input, just before Thanksgiving the Wichita City Council&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313140781.html">decided upon their new city manager</a>.

The vote to do so wasn’t unanimous, however, with councilmembers and others alleging interference with the hiring committee, misrepresentation of priorities, frustration over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313044373.html">the only local (and only non-white) finalist dropping out without explanation</a>, and more. In other words, some serious political complaints were made—but which now have no real political route forward.

The point is not that the decision of Prairie Village voters was obviously correct, or that the decision made by Wichita’s current leadership obviously wasn’t. It is simply that this supposedly boring argument over government structure isn’t&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://inmedias.blogspot.com/2019/12/its-time-for-wichita-and-its-government.html">going</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/13-points-on-the-possible-strong">away</a>. So perhaps talking more explicitly and openly about these decisions, and the motivations behind them, would be a good idea.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750955074364.jpeg" alt="Russell Arben Fox. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Russell Arben Fox. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas Last month, two Kansas cities made decisions central to their future. The first city was Prairie Village, a town of barely 20,000 people; the second was Wichita, the largest municipality in the state, with almost 20 times PV’s population. Despite their differences and the many distinct issues in play in both cities, though, their decisions reflect a common argument.That argument is over city managers. Hiring a professional manager to handle the executive functions of a city is a common form of urban government, though not the one experienced by the greatest number of Americans. Most larger cities—as well as many smaller ones—have a “strong mayor” system, with voters electing a mayor with authority to deal with the agendas presented by an elected city council, in the same way the legislative and executive branches function on the state and national level. The replacement of that system in many places with one of supposedly apolitical professionalization is over 100 years old—yet challenges to it remain.Those challenges were on display in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/24/prairie-village-abandon-question-2025-election/">municipal election in Prairie Village</a>. PV’s government includes a traditional elected mayor with veto power, and elected council members representing their constituents’ interests. But a group of citizens organized under the name PV United had pushed forward a ballot referendum, asking Prairie Village’s residents if they wished to “abandon” their current system. PV United’s official goals, as stated by various supporters, are to reduce the size of the council and move more urban responsibilities over to a “professionally trained and experienced city manager” instead.Of course, like every other form of government in existence, PV is not lacking in hired staff to research ordinances, administer policies, and enforce laws; they in fact already have someone serving as “city administrator.” But such supporting staff wasn’t enough for PV United; in their view, a “professionally run city” would ideally have a “council-mayor-manager” system instead.That ballot referendum&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/11/05/prairie-village-rejects-abandon-question-273254/">lost badly</a>. The defeat was likely more about stopping various political and business actors who opposed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2023/05/04/prairie-village-housing-rezoning-ballot-200895/">easier zoning changes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/10/23/prairie-village-city-hall-election-272064/">civic development plans</a>&nbsp;than it was about government, but given that strong mayor systems&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/what-does-tulsa-have-that-wichita">arguably handle matters pertaining to growth and diversity more positively</a>&nbsp;than council-manager ones, the vote remains relevant.By contrast, Wichita’s decision—made by city leaders, rather than voters—was to maintain their council-manager system of government, as their city manager of 17 years is retiring. His&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.zippia.com/city-manager-jobs/demographics/">unusually long tenure</a>&nbsp;had garnered much praise, but also controversy, and when he announced his plans months ago, there were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article303451121.html">some</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler/article303335736.html">suggestions</a>&nbsp;(including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wide-open/id1853863873">an entire podcast series</a>) that it was time for Wichita to debate the representativeness, and effectiveness, of continuing with a system that nominally (<a target="_blank" href="https://klcjournal.com/local-nonpartisan-elections-2021/">though rarely actually</a>) tries to leaves politics out of city decisions.Such conversations never truly took place, however—and, with almost no citizen input, just before Thanksgiving the Wichita City Council&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313140781.html">decided upon their new city manager</a>. The vote to do so wasn’t unanimous, however, with councilmembers and others alleging interference with the hiring committee, misrepresentation of priorities, frustration over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article313044373.html">the only local (and only non-white) finalist dropping out without explanation</a>, and more. In other words, some serious political complaints were made—but which now have no real political route forward.The point is not that the decision of Prairie Village voters was obviously correct, or that the decision made by Wichita’s current leadership obviously wasn’t. It is simply that this supposedly boring argument over government structure isn’t&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://inmedias.blogspot.com/2019/12/its-time-for-wichita-and-its-government.html">going</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mittelpolitan.substack.com/p/13-points-on-the-possible-strong">away</a>. So perhaps talking more explicitly and openly about these decisions, and the motivations behind them, would be a good idea.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Questions for, and about, city managers in Kansas

