By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

Sometimes cooking is a hassle. This is especially true if you are only feeding one or two people. Dining out or preparing a frozen meal can seem to be an easier option, but regularly eating convenience foods can take a toll on your physical health and waistline.

Fast food and TV dinners tend to be high in sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and calories. On the other hand, homemade meals are usually more nutritious and more affordable. When you cook, you are free to be creative! You can substitute ingredients to tailor your meal to your budget and taste. You can also take charge of your diet to improve your self-esteem and overall health.

Here are a few tips for cooking for one or two:

First, make a plan. One of the best ways to simplify the process is to create a menu and grocery list each week. When you menu plan, you take the guesswork out and you will be prepared with ingredients on hand for each meal you make.

Learn how to halve recipes. This may be a rather obvious tip, but most recipes are designed to feed a group of 4-6. Instead of eating leftovers all week long, divide the ingredient portions in half to cut down on food waste.

Cook your main protein once a week. For example, by roasting chicken on the weekend, you can use the leftover meat to quickly create different meals throughout the week. Add the meat to a soup or salad, slice it in sandwiches, use it in tacos, or create a stir-fry or pasta dish.

Use non-traditional protein sources. Think outside of the box by substituting for alternative protein sources. For example, black bean quesadillas or tofu stir-fry are nutritious options that don’t require preparing raw meat. Another option is to get creative with canned meats. Use a pouch of tuna to make tuna salad or a can of chicken to create buffalo chicken dip.

Utilize the freezer. It may be tough to get through an entire meal without it going bad. Dividing leftovers into single-serving portions can help you create healthy frozen meals for days you

don’t have time to cook. You can also freeze perishable foods like bread. Simply, slice, freeze, and take out one or two pieces as needed. Other convenient freezer foods are steamable vegetables and frozen fruits.

Cooking for one or two doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it doesn’t have to involve “cooking” at all! Be prepared with items on hand to create a variety of meals, and be open to trying new foods and recipes. You may realize that preparing simple meals can be nutritious, affordable, and quick.

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSometimes cooking is a hassle. This is especially true if you are only feeding one or two people. Dining out or preparing a frozen meal can seem to be an easier option, but regularly eating convenience foods can take a toll on your physical health and waistline.Fast food and TV dinners tend to be high in sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and calories. On the other hand, homemade meals are usually more nutritious and more affordable. When you cook, you are free to be creative! You can substitute ingredients to tailor your meal to your budget and taste. You can also take charge of your diet to improve your self-esteem and overall health.Here are a few tips for cooking for one or two:First, make a plan. One of the best ways to simplify the process is to create a menu and grocery list each week. When you menu plan, you take the guesswork out and you will be prepared with ingredients on hand for each meal you make.Learn how to halve recipes. This may be a rather obvious tip, but most recipes are designed to feed a group of 4-6. Instead of eating leftovers all week long, divide the ingredient portions in half to cut down on food waste.Cook your main protein once a week. For example, by roasting chicken on the weekend, you can use the leftover meat to quickly create different meals throughout the week. Add the meat to a soup or salad, slice it in sandwiches, use it in tacos, or create a stir-fry or pasta dish.Use non-traditional protein sources. Think outside of the box by substituting for alternative protein sources. For example, black bean quesadillas or tofu stir-fry are nutritious options that don’t require preparing raw meat. Another option is to get creative with canned meats. Use a pouch of tuna to make tuna salad or a can of chicken to create buffalo chicken dip.Utilize the freezer. It may be tough to get through an entire meal without it going bad. Dividing leftovers into single-serving portions can help you create healthy frozen meals for days youdon’t have time to cook. You can also freeze perishable foods like bread. Simply, slice, freeze, and take out one or two pieces as needed. Other convenient freezer foods are steamable vegetables and frozen fruits.Cooking for one or two doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it doesn’t have to involve “cooking” at all! Be prepared with items on hand to create a variety of meals, and be open to trying new foods and recipes. You may realize that preparing simple meals can be nutritious, affordable, and quick.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Cooking for one or two

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Easter ham is a prominent menu item for many Easter gatherings.

When buying a ham, estimate the size needed according to the number of servings the type of ham should yield:

· 1/4 – 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham

· 1/3 – 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in ham

Whether you are cooking a raw ham or preparing a ready-to eat ham product, follow these steps for a ham that is cooked to perfection.

· Ham that is not ready-to-eat but has the appearance of ready-to-eat products will bear a statement on the label indicating the product needs cooking.

· Ham that requires cooking before consumption or fresh, raw ham must reach an internal temperature of 145°F (with a three-minute rest time). Set the oven no lower than 325°F.

Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F, as they are already fully cooked. For cooked hams that have been repackaged in any other location outside the processing plant, heat to an internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer, before you serve it.

Store leftover ham in the refrigerator. Use or freeze leftover ham within 3-5 days. Frozen ham is best used within 1-2 months.

A handy chart is available to determine the temperature and cooking time for the type of ham purchased from the USDA Hams and Food Safety website.

Another popular food at the Easter table are eggs. Usually in the form of deviled eggs. And then, of course, there are dyed eggs that are hidden by the Easter bunny and found by little children Easter morning. We always hoped for good weather because the Easter Egg Hunt was way more fun outside than inside!

Easter is a great time to celebrate with family and friends. If you plan to have an Easter egg hunt with real eggs, here’s some food safety tips to keep in mind.

· Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.

· When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.

· When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.

· Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.

· Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.

· Remember the two hour rule, and make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours.

· Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.

Have fun weekend and enjoy your Easter Dinner!

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictEaster ham is a prominent menu item for many Easter gatherings.When buying a ham, estimate the size needed according to the number of servings the type of ham should yield:· 1/4 – 1/3 lb. per serving of boneless ham· 1/3 – 1/2 lb. of meat per serving of bone-in hamWhether you are cooking a raw ham or preparing a ready-to eat ham product, follow these steps for a ham that is cooked to perfection.· Ham that is not ready-to-eat but has the appearance of ready-to-eat products will bear a statement on the label indicating the product needs cooking.· Ham that requires cooking before consumption or fresh, raw ham must reach an internal temperature of 145°F (with a three-minute rest time). Set the oven no lower than 325°F.Cooked canned ham and cooked vacuum-packaged ham, both from federally inspected plants, can be eaten right out of the package. All of these along with spiral-cut cooked ham are safe to eat cold or can be warmed to an internal temperature of 145°F, as they are already fully cooked. For cooked hams that have been repackaged in any other location outside the processing plant, heat to an internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer, before you serve it.Store leftover ham in the refrigerator. Use or freeze leftover ham within 3-5 days. Frozen ham is best used within 1-2 months.A handy chart is available to determine the temperature and cooking time for the type of ham purchased from the USDA Hams and Food Safety website.Another popular food at the Easter table are eggs. Usually in the form of deviled eggs. And then, of course, there are dyed eggs that are hidden by the Easter bunny and found by little children Easter morning. We always hoped for good weather because the Easter Egg Hunt was way more fun outside than inside!Easter is a great time to celebrate with family and friends. If you plan to have an Easter egg hunt with real eggs, here’s some food safety tips to keep in mind.· Only use eggs that have been refrigerated, and discard eggs that are cracked or dirty.· When cooking, place a single layer of eggs in a saucepan. Add water to at least one inch above the eggs. Cover the pan, bring the water to a boil, and carefully remove the pan from the heat. Let the eggs stand (18 minutes for extra large eggs, 15 minutes for large, 12 minutes for medium). Immediately run cold water over the eggs. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, place them in an uncovered container in the refrigerator where they can air-dry.· When decorating, be sure to use food-grade dyes. It is safe to use commercial egg dyes, liquid food coloring, and fruit-drink powders. When handling eggs, be careful not to crack them. Otherwise, bacteria could enter the egg through the cracks in the shell.· Keep hard-cooked Easter eggs chilled on a shelf inside the refrigerator, not in the refrigerator door.· Hide the eggs in places that are protected from dirt, pets and other potential sources of bacteria.· Remember the two hour rule, and make sure the “found” eggs are back in the refrigerator or consumed within two hours.· Remember that hard-boiled eggs are only safe to eat for one week after cooking.Have fun weekend and enjoy your Easter Dinner!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Ham It Up and Celebrate Easter with Egg-stra Care

