By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors I wrote a column awhile back entitled “The Greatest and the Smallest in the Kansas Skies,” referring to turkey vultures (often known as buzzards) and hummingbirds. The greatest will be showing up here again in the next couple weeks, fresh from their winter vacation in South America.

A legend dating back to the turn of the century has it that the famous “Buzzards of Hinckley Ridge” arrive in the town of Hinckley, Ohio every March 15 like clockwork.

 In the northeast corner of Medina County, just south of Cleveland are a series of cliffs and caverns known locally as Old Whipp’s Ledges that are a popular roosting and nesting area for turkey vultures. So popular was the legend that in 1957 the first Sunday after March 15 was dubbed "Buzzard Sunday" and a festival was planned around the event that still takes place today.

Along with the legend of the vulture’s timed arrival is the story of how that came to be. 

The story says that when that area was first settled, farmers began losing livestock left-and-right to bears and wolves that were native to the area. Finally, the farmers had enough and one fall, a huge mass hunt was organized resembling the coyote drives once popular here in Kansas where hundreds of hunters form a circle surrounding an entire section or township and slowly walk toward each other, tightening the circle. 

As the circle tightened, wolves, bears, deer and most wildlife in the area were driven toward the center of the circle, where they were shot. The story goes on to say that after everything was skinned and butchered and all useable meat and hides were taken, the dozens or perhaps hundreds of resulting carcasses were left there for the winter. In the spring, returning turkey vultures were drawn to the scent and sight of the thawing carcasses, and once there to feed, the numerous natural nesting sites among the cliffs and caverns kept them there for the summer, and to this day, keep them coming back each year.

Vultures are migratory, heading for Central and South America each fall and returning to our area from mid-March to early April, depending on the weather. We should begin seeing a few in the next two weeks here in McPherson County. 

Favorite roosting places for turkey vultures are the old water towers that some small towns still have. 

In McPherson, a spring or summer evening will usually find dozens roosting on the handrail of the old water tower. In Marion, a couple hundred routinely spend days soaring over the town and roosting on the water tower handrail at night.

Turkey vultures are amazing birds, the main employees of God’s cleanup crew that can in fact eat diseased meat without any ill effects. 

I often wonder what it would be like to glide and soar above the earth like they can. 

Everyone likes a good legend, and who knows how much of Hinckley’s past that drew the buzzards there in the first place is true, and how much is just legend. 

One thing for sure is that vultures do arrive in Hinckley, Ohio like clockwork every March 15, which this year also happens to be the 69th annual Buzzard Sunday. As an ex-Buckeye myself, I hope to take Joyce there some year to enjoy the spectacle, even if it means "Enjoying Kansas Outdoors" from afar.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773161541603.jpeg" alt="Turkey vulture. Photo courtesy Idaho Fish and Game&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Turkey vulture. Photo courtesy Idaho Fish and Game&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors I wrote a column awhile back entitled “The Greatest and the Smallest in the Kansas Skies,” referring to turkey vultures (often known as buzzards) and hummingbirds. The greatest will be showing up here again in the next couple weeks, fresh from their winter vacation in South America.A legend dating back to the turn of the century has it that the famous “Buzzards of Hinckley Ridge” arrive in the town of Hinckley, Ohio every March 15 like clockwork. In the northeast corner of Medina County, just south of Cleveland are a series of cliffs and caverns known locally as Old Whipp’s Ledges that are a popular roosting and nesting area for turkey vultures. So popular was the legend that in 1957 the first Sunday after March 15 was dubbed "Buzzard Sunday" and a festival was planned around the event that still takes place today.Along with the legend of the vulture’s timed arrival is the story of how that came to be. The story says that when that area was first settled, farmers began losing livestock left-and-right to bears and wolves that were native to the area. Finally, the farmers had enough and one fall, a huge mass hunt was organized resembling the coyote drives once popular here in Kansas where hundreds of hunters form a circle surrounding an entire section or township and slowly walk toward each other, tightening the circle. As the circle tightened, wolves, bears, deer and most wildlife in the area were driven toward the center of the circle, where they were shot. The story goes on to say that after everything was skinned and butchered and all useable meat and hides were taken, the dozens or perhaps hundreds of resulting carcasses were left there for the winter. In the spring, returning turkey vultures were drawn to the scent and sight of the thawing carcasses, and once there to feed, the numerous natural nesting sites among the cliffs and caverns kept them there for the summer, and to this day, keep them coming back each year.Vultures are migratory, heading for Central and South America each fall and returning to our area from mid-March to early April, depending on the weather. We should begin seeing a few in the next two weeks here in McPherson County. Favorite roosting places for turkey vultures are the old water towers that some small towns still have. In McPherson, a spring or summer evening will usually find dozens roosting on the handrail of the old water tower. In Marion, a couple hundred routinely spend days soaring over the town and roosting on the water tower handrail at night.Turkey vultures are amazing birds, the main employees of God’s cleanup crew that can in fact eat diseased meat without any ill effects. I often wonder what it would be like to glide and soar above the earth like they can. Everyone likes a good legend, and who knows how much of Hinckley’s past that drew the buzzards there in the first place is true, and how much is just legend. One thing for sure is that vultures do arrive in Hinckley, Ohio like clockwork every March 15, which this year also happens to be the 69th annual Buzzard Sunday. As an ex-Buckeye myself, I hope to take Joyce there some year to enjoy the spectacle, even if it means "Enjoying Kansas Outdoors" from afar.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: The buzzards of Hinckley Ridge

By&nbsp;MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

For years, it advanced slowly, almost unnoticed. It wasn’t advertised at freshman orientations or highlighted in admission brochures. Yet it’s everywhere, in classrooms, resident halls, even in the quad where students gather.

Over the past five decades, men have steadily disappeared from college campuses nationwide, including here in Kansas.

At all state universities, males represent a minority of undergraduate students.

K-State and Pitt State are closest to parity, while male enrollment at Wichita State, Emporia, and Fort Hays is particularly low; Emporia the most uneven at just 36% male.

Washburn University is even more lopsided at 35%. The pattern extends beyond universities. At 14 of the 19 state <a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/PDF/Data/Community_College_Data_Books/Community_College_Data_Book_2026_FINAL.pdf">community colleges</a>, men comprise less than 45%. At six of them, male representation falls below 35%. Only at Coffeyville and Independence do men reach a majority.

Men are also less likely to complete schooling once enrolled. The six-year college completion rate for women is nearly 10 points higher than for men.

The phenomenon has impacted post-graduate education.

Statewide, men account for less than 40% of graduate students, 45% of medical students, and typically less than half of incoming law classes. Nationally, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/11/18/us-women-are-outpacing-men-in-college-completion-including-in-every-major-racial-and-ethnic-group/">47%</a> of 25–34-year-old women have a bachelor’s degree, compared with 37% of men – the gap larger among lower income males.&nbsp;Women now <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_318.10.asp">earn</a> 45% more doctoral degrees overall, and nearly twice the number of master’s degrees.

To be clear, women are not pushing men out of college. Rather, men are <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/women-far-outnumber-men-in-law-school-med-school-vet-school-and-other-professional-programs/">choosing</a> not to go.

The disparities are in part shaped by factors in place well before college. But as women’s history demonstrates, underrepresentation in higher education carries costs, to those directly affected and society as a whole.

The immediate impact is felt in the classroom. Skewed gender representation, favoring men or women, can subtly change the culture of learning and <a href="https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.19-03-0048">participation</a> norms. This in turn can influence <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00060.2006">teaching strategies</a>.

Friendship networks and partnership patterns are also impacted. College connects individuals through various functions, social clubs, recreational activities, and academic units. The shared experiences are a catalyst for deeper relationships. About a <a href="https://www.clrn.org/how-many-people-meet-their-spouse-in-college/#google_vignette">fifth</a> of individuals meet their partners in college, and <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/09/07/college-grads-in-u-s-tend-to-partner-with-each-other-especially-if-their-parents-also-graduated-from-college/">81%</a> of the college educated are married to or partnered with another college graduate.

The labor market is implicated as well. Early career sorting by education draws men and women into increasingly separate professions. Downstream, this impacts marriage timing and family formation.

Finally, education influences politics. Those with college degrees participate, and they vote Democrat. Those without degrees participate less and they vote Republican.

These divisions will undoubtedly grow if gender imbalances in higher education persist, creating even sharper distinctions between men and women and within the male electorate. 

In 2024, for example, Harris <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis">edged out</a> Trump among college-educated men by 4 points, but was soundly defeated among non-college men by a whopping 25 points.

Fifty years ago, men dominated college campuses and possessed a substantial educational advantage. Today, that imbalance is gone, only to be replaced by a new one.

A focus on men does not diminish the challenges women still encounter. Instead, it highlights a broad reordering within the nation’s educational pipeline. It’s about work, social mobility, and political power, just as it was fifty years ago.