When we said good-bye to a beloved elderly pooch five years ago, we didn’t plan to re-enlist in the pet brigade. Getting older ourselves, we worried a pup would be too much. However, time has a way of changing thinking.

A year ago, I observed intriguing changes in my husband. He decided our granddog that visited infrequently needed a dog house and not just any dog house—an insulated, heated dog house. Fortunately, he found the perfect fit for his vision on a buy sell trade site with the added blessing he only had to drive a few miles to pick it up.

I knew our world had shifted when he suggested we enlarge the fenced area we installed for our granddog’s visiting pleasure. According to Gramps, we needed something higher with more space. Then he started talking Jack Russell mixes…our favorite pet was a brindle Jack Russell cross who left a hole in our hearts when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

At first, we intended to rescue an older JR x. Evidently, those are in short supply so we searched puppies and found a Jack,&nbsp; a Bea —½ JR and ½ beagle — close by. She was already five months and on her way to understanding appropriate potty protocol. That minute she crawled first in my lap to snuggle and then crossed to his to stare deep into his eyes clenched the deal. We were back in the dog business.

Like new dog parents, we had to restock, adding a kennel, little bed, leashes, collars, food, bowls, treats, and toys. Our other JR arrived with a calm nature that didn’t require chew toys and squeaky balls. This little gal craves chewing and squeaking objects and dismembers poorly made ones in a flash. She also loves walks with Grampa followed by a chicken/sweet potato treat hidden in a Kong Ball she hasn’t yet destroyed, delivered by Grandma.

Recently, Gramps left the house early for an appointment in his deer stand. While I still slept, he walked her and gave her her customary treat so she wouldn’t awaken me. Ha! You know what they say about best laid plans.

I did sleep until 6:30 when I felt a cold, pointy nose pressing mine while two black button eyes stared hypnotically, compelling my eyes to open. To reinforce her powers of suggestion, she shoved her empty Kong Ball in my face. Groggy, I didn’t wonder why she had the Kong Ball, which we hide once she finds her goody. Like good grandmas everywhere, I padded to the treat cupboard to fulfill her desire.

That afternoon, when Gramps and I reflected on our day, he shared how he’d given her her treat so she wouldn’t awaken me early. What?! Yes, Miss Naughty Pants snagged two treats and never acted one bit remorseful. Gramps now leaves a note to tell me she had a walk and her prize when he leaves early.