The budget process continues to move forward. This coming Monday, March 25, we will call our first conference committee to get an overview and compare the differences in the House and Senate budget. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to call additional conferences on Monday.

This upcoming week will be spent on the Chamber floors debating the final bills for this session. All the committees with exception of a couple of exempt committees, which includes Appropriations and Ways and Means, Tax Committee and Federal and State committee will not meet again this year.

The Senate had an informational hearing on Medicaid Expansion last week. The House also had a hearing, and a motion was made to pass the Governors Medicaid Expansion bill out of committee which failed. The meeting was very civil and both sides had opportunities to present their case for and against expansion.

The Senate passed HB 2783 which would prohibit any state agency, city, or county from regulating or restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source used by the vehicle for propulsion or for powering other functions. This bill was necessary to ensure that this troubling trend occurring in other states which restricts the use of fossil fuels does not occur in Kansas.

HB 2562 passed out of the Senate and will create the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which would, among other things, require a broker-dealer or investment adviser to promptly report to designated protective agencies instances in which the financial exploitation of an eligible adult may have occurred or has or is being attempted. The bill would also allow a broker-dealer or investment adviser to delay a transaction with or disbursement from an account of an eligible adult, including account beneficiaries, when financial exploitation is expected. In addition, the bill would amend the Kansas Uniform Securities Act (KUSA) to include within provisions governing grounds for discipline a knowing failure to make a report required under the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act.

SB 371 passed the Senate and will expand current provisions to permit the issuance of a silver alert for a missing person who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual disability and in other specific circumstances.

SB 493 would amend law concerning ignition interlock devices to require manufacturers of such devices to pay fees to the Kansas Highway Patrol for administration, oversight, and monitoring of the IID program. The bill would also establish the IID Fee Program Fund.

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 concerns. My office&nbsp;number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office, room 545-S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675701343257.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka March 24, 2024 The budget process continues to move forward. This coming Monday, March 25, we will call our first conference committee to get an overview and compare the differences in the House and Senate budget. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to call additional conferences on Monday.This upcoming week will be spent on the Chamber floors debating the final bills for this session. All the committees with exception of a couple of exempt committees, which includes Appropriations and Ways and Means, Tax Committee and Federal and State committee will not meet again this year.The Senate had an informational hearing on Medicaid Expansion last week. The House also had a hearing, and a motion was made to pass the Governors Medicaid Expansion bill out of committee which failed. The meeting was very civil and both sides had opportunities to present their case for and against expansion.The Senate passed HB 2783 which would prohibit any state agency, city, or county from regulating or restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source used by the vehicle for propulsion or for powering other functions. This bill was necessary to ensure that this troubling trend occurring in other states which restricts the use of fossil fuels does not occur in Kansas.HB 2562 passed out of the Senate and will create the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which would, among other things, require a broker-dealer or investment adviser to promptly report to designated protective agencies instances in which the financial exploitation of an eligible adult may have occurred or has or is being attempted. The bill would also allow a broker-dealer or investment adviser to delay a transaction with or disbursement from an account of an eligible adult, including account beneficiaries, when financial exploitation is expected. In addition, the bill would amend the Kansas Uniform Securities Act (KUSA) to include within provisions governing grounds for discipline a knowing failure to make a report required under the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act.SB 371 passed the Senate and will expand current provisions to permit the issuance of a silver alert for a missing person who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual disability and in other specific circumstances.SB 493 would amend law concerning ignition interlock devices to require manufacturers of such devices to pay fees to the Kansas Highway Patrol for administration, oversight, and monitoring of the IID program. The bill would also establish the IID Fee Program Fund.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 concerns. My office&nbsp;number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office, room 545-S.

BILLINGER: Senate Update, March 25; Budget process moves forward 

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS - WEEKLY OVERVIEW March 25, 2024

This week the Senate concluded committee meetings; there are a total of 16 standing committees in the Senate. Monday will start a four-day week to complete the regular part of the 2024 legislative session. After the conclusion of the regular session with conference committee action the next week, the legislature is scheduled to take a three-week break before returning for the veto session to wrap up in late April.

SENATE FLOOR ACTION HB 2790 transfers the registration, compliance oversight, and enforcement authority for professional employer organizations from the Commissioner of Insurance to the Secretary of State, effective January 1, 2025. The bill passed 39-0. I voted yes.

HB 2629 would amend provisions in law pertaining to the State Child Death Review Board. The bill would require a coroner to immediately notify the parent or legal guardian that an autopsy of their child had been completed and to provide information on how to obtain the autopsy results. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2498 would authorize issuance of a First City of Kansas distinctive license plate and would require the county of registration to be displayed on most license plates. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2745 would limit the application of the statute providing for reciprocal occupational licensing for military service members and military spouses to provide that such applicants would be exempt from all fees for applications for any such credential assessed by the licensing body. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2481 would designate two portions of K-96 highway and a bridge in Sumner County in honor of deceased service members from Kansas. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2760 would abolish (rename) the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office and create the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2562 would create the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which would, among other things, require a broker-dealer or investment adviser to promptly report to designated protective agencies. The bill passed 38-2. I voted yes.

HB 2176 would create the Arkansas City Area Public Library District Act and the Udall Area Public Library District Act and to adopt resolutions submitting to voters the question of creating a library district and a proposed tax levy amount. The bill passed 36-4. I voted yes.

HB 2532 would amend provisions pertaining to certain financial reporting requirements on group-funded liability and group-funded workers compensation pools. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2557 would amend the definition of the term “peer support counseling session” within the Kansas Rules of Evidence. The bill passed 36-4. I voted yes.

SB 371 would expand current provisions to permit the issuance of a silver alert for a missing person who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual disability. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2531 would amend the effective date specified in the Insurance Code for the risk-based capital instructions promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for property and casualty companies and for life insurance companies. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 493 would amend law concerning ignition interlock devices to require manufacturers of such devices to pay fees to the Kansas Highway Patrol for administration, oversight, and monitoring of the IID program. The bill passed 28-12. I voted yes.

HB 2530 would amend the definition of “person” in law regarding violations of insurance law by removing references to automobile clubs under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Insurance. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

HB 2525 would direct the Secretary of Health and Environment to deposit several fees into the Water Program Management Fund. The bill passed 39-1. I voted yes.