Dr. Mark Joslynis a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767841383793.png" alt="Mark R. Joslyn (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Mark R. Joslyn (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas For years, it advanced slowly, almost unnoticed. It wasn’t advertised at freshman orientations or highlighted in admission brochures. Yet it’s everywhere, in classrooms, resident halls, even in the quad where students gather.Over the past five decades, men have steadily disappeared from college campuses nationwide, including here in Kansas.At all state universities, males represent a minority of undergraduate students.K-State and Pitt State are closest to parity, while male enrollment at Wichita State, Emporia, and Fort Hays is particularly low; Emporia the most uneven at just 36% male.Washburn University is even more lopsided at 35%. The pattern extends beyond universities. At 14 of the 19 state <a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/PDF/Data/Community_College_Data_Books/Community_College_Data_Book_2026_FINAL.pdf">community colleges</a>, men comprise less than 45%. At six of them, male representation falls below 35%. Only at Coffeyville and Independence do men reach a majority.Men are also less likely to complete schooling once enrolled. The six-year college completion rate for women is nearly 10 points higher than for men.The phenomenon has impacted post-graduate education.Statewide, men account for less than 40% of graduate students, 45% of medical students, and typically less than half of incoming law classes. Nationally, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/11/18/us-women-are-outpacing-men-in-college-completion-including-in-every-major-racial-and-ethnic-group/">47%</a> of 25–34-year-old women have a bachelor’s degree, compared with 37% of men – the gap larger among lower income males.&nbsp;Women now <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_318.10.asp">earn</a> 45% more doctoral degrees overall, and nearly twice the number of master’s degrees. To be clear, women are not pushing men out of college. Rather, men are <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/women-far-outnumber-men-in-law-school-med-school-vet-school-and-other-professional-programs/">choosing</a> not to go.The disparities are in part shaped by factors in place well before college. But as women’s history demonstrates, underrepresentation in higher education carries costs, to those directly affected and society as a whole.The immediate impact is felt in the classroom. Skewed gender representation, favoring men or women, can subtly change the culture of learning and <a href="https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.19-03-0048">participation</a> norms. This in turn can influence <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00060.2006">teaching strategies</a>.Friendship networks and partnership patterns are also impacted. College connects individuals through various functions, social clubs, recreational activities, and academic units. The shared experiences are a catalyst for deeper relationships. About a <a href="https://www.clrn.org/how-many-people-meet-their-spouse-in-college/#google_vignette">fifth</a> of individuals meet their partners in college, and <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/09/07/college-grads-in-u-s-tend-to-partner-with-each-other-especially-if-their-parents-also-graduated-from-college/">81%</a> of the college educated are married to or partnered with another college graduate.The labor market is implicated as well. Early career sorting by education draws men and women into increasingly separate professions. Downstream, this impacts marriage timing and family formation.Finally, education influences politics. Those with college degrees participate, and they vote Democrat. Those without degrees participate less and they vote Republican.These divisions will undoubtedly grow if gender imbalances in higher education persist, creating even sharper distinctions between men and women and within the male electorate. In 2024, for example, Harris <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis">edged out</a> Trump among college-educated men by 4 points, but was soundly defeated among non-college men by a whopping 25 points.Fifty years ago, men dominated college campuses and possessed a substantial educational advantage. Today, that imbalance is gone, only to be replaced by a new one.A focus on men does not diminish the challenges women still encounter. Instead, it highlights a broad reordering within the nation’s educational pipeline. It’s about work, social mobility, and political power, just as it was fifty years ago.Dr. Mark Joslynis a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Women out-degree men and why that matters

In my previous newsletter I mentioned property tax relief for senior citizens and disabled veterans.&nbsp;Under current law, to qualify for this property tax adjustment, a home must be valued at less than $350,000 for a person eligible.

&nbsp;Last week SB 402 was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for approval. SB 402 would increase the value to $375,000 or less for those who qualify for this tax relief.

An update on our budget: Last Tuesday the Senate bill Sub SB 315 was debated and passed on the Senate floor. The vote represents a key step in the process towards adopting a budget for FY 2027. The budget focuses funding on core state responsibilities such as education, public safety, and transportation. With 70% of the budget dedicated to court-mandated spending on K-12 education and human services, the budget wisely holds the line on true discretionary spending and provisions that will help root out waste, paving the way for a positive fiscal future for our state.

After the incidents in Minnesota this year and similar dangerous interactions between left-wing protestors and law enforcement around the country, it became important to review our laws and close loopholes that exist to protect both the public and law enforcement in situations that may develop in the future. The Senate President worked with law enforcement to create SB 452, which would create the crime of unlawful approach of a first responder and would incorporate federal law enforcement officers, their vehicles and enforcement of federal law into certain traffic, criminal and tort laws. This new law passed the Senate and has been passed to the House for approval.

The Senate passed Sub HB 2299 which establishes a bell-to-bell prohibition on the use of cell phones for all public and KSDE accredited non-public schools giving our state’s teachers a distraction-free environment where students can focus on learning.

The Senate adopted HCR 5033 which ratifies and provides for the continuation of the state of disaster emergency declaration issued on February 24, 2026, for certain counties. This resolution is a continuation for the wildfires in western Kansas, including all the counties in our 40th Senate District.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA March 10In my previous newsletter I mentioned property tax relief for senior citizens and disabled veterans.&nbsp;Under current law, to qualify for this property tax adjustment, a home must be valued at less than $350,000 for a person eligible.&nbsp;Last week SB 402 was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House for approval. SB 402 would increase the value to $375,000 or less for those who qualify for this tax relief.An update on our budget: Last Tuesday the Senate bill Sub SB 315 was debated and passed on the Senate floor. The vote represents a key step in the process towards adopting a budget for FY 2027. The budget focuses funding on core state responsibilities such as education, public safety, and transportation. With 70% of the budget dedicated to court-mandated spending on K-12 education and human services, the budget wisely holds the line on true discretionary spending and provisions that will help root out waste, paving the way for a positive fiscal future for our state.After the incidents in Minnesota this year and similar dangerous interactions between left-wing protestors and law enforcement around the country, it became important to review our laws and close loopholes that exist to protect both the public and law enforcement in situations that may develop in the future. The Senate President worked with law enforcement to create SB 452, which would create the crime of unlawful approach of a first responder and would incorporate federal law enforcement officers, their vehicles and enforcement of federal law into certain traffic, criminal and tort laws. This new law passed the Senate and has been passed to the House for approval.The Senate passed Sub HB 2299 which establishes a bell-to-bell prohibition on the use of cell phones for all public and KSDE accredited non-public schools giving our state’s teachers a distraction-free environment where students can focus on learning.The Senate adopted HCR 5033 which ratifies and provides for the continuation of the state of disaster emergency declaration issued on February 24, 2026, for certain counties. This resolution is a continuation for the wildfires in western Kansas, including all the counties in our 40th Senate District.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

BILLINGER: Senate update March 10: Budget update, cell phone use in schools

It’s hard to recognize spring when we haven’t had much winter. 

That said, after cleaning our flower beds the other day, I spent a delightful hour admiring swelling ash buds while resting on the deck in 78-degree temps. I watched and listened to robins, sparrows, and Eurasian doves as they poked about in last year’s garden seeking seeds and insects. It occurred to me that it won’t be long 'til that raspy, rusted-gatehinge song announces spring’s official harbinger—the yellow-headed blackbird or y-h-b-b.

According to old-timers, these black birds with brilliant yellow heads and chests are a sure sign spring has sprung. I thought it was cranes flying over, but I’ve seen cranes arrive days or weeks before we have a dandy Great Plains blizzard. If generational prognosticators are right, then we can rely more on the arrival of these fancy black birds than my trusty Sandhills.

Yellow-headed blackbirds don’t live here year round. They winter in northern Mexico and the southern Southwest. A small population lives yearround along the border in southern California. Once these two-toned snowbirds get the mysterious communique declaring it’s time to head north to summer breeding grounds, they migrate in large flocks, stopping along their flight path to rest and refuel.

One afternoon last March, 125-plus picked our yard as a rest stop. Noisy y-h-b-b bobbed from branch to branch in our ash and pine trees, discussing the merits of emerging insects and quality of milo, cracked corn, and other grains we set out for their dining pleasure. With that many guests, we kept busy refilling feeders and multiple bird baths several times a day.

Depending on the y-h-b-b arrival date, trees may be just budding or unfolding early squirrel ear-sized leaves. If branches are mostly bare, I love sitting still as can be to watch what looks like lemons dancing along branches.

 Keep in mind brilliant yellow heads and chests emerging from a shiny black body mark the fashionista males of the species. Females and juveniles tend to have dull brownish bodies and muted yellow heads that make it easy to overlook drab ladies and youngsters.

Among many species, adult females are larger than males. Not so in the case of yellow-headed blackbirds. Gals are smaller. Don’t write the plain dressers off. They’re part of the show.

One would expect such an attractive bird to sing a lovely spring song. Those who hear them before seeing them say they sound like a rusty gate hinge opening. Others report that yellow-headed blackbirds have the nastiest song of all avians. 

When I taught in Kensington, I’d leave my window open in the spring and hear that raspy croak serenading from bushes outside my classroom. My students and I knew then that spring fever was official.