Though we didn’t plan to love another dog, this scamp keeps us on our toes and communicating regularly.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764697928113.jpeg" alt="Miss Naughty Pants. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Miss Naughty Pants. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINWhen we said good-bye to a beloved elderly pooch five years ago, we didn’t plan to re-enlist in the pet brigade. Getting older ourselves, we worried a pup would be too much. However, time has a way of changing thinking.A year ago, I observed intriguing changes in my husband. He decided our granddog that visited infrequently needed a dog house and not just any dog house—an insulated, heated dog house. Fortunately, he found the perfect fit for his vision on a buy sell trade site with the added blessing he only had to drive a few miles to pick it up.I knew our world had shifted when he suggested we enlarge the fenced area we installed for our granddog’s visiting pleasure. According to Gramps, we needed something higher with more space. Then he started talking Jack Russell mixes…our favorite pet was a brindle Jack Russell cross who left a hole in our hearts when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.At first, we intended to rescue an older JR x. Evidently, those are in short supply so we searched puppies and found a Jack,&nbsp; a Bea —½ JR and ½ beagle — close by. She was already five months and on her way to understanding appropriate potty protocol. That minute she crawled first in my lap to snuggle and then crossed to his to stare deep into his eyes clenched the deal. We were back in the dog business.Like new dog parents, we had to restock, adding a kennel, little bed, leashes, collars, food, bowls, treats, and toys. Our other JR arrived with a calm nature that didn’t require chew toys and squeaky balls. This little gal craves chewing and squeaking objects and dismembers poorly made ones in a flash. She also loves walks with Grampa followed by a chicken/sweet potato treat hidden in a Kong Ball she hasn’t yet destroyed, delivered by Grandma.Recently, Gramps left the house early for an appointment in his deer stand. While I still slept, he walked her and gave her her customary treat so she wouldn’t awaken me. Ha! You know what they say about best laid plans.I did sleep until 6:30 when I felt a cold, pointy nose pressing mine while two black button eyes stared hypnotically, compelling my eyes to open. To reinforce her powers of suggestion, she shoved her empty Kong Ball in my face. Groggy, I didn’t wonder why she had the Kong Ball, which we hide once she finds her goody. Like good grandmas everywhere, I padded to the treat cupboard to fulfill her desire.That afternoon, when Gramps and I reflected on our day, he shared how he’d given her her treat so she wouldn’t awaken me early. What?! Yes, Miss Naughty Pants snagged two treats and never acted one bit remorseful. Gramps now leaves a note to tell me she had a walk and her prize when he leaves early.Though we didn’t plan to love another dog, this scamp keeps us on our toes and communicating regularly.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Miss Naughty Pants is a con-artist

I wonder how many of you realize there are two different skunk species living in Kansas; the Striped Skunk with which we are very familiar, and the Eastern Spotted Skunk, often referred to by old-timers as civet cats. I knew there were spotted skunks in Kansas, but have never seen one myself, nor did I know anything about them, so off to Mr. Google I ran.

As Kansas became populated at the beginning of the 20th century, eastern spotted skunks moved northward and westward into the state. The small diversified family farms that existed back then with numerous hay stacks, tree rows, woodlots and myriads of small farm buildings favored the spotted skunk, and they thrived. 

Over the decades as farming has become bigger, cleaner and more efficient, the spotted skunk population has shrunken to where there are now only pockets of them in a few southeastern and west central counties; they just couldn’t adapt like the striped skunk and in 1982 they were added to the Kansas list of threatened species.

Eastern Spotted Skunks are smaller than a common house cat and are built long and low to the ground with bodies that more resemble a weasel. They have a white triangular nose patch, a mostly black tail and four to six white stripes arranged in seemingly infinite, random patterns around their body, making them appear more like spots than stripes. 

They eat mostly insects but are opportunistic feeders and will eat most anything if necessary. They are much more agile than striped skunks and readily climb up trees or into barn lofts.

I remember hearing the old guys at the nursing home where I used to work talk about trapping civet cats when they were young, and they all say how much worse it was to get sprayed by them than by a striped skunk. Sure enough, spotted skunk musk is known to be stronger than that of a normal striped skunk. A unique quirk a spotted skunk often exhibits is the inclination to do an actual handstand on its front legs with its tail arched over its back when threatened.

There is currently no open season allowing Eastern Spotted Skunks to be harvested in Kansas, so I think I’ll add seeing one in the wild to my personal bucket list. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsI wonder how many of you realize there are two different skunk species living in Kansas; the Striped Skunk with which we are very familiar, and the Eastern Spotted Skunk, often referred to by old-timers as civet cats. I knew there were spotted skunks in Kansas, but have never seen one myself, nor did I know anything about them, so off to Mr. Google I ran.As Kansas became populated at the beginning of the 20th century, eastern spotted skunks moved northward and westward into the state. The small diversified family farms that existed back then with numerous hay stacks, tree rows, woodlots and myriads of small farm buildings favored the spotted skunk, and they thrived. Over the decades as farming has become bigger, cleaner and more efficient, the spotted skunk population has shrunken to where there are now only pockets of them in a few southeastern and west central counties; they just couldn’t adapt like the striped skunk and in 1982 they were added to the Kansas list of threatened species.Eastern Spotted Skunks are smaller than a common house cat and are built long and low to the ground with bodies that more resemble a weasel. They have a white triangular nose patch, a mostly black tail and four to six white stripes arranged in seemingly infinite, random patterns around their body, making them appear more like spots than stripes. They eat mostly insects but are opportunistic feeders and will eat most anything if necessary. They are much more agile than striped skunks and readily climb up trees or into barn lofts.I remember hearing the old guys at the nursing home where I used to work talk about trapping civet cats when they were young, and they all say how much worse it was to get sprayed by them than by a striped skunk. Sure enough, spotted skunk musk is known to be stronger than that of a normal striped skunk. A unique quirk a spotted skunk often exhibits is the inclination to do an actual handstand on its front legs with its tail arched over its back when threatened.There is currently no open season allowing Eastern Spotted Skunks to be harvested in Kansas, so I think I’ll add seeing one in the wild to my personal bucket list. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Pepe’ LePew with spots