HB 2561 would amend and enact law supplemental to the State Credit Union Code to authorize domestic credit unions to do business outside the state. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.

Several legislative townhalls have been conducted throughout the 36th Kansas Senate District with more scheduled in the upcoming few weeks. On April 6, Senator Billinger, Representative Rahjes, and I will be in Stockton at 10:45 am at the Stockton City Building. Next, we will be in Phillipsburg at 12:30 p.m. at the Huck Boyd Community Center. On April 13, there is a Legislative Coffee scheduled in Concordia at 8:00 a.m. at Jitters Coffee House with Representative Susan Concannon and Representative Bill Bloom sponsored by Farm Bureau. Representative Concannon and I are scheduled to be in Beloit on April 20 at 9:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church.

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E300 SW 10th St. Topeka, KS 66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas, which includes:

* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington Counties* Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville; Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek, Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville* Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg; Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom, Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum, Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner, Valley and Walnut

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SENATE HIGHLIGHTS - WEEKLY OVERVIEW March 25, 2024This week the Senate concluded committee meetings; there are a total of 16 standing committees in the Senate. Monday will start a four-day week to complete the regular part of the 2024 legislative session. After the conclusion of the regular session with conference committee action the next week, the legislature is scheduled to take a three-week break before returning for the veto session to wrap up in late April.SENATE FLOOR ACTION HB 2790 transfers the registration, compliance oversight, and enforcement authority for professional employer organizations from the Commissioner of Insurance to the Secretary of State, effective January 1, 2025. The bill passed 39-0. I voted yes.HB 2629 would amend provisions in law pertaining to the State Child Death Review Board. The bill would require a coroner to immediately notify the parent or legal guardian that an autopsy of their child had been completed and to provide information on how to obtain the autopsy results. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2498 would authorize issuance of a First City of Kansas distinctive license plate and would require the county of registration to be displayed on most license plates. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2745 would limit the application of the statute providing for reciprocal occupational licensing for military service members and military spouses to provide that such applicants would be exempt from all fees for applications for any such credential assessed by the licensing body. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2481 would designate two portions of K-96 highway and a bridge in Sumner County in honor of deceased service members from Kansas. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2760 would abolish (rename) the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office and create the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2562 would create the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which would, among other things, require a broker-dealer or investment adviser to promptly report to designated protective agencies. The bill passed 38-2. I voted yes.HB 2176 would create the Arkansas City Area Public Library District Act and the Udall Area Public Library District Act and to adopt resolutions submitting to voters the question of creating a library district and a proposed tax levy amount. The bill passed 36-4. I voted yes.HB 2532 would amend provisions pertaining to certain financial reporting requirements on group-funded liability and group-funded workers compensation pools. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2557 would amend the definition of the term “peer support counseling session” within the Kansas Rules of Evidence. The bill passed 36-4. I voted yes.SB 371 would expand current provisions to permit the issuance of a silver alert for a missing person who is 18 years of age or older and has an intellectual disability. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2531 would amend the effective date specified in the Insurance Code for the risk-based capital instructions promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for property and casualty companies and for life insurance companies. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.SB 493 would amend law concerning ignition interlock devices to require manufacturers of such devices to pay fees to the Kansas Highway Patrol for administration, oversight, and monitoring of the IID program. The bill passed 28-12. I voted yes.HB 2530 would amend the definition of “person” in law regarding violations of insurance law by removing references to automobile clubs under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Insurance. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.HB 2525 would direct the Secretary of Health and Environment to deposit several fees into the Water Program Management Fund. The bill passed 39-1. I voted yes.HB 2561 would amend and enact law supplemental to the State Credit Union Code to authorize domestic credit unions to do business outside the state. The bill passed 40-0. I voted yes.Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.LEGISLATIVE TOWNHALLSSeveral legislative townhalls have been conducted throughout the 36th Kansas Senate District with more scheduled in the upcoming few weeks. On April 6, Senator Billinger, Representative Rahjes, and I will be in Stockton at 10:45 am at the Stockton City Building. Next, we will be in Phillipsburg at 12:30 p.m. at the Huck Boyd Community Center. On April 13, there is a Legislative Coffee scheduled in Concordia at 8:00 a.m. at Jitters Coffee House with Representative Susan Concannon and Representative Bill Bloom sponsored by Farm Bureau. Representative Concannon and I are scheduled to be in Beloit on April 20 at 9:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church.THANK YOU FOR ENGAGINGThank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. Helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E300 SW 10th St. Topeka, KS 66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas, which includes:* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington Counties* Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville; Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek, Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville* Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg; Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom, Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum, Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner, Valley and Walnut

BOWERS: 2024 Senate Scene Week 11; Final regular part of session

Tuesday, March 19, I lead the debate on the House floor for the budget that is in House Substitute for House Bill 2273. The debate on the floor lasted nearly three hours after numerous amendments were offered.

The budget bill from the House is considerably different than the budget that was submitted by the governor. For fiscal year 2024, we reduced spending from the governor’s budget by approximately $450 million, all funds, and in fiscal year 2025, we reduced spending by $330 million from the governor’s recommendation with state general fund dollars, and an all funds decrease by $939 million.

The highlights of the budget bill are that in 2024, we will expedite the paying off of three bonds totaling $47.7 million; address the security breach that occurred last fall with the judicial branch; allocates to the University of Kansas and Wichita State University collaboration for a health science center $30 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies.

The highlights for fiscal year 2025 are increases to the Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and physicians. The bill also stipulates that we will reduce the waiting list for the intellectually developmental disability waiver by 500 individuals and the same number for the physical disability waiver. We also included $23.4 million for Medicaid payments for our nursing care facilities.

Included in the budget are all the projects that we crafted to address economic development across the state of Kansas in fiscal year 2025. This includes $10 million for the World Cup event in Kansas City, and if the legislature approves of how the funds were utilized, another $18 million may be dispersed in 2026. An allocation of $16.9 million to northwest Kansas for retail and housing, $20 million for the Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson, $6 million to address transportation needs when the Hilmar Plant is operational, and $4 million for three small communities in southwest Kansas that are losing their natural gas sources. All of these projects are funded with the remaining ARPA money or through a special revenue fund. None of these projects are funded with state general fund dollars.

The budget bill passed the House Floor, 91-32, now we begin conference committee with the Senate.

Since the budget was debated on the House Floor, the House Appropriations Committee only met on Wednesday and Thursday. During these meetings, we held informational hearings. Tuesday, we heard from the Kansas Lottery and they provided an update regarding the lottery, new lottery vending machines, casinos, and sports betting.&nbsp;

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission gave us a briefing on the new Historical Horse Racing Machines facility that is being built in Park City.

Wednesday, we heard about the aviation initiatives from the Kansas Department of Transportation and the projects that were just announced. We also heard about the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul initiative in Wichita, Salina, and Topeka.

Tuesday, the House Federal and State Affairs committee had a hearing on House Bill 2653, a bill that provides for child support orders for unborn children from the date of conception. Wednesday, the committee had a hearing on Senate Bill 347, which abolishes the current Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission and creates a new commission with the requirement that the new commission is confirmed by the Senate.