Western Kansas is in yellow-headed blackbird breeding range, but they nest in reed-filled swamps, so we won’t see their babies nurtured in our prairiegrass yard. I have spied their nests in swamps in Wyoming and along the Platte in Nebraska. Now I’ll have to explore local cattail patches along Big Creek to find some nesting closer to home. Perhaps, they’ll bless me with a photo op.

After a warmer winter than normal, I expect any day now to welcome colorful flocks of birds that sound like they desperately need a throat lozenge. Once you see them, celebrate because regardless of the calendar date, spring has arrived.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773166211026.jpeg" alt="Yellow-headed blackbird. Photo courtey Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Yellow-headed blackbird. Photo courtey Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINIt’s hard to recognize spring when we haven’t had much winter. That said, after cleaning our flower beds the other day, I spent a delightful hour admiring swelling ash buds while resting on the deck in 78-degree temps. I watched and listened to robins, sparrows, and Eurasian doves as they poked about in last year’s garden seeking seeds and insects. It occurred to me that it won’t be long 'til that raspy, rusted-gatehinge song announces spring’s official harbinger—the yellow-headed blackbird or y-h-b-b.According to old-timers, these black birds with brilliant yellow heads and chests are a sure sign spring has sprung. I thought it was cranes flying over, but I’ve seen cranes arrive days or weeks before we have a dandy Great Plains blizzard. If generational prognosticators are right, then we can rely more on the arrival of these fancy black birds than my trusty Sandhills.Yellow-headed blackbirds don’t live here year round. They winter in northern Mexico and the southern Southwest. A small population lives yearround along the border in southern California. Once these two-toned snowbirds get the mysterious communique declaring it’s time to head north to summer breeding grounds, they migrate in large flocks, stopping along their flight path to rest and refuel.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773166010746.jpeg" alt="Yellow-headed blackbirds. Photo courtesy Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Yellow-headed blackbirds. Photo courtesy Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>One afternoon last March, 125-plus picked our yard as a rest stop. Noisy y-h-b-b bobbed from branch to branch in our ash and pine trees, discussing the merits of emerging insects and quality of milo, cracked corn, and other grains we set out for their dining pleasure. With that many guests, we kept busy refilling feeders and multiple bird baths several times a day.Depending on the y-h-b-b arrival date, trees may be just budding or unfolding early squirrel ear-sized leaves. If branches are mostly bare, I love sitting still as can be to watch what looks like lemons dancing along branches. Keep in mind brilliant yellow heads and chests emerging from a shiny black body mark the fashionista males of the species. Females and juveniles tend to have dull brownish bodies and muted yellow heads that make it easy to overlook drab ladies and youngsters.Among many species, adult females are larger than males. Not so in the case of yellow-headed blackbirds. Gals are smaller. Don’t write the plain dressers off. They’re part of the show.One would expect such an attractive bird to sing a lovely spring song. Those who hear them before seeing them say they sound like a rusty gate hinge opening. Others report that yellow-headed blackbirds have the nastiest song of all avians. When I taught in Kensington, I’d leave my window open in the spring and hear that raspy croak serenading from bushes outside my classroom. My students and I knew then that spring fever was official.Western Kansas is in yellow-headed blackbird breeding range, but they nest in reed-filled swamps, so we won’t see their babies nurtured in our prairiegrass yard. I have spied their nests in swamps in Wyoming and along the Platte in Nebraska. Now I’ll have to explore local cattail patches along Big Creek to find some nesting closer to home. Perhaps, they’ll bless me with a photo op.After a warmer winter than normal, I expect any day now to welcome colorful flocks of birds that sound like they desperately need a throat lozenge. Once you see them, celebrate because regardless of the calendar date, spring has arrived.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Spring’s raspy song

Trump's biggest new distraction from the Epstein files is his war on Iran and this one just might work. 

We are blowing through a billion dollars a day with no end in sight.

 Secretary Hegseth on March 5 said "if you think you've seen something just wait" and we've "only just began to fight."

 Trump on March 6 called for Iran's "unconditional surrender." 

Meanwhile, the Republican Congress (including our Kansans Marshall, Moran, Mann, Schmidt and Estes) continues to be missing in action. Given a chance to force the administration to define the goals and limit the use of ground troops, they declined to act. They now own this war and the consequences.

 Trump said on March 5, "I guess Americans should worry about Iran retaliating on U.S. soil. Like I said, some people will die." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Kash Patel-led FBI are the agencies responsible for protecting us from this. 

We do not have a DHS director. Senators Marshall and Moran have a chance to atone for their disastrous confirmations of Kristi Noem and Kash Patel by assuring that we get a competent qualified DHS secretary this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="Image by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump's biggest new distraction from the Epstein files is his war on Iran and this one just might work. We are blowing through a billion dollars a day with no end in sight. Secretary Hegseth on March 5 said "if you think you've seen something just wait" and we've "only just began to fight." Trump on March 6 called for Iran's "unconditional surrender." Meanwhile, the Republican Congress (including our Kansans Marshall, Moran, Mann, Schmidt and Estes) continues to be missing in action. Given a chance to force the administration to define the goals and limit the use of ground troops, they declined to act. They now own this war and the consequences. Trump said on March 5, "I guess Americans should worry about Iran retaliating on U.S. soil. Like I said, some people will die." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Kash Patel-led FBI are the agencies responsible for protecting us from this. We do not have a DHS director. Senators Marshall and Moran have a chance to atone for their disastrous confirmations of Kristi Noem and Kash Patel by assuring that we get a competent qualified DHS secretary this time.Ron Svaty&nbsp; Ellsworth

LETTER: Trump's war on Iran

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

I remember a turkey hunt along the river some years back and the discovery that it led us to. 

We had hunted along the river west of Inman, and parked near an adjacent alfalfa field. As we crawled into the pickup to leave, my wife pointed toward the treetops along the river and asked “Is there a bird in that nest?” I looked where she pointed, and saw a haphazard collection of twigs or something in the very top of a tall dead cottonwood. 

The ensuing conversation went something like this: “No, dear, that looks like a squirrel's nest to me.” “I don’t thinks so,” she replied, “and I’m sure that’s a bird in it.” “Here then,” I said, handing her the binoculars. “See for yourself.” “Just like I thought,” she answered. “That is a bird. It looks like one of those big tall birds we see wading along the river.” “A Blue Heron,” I corrected, “and I don’t think so; not way up there!”

 I snatched the binoculars from her, and peered at the “squirrel's nest” high in the tree. Sure enough! Sticking out like a sore thumb in the tallest tree around was a large willy-nilly collection of branches and sticks, and square in the middle of it stood the unmistakable silhouette of a Great Blue Heron, better known as a “crane” to most of us. 

Now, had “Mom Heron” not been standing in her nest, the squirrel's nest theory would certainly have “flown,” and we’d have never given the spectacle a second glance. 

When we left, we took the gravel road along the other side of the river, and stopped for another look. We found the nest to be hidden by green trees, but discovered yet a second nest in which we also found an adult heron a few days later.

I remember that Saturday was our day to have our grandson, and on our way back home after retrieving him, we took some back roads in an attempt to fulfill the nature portion of his visit. As we passed those nests, long ago forgotten by me, he pointed skyward at a large bird circling over the trees. There they were again;&nbsp; this time, five nests, four of them sporting adult Blue Herons sitting upright in the menagerie of sticks and branches they call home.

Great Blue Herons of some subspecies or coloration exist across the entire continental United States and Alaska. 

For Kansas herons, southern migration to Mexico or South America begins in October where they winter until March. They are very tall, gangly birds with immense wingspans of up to six feet, yet weigh less than ten pounds. 

Depending upon conditions, a few awkward “steps” may be required to launch them into flight, but once in the air, they move with slow, rhythmic, effortless strokes of those immense wings. Unlike most birds of their stature, they fly with their necks crooked and folded back against their bodies and their heads held upright. They have practically no tail at all, so they also fly with their long legs straight out behind them, acting as rudders to help steer them in flight.

I’m sure we’ve all seen “cranes” fishing in rivers and streams and along the banks of ponds. 

Although fish, frogs and small snakes make up the vast majority of their diet, they are not above eating insects and small rodents also. Their long pointed beaks are perfectly designed for stabbing prey, which is always killed and swallowed head first. The enzymes in their digestive system are so strong that most bone matter is completely dissolved.

Great Blue Herons demand isolation in their nesting sites, and are very sensitive to human disturbance. Nests are often found in colonies known as “heronries,” and can be anywhere from treetops like the ones we found, to rocky ledges and crevices on the ground. 

When satisfied with a nesting site, the birds usually return year after year to enlarge and reuse the same structures whenever possible. Three or four bluish-green eggs are laid and incubated for twenty-eight days by both parents. 

Research shows that heron chicks are extremely unpleasing to look at until fully feathered, and stay in the nest until they are nearly as large as the parents.

Great Blue Herons are far ffrom rare, and I remember as a kid learning to know them as “cranes” as we watched them hunt around the edges of the farm pond where my dad took me to fish for bass and bullheads.