By MARK Mark R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

Leaders can unite or divide, whether it be by design or by misstep.

Thanksgiving’s evolution shows how both can happen.

On October 3, 1863, amid profound division and upheaval of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued a formal proclamation that established a National Day of Thanksgiving. He invited his “fellow citizens in every part of the United States…to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”

Perfectly timed after the Gettysburg victory, the proclamation capitalized on the Union’s improved outlook and Lincoln’s emerging stature as a unifier.

Lincoln hoped a shared day of thanks would help “heal the wounds of the nation” and establish a tradition that would bond Americans for generations.

Editor of the Ladies’ Magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, and author of the children’s poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Hale had lobbied state and federal officials for nearly 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

She wrote to Lincoln in the summer of 1863 asserting that only the president had the power to make the holiday, “permanently, an American custom and institution.”

Presidents thereafter followed Lincoln’s example.

However, in 1939, during the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt issued his own proclamation. He called for Thanksgiving to be moved back to the third Thursday of November.

At the time, retailers waited until after Thanksgiving to display Christmas decorations and hold sales. By adding an additional seven days to the shopping season, Roosevelt hoped to boost consumer spending. A Gallup opinion poll showed 62 percent of Americans disapproved. Roughly 80 percent of Republicans disapproved, while a majority of Democrats supported it.

Twenty-two mostly Democrat-leaning states observed Thanksgiving on the new date. Twenty-two mostly Republican-leaning states resisted. Three celebrated Thanksgiving on both dates.

A day meant to unite the country turned into a symbol of political difference. A reminder that partisan polarization is nothing new in U.S. politics. Kansas Republican Governor Payne Ratner announced that in the sunflower state “we do not destroy tradition merely to gain newspaper headlines.”

Alf Landon, FDR’s rival in the 1936 election, criticized Roosevelt’s “impulsiveness” and strongly objected to “springing it [the change] upon an unprepared country with the omnipotence of a Hitler.”

People started calling Thanksgiving “Franksgiving.”

Amid unprecedented crises, Lincoln and Roosevelt used Thanksgiving for different purposes. Lincoln envisioned it as a path toward national reconciliation. Roosevelt saw it as a lever for economic activity.

One president embraced tradition. The other disrupted it.

Eventually, Congress intervened and established Thanksgiving as a federal holiday, restoring its observance to the fourth Thursday in November.

The partisan fight faded. Black Friday emerged as a defining feature of American consumer culture, a phenomenon widely embraced by Democrats and Republicans.

Retailers now start promotions in late October and continue through Cyber Monday.