The House Taxation Committee had a hearing on House Bill 2844 Wednesday regarding a new two-rate tax plan. This plan would also incorporate modifications to the personal standard deduction, increasing the property tax exemption and the amount taxed for social security, and the elimination of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund.

Also on Wednesday, March 20, the House Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on Medicaid expansion. This hearing has been requested by many.

Thursday, the Higher Education Committee heard House Bill 2464, which increases the dollar amount of state scholarships for students attending a postsecondary educational institution with financial needs.

Anytime that you would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, you can tune in by video or audio at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me 785-296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at-troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Rep. Troy Waymaster is the House Appropriations Committee chairman and representative of the Kansas House 109th District which includes Ellsworth, Lincoln, Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621346439026.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>March 22, 2024 TopekaBudget Bill Debated In the HouseTuesday, March 19, I lead the debate on the House floor for the budget that is in House Substitute for House Bill 2273. The debate on the floor lasted nearly three hours after numerous amendments were offered.The budget bill from the House is considerably different than the budget that was submitted by the governor. For fiscal year 2024, we reduced spending from the governor’s budget by approximately $450 million, all funds, and in fiscal year 2025, we reduced spending by $330 million from the governor’s recommendation with state general fund dollars, and an all funds decrease by $939 million.The highlights of the budget bill are that in 2024, we will expedite the paying off of three bonds totaling $47.7 million; address the security breach that occurred last fall with the judicial branch; allocates to the University of Kansas and Wichita State University collaboration for a health science center $30 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies.The highlights for fiscal year 2025 are increases to the Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and physicians. The bill also stipulates that we will reduce the waiting list for the intellectually developmental disability waiver by 500 individuals and the same number for the physical disability waiver. We also included $23.4 million for Medicaid payments for our nursing care facilities.Included in the budget are all the projects that we crafted to address economic development across the state of Kansas in fiscal year 2025. This includes $10 million for the World Cup event in Kansas City, and if the legislature approves of how the funds were utilized, another $18 million may be dispersed in 2026. An allocation of $16.9 million to northwest Kansas for retail and housing, $20 million for the Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson, $6 million to address transportation needs when the Hilmar Plant is operational, and $4 million for three small communities in southwest Kansas that are losing their natural gas sources. All of these projects are funded with the remaining ARPA money or through a special revenue fund. None of these projects are funded with state general fund dollars.The budget bill passed the House Floor, 91-32, now we begin conference committee with the Senate.Appropriations CommitteeSince the budget was debated on the House Floor, the House Appropriations Committee only met on Wednesday and Thursday. During these meetings, we held informational hearings. Tuesday, we heard from the Kansas Lottery and they provided an update regarding the lottery, new lottery vending machines, casinos, and sports betting.&nbsp;The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission gave us a briefing on the new Historical Horse Racing Machines facility that is being built in Park City.Wednesday, we heard about the aviation initiatives from the Kansas Department of Transportation and the projects that were just announced. We also heard about the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul initiative in Wichita, Salina, and Topeka.Bills In House CommitteesTuesday, the House Federal and State Affairs committee had a hearing on House Bill 2653, a bill that provides for child support orders for unborn children from the date of conception. Wednesday, the committee had a hearing on Senate Bill 347, which abolishes the current Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission and creates a new commission with the requirement that the new commission is confirmed by the Senate.The House Taxation Committee had a hearing on House Bill 2844 Wednesday regarding a new two-rate tax plan. This plan would also incorporate modifications to the personal standard deduction, increasing the property tax exemption and the amount taxed for social security, and the elimination of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund.Also on Wednesday, March 20, the House Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on Medicaid expansion. This hearing has been requested by many.Thursday, the Higher Education Committee heard House Bill 2464, which increases the dollar amount of state scholarships for students attending a postsecondary educational institution with financial needs.Contact InformationAnytime that you would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, you can tune in by video or audio at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me 785-296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at-troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Rep. Troy Waymaster is the House Appropriations Committee chairman and representative of the Kansas House 109th District which includes Ellsworth, Lincoln, Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties.&nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, March 22; budget bill debated in the House

By RUSSELL FOX Insight Kansas

When my wife and I went to vote last Tuesday, the polling station was nearly empty. One of the election workers told me it was the least busy election she’d ever seen, and as a political junkie, that did make me a little sad. Not sad enough to wish things had been entirely different, though.

Not that the results of the first state-wide presidential primary held in more than 30 years covered Kansas voters with glory. Overall, barely over 8% of all registered Democrats in the whole state participated, with the Republicans doing only slightly better, with not quite 11% turning out. Cleary, Kansas voters weren’t fired up by the choices available to them.

But then, no one expected them to be. President Biden and Donald Trump had already secured more than enough delegates to win their parties’ presidential nominations. So what substantive reason was there to participate, anyway? Why did my wife and I, along with thousands of others?

First, because the substantive results aren’t the whole story; sometimes, voters have symbolic goals in mind. Some Republicans wanted to run up Trump’s totals as show of support in the midst of all his legal penalties and controversies. (He received 75% of the Republican vote, which wasn’t a record.) And some Democrats cast protest votes as a way of communicating their disapproval of some of Biden’s policy choices. (About 10% of Democrats chose “None of these names”; Biden won 84%.) But second, there is also the civic value of the procedure itself.

True, the civic process of this primary election was pretty tame. Some, including Governor Laura Kelly, have talked wistfully about how they prefer the “energy and excitement” of the caucus system of selecting presidential delegates, with voters and activists and party leaders crowding into rooms at an appointed date and time, arguing and yelling, sometimes literally pulling on one another as supporters of different candidates line up and get counted.

I attended the Democratic presidential caucuses in Kansas in 2008 and 2016, and the Kansas Republican caucus in 2012, and I agree—the level of engagement on display there is appealing. But with blocks of voters shouting down their opponents, making the halls that parties rent out to handle the crush of voters who show up confusing and cacophonous, the process is alienating as well—and not good for those who are in the minority, yet still have a symbolic stand they wish to take.

In truth, caucuses emerged in the context of a more rural and spatially intact political environment; for all the direct democracy caucuses supposedly provide, in our more divided and urban social contexts, allowing for simple voting in a statewide primary makes more sense.

Except, of course, that if it comes down to just casting a ballot for a preferred candidate, you’re only going to get a large turnout if the results are expected to have an impact.

Moving the Kansas primary earlier in the election year calendar would make some difference; adding our state to the 16 others that vote on Super Tuesday, inching the country closer to an unofficial nation-wide presidential primary, might make even more.