 Writing this piece showed me how little I really knew about these birds, especially about where they built their nests. Yet another reason to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772551739053.png" alt="Great Blue Heron. Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Great Blue Heron. Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsI remember a turkey hunt along the river some years back and the discovery that it led us to. We had hunted along the river west of Inman, and parked near an adjacent alfalfa field. As we crawled into the pickup to leave, my wife pointed toward the treetops along the river and asked “Is there a bird in that nest?” I looked where she pointed, and saw a haphazard collection of twigs or something in the very top of a tall dead cottonwood. The ensuing conversation went something like this: “No, dear, that looks like a squirrel's nest to me.” “I don’t thinks so,” she replied, “and I’m sure that’s a bird in it.” “Here then,” I said, handing her the binoculars. “See for yourself.” “Just like I thought,” she answered. “That is a bird. It looks like one of those big tall birds we see wading along the river.” “A Blue Heron,” I corrected, “and I don’t think so; not way up there!” I snatched the binoculars from her, and peered at the “squirrel's nest” high in the tree. Sure enough! Sticking out like a sore thumb in the tallest tree around was a large willy-nilly collection of branches and sticks, and square in the middle of it stood the unmistakable silhouette of a Great Blue Heron, better known as a “crane” to most of us. Now, had “Mom Heron” not been standing in her nest, the squirrel's nest theory would certainly have “flown,” and we’d have never given the spectacle a second glance. When we left, we took the gravel road along the other side of the river, and stopped for another look. We found the nest to be hidden by green trees, but discovered yet a second nest in which we also found an adult heron a few days later.I remember that Saturday was our day to have our grandson, and on our way back home after retrieving him, we took some back roads in an attempt to fulfill the nature portion of his visit. As we passed those nests, long ago forgotten by me, he pointed skyward at a large bird circling over the trees. There they were again;&nbsp; this time, five nests, four of them sporting adult Blue Herons sitting upright in the menagerie of sticks and branches they call home.Great Blue Herons of some subspecies or coloration exist across the entire continental United States and Alaska. For Kansas herons, southern migration to Mexico or South America begins in October where they winter until March. They are very tall, gangly birds with immense wingspans of up to six feet, yet weigh less than ten pounds. Depending upon conditions, a few awkward “steps” may be required to launch them into flight, but once in the air, they move with slow, rhythmic, effortless strokes of those immense wings. Unlike most birds of their stature, they fly with their necks crooked and folded back against their bodies and their heads held upright. They have practically no tail at all, so they also fly with their long legs straight out behind them, acting as rudders to help steer them in flight.I’m sure we’ve all seen “cranes” fishing in rivers and streams and along the banks of ponds. Although fish, frogs and small snakes make up the vast majority of their diet, they are not above eating insects and small rodents also. Their long pointed beaks are perfectly designed for stabbing prey, which is always killed and swallowed head first. The enzymes in their digestive system are so strong that most bone matter is completely dissolved.Great Blue Herons demand isolation in their nesting sites, and are very sensitive to human disturbance. Nests are often found in colonies known as “heronries,” and can be anywhere from treetops like the ones we found, to rocky ledges and crevices on the ground. When satisfied with a nesting site, the birds usually return year after year to enlarge and reuse the same structures whenever possible. Three or four bluish-green eggs are laid and incubated for twenty-eight days by both parents. Research shows that heron chicks are extremely unpleasing to look at until fully feathered, and stay in the nest until they are nearly as large as the parents.Great Blue Herons are far ffrom rare, and I remember as a kid learning to know them as “cranes” as we watched them hunt around the edges of the farm pond where my dad took me to fish for bass and bullheads. Writing this piece showed me how little I really knew about these birds, especially about where they built their nests. Yet another reason to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Have you a heron in your hedgerow?

By MICHAEL A. SMITH Insight Kansas

In last month’s column, I took policymakers to task for forgetting former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting experiment, which cratered state revenues. School funding cuts landed the state in court. Kansas also borrowed over $1 billion from the state highway fund (the “Bank of KDOT”), fell out of compliance with federal regulations regarding the minimum staffing at mental hospitals, and witnessed a prison riot in overcrowded conditions. Yet last year, the Kansas Legislature passed a new “glide path”-- this one to a flat rate income tax. Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor has proposed an income tax phaseout similar to Brownback’s.

My critics on X suggested that these budget cuts were actually the responsibility of former Kansas Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkison. Meanwhile, Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project published a reply in the Topeka Capital-Journal, arguing that the economic troubles during the Brownback years were actually caused by problems in the farm economy, that Kansas’ real problem was too much spending, and that Missouri’s plan has better safeguards.

In fact, the second term of the Sebelius-Parkinson Administration coincided with the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008-9, which triggered the Great Recession and slashed state tax collections. Governors and legislators responded with deep spending cuts to keep the state budget in balance. Sebelius and Parkinson also fought to keep the state in compliance on school funding. Sebelius even called a special session of the Kansas Legislature for this purpose. They also sought to leverage federal matching funds. Kansas revenues had largely recovered by fiscal year 2013, then dipped dramatically after Brownback’s tax cut. Sebelius and Parkinson made clear that their solutions were both painful and temporary, while Brownback’s “glide path” made these budget cuts permanent, with no end in sight, until they were repealed in 2017.

Former Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen considered the farm economy. He compared Kansas to Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, and Colorado, finding that Kansas had the slowest population growth during the Brownback years. Also, the other states did not experience fiscal crises then. The farm economy is important throughout this region, yet only Kansas experienced a fiscal crisis.

My critics suggest that Kansas failed to cut spending. Yet I already discussed the deep cuts in spending made to cope with this manmade budget catastrophe, which shorted social services and landed the state in court over school funding. These are the largest items in the state budget.

Tuohey ends his column by writing, “In short, Brownback never had a plan to balance the budget. Missouri does.” While vague, he may be referencing the revenue triggers included both in the 2025 Kansas income tax cut, and in the Missouri proposal. No income tax cuts occurred this year in Kansas, because the revenue thresholds were not reached.

The triggers provide some relief, but are they the right priorities? For example, once again, Kansas appears on track to short the funding for special education programs. Without the tax cuts, the revenue from economic growth could fund this in the future. Should it instead be diverted to a flat tax, which overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy?

I commend my critics for engaging with a civil tone. Yet one thing remains clear: fourteen years after the “Glide Path to Zero,” voters need to remind policymakers just how costly these policies really were.

Michael Smith is a professor of political science at Emporia State University.

<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 KansasIn last month’s column, I took policymakers to task for forgetting former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting experiment, which cratered state revenues. School funding cuts landed the state in court. Kansas also borrowed over $1 billion from the state highway fund (the “Bank of KDOT”), fell out of compliance with federal regulations regarding the minimum staffing at mental hospitals, and witnessed a prison riot in overcrowded conditions. Yet last year, the Kansas Legislature passed a new “glide path”-- this one to a flat rate income tax. Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor has proposed an income tax phaseout similar to Brownback’s.My critics on X suggested that these budget cuts were actually the responsibility of former Kansas Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkison. Meanwhile, Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project published a reply in the Topeka Capital-Journal, arguing that the economic troubles during the Brownback years were actually caused by problems in the farm economy, that Kansas’ real problem was too much spending, and that Missouri’s plan has better safeguards.In fact, the second term of the Sebelius-Parkinson Administration coincided with the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008-9, which triggered the Great Recession and slashed state tax collections. Governors and legislators responded with deep spending cuts to keep the state budget in balance. Sebelius and Parkinson also fought to keep the state in compliance on school funding. Sebelius even called a special session of the Kansas Legislature for this purpose. They also sought to leverage federal matching funds. Kansas revenues had largely recovered by fiscal year 2013, then dipped dramatically after Brownback’s tax cut. Sebelius and Parkinson made clear that their solutions were both painful and temporary, while Brownback’s “glide path” made these budget cuts permanent, with no end in sight, until they were repealed in 2017.Former Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen considered the farm economy. He compared Kansas to Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, and Colorado, finding that Kansas had the slowest population growth during the Brownback years. Also, the other states did not experience fiscal crises then. The farm economy is important throughout this region, yet only Kansas experienced a fiscal crisis.My critics suggest that Kansas failed to cut spending. Yet I already discussed the deep cuts in spending made to cope with this manmade budget catastrophe, which shorted social services and landed the state in court over school funding. These are the largest items in the state budget.Tuohey ends his column by writing, “In short, Brownback never had a plan to balance the budget. Missouri does.” While vague, he may be referencing the revenue triggers included both in the 2025 Kansas income tax cut, and in the Missouri proposal. No income tax cuts occurred this year in Kansas, because the revenue thresholds were not reached.The triggers provide some relief, but are they the right priorities? For example, once again, Kansas appears on track to short the funding for special education programs. Without the tax cuts, the revenue from economic growth could fund this in the future. Should it instead be diverted to a flat tax, which overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy?I commend my critics for engaging with a civil tone. Yet one thing remains clear: fourteen years after the “Glide Path to Zero,” voters need to remind policymakers just how costly these policies really were.Michael Smith is a professor of political science at Emporia State University.