Thanksgiving ultimately became two traditions. First a day for gratitude, then a day for deals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761067718839.png" alt="Mark Joslyn. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Mark Joslyn. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK Mark R. JOSLYN Insight KansasLeaders can unite or divide, whether it be by design or by misstep.Thanksgiving’s evolution shows how both can happen.On October 3, 1863, amid profound division and upheaval of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued a formal proclamation that established a National Day of Thanksgiving. He invited his “fellow citizens in every part of the United States…to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”Perfectly timed after the Gettysburg victory, the proclamation capitalized on the Union’s improved outlook and Lincoln’s emerging stature as a unifier.Lincoln hoped a shared day of thanks would help “heal the wounds of the nation” and establish a tradition that would bond Americans for generations.Sarah Josepha Hale hoped so too.Editor of the Ladies’ Magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, and author of the children’s poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Hale had lobbied state and federal officials for nearly 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.She wrote to Lincoln in the summer of 1863 asserting that only the president had the power to make the holiday, “permanently, an American custom and institution.”Presidents thereafter followed Lincoln’s example.However, in 1939, during the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt issued his own proclamation. He called for Thanksgiving to be moved back to the third Thursday of November.At the time, retailers waited until after Thanksgiving to display Christmas decorations and hold sales. By adding an additional seven days to the shopping season, Roosevelt hoped to boost consumer spending. A Gallup opinion poll showed 62 percent of Americans disapproved. Roughly 80 percent of Republicans disapproved, while a majority of Democrats supported it.Twenty-two mostly Democrat-leaning states observed Thanksgiving on the new date. Twenty-two mostly Republican-leaning states resisted. Three celebrated Thanksgiving on both dates.A day meant to unite the country turned into a symbol of political difference. A reminder that partisan polarization is nothing new in U.S. politics. Kansas Republican Governor Payne Ratner announced that in the sunflower state “we do not destroy tradition merely to gain newspaper headlines.”Alf Landon, FDR’s rival in the 1936 election, criticized Roosevelt’s “impulsiveness” and strongly objected to “springing it [the change] upon an unprepared country with the omnipotence of a Hitler.”People started calling Thanksgiving “Franksgiving.”Amid unprecedented crises, Lincoln and Roosevelt used Thanksgiving for different purposes. Lincoln envisioned it as a path toward national reconciliation. Roosevelt saw it as a lever for economic activity.One president embraced tradition. The other disrupted it.Eventually, Congress intervened and established Thanksgiving as a federal holiday, restoring its observance to the fourth Thursday in November.But here’s the irony.Roosevelt’s vision stuck.The partisan fight faded. Black Friday emerged as a defining feature of American consumer culture, a phenomenon widely embraced by Democrats and Republicans.Retailers now start promotions in late October and continue through Cyber Monday.Thanksgiving ultimately became two traditions. First a day for gratitude, then a day for deals.Lincoln meets Roosevelt.Oh, yes, and then there’s football.

Insight Kansas: The two traditions of Thanksgiving

If you have tried booking a counseling appointment recently, you may have found that there are longer waitlists than there used to be.

This is due to our mental health system being overwhelmed with high levels of need, and the workers running the system are getting burnt out.

As a graduate student and future social worker, I have the opportunity to witness this crisis firsthand.

As a current case manager working in family preservation, I have seen the struggles of burnout and feelings of failure when the caseload and workload are so high that it feels impossible to give all your families your all when helping and supporting them through difficult situations.

 Therapists, social workers, and case managers are often working overtime to meet this skyrocketing need. With higher-than-manageable caseloads and administrative burdens, many are getting burned out and leaving the field altogether. The result? Even fewer mental health professionals are available to meet the higher demands of people in need, resulting in longer waitlist times.

Mental health issues are on the rise, especially among young adults. Anxiety, depression and burnout are common topics on a college campus, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While awareness and sensitivity toward mental health issues appears to be on the rise, access to overall care is decreasing and creating further gaps. 

The U.S. is facing a tremendous shortage of mental health professionals, and rural areas often get hit the hardest.

Why is this happening? To start, the cost of graduate programs to become a mental health professional can be tens of thousands of dollars, with starting salaries often not matching the educational and emotional requirements of being a quality worker.

Fort Hays State University's Master of Social Work program charges roughly $22,000 for online in-state tuition.

The average starting salary for a master's-level mental health professional in Kansas is $45,000, with many individuals also carrying student debt. Burnout is another considerable factor.

1. Support mental health education: Our universities and employers should expand scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for students/employees entering the mental health field.

2. Pay providers fairly: An overall advocacy for healthier wages and benefits (including paid time off) can assist with retention of skilled professionals and attract hard-working individuals.

3. Care for the caregivers: Mental health professionals need to balance their own mental health and needs, too. Ensuring they have access to support systems and resources is crucial for their mental health maintenance.

As students entering the mental health profession or utilizing the mental health field, we can raise our voices and advocate for change. We can support our peers who are choosing to enter this field and make a positive impact on numerous lives.

We can also remind policymakers that mental health care is a necessity and should be a basic human right.