Either way, though, I was glad for this primary, and I hope the legislature will organize it again in four years’ time. True, a straight-up primary vote isn’t an exciting, participatory democratic process, and this year was especially predictable. But giving citizens broadly the chance to democratically express themselves doesn’t have to be exciting; sometimes, it just needs to be.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687979607618.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RUSSELL FOX Insight KansasWhen my wife and I went to vote last Tuesday, the polling station was nearly empty. One of the election workers told me it was the least busy election she’d ever seen, and as a political junkie, that did make me a little sad. Not sad enough to wish things had been entirely different, though.Not that the results of the first state-wide presidential primary held in more than 30 years covered Kansas voters with glory. Overall, barely over 8% of all registered Democrats in the whole state participated, with the Republicans doing only slightly better, with not quite 11% turning out. Cleary, Kansas voters weren’t fired up by the choices available to them.But then, no one expected them to be. President Biden and Donald Trump had already secured more than enough delegates to win their parties’ presidential nominations. So what substantive reason was there to participate, anyway? Why did my wife and I, along with thousands of others?First, because the substantive results aren’t the whole story; sometimes, voters have symbolic goals in mind. Some Republicans wanted to run up Trump’s totals as show of support in the midst of all his legal penalties and controversies. (He received 75% of the Republican vote, which wasn’t a record.) And some Democrats cast protest votes as a way of communicating their disapproval of some of Biden’s policy choices. (About 10% of Democrats chose “None of these names”; Biden won 84%.) But second, there is also the civic value of the procedure itself.True, the civic process of this primary election was pretty tame. Some, including Governor Laura Kelly, have talked wistfully about how they prefer the “energy and excitement” of the caucus system of selecting presidential delegates, with voters and activists and party leaders crowding into rooms at an appointed date and time, arguing and yelling, sometimes literally pulling on one another as supporters of different candidates line up and get counted.I attended the Democratic presidential caucuses in Kansas in 2008 and 2016, and the Kansas Republican caucus in 2012, and I agree—the level of engagement on display there is appealing. But with blocks of voters shouting down their opponents, making the halls that parties rent out to handle the crush of voters who show up confusing and cacophonous, the process is alienating as well—and not good for those who are in the minority, yet still have a symbolic stand they wish to take.In truth, caucuses emerged in the context of a more rural and spatially intact political environment; for all the direct democracy caucuses supposedly provide, in our more divided and urban social contexts, allowing for simple voting in a statewide primary makes more sense.Except, of course, that if it comes down to just casting a ballot for a preferred candidate, you’re only going to get a large turnout if the results are expected to have an impact.Moving the Kansas primary earlier in the election year calendar would make some difference; adding our state to the 16 others that vote on Super Tuesday, inching the country closer to an unofficial nation-wide presidential primary, might make even more.Either way, though, I was glad for this primary, and I hope the legislature will organize it again in four years’ time. True, a straight-up primary vote isn’t an exciting, participatory democratic process, and this year was especially predictable. But giving citizens broadly the chance to democratically express themselves doesn’t have to be exciting; sometimes, it just needs to be.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Why even uneventful primaries are better than raucous caucuses

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Alfalfa weevil eggs are laid inside alfalfa stems in the fall and spring. Larvae feed on terminal and upper plant leaves early in the spring. Resulting in damage occurring before the first cutting.

Alfalfa weevil degree days are a great way to estimate what might be going on in the field and serve as a useful tool to know when to time scouting. Alfalfa weevil eggs begin hatching after 300 degree days have accumulated. Since we cannot determine if eggs present were laid the previous fall or the current spring, in Kansas, scouting should start after 180 degree days have accumulated starting from January 1.

Degree day accumulations for Kansas alfalfa weevils are well ahead of normal for the entire state this year. A similar trend occurred in 2023. There were reports of treatable infestations in south-central Kansas during the last week of March, and in mid-April of 2023, fields were being treated, or close to being treated, in the central, southeast, and northeast regions of the state. It is recommended that scouting for weevil activity should be occurring now in all regions of the state, says Anthony Zukoff, K-State Extension Entomologist.

Be aware of insecticide resistance - while warmer spring temperatures allow for faster alfalfa weevil development, be aware that dramatic temperature drops can slow down alfalfa growth, making the plants unable to keep up with feeding damage. Treatment may be warranted in shorter fields between 3 and 7 inches tall when feeding is evident on the top inch of growth and 1 to 2 larvae are present. If a field is treated, it is important to verify that the expected amount of control was achieved. In 2020, populations of alfalfa weevil resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II w/Zeon Tech) were verified in northwest and southwest Kansas and Oklahoma. While this resistance has not appeared to become a widespread problem for Kansas producers, a couple of fields reported in central Kansas last year where lambda-cyhalothrin had reduced efficacy. Oklahoma continues to have resistance statewide. Numerous products are available for alfalfa weevil control in Kansas. When making management decisions, it is important to rotate modes of action as this is an effective way to prevent the development of resistance.

One update to control options to be aware of for 2024 is the reversal of the EPA’s ruling to ban chlorpyrifos (Lorsban and others). On November 2, 2023, the Eighth Circuit issued a ruling vacating EPA’s final rule and sending the issue of chlorpyrifos tolerances back to EPA for further proceedings. Following that, the EPA issued a technical correction in which 11 special uses of chlorpyriphos were allowed. Among the 11 special uses pertinent to Kansas are alfalfa, cotton, soybean, and winter wheat.

For the most up-to-date alfalfa weevil degree day accumulations, visit the Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day Calculator (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/). For a complete guide to alfalfa weevil management recommendations, please refer to the upcoming K-State Research &amp; Extension publication 2024 Alfalfa Insect Pest Management Guide that will be available online soon.

Information provided by Anthony Zukoff, K-State Extension Entomologist.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictAlfalfa weevil eggs are laid inside alfalfa stems in the fall and spring. Larvae feed on terminal and upper plant leaves early in the spring. Resulting in damage occurring before the first cutting.Alfalfa weevil degree days are a great way to estimate what might be going on in the field and serve as a useful tool to know when to time scouting. Alfalfa weevil eggs begin hatching after 300 degree days have accumulated. Since we cannot determine if eggs present were laid the previous fall or the current spring, in Kansas, scouting should start after 180 degree days have accumulated starting from January 1.Degree day accumulations for Kansas alfalfa weevils are well ahead of normal for the entire state this year. A similar trend occurred in 2023. There were reports of treatable infestations in south-central Kansas during the last week of March, and in mid-April of 2023, fields were being treated, or close to being treated, in the central, southeast, and northeast regions of the state. It is recommended that scouting for weevil activity should be occurring now in all regions of the state, says Anthony Zukoff, K-State Extension Entomologist.Be aware of insecticide resistance - while warmer spring temperatures allow for faster alfalfa weevil development, be aware that dramatic temperature drops can slow down alfalfa growth, making the plants unable to keep up with feeding damage. Treatment may be warranted in shorter fields between 3 and 7 inches tall when feeding is evident on the top inch of growth and 1 to 2 larvae are present. If a field is treated, it is important to verify that the expected amount of control was achieved. In 2020, populations of alfalfa weevil resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II w/Zeon Tech) were verified in northwest and southwest Kansas and Oklahoma. While this resistance has not appeared to become a widespread problem for Kansas producers, a couple of fields reported in central Kansas last year where lambda-cyhalothrin had reduced efficacy. Oklahoma continues to have resistance statewide. Numerous products are available for alfalfa weevil control in Kansas. When making management decisions, it is important to rotate modes of action as this is an effective way to prevent the development of resistance.One update to control options to be aware of for 2024 is the reversal of the EPA’s ruling to ban chlorpyrifos (Lorsban and others). On November 2, 2023, the Eighth Circuit issued a ruling vacating EPA’s final rule and sending the issue of chlorpyrifos tolerances back to EPA for further proceedings. Following that, the EPA issued a technical correction in which 11 special uses of chlorpyriphos were allowed. Among the 11 special uses pertinent to Kansas are alfalfa, cotton, soybean, and winter wheat.For the most up-to-date alfalfa weevil degree day accumulations, visit the Kansas Mesonet Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day Calculator (https://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/degreedays/). For a complete guide to alfalfa weevil management recommendations, please refer to the upcoming K-State Research &amp; Extension publication 2024 Alfalfa Insect Pest Management Guide that will be available online soon.Information provided by Anthony Zukoff, K-State Extension Entomologist.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

Campbell: Start monitoring alfalfa weevils using degree days and scouting

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

By any standards, the short-form video&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/en/">app TikTok</a>&nbsp;enjoys enormous influence:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/20/1198910435/1a-03-20-2024">170 million</a>&nbsp;Americans use it, while its addictive algorithm has both launched businesses and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/15/more-americans-are-getting-news-on-tiktok-bucking-the-trend-seen-on-most-other-social-media-sites/">brought news coverage</a>&nbsp;to those younger than 30.