Insight Kansas: Remembering the Brownback tax cut experiment-accurately

As a youngster riding down Highway 50, I never considered its history or how this asphalt road connected me to Kansas’s or our nation’s past. It was a boring ride with no interesting scenery unless a storm with writhing, twisting clouds or a dazzling prairie sunrise or sunset filled our windshield.

When cruising Kansas roads, it’s easy to forget the past.

 Most travelers don’t consider the thoroughfares we take for granted began as Indian trails and morphed into pioneer roads and later state and national highways. Historically, native people’s trails followed water, which was true along the Ark as well. After the Louisiana Purchase, risk-taking entrepreneurs overtook a native trade route sending long ox trains between Missouri and Santa Fe. Prior to and during the Mexican-American War, it served as a military road, leading to construction of Forts Mann, Atkinson, Aubrey, and Union, storied historical footnotes.

In recent times, the Kansas Department of Transportation graded and paved this route, posting Highway 50 signage along shoulders and mapping it. 

Where asphalt parallels the river, travelers can imagine for an instant they are a stone’s throw from another age, country, and culture. Less than two centuries ago, the Arkansas served the same purpose as the Rio Grande River does now, an international border.

In his book "Dangerous Passage," William Chalfant chronicles this history.

 Ox trains carrying thousands of dollars worth of goods traveled back and forth between Franklin, Missouri, and Santa Fe. Before and during the Mexican-American War, military convoys advanced on Santa Fe and exited it using this route. Between Council Grove and Bent’s Fort, travelers depended on their wits and skills when wagons broke down, Indians attacked, beasts of burden went lame, died, or were stolen, or humans succumbed to cholera, dysentery, or other ailments.

Though garages, motels, cafes, and medical care serve modern travelers, the landscape and weather conditions haven’t altered from those predecessors experienced. 

No matter the century, summer heat scorches native grasses and dries waterways. Aesthetic concerns for modern wayfarers, early travelers required these essentials for livestock. Despite changing travel requirements, folks crossing this terrain in winter risk blizzards and icy conditions that halt journeys. Before bridges, high water halted trail traffic or drowned humans and livestock crossing torrents. Storms can still interrupt travel.

Another concern Chalfant describes were attacks by Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Comanche warriors who called this borderland home. They fought American and Mexican encroachment on historic hunting grounds, frequently attacking east and westbound caravans between Walnut Creek and the Pawnee Fork. Forts Dodge, Larned, and Zarah weren’t established to protect the trail until the 1860s, after it ceased to be an international border.

Most drivers along Highway 50 where it borders the Arkansas River consider the trip tedious. 

If AI or other technology let them simultaneously see and hear past and present, groaning wagons, lowing oxen, and cursing bullwhackers would overwhelm their radios. Besides feedlots and agricultural development, they’d see desiccated carcasses of animals and humans who succumbed to the elements and broken wagons littering ruts.&nbsp;Eyes would scan horizon lines seeking a glint of sunshine on Cheyenne lances. 

Without advanced weather warnings, eyes would monitor distant clouds. Always, they’d look for good water and camping spots to refresh themselves and their beasts.

If there were means to experience simultaneously what was and what is, a trip across Highway 50 where it divided Mexico and U.S. Territory would thrill even jaded travelers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772556534907.jpeg" alt="Point of Rocks on the Santa Fe Trail. Photo courtesy Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Point of Rocks on the Santa Fe Trail. Photo courtesy Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINAs a youngster riding down Highway 50, I never considered its history or how this asphalt road connected me to Kansas’s or our nation’s past. It was a boring ride with no interesting scenery unless a storm with writhing, twisting clouds or a dazzling prairie sunrise or sunset filled our windshield.When cruising Kansas roads, it’s easy to forget the past. Most travelers don’t consider the thoroughfares we take for granted began as Indian trails and morphed into pioneer roads and later state and national highways. Historically, native people’s trails followed water, which was true along the Ark as well. After the Louisiana Purchase, risk-taking entrepreneurs overtook a native trade route sending long ox trains between Missouri and Santa Fe. Prior to and during the Mexican-American War, it served as a military road, leading to construction of Forts Mann, Atkinson, Aubrey, and Union, storied historical footnotes.In recent times, the Kansas Department of Transportation graded and paved this route, posting Highway 50 signage along shoulders and mapping it. Where asphalt parallels the river, travelers can imagine for an instant they are a stone’s throw from another age, country, and culture. Less than two centuries ago, the Arkansas served the same purpose as the Rio Grande River does now, an international border.In his book "Dangerous Passage," William Chalfant chronicles this history. Ox trains carrying thousands of dollars worth of goods traveled back and forth between Franklin, Missouri, and Santa Fe. Before and during the Mexican-American War, military convoys advanced on Santa Fe and exited it using this route. Between Council Grove and Bent’s Fort, travelers depended on their wits and skills when wagons broke down, Indians attacked, beasts of burden went lame, died, or were stolen, or humans succumbed to cholera, dysentery, or other ailments.Though garages, motels, cafes, and medical care serve modern travelers, the landscape and weather conditions haven’t altered from those predecessors experienced. No matter the century, summer heat scorches native grasses and dries waterways. Aesthetic concerns for modern wayfarers, early travelers required these essentials for livestock. Despite changing travel requirements, folks crossing this terrain in winter risk blizzards and icy conditions that halt journeys. Before bridges, high water halted trail traffic or drowned humans and livestock crossing torrents. Storms can still interrupt travel.Another concern Chalfant describes were attacks by Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Comanche warriors who called this borderland home. They fought American and Mexican encroachment on historic hunting grounds, frequently attacking east and westbound caravans between Walnut Creek and the Pawnee Fork. Forts Dodge, Larned, and Zarah weren’t established to protect the trail until the 1860s, after it ceased to be an international border.Most drivers along Highway 50 where it borders the Arkansas River consider the trip tedious. If AI or other technology let them simultaneously see and hear past and present, groaning wagons, lowing oxen, and cursing bullwhackers would overwhelm their radios. Besides feedlots and agricultural development, they’d see desiccated carcasses of animals and humans who succumbed to the elements and broken wagons littering ruts.&nbsp;Eyes would scan horizon lines seeking a glint of sunshine on Cheyenne lances. Without advanced weather warnings, eyes would monitor distant clouds. Always, they’d look for good water and camping spots to refresh themselves and their beasts.If there were means to experience simultaneously what was and what is, a trip across Highway 50 where it divided Mexico and U.S. Territory would thrill even jaded travelers.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: When the Arkansas River was an international border

Join our new Hays Post Newsletter and receive the top news stories from your community every morning in your email inbox plus one-click access to the latest obituaries.&nbsp;

Join our new Hays Post Newsletter and receive the top news stories from your community every morning in your email inbox plus one-click access to the latest obituaries.&nbsp;Sign up today for free.<div><script src="https://xp.audience.io/widget.js"></script>

<div class="aptivada-widget" data-widget-id="1732609" data-widget-type="app" >
 <div>
 <div style="background:#ffffff url('https://cdn3.aptivada.com/images/iframeLoader.gif') no-repeat center; min-height:500px;"></div>
 <a style="display:block; max-width: fit-content; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank" href="https://xp.audience.io/contest/1732609">Campaign not loading? Click here</a>
 </div>
</div></div>

Sign up for free Hays Post Newsletter

Following weekend airstrikes in Iran, rising crude oil prices could push gasoline costs higher within weeks.

By RAFAEL GARCIA <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/03/economist-forecasts-gas-price-increase-following-iran-attacks.html">K-State News and Communications Services</a> It may be months or even years before the long-term geopolitical ramifications of this weekend's airstrikes in Iran become clear, but a Kansas State University agricultural economist says gas prices are likely to spike in the coming weeks.

<a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/about/people/directory/faculty_directory/ibendahl/">Gregg Ibendahl</a>, associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry.

As a region, the Middle East is the world's leading producer of oil, and any uncertainty in the stability of the region's governments, economies and shipping capacity has typically resulted in price shocks, Ibendahl said.

Following airstrikes on Saturday that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent reciprocal strikes, crude oil futures had already risen 8%, from $67 per barrel on Friday to $72 on Monday morning.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/production-economics/prices-and-price-forecasts/what-does-middle-eastern-war-mean-gas-prices">analyzing 20 years of oil and gas price data</a>, Ibendahl found that in the immediate term, gas prices typically go up about 2.4 cents per gallon for every $1 increase in oil's price per barrel.

"Prior to this weekend, U.S. regular gasoline averaged $2.98 per gallon nationally," Ibendahl said. "With the baseline $6 per barrel increase, prices could rise to between $3.10 and $3.16 within a month. Remember too, oil prices rose to $130 per barrel shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to gas prices of $5 per gallon."

Spikes in crude oil prices usually lead to a similar change in gasoline prices in the subsequent week, Ibendahl said. But crucially, crude oil movements can influence pump prices for more than a month, especially when uncertainty remains about the future stability of an oil-producing region.

Ibendahl's forecast, he pointed out, does not take into account other factors, such as extended violence or suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — an Iranian-controlled 21-mile chokepoint through which about 20% of globally traded oil passes.