To ensure a healthier future, we must invest in the people who help us get there.

— Jozlyn Karnosky, Master of Social Work student at Fort Hays State University

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you have tried booking a counseling appointment recently, you may have found that there are longer waitlists than there used to be.This is due to our mental health system being overwhelmed with high levels of need, and the workers running the system are getting burnt out.As a graduate student and future social worker, I have the opportunity to witness this crisis firsthand.As a current case manager working in family preservation, I have seen the struggles of burnout and feelings of failure when the caseload and workload are so high that it feels impossible to give all your families your all when helping and supporting them through difficult situations. Therapists, social workers, and case managers are often working overtime to meet this skyrocketing need. With higher-than-manageable caseloads and administrative burdens, many are getting burned out and leaving the field altogether. The result? Even fewer mental health professionals are available to meet the higher demands of people in need, resulting in longer waitlist times.Mental health issues are on the rise, especially among young adults. Anxiety, depression and burnout are common topics on a college campus, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.While awareness and sensitivity toward mental health issues appears to be on the rise, access to overall care is decreasing and creating further gaps. The U.S. is facing a tremendous shortage of mental health professionals, and rural areas often get hit the hardest.Why is this happening? To start, the cost of graduate programs to become a mental health professional can be tens of thousands of dollars, with starting salaries often not matching the educational and emotional requirements of being a quality worker.Fort Hays State University's Master of Social Work program charges roughly $22,000 for online in-state tuition.The average starting salary for a master's-level mental health professional in Kansas is $45,000, with many individuals also carrying student debt. Burnout is another considerable factor.What can we do?1. Support mental health education: Our universities and employers should expand scholarships and loan forgiveness programs for students/employees entering the mental health field.2. Pay providers fairly: An overall advocacy for healthier wages and benefits (including paid time off) can assist with retention of skilled professionals and attract hard-working individuals.3. Care for the caregivers: Mental health professionals need to balance their own mental health and needs, too. Ensuring they have access to support systems and resources is crucial for their mental health maintenance.As students entering the mental health profession or utilizing the mental health field, we can raise our voices and advocate for change. We can support our peers who are choosing to enter this field and make a positive impact on numerous lives.We can also remind policymakers that mental health care is a necessity and should be a basic human right.To ensure a healthier future, we must invest in the people who help us get there.— Jozlyn Karnosky, Master of Social Work student at Fort Hays State University

Opinion: Mental health workers burned out, we are all feeling it

During a recent visit, a friend asked, “What do I consider a life well lived?” Her timely question made me think about a recently passed friend and what a difference she made in many lives. Donna Cooper was a teacher who never quit teaching, modeling integrity, curiosity, kindness, and interest in our world. Qualities she shared daily.

We met in the late '80s when I joined Hays High staff where Donna instructed biology. 

We bonded over shared interests in teaching, birds, reptiles, plants, anything outdoors. Eventually she invited me to help sponsor and with my daughters to join her, her sons, and her students on several science club trips. Though colleagues only five years, our explorations of Oklahoma’s Black Mesa and Alabaster Caverns dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs, geology, stars in pure black skies, caves, and birds cemented our connection.

Both of us shared Oklahoma ties so even after I began teaching in Ellis, she and I continued trips to red dirt country. One spring, we joined Oklahoma Ornithological Society members to birdwatch near Kenton where I gained new respect for Donna’s knowledge. This area has unique birds that aren’t typical in either western Kansas or Oklahoma. 

Donna could identify them as well as any of the group leaders. She knew eye bars, wing markings, tail, and belly patterns like linguists know foreign languages. I suggested she offer a brain cell transfusion to strengthen my I.D. skills.

Another year, we invited another Hays High friend for a trip to Kearney, NE, during spring crane migration. All the way up and all the way home, Donna revealed identities of not only prairie and migrating birds but also grasses, forbs, and trees. Our friend and I enjoyed way more than crane-watching with our personal encyclopedia of natural knowledge.

A few years later, she demonstrated more skills during a Saturday jaunt to Quivira Wildlife Refuge. She didn’t have to see birds to tell me what they were. Listening to calls provided enough information she could tell me what hid in the marshes. If we waited patiently, the secretive bird would emerge to confirm Donna’s identification. That day, she I.D.’d regulars as well as lesser-known species.