A success story, right? A win-win for folks addicted to their phones and those looking to deepen public conversation about vital issues.

Every member of Kansas’ congressional delegation — representatives and senators, Republicans and Democrats — wants to end TikTok as we currently know it. In the House, Reps. Jake LaTurner, Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Sharice Davids&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/tiktok-ban-house-vote/">all voted</a>&nbsp;for a bill that would force TikTok’s Chinese-controlled parent company to divest the app.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">dubious claim</a>, repeated ceaselessly in Washington, D.C., is that China somehow has extracted useful data from U.S. users and propagandized them. China&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-house-vote-force-bytedance-divest-tiktok-or-face-ban-2024-03-13/">has denounced</a>&nbsp;the bill. Platform supporters call it a ban, given that owner ByteDance has no interest in selling.

But let’s listen to what the Kansas congressional members have to say.

Of the House members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://laturner.house.gov/">LaTurner</a>&nbsp;took the hard line: “The Chinese Communist Party will stop at nothing to gain influence in the United States — including using TikTok to steal keystrokes and data from over 170 million Americans. It’s vital that TikTok cuts ties with the CCP to ensure Kansans are not being targeted, manipulated, and spied on by our nation’s greatest foreign adversary.”

<a target="_blank" href="http://davids.house.gov/">Davids</a>&nbsp;spokesman Zac Donley tried a softer approach: “Rep. Davids understands the role that TikTok plays in the lives of many Kansans, including our small business owners, but also recognizes the potential negative impact the Chinese Communist Party could have on our youth and Kansans’ data security.”

I reached out to the press operations of Estes and Mann but didn’t hear back.

This all sounds concerning. So I opened TikTok on my phone to see what evil messages were being promoted by the (DA-DUM) Chinese Communist Party. Here are the first five videos I saw on my “For You Page” (the section full of algorithmically generated recommendations):

I’m definitely not going to support&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-20/china-on-track-to-be-ready-for-taiwan-invasion-by-2027-us-says">Taiwanese independence</a>&nbsp;now!

Yes, I use TikTok. I enjoy it. Unlike most other social media platforms, it lifts my spirits. I follow a small group of people whose interests and experiences complement my own, and occasionally it recommends silly clips like the ones mentioned above.

No, I don’t think it’s entirely benign.

Tough questions about TikTok — how it gathers data, what it recommends, how it hooks users — should be asked. But they are the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/">exact same questions</a>&nbsp;that informed citizens should ask about every high-flown tech company that harvests information from the public.

Google and Facebook and Apple have become so gargantuan and important because they reach into the lives of so many people. Indeed, Google&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-does-google-know-about-me-search-history-delete-2019-10">probably knows</a>&nbsp;more about you and me and our friends and relations than any other company in history of the republic. According to Business Insider, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://about.google/">California-based behemoth</a>&nbsp;can correctly infer your “age, gender, marital status, income bracket, and personal interests.”

Does that make you feel warm and fuzzy and confident about the safety of your personal information?

I fail to see how another country’s ownership of a social media platform truly threatens national security. Sure, the company’s overlords in Beijing could tweak the algorithm to surface certain results rather than others, but that’s what&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.404media.co/the-u-s-wants-to-ban-tiktok-for-the-sins-of-every-social-media-company/">social media does</a>. It serves up content that users want and demand. If it doesn’t, users (and advertisers)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/the-rise-and-fall-of-myspace/69444/">flee elsewhere</a>.

Again, there may be abuse. There may be efforts to influence popular opinion. But none of that means that TikTok has seized control of innocent children’s minds,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/07/kansas-sues-tiktok-for-allegedly-hooking-minors-on-dopamine-spiking-filth-profanity/">lawsuit from</a>&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach notwithstanding.

What we’re seeing here is a good, old-fashioned&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100208829">moral panic</a>. Generations past lost their collective minds about the introduction of television, rock and roll, and women wearing pants. Mothers and fathers fretted about Dungeons and Dragons games, dial-up internet, and music videos.

Or as Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman put it,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/03/tiktok-ban-update-senate-house-bill-bytedance.html">according to Slate</a>: “I remember Mötley Crüe was dangerous with my parents, and they never took away my Mötley Crüe.”

He still supports the divesture bill, though.

Having passed the House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/tiktok-ban-house-vote/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4">352-65</a>, the legislation now heads to the Senate.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-releases-statement-on-house-passed-tiktok-legislation/">released a statement</a>: “My number one job in the Senate is to provide for the safety and security of Kansas families. That is why, as long as the CCP owns it, TikTok needs to be banned. Americans always think the best of people, but we can’t underestimate China and its relentless war against America.”

Kansas Sen.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/u-s-sen-jerry-moran/">Jerry Moran</a>&nbsp;took a decidedly more cautious tone: “Foreign adversaries are increasingly using products and services to collect information on American citizens, posing a threat to our national security. I introduced legislation that would equip the Department of Commerce with the authority to prevent our adversaries from controlling harmful technology products and services in the U.S. like social media apps. This legislation would apply to TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and any company that tries to infiltrate our information or communications systems.”

Overall, senators seem to lean Moran’s way rather than Marshalls. Many say they want to take a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/21/tiktok-ban-senate-congress-democrats-republicans-gop/73055026007/">deliberate approach</a>.

Here’s hoping they take a look at what people actually use TikTok for, how the app has allowed for widespread dissemination of news and opinion (including from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ksreflector">Kansas Reflector</a>) and what social media means for our civic health. Such conversation won’t just take time — they will demand a willingness to ask tough questions about how we&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://theweek.com/tech/1006180/is-big-tech-its-own-country-not-really">got here</a>&nbsp;and who’s really to blame.

Hint: It’s not the Chinese Communist Party.