A shutdown of the strait could lead to oil prices that are well over $100 per barrel, or even more if warfare in the region starts targeting oil production facilities.

At that point, gas prices at the pump quickly start approaching $4 per gallon — or even more, if oil prices follow a similar trajectory to the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Longer term, the price increase could be 4.2 cents per gallon for every dollar per barrel," Ibendahl said. "While conflict may be occurring in the Persian Gulf, the resulting impact on gas prices will be felt at stations nationwide before the end of the month."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1772553222639.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy K-State&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy K-State&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Following weekend airstrikes in Iran, rising crude oil prices could push gasoline costs higher within weeks.</h2>By RAFAEL GARCIA <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/03/economist-forecasts-gas-price-increase-following-iran-attacks.html">K-State News and Communications Services</a> It may be months or even years before the long-term geopolitical ramifications of this weekend's airstrikes in Iran become clear, but a Kansas State University agricultural economist says gas prices are likely to spike in the coming weeks.<a href="https://www.ageconomics.k-state.edu/about/people/directory/faculty_directory/ibendahl/">Gregg Ibendahl</a>, associate professor of agricultural economics, specializes in agricultural production and finance, especially fuel pricing seasonality and impacts to the ag industry.As a region, the Middle East is the world's leading producer of oil, and any uncertainty in the stability of the region's governments, economies and shipping capacity has typically resulted in price shocks, Ibendahl said.Following airstrikes on Saturday that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent reciprocal strikes, crude oil futures had already risen 8%, from $67 per barrel on Friday to $72 on Monday morning.<h2>What history suggests about pump prices</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agmanager.info/production-economics/prices-and-price-forecasts/what-does-middle-eastern-war-mean-gas-prices">analyzing 20 years of oil and gas price data</a>, Ibendahl found that in the immediate term, gas prices typically go up about 2.4 cents per gallon for every $1 increase in oil's price per barrel."Prior to this weekend, U.S. regular gasoline averaged $2.98 per gallon nationally," Ibendahl said. "With the baseline $6 per barrel increase, prices could rise to between $3.10 and $3.16 within a month. Remember too, oil prices rose to $130 per barrel shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, leading to gas prices of $5 per gallon."Spikes in crude oil prices usually lead to a similar change in gasoline prices in the subsequent week, Ibendahl said. But crucially, crude oil movements can influence pump prices for more than a month, especially when uncertainty remains about the future stability of an oil-producing region.<h2>Gas prices could climb even higher</h2>Ibendahl's forecast, he pointed out, does not take into account other factors, such as extended violence or suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — an Iranian-controlled 21-mile chokepoint through which about 20% of globally traded oil passes.A shutdown of the strait could lead to oil prices that are well over $100 per barrel, or even more if warfare in the region starts targeting oil production facilities.At that point, gas prices at the pump quickly start approaching $4 per gallon — or even more, if oil prices follow a similar trajectory to the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine."Longer term, the price increase could be 4.2 cents per gallon for every dollar per barrel," Ibendahl said. "While conflict may be occurring in the Persian Gulf, the resulting impact on gas prices will be felt at stations nationwide before the end of the month."

Will gas hit $4? K-State economist breaks down numbers

By&nbsp;ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD and BRIAN AMOS Insight Kansas

As political scientists who study Kansas politics, election administration, and political participation—and as the coauthors of a recent statistical analysis of Kansas’ special elections—we are compelled to speak out against Kansas House Bill 2503.

The bill would repeal the state’s 1983 Mail Ballot Election Act and prohibit municipalities from conducting all-mail elections. This proposal is not merely a matter of administrative preference; it runs directly counter to what the data tell us about how Kansans, especially rural Kansans, participate in our democracy.

In our research on 39 Kansas special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025, we examined turnout under two different systems: traditional in-person elections and elections conducted entirely by mail. These contests, often focused on school bond issues or local tax proposals, represent some of the most consequential—but also least visible—governance decisions affecting Kansas communities.

When elections were conducted entirely by mail, turnout increased dramatically. After carefully matching rural and urban voters on demographics, party registration, and turnout history, we estimated that all-mail elections increased the probability of voting by 21.7 percentage points.

This is not a marginal difference. It is a structural one.

Just as important, the rural-urban turnout gap nearly disappeared. In traditionally administered elections, rural voters were 3.5 points less likely to participate than urban voters. But when provided an all-mail system, the rural-urban gap shrank to less than one percentage point.

In other words: all-mail elections do exactly what legislators claim to value—they promote equitable participation across all geographic regions of our state.

The data is clear: rural Kansans benefit from all-mail elections. The explanation is straightforward: voting is not costless, and those costs fall disproportionately on rural residents.

Rural Kansans often travel long distances to a polling location, rely on deteriorating roads and minimal public transportation, and live in jurisdictions that struggle to maintain sufficient polling places and staff. Political science research has long shown that even modest increases in the&nbsp;time or effort required to vote depress turnout. 

Put simply, rural Kansans face bigger hurdles when it comes to voting, and all-mail elections help remove those barriers.

Kansas has long embraced local control, particularly in election administration for special elections. County clerks and school districts understand their communities’ needs far better than legislators in Topeka. When local jurisdictions choose all-mail elections, they do so because it is the most accessible, cost-effective, and logistically feasible option.

HB 2503 would eliminate that choice. It strips local autonomy and silences rural voices.

If adopted, rural Kansans—who already face higher barriers to participation—would be pushed back into a system that statistically depresses their turnout. It is difficult to read the evidence and see this bill as anything other than a step backward for democratic participation in our state.

We argue that evidence, not assumptions, should drive Kansas’ election policy.

Much of the public debate around voting by mail has relied on speculation or rhetoric. But the state legislature need not speculate. 

We have Kansas data on Kansas voters in Kansas elections and the findings are clear. 

All-mail elections increase turnout. They mitigate geographic inequities. They ensure rural voters can make their voices heard on school funding, infrastructure, and public investments that directly affect their communities.

Lawmakers may disagree on many issues, but they should not ignore empirical evidence—especially when that evidence is produced by researchers in their own state examining their own elections.

As political scientists and Kansans, our conclusion is clear: HB 2503 would harm the very communities it claims to represent. If we are committed to a democratic process that includes all corners of Kansas—urban and rural alike—we must preserve municipalities’ ability to hold all-mail elections.

The Senate should reject House Bill 2503. Rural Kansans deserve better. They deserve a voting system grounded in evidence, not ideology.

Alexandra Middlewood and Brian Amos are associate professors of political science at Wichita State University. They co-founded IKE Lab in 2023 to offer data and analysis on Kansas elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1571419575847.png" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD and BRIAN AMOS Insight KansasAs political scientists who study Kansas politics, election administration, and political participation—and as the coauthors of a recent statistical analysis of Kansas’ special elections—we are compelled to speak out against Kansas House Bill 2503.The bill would repeal the state’s 1983 Mail Ballot Election Act and prohibit municipalities from conducting all-mail elections. This proposal is not merely a matter of administrative preference; it runs directly counter to what the data tell us about how Kansans, especially rural Kansans, participate in our democracy.In our research on 39 Kansas special elections conducted in 2024 and 2025, we examined turnout under two different systems: traditional in-person elections and elections conducted entirely by mail. These contests, often focused on school bond issues or local tax proposals, represent some of the most consequential—but also least visible—governance decisions affecting Kansas communities.What we found was striking.When elections were conducted entirely by mail, turnout increased dramatically. After carefully matching rural and urban voters on demographics, party registration, and turnout history, we estimated that all-mail elections increased the probability of voting by 21.7 percentage points.This is not a marginal difference. It is a structural one.Just as important, the rural-urban turnout gap nearly disappeared. In traditionally administered elections, rural voters were 3.5 points less likely to participate than urban voters. But when provided an all-mail system, the rural-urban gap shrank to less than one percentage point.In other words: all-mail elections do exactly what legislators claim to value—they promote equitable participation across all geographic regions of our state.The data is clear: rural Kansans benefit from all-mail elections. The explanation is straightforward: voting is not costless, and those costs fall disproportionately on rural residents.Rural Kansans often travel long distances to a polling location, rely on deteriorating roads and minimal public transportation, and live in jurisdictions that struggle to maintain sufficient polling places and staff. Political science research has long shown that even modest increases in the&nbsp;time or effort required to vote depress turnout. Put simply, rural Kansans face bigger hurdles when it comes to voting, and all-mail elections help remove those barriers.Kansas has long embraced local control, particularly in election administration for special elections. County clerks and school districts understand their communities’ needs far better than legislators in Topeka. When local jurisdictions choose all-mail elections, they do so because it is the most accessible, cost-effective, and logistically feasible option.HB 2503 would eliminate that choice. It strips local autonomy and silences rural voices.If adopted, rural Kansans—who already face higher barriers to participation—would be pushed back into a system that statistically depresses their turnout. It is difficult to read the evidence and see this bill as anything other than a step backward for democratic participation in our state.We argue that evidence, not assumptions, should drive Kansas’ election policy.Much of the public debate around voting by mail has relied on speculation or rhetoric. But the state legislature need not speculate. We have Kansas data on Kansas voters in Kansas elections and the findings are clear. All-mail elections increase turnout. They mitigate geographic inequities. They ensure rural voters can make their voices heard on school funding, infrastructure, and public investments that directly affect their communities.Lawmakers may disagree on many issues, but they should not ignore empirical evidence—especially when that evidence is produced by researchers in their own state examining their own elections.As political scientists and Kansans, our conclusion is clear: HB 2503 would harm the very communities it claims to represent. If we are committed to a democratic process that includes all corners of Kansas—urban and rural alike—we must preserve municipalities’ ability to hold all-mail elections.The Senate should reject House Bill 2503. Rural Kansans deserve better. They deserve a voting system grounded in evidence, not ideology.Alexandra Middlewood and Brian Amos are associate professors of political science at Wichita State University. They co-founded IKE Lab in 2023 to offer data and analysis on Kansas elections.