Speaking of listening, this walking/talking resource involved me in western Kansas frog counts. On Spring nights, she needed a partner to join her while she evaluated rural locations pre-selected by a Kansas University natural science data collector. Our job involved accessing GPS-marked sites, turning off the engine, and standing outside listening for calling frogs. Donna knew every species and their identifying vocalizations. She then determined populations based on rubrics involving volume and repetitions during set time limits. That data collector had to love her reports.

Though I heard frogs calling around our home on Big Creek, I didn’t grasp amphibian population diversity in western Kansas until she taught me to differentiate bull frog bass from chorus frog marbles clanking in a bag from leopard frog thumb running over a comb, from trilling tree frogs. Thanks to Donna’s patient tutoring, I discovered scores of woodhouse toads shared our rocky hill.

Our adventures made me wish she’d been my high school science teacher. Instead of combining PE and English concentrations, biology would have replaced PE. Her patient instruction enriched my world. I didn’t get things quickly yet I never felt stupid.

What a blessing for so many that this woman shared her knowledge freely and enthusiastically. Hers was a life well-lived and thankfully well-shared.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN During a recent visit, a friend asked, “What do I consider a life well lived?” Her timely question made me think about a recently passed friend and what a difference she made in many lives. Donna Cooper was a teacher who never quit teaching, modeling integrity, curiosity, kindness, and interest in our world. Qualities she shared daily.We met in the late '80s when I joined Hays High staff where Donna instructed biology. We bonded over shared interests in teaching, birds, reptiles, plants, anything outdoors. Eventually she invited me to help sponsor and with my daughters to join her, her sons, and her students on several science club trips. Though colleagues only five years, our explorations of Oklahoma’s Black Mesa and Alabaster Caverns dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs, geology, stars in pure black skies, caves, and birds cemented our connection.Both of us shared Oklahoma ties so even after I began teaching in Ellis, she and I continued trips to red dirt country. One spring, we joined Oklahoma Ornithological Society members to birdwatch near Kenton where I gained new respect for Donna’s knowledge. This area has unique birds that aren’t typical in either western Kansas or Oklahoma. Donna could identify them as well as any of the group leaders. She knew eye bars, wing markings, tail, and belly patterns like linguists know foreign languages. I suggested she offer a brain cell transfusion to strengthen my I.D. skills.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764153649701.jpeg" alt="Cranes. Photo by Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Cranes. Photo by Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Another year, we invited another Hays High friend for a trip to Kearney, NE, during spring crane migration. All the way up and all the way home, Donna revealed identities of not only prairie and migrating birds but also grasses, forbs, and trees. Our friend and I enjoyed way more than crane-watching with our personal encyclopedia of natural knowledge.A few years later, she demonstrated more skills during a Saturday jaunt to Quivira Wildlife Refuge. She didn’t have to see birds to tell me what they were. Listening to calls provided enough information she could tell me what hid in the marshes. If we waited patiently, the secretive bird would emerge to confirm Donna’s identification. That day, she I.D.’d regulars as well as lesser-known species.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764153563637.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Speaking of listening, this walking/talking resource involved me in western Kansas frog counts. On Spring nights, she needed a partner to join her while she evaluated rural locations pre-selected by a Kansas University natural science data collector. Our job involved accessing GPS-marked sites, turning off the engine, and standing outside listening for calling frogs. Donna knew every species and their identifying vocalizations. She then determined populations based on rubrics involving volume and repetitions during set time limits. That data collector had to love her reports.Though I heard frogs calling around our home on Big Creek, I didn’t grasp amphibian population diversity in western Kansas until she taught me to differentiate bull frog bass from chorus frog marbles clanking in a bag from leopard frog thumb running over a comb, from trilling tree frogs. Thanks to Donna’s patient tutoring, I discovered scores of woodhouse toads shared our rocky hill.Our adventures made me wish she’d been my high school science teacher. Instead of combining PE and English concentrations, biology would have replaced PE. Her patient instruction enriched my world. I didn’t get things quickly yet I never felt stupid.What a blessing for so many that this woman shared her knowledge freely and enthusiastically. Hers was a life well-lived and thankfully well-shared.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: A life well shared

By MICHAEL A. SMITH Insight Kansas

Reviewing the results from the 2025 <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/docking/Kansas-Speaks/">Kansas Speaks</a> poll conducted by Fort Hays State University, one could easily assume that Kansas is dominated by a coalition of moderate and progressive politics. Consider:

● 70% of Kansans support Medicaid expansion, and about 72% say they think about Medicaid expansion at least a moderate amount.