Clay&nbsp;Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711123980368.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>By any standards, the short-form video&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/en/">app TikTok</a>&nbsp;enjoys enormous influence:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/20/1198910435/1a-03-20-2024">170 million</a>&nbsp;Americans use it, while its addictive algorithm has both launched businesses and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/15/more-americans-are-getting-news-on-tiktok-bucking-the-trend-seen-on-most-other-social-media-sites/">brought news coverage</a>&nbsp;to those younger than 30.A success story, right? A win-win for folks addicted to their phones and those looking to deepen public conversation about vital issues.Not so fast.Every member of Kansas’ congressional delegation — representatives and senators, Republicans and Democrats — wants to end TikTok as we currently know it. In the House, Reps. Jake LaTurner, Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Sharice Davids&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/tiktok-ban-house-vote/">all voted</a>&nbsp;for a bill that would force TikTok’s Chinese-controlled parent company to divest the app.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">dubious claim</a>, repeated ceaselessly in Washington, D.C., is that China somehow has extracted useful data from U.S. users and propagandized them. China&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-house-vote-force-bytedance-divest-tiktok-or-face-ban-2024-03-13/">has denounced</a>&nbsp;the bill. Platform supporters call it a ban, given that owner ByteDance has no interest in selling.But let’s listen to what the Kansas congressional members have to say.Of the House members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://laturner.house.gov/">LaTurner</a>&nbsp;took the hard line: “The Chinese Communist Party will stop at nothing to gain influence in the United States — including using TikTok to steal keystrokes and data from over 170 million Americans. It’s vital that TikTok cuts ties with the CCP to ensure Kansans are not being targeted, manipulated, and spied on by our nation’s greatest foreign adversary.”Goodness gracious!<a target="_blank" href="http://davids.house.gov/">Davids</a>&nbsp;spokesman Zac Donley tried a softer approach: “Rep. Davids understands the role that TikTok plays in the lives of many Kansans, including our small business owners, but also recognizes the potential negative impact the Chinese Communist Party could have on our youth and Kansans’ data security.”I reached out to the press operations of Estes and Mann but didn’t hear back.This all sounds concerning. So I opened TikTok on my phone to see what evil messages were being promoted by the (DA-DUM) Chinese Communist Party. Here are the first five videos I saw on my “For You Page” (the section full of algorithmically generated recommendations):<ul>
 <li>The voice actor of Disney’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Darkwing_Duck">Darkwing Duck</a>.</li><li>A skit about a psychiatrist working at a hospital.</li><li>A two-week old “Saturday Night Live” sketch.</li><li>The 1965 song “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrbv40ENU_o">So Long, Mom</a>” by comic Tom Lehrer.</li><li>A promo from the 1996 “Dana Carvey Show.”</li>
 </ul>I’m definitely not going to support&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-20/china-on-track-to-be-ready-for-taiwan-invasion-by-2027-us-says">Taiwanese independence</a>&nbsp;now!<h2>Take a breath</h2>Yes, I use TikTok. I enjoy it. Unlike most other social media platforms, it lifts my spirits. I follow a small group of people whose interests and experiences complement my own, and occasionally it recommends silly clips like the ones mentioned above.No, I don’t think it’s entirely benign.Tough questions about TikTok — how it gathers data, what it recommends, how it hooks users — should be asked. But they are the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/">exact same questions</a>&nbsp;that informed citizens should ask about every high-flown tech company that harvests information from the public.Google and Facebook and Apple have become so gargantuan and important because they reach into the lives of so many people. Indeed, Google&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-does-google-know-about-me-search-history-delete-2019-10">probably knows</a>&nbsp;more about you and me and our friends and relations than any other company in history of the republic. According to Business Insider, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://about.google/">California-based behemoth</a>&nbsp;can correctly infer your “age, gender, marital status, income bracket, and personal interests.”Does that make you feel warm and fuzzy and confident about the safety of your personal information?I fail to see how another country’s ownership of a social media platform truly threatens national security. Sure, the company’s overlords in Beijing could tweak the algorithm to surface certain results rather than others, but that’s what&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.404media.co/the-u-s-wants-to-ban-tiktok-for-the-sins-of-every-social-media-company/">social media does</a>. It serves up content that users want and demand. If it doesn’t, users (and advertisers)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/the-rise-and-fall-of-myspace/69444/">flee elsewhere</a>.Again, there may be abuse. There may be efforts to influence popular opinion. But none of that means that TikTok has seized control of innocent children’s minds,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/07/kansas-sues-tiktok-for-allegedly-hooking-minors-on-dopamine-spiking-filth-profanity/">lawsuit from</a>&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach notwithstanding.What we’re seeing here is a good, old-fashioned&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100208829">moral panic</a>. Generations past lost their collective minds about the introduction of television, rock and roll, and women wearing pants. Mothers and fathers fretted about Dungeons and Dragons games, dial-up internet, and music videos.Or as Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman put it,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/03/tiktok-ban-update-senate-house-bill-bytedance.html">according to Slate</a>: “I remember Mötley Crüe was dangerous with my parents, and they never took away my Mötley Crüe.”He still supports the divesture bill, though.<h2>On to the Senate</h2>Having passed the House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/tiktok-ban-house-vote/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4">352-65</a>, the legislation now heads to the Senate.Opinions there differ sharply.Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-releases-statement-on-house-passed-tiktok-legislation/">released a statement</a>: “My number one job in the Senate is to provide for the safety and security of Kansas families. That is why, as long as the CCP owns it, TikTok needs to be banned. Americans always think the best of people, but we can’t underestimate China and its relentless war against America.”We certainly know where he stands now!Kansas Sen.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/u-s-sen-jerry-moran/">Jerry Moran</a>&nbsp;took a decidedly more cautious tone: “Foreign adversaries are increasingly using products and services to collect information on American citizens, posing a threat to our national security. I introduced legislation that would equip the Department of Commerce with the authority to prevent our adversaries from controlling harmful technology products and services in the U.S. like social media apps. This legislation would apply to TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and any company that tries to infiltrate our information or communications systems.”Overall, senators seem to lean Moran’s way rather than Marshalls. Many say they want to take a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/21/tiktok-ban-senate-congress-democrats-republicans-gop/73055026007/">deliberate approach</a>.Here’s hoping they take a look at what people actually use TikTok for, how the app has allowed for widespread dissemination of news and opinion (including from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ksreflector">Kansas Reflector</a>) and what social media means for our civic health. Such conversation won’t just take time — they will demand a willingness to ask tough questions about how we&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://theweek.com/tech/1006180/is-big-tech-its-own-country-not-really">got here</a>&nbsp;and who’s really to blame.Hint: It’s not the Chinese Communist Party.Clay&nbsp;Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

OPINION: Every Kansas congressional delegate wants to end TikTok as we know it

Brain health: It’s a topic that many of us are concerned about. Most of us know someone who suffers from dementia, and there’s good reason why experts call Alzheimer’s “the biggest health crisis facing the world today.” In fact, about 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the number is expected to reach 7.1 million by 2025.

Watching loved ones suffer from deteriorating brain health can be extremely challenging. It can also be uncomfortable to realize your own risk of developing dementia as statistics rise. So, what if you knew the disease was in your future? Would you act now?

The good news is that there are steps you can take today to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. It’s also important to remember that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few ways to boost brain health:

Get good quality sleep. Six to eight hours of restful sleep allows the immune system to repair and renew the body. This is also true for the brain. When one doesn’t get enough sleep, the deposition of beta-amyloid builds and this can form Alzheimer’s plaque.

Learn something new. You’ve heard the saying, “Use it or lose it.” Activities that challenge the brain such as learning and intellectual hobbies strengthen synapses between brain cells. Overall, this can improve brain health.