Insight Kansas: Kansas HB 2503 ignores what our research shows about rural voters

Back when my wife and I hunted together more, we’d often pass the hours spent in a hunting blind by making up animal conversations for various situations. 

On a fall turkey hunt years ago, we had our hunting blind set up near an old feedlot. The owner had round bales stored there and a tractor path wound around through the bales. The turkeys followed the tractor path through the bales and into the pasture surrounding the old feedlot. We put a couple hen turkey decoys just across the fence into the pasture and settled into our blind amongst the bales. 

The resident cattle soon came to see what was up, and became enamored with the decoys. You could almost sense their thoughts, so we named the cows Clara, Elsie, Audrey and Bessie, and imagined their conversation going something like this: “They look like turkeys, but they sure don’t move much,” Clara thought, staring at the decoys. Elsie added “Turkeys stink but these things smell like tractor tires or something. Let’s all run at them and see if they scatter and make those same funny noises turkeys make when we almost step on them.” Audrey weighed in, “No, I’m pretty sure they aren’t real turkeys – if they were, they’d be eatin’ corn out of our poo right now.” Bessie said “Girls, I’ve got an idea – let’s all back up and try to pee on them and see if they run like they usually do.”

Perhaps the funniest animal conversation we ever conjured up came about at an old farmstead where we used to hunt deer. The abandoned farmyard sits back a long lane and we’d park our pickup there and walk to the nearby deer blind. We know deer routinely wonder through the farmyard and around the old buildings, so we tried to imagine how they would react to our truck sitting there if they wandered through as we sat in the blind. 

Here was the scene: One morning as we sit there in our deer blind, two deer, Bucky and Chloe wander through and come upon our pickup in the drive. 

“See, Bucky,” Chloe states. “I told you I smelled them again.” Bucky rests his chin on the hood of the pickup and replies “Yup, sure enough. Hood's still warm; they’re here somewhere.” “What doofuses,” Chloe retorts with disgust as she turns and begins to walk away. 

Meanwhile, Bucky jumps up and sprawls out across the hood of the pickup with his front legs sticking out in front of him and his back legs out behind him, rolls his eyes back into his head and hangs his tongue out the side of his mouth. Chloe hears the&nbsp;commotion and just as she turns around, Bucky calls out “Ohhhhh, Chloe, they got me!” “You get off there this instant,” Chloe scolds. “That’s not funny at all anymore, especially after you got shot in the butt last season!”

The nursing/retirement home where I used to work has two dementia units and I often marveled at the strange things the residents there with dementia would say and think. Making up animal conversations may see pretty weird and even goofy, but I can only hope that filling my mind with silliness like that now, will help me ramble on about silly stuff like that when I get dementia rather than being mean and nasty and cussin’ all the time! 

<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 OutdoorsBack when my wife and I hunted together more, we’d often pass the hours spent in a hunting blind by making up animal conversations for various situations. On a fall turkey hunt years ago, we had our hunting blind set up near an old feedlot. The owner had round bales stored there and a tractor path wound around through the bales. The turkeys followed the tractor path through the bales and into the pasture surrounding the old feedlot. We put a couple hen turkey decoys just across the fence into the pasture and settled into our blind amongst the bales. The resident cattle soon came to see what was up, and became enamored with the decoys. You could almost sense their thoughts, so we named the cows Clara, Elsie, Audrey and Bessie, and imagined their conversation going something like this: “They look like turkeys, but they sure don’t move much,” Clara thought, staring at the decoys. Elsie added “Turkeys stink but these things smell like tractor tires or something. Let’s all run at them and see if they scatter and make those same funny noises turkeys make when we almost step on them.” Audrey weighed in, “No, I’m pretty sure they aren’t real turkeys – if they were, they’d be eatin’ corn out of our poo right now.” Bessie said “Girls, I’ve got an idea – let’s all back up and try to pee on them and see if they run like they usually do.”Perhaps the funniest animal conversation we ever conjured up came about at an old farmstead where we used to hunt deer. The abandoned farmyard sits back a long lane and we’d park our pickup there and walk to the nearby deer blind. We know deer routinely wonder through the farmyard and around the old buildings, so we tried to imagine how they would react to our truck sitting there if they wandered through as we sat in the blind. Here was the scene: One morning as we sit there in our deer blind, two deer, Bucky and Chloe wander through and come upon our pickup in the drive. “See, Bucky,” Chloe states. “I told you I smelled them again.” Bucky rests his chin on the hood of the pickup and replies “Yup, sure enough. Hood's still warm; they’re here somewhere.” “What doofuses,” Chloe retorts with disgust as she turns and begins to walk away. Meanwhile, Bucky jumps up and sprawls out across the hood of the pickup with his front legs sticking out in front of him and his back legs out behind him, rolls his eyes back into his head and hangs his tongue out the side of his mouth. Chloe hears the&nbsp;commotion and just as she turns around, Bucky calls out “Ohhhhh, Chloe, they got me!” “You get off there this instant,” Chloe scolds. “That’s not funny at all anymore, especially after you got shot in the butt last season!”The nursing/retirement home where I used to work has two dementia units and I often marveled at the strange things the residents there with dementia would say and think. Making up animal conversations may see pretty weird and even goofy, but I can only hope that filling my mind with silliness like that now, will help me ramble on about silly stuff like that when I get dementia rather than being mean and nasty and cussin’ all the time! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Animal conversations: You don't say!

By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

As&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/17/kansas-cell-phone-ban-applying-to-both-public-and-private-schools-clears-house/">a proposed state-wide ban on cell phones in Kansas classrooms</a>&nbsp;winds its way through our state legislature—a ban that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2026-02-09/banning-phones-in-kansas-schools-has-bipartisan-support-so-why-is-a-proposed-law-stalling">at least initially had strong support from both parties</a>, a ban that would be similar to actions that have been taken&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/08/08/twenty-two-states-enacted-k-12-cellphone-bans-so-far-in-2025/">in multiple other states</a>—an interesting question has arisen.

What is more important to the Kansas legislators: the well-being of students, or freedom from regulation for alternatives to public education?

In answering that question, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/tymastersonks/status/2024210039158997404?s=43">drew a fairly explicit line</a>: “The epidemic of cell phones disrupting classrooms and damaging our kids’ mental health is a top priority. But a fix must not trample on the independence of private schools. The radical left would exploit any opening to impose their agenda on faith-based and independent education. Rather than creating bad precedent, we will use this opportunity to review all state mandates on private schools and create a bright line that government will not cross.”

The epidemic he refers to is well-documented, by both&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537116300136">numerous</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9651103/">scholars</a>&nbsp;and by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksde.gov/Portals/0/Commissioner/Blue-Ribbon-Task-Force-on-Student-Screen-Time-Report.pdf">a separate study</a>&nbsp;commissioned by the Kansas Department of Education.

Screen and smartphone addiction clearly creates distractions, interferes with learning, and invites bullying and other psychological pathologies.

The data doesn’t necessarily mandate a complete bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools (the National Association of State Boards of Education encourages local school board involvement,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nasbe.org/curbing-cell-phone-use-in-classrooms/">concluding that</a>&nbsp;“bans of devices during the school day alone will not address the complicated, potential harms arising from students’ online behaviors”), but everyone agrees that whatever compromise is reached, it should be implemented consistently, covering all students equally.

Unless, perhaps, you attend a private—or shall we say a “faith-based and independent”—school?

It’s not that Masterson is opposed to students whose parents opt to home school or to make use of private schools being able to enjoy the educational environments and resources that are generated through Kansas’s free public school system. 

After all, he has been a major force behind both&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-private-school-students-and-home-schoolers-joining-in-public-school-sports-under-new-law/">making certain that Kansas students being educated privately or at home be allowed to participate in all public school activities, both athletic and academic</a>&nbsp;and promoting school choice plans that could provide up to $200 million in tax relief every year&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/29/senate-republican-promotes-education-freedom-with-125m-voucher-program-for-private-schools/">to support Kansas parents who want to send their children to a private school or teach them at home</a>.&nbsp;

Rather, the idea appears to be that, though public schools will be expected to follow the best research in working out how to deal with a problem facing young people throughout Kansas,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://education.jhu.edu/edpolicy/policy-research-initiatives/homeschool-hub/states/kansas/">about 9% of Kansas students</a>&nbsp;(those that attend private or home schools) perhaps ought to be left to their own devices (literally!), all for the sake being free from state mandates, however educationally justified.