● 58% support recreational marijuana legalization.

● 59% believe that the state should place no regulations on the circumstances under which women can get abortions.

● While detailed questions about gun policy were not asked this time, in 2024, 75% favored background checks for private gun sales and sales at gun shows, while 55% favored banning assault-style weapons.

● Majorities also favored raising the minimum wage (over 55%) and increasing state assistance for childcare (78%).

Those of us who conduct Kansas Speaks know how hard it is to get a representative sample of respondents these days, so the poll was carefully weighted to reflect the state’s political and demographic makeup. Among our poll respondents who reported voting in 2024, Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 10 points. But, why?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751494323778.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHAEL A. SMITH Insight KansasReviewing the results from the 2025 <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/docking/Kansas-Speaks/">Kansas Speaks</a> poll conducted by Fort Hays State University, one could easily assume that Kansas is dominated by a coalition of moderate and progressive politics. Consider:● 70% of Kansans support Medicaid expansion, and about 72% say they think about Medicaid expansion at least a moderate amount.● 58% support recreational marijuana legalization.● 59% believe that the state should place no regulations on the circumstances under which women can get abortions.● While detailed questions about gun policy were not asked this time, in 2024, 75% favored background checks for private gun sales and sales at gun shows, while 55% favored banning assault-style weapons.● Majorities also favored raising the minimum wage (over 55%) and increasing state assistance for childcare (78%).Those of us who conduct Kansas Speaks know how hard it is to get a representative sample of respondents these days, so the poll was carefully weighted to reflect the state’s political and demographic makeup. Among our poll respondents who reported voting in 2024, Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris by more than 10 points. But, why?Maybe the answer comes down to Trump’s signature issue: immigration. Yet even when we asked specifically about the illegal immigration, we got the following results:● Only 43% said illegal immigrants are a danger to public safety (21% neutral)● Only 42% said illegal immigrants should be arrested and put in detention camps (16% neutral)● Only 39% disagreed that illegal immigrants contribute more to society than they take (16% neutral)Kansans are divided and ambivalent about illegal immigration. This does not explain support for Trump.This puzzle brings to mind Thomas Frank’s 2004 book, What’s the Matter with Kansas? Frank suggested that Kansans vote against their true economic interests, instead choosing conservative candidates due to culture war issues like opposition to abortion and to LGBTQ+ rights. However, this is not borne out either by Kansas Speaks or by the state’s 2022 vote on abortion rights, where the pro-choice stance prevailed by an 18% margin.Likewise, Kansas Speaks offers few clues as to why Kansans would continue to give supermajority support to Trump and his Republican allies. Is it because the Democratic Party is so unpopular these days? Probably not. Most of the Dems’ drop has come from their own supporters, angry at party leaders for not fighting harder against Trump. Also, the Republicans are similarly unpopular. Is there a “sleeper” issue missing from Kansas Speaks? Quite possibly. A recent Pew Charitable Trust poll of Americans found that the Republicans’ biggest advantage today is on fighting crime, and Kansas Speaks does not feature many questions about that.Perhaps the simplest explanation lies in just how much Kansans hate our entire political system today. Kansas Speaks respondents’ ratings of all elected officials and institutions were abysmal. The highest rating was only 47% approval for Governor Laura Kelly, the lowest was 21% approval for the U.S. Congress. Kansans may have simply decided that they have nothing to lose by voting for Trump to send a message. Or, they may have reverted to longstanding party ties, even if these no longer reflect the state’s political realities. No matter the explanation, this year’s poll shows that many of Kansans’ policy views are sharply at odds with the way they vote, raising questions that deserve more attention from scholars, reporters, and citizens alike.Michael Smith is a professor of political science at Emporia State University.