Of course, the problem isn’t that straightforward. For one thing, regulating how parents impose—or don’t impose—cell phone restrictions while teaching in their children in their own homes would an impossible, and terribly invasive, act. For another, many private schools are very small, and requiring them to comply with state-wide regulations could be terribly burdensome.

But still, taking seriously public education is a value deeply rooted in Kansas history and law. 

Which makes the belief that educational alternatives to publicly funded schools should be given both additional financial support and access to educational resources, but should also be exempt from any concerted action to introduce best practices on those schools and resources, is a difficult one to balance, to say the least.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1772119323632.png" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight KansasAs&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/17/kansas-cell-phone-ban-applying-to-both-public-and-private-schools-clears-house/">a proposed state-wide ban on cell phones in Kansas classrooms</a>&nbsp;winds its way through our state legislature—a ban that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2026-02-09/banning-phones-in-kansas-schools-has-bipartisan-support-so-why-is-a-proposed-law-stalling">at least initially had strong support from both parties</a>, a ban that would be similar to actions that have been taken&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/08/08/twenty-two-states-enacted-k-12-cellphone-bans-so-far-in-2025/">in multiple other states</a>—an interesting question has arisen. What is more important to the Kansas legislators: the well-being of students, or freedom from regulation for alternatives to public education?In answering that question, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/tymastersonks/status/2024210039158997404?s=43">drew a fairly explicit line</a>: “The epidemic of cell phones disrupting classrooms and damaging our kids’ mental health is a top priority. But a fix must not trample on the independence of private schools. The radical left would exploit any opening to impose their agenda on faith-based and independent education. Rather than creating bad precedent, we will use this opportunity to review all state mandates on private schools and create a bright line that government will not cross.”The epidemic he refers to is well-documented, by both&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537116300136">numerous</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9651103/">scholars</a>&nbsp;and by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksde.gov/Portals/0/Commissioner/Blue-Ribbon-Task-Force-on-Student-Screen-Time-Report.pdf">a separate study</a>&nbsp;commissioned by the Kansas Department of Education. Screen and smartphone addiction clearly creates distractions, interferes with learning, and invites bullying and other psychological pathologies. The data doesn’t necessarily mandate a complete bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools (the National Association of State Boards of Education encourages local school board involvement,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nasbe.org/curbing-cell-phone-use-in-classrooms/">concluding that</a>&nbsp;“bans of devices during the school day alone will not address the complicated, potential harms arising from students’ online behaviors”), but everyone agrees that whatever compromise is reached, it should be implemented consistently, covering all students equally.Unless, perhaps, you attend a private—or shall we say a “faith-based and independent”—school?It’s not that Masterson is opposed to students whose parents opt to home school or to make use of private schools being able to enjoy the educational environments and resources that are generated through Kansas’s free public school system. After all, he has been a major force behind both&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-private-school-students-and-home-schoolers-joining-in-public-school-sports-under-new-law/">making certain that Kansas students being educated privately or at home be allowed to participate in all public school activities, both athletic and academic</a>&nbsp;and promoting school choice plans that could provide up to $200 million in tax relief every year&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/29/senate-republican-promotes-education-freedom-with-125m-voucher-program-for-private-schools/">to support Kansas parents who want to send their children to a private school or teach them at home</a>.&nbsp;Rather, the idea appears to be that, though public schools will be expected to follow the best research in working out how to deal with a problem facing young people throughout Kansas,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://education.jhu.edu/edpolicy/policy-research-initiatives/homeschool-hub/states/kansas/">about 9% of Kansas students</a>&nbsp;(those that attend private or home schools) perhaps ought to be left to their own devices (literally!), all for the sake being free from state mandates, however educationally justified.Of course, the problem isn’t that straightforward. For one thing, regulating how parents impose—or don’t impose—cell phone restrictions while teaching in their children in their own homes would an impossible, and terribly invasive, act. For another, many private schools are very small, and requiring them to comply with state-wide regulations could be terribly burdensome.But still, taking seriously public education is a value deeply rooted in Kansas history and law. Which makes the belief that educational alternatives to publicly funded schools should be given both additional financial support and access to educational resources, but should also be exempt from any concerted action to introduce best practices on those schools and resources, is a difficult one to balance, to say the least.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

Insight Kansas: On cell phones, public schools, and state exemptions

The items are arriving fast and furious for the Eagle On-Line Auction at Hays Post.

&nbsp;If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;

Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>

Bid now on an expansive collection ranging from home essentials to tantalizing restaurant gift cards, and valuable services from esteemed local companies and save.

 Whether you're seeking something specific or just browsing for unexpected finds, our vast selection promises both variety and value. 

The Eagle Radio online auction — where saving money is just a click away!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758644527286.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The items are arriving fast and furious for the Eagle On-Line Auction at Hays Post.&nbsp;If you would like to get in on the action of this year’s online auction, click on the link below.&nbsp;Dive into a digital treasure trove of savings with the Eagle Radio Online Auction!<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/eagle-radio-auction-descriptions-of-items">Click here&nbsp;to get registered, view items and bid.</a>Bid now on an expansive collection ranging from home essentials to tantalizing restaurant gift cards, and valuable services from esteemed local companies and save. Whether you're seeking something specific or just browsing for unexpected finds, our vast selection promises both variety and value. <h2>The Eagle Radio online auction — where saving money is just a click away!</h2>

Eagle Radio Auction live now!

As residents of western Kansas and frequent shoppers in Hays and the surrounding area, we pride ourselves on high voter participation and orderly, well-run elections. 

Our county clerks, poll workers, and volunteers do their jobs carefully and professionally. That is why national proposals like the so-called “SAVE Act” deserve local attention. 

Ellis, Barton, Russell, Trego, Rush and Rooks counties are all affected by the latest proposal by our local politicians, including our senators and representatives, state and federal.

We are neighbors and we know each other without having to carry formal identification. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>As residents of western Kansas and frequent shoppers in Hays and the surrounding area, we pride ourselves on high voter participation and orderly, well-run elections. Our county clerks, poll workers, and volunteers do their jobs carefully and professionally. That is why national proposals like the so-called “SAVE Act” deserve local attention. Ellis, Barton, Russell, Trego, Rush and Rooks counties are all affected by the latest proposal by our local politicians, including our senators and representatives, state and federal.We are neighbors and we know each other without having to carry formal identification. I would bet that Jerry Moran’s wife’s birth certificate does not bear the name Moran. Nor does Barb Wasinger's bear that last name. Nor does Ken Rahjes’s spouse’s birth certificate use anything but her maiden name.&nbsp; You get the gist, right?Many states have gone to same-day voter registration, so if they want to mandate exact matches in last names, then let us do that at the polls, at least. A utility bill, a driver's license, a credit card or a debit card with a photo makes more sense than a passport, which not everyone has.The bill would require documentary proof of citizenship at the time of voting. In practice, federal agencies have often treated passports and certain certified birth certificates as the primary acceptable documents. Many western Kansas residents do not carry or even have passports, and married women whose legal names differ from their birth certificates face additional hurdles or challenges at the polls.In our counties, that matters. We have a significant population of married women, retirees, rural residents, and working families who may not have ready access to updated documentation reflecting every name change over a lifetime. If even a small number of otherwise eligible voters are delayed, challenged or turned away because paperwork does not perfectly align, that affects neighbors, church members, veterans, teachers, Fort Hays State employees, and small business owners right here at home.Supporters of stricter proof requirements argue they are addressing non-citizen voting. However, documented cases of non-citizen voting in Kansas have been exceedingly rare. Our local election officials already verify eligibility during registration. Why should we add another requirement for additional ID at the polls?&nbsp; Before adding new federal mandates, we should carefully weigh whether the burden placed on lawful voters in western Kansas is justified by evidence.At the same time, we are seeing state-level proposals that could impose additional identification or documentation requirements.Again, the practical impact would not be abstract. It would fall on local citizens—particularly elderly residents, women who changed their names decades ago, and rural voters who must travel significant distances to government offices to obtain replacement records.Regardless of party affiliation, we western Kansas citizens should ask whether new federal or state mandates make it easier or harder for eligible neighbors to cast a ballot. Strong elections are secure—but they are also accessible.I encourage readers to respectfully contact Congressman Tracey Mann, Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, and our state legislators—Representatives Wasinger, Rahjes, Waymaster, and our State Senators Billinger and Blew—and ask how proposed voting changes would affect Ellis County, Russell County, Rush County, Rooks County, Trego County and Rice and Barton County voters specifically.We deserve clear answers about how these measures would operate in Hays, Russell, Stockton, WaKeeney, Ellsworth and Great Bend and throughout western Kansas.Our community benefits when lawful participation is protected and confidence in elections is maintained. Both security and access matter. We should insist on policies that preserve both.—Ron Svaty retired Kansas judge and proud citizen of western Kansas

Opinion