Stay socially connected. According to the CDC, social isolation is associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. Maintaining relationships helps to provide a sense of purpose, and it helps to prevent cognitive decline.

Take care of your mental health. Studies have shown that a history of depression increases risk of cognitive decline. Reducing stress, participating in hobbies you enjoy, and finding support can help to improve mental health.

These steps to boost brain health are just a few ways to take action. If you are interested in learning more, resources are closer than you may think.

A Different Mindset Association, located in Hays, Kansas, aims to support caregivers, provide education, network resources, and promote awareness about Dementia. Currently, the group hosts caregiver support group meetings via Zoom, and will begin an in-person option starting on April 25th at the Hays Med Center for Health Improvement. The group is also preparing to launch respite services for caregivers soon.

Along with these promising plans, A Different Mindset Association will partner with K-State Research and Extension to present Alzheimer’s 101 in April. In the program, we will educate about various types of Dementia including Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s, and more. We will uncover the signs of Alzheimer’s and discuss caregiver support opportunities. The following evening, in a panel discussion with experienced caregivers, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Join us on April 10th and 11th at 6:30 pm at the Hays Cottonwood Extension office to learn more about Alzheimer’s and what you can do to better brain health for you and your loved ones. The cost is free, and the time to learn is now.

To register, please call the Cottonwood Extension District at (620) 793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictBrain health: It’s a topic that many of us are concerned about. Most of us know someone who suffers from dementia, and there’s good reason why experts call Alzheimer’s “the biggest health crisis facing the world today.” In fact, about 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the number is expected to reach 7.1 million by 2025.Watching loved ones suffer from deteriorating brain health can be extremely challenging. It can also be uncomfortable to realize your own risk of developing dementia as statistics rise. So, what if you knew the disease was in your future? Would you act now?The good news is that there are steps you can take today to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. It’s also important to remember that it is never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few ways to boost brain health:Get good quality sleep. Six to eight hours of restful sleep allows the immune system to repair and renew the body. This is also true for the brain. When one doesn’t get enough sleep, the deposition of beta-amyloid builds and this can form Alzheimer’s plaque.Learn something new. You’ve heard the saying, “Use it or lose it.” Activities that challenge the brain such as learning and intellectual hobbies strengthen synapses between brain cells. Overall, this can improve brain health.Stay socially connected. According to the CDC, social isolation is associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia. Maintaining relationships helps to provide a sense of purpose, and it helps to prevent cognitive decline.Take care of your mental health. Studies have shown that a history of depression increases risk of cognitive decline. Reducing stress, participating in hobbies you enjoy, and finding support can help to improve mental health.These steps to boost brain health are just a few ways to take action. If you are interested in learning more, resources are closer than you may think.A Different Mindset Association, located in Hays, Kansas, aims to support caregivers, provide education, network resources, and promote awareness about Dementia. Currently, the group hosts caregiver support group meetings via Zoom, and will begin an in-person option starting on April 25th at the Hays Med Center for Health Improvement. The group is also preparing to launch respite services for caregivers soon.Along with these promising plans, A Different Mindset Association will partner with K-State Research and Extension to present Alzheimer’s 101 in April. In the program, we will educate about various types of Dementia including Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia, Parkinson’s, and more. We will uncover the signs of Alzheimer’s and discuss caregiver support opportunities. The following evening, in a panel discussion with experienced caregivers, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.Join us on April 10th and 11th at 6:30 pm at the Hays Cottonwood Extension office to learn more about Alzheimer’s and what you can do to better brain health for you and your loved ones. The cost is free, and the time to learn is now.To register, please call the Cottonwood Extension District at (620) 793-1910.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Alzheimer’s 101

According to a 1935 online US timeline the US saw dramatic change. Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as US President. That same year Executive Order 7034 created the Works Progress Administration, and on August 14, FDR signed the Social Security Act into law. Despite long term drought effects in the Great Plains, the May 30 – June 2 Republican River Flood marked the deadliest flood ever in Nebraska. Kansan Amelia Earhart made history as the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California, and Portis native son Tubby Millar’s cartoon character Porky Pig debuted in Looney Tunes “I Haven’t Got a Hat.” Area residents with a radio or access to national newspapers noted world changes while struggling to survive the persistent Depression and keep their kids in school.

While many students didn’t graduate high school during these hard years, Ellis High School recorded 169 enrollees in grades 9 – 12 and 468 grade school students in 1935. Teachers taught 175 days for a nine- month school year. Two male and seven female instructors educated grade school classes while six males and four females instructed high school courses. The grade school had ten out-of-district students enrolled while the high school boasted fifty-four non-resident enrollees. Clearly, the high school program offered much to young people seeking an education.

In 1935, teachers made approximately $125 a month for nine-months. Taxpayers anteed up a12.94 mill levy to fund schools during this economically challenging year. In 1936, the district received over $3,576 in WPA funding. Available data didn’t explain how the district spent this money. By 1938, the state of Kansas collected a sales tax fund and sent the district $1,764 in state aid. This was the first mention of state aid in accessible records. In addition, District 2 received a $3, 094.92 sales tax refund. Notably, school monies were no longer generated only by local taxes. Despite state contributions, the district levied taxes of approximately $26,000 to fulfill their financial responsibilities.

While a poor economy forced students to do without class rings, year books, and other expendable items, the Ellis district maintained a strong band program. According to Eileen Langley, a 1938 graduate, students traveled to various competitions throughout her high school years. She recalled that the American Legion sponsored uniforms, equipment, and trips when the district and parents couldn’t afford the full expense. Sacrifice and hard work paid off when the Ellis High School Band won a national title in Colorado Springs in 1939.

Keep in mind that during these years, area residents suffered disastrous bank and farm failures, drought, and dust storms that deposited soil locals find in attics and walls when they renovate old homes. Despite the struggle, the schools taught not only local kids but also out-of-district pupils. Under such duress, they supported a music program to the degree those kids and their instructor brought home a national band competition title. During this time frame, national government introduced the WPA and Social Security, while Kansas state government established taxation to redistribute to school districts. From those days forward, school finances and structure began to change into what we deal with today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINAccording to a 1935 online US timeline the US saw dramatic change. Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as US President. That same year Executive Order 7034 created the Works Progress Administration, and on August 14, FDR signed the Social Security Act into law. Despite long term drought effects in the Great Plains, the May 30 – June 2 Republican River Flood marked the deadliest flood ever in Nebraska. Kansan Amelia Earhart made history as the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California, and Portis native son Tubby Millar’s cartoon character Porky Pig debuted in Looney Tunes “I Haven’t Got a Hat.” Area residents with a radio or access to national newspapers noted world changes while struggling to survive the persistent Depression and keep their kids in school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710531669557.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While many students didn’t graduate high school during these hard years, Ellis High School recorded 169 enrollees in grades 9 – 12 and 468 grade school students in 1935. Teachers taught 175 days for a nine- month school year. Two male and seven female instructors educated grade school classes while six males and four females instructed high school courses. The grade school had ten out-of-district students enrolled while the high school boasted fifty-four non-resident enrollees. Clearly, the high school program offered much to young people seeking an education.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710531786799.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In 1935, teachers made approximately $125 a month for nine-months. Taxpayers anteed up a12.94 mill levy to fund schools during this economically challenging year. In 1936, the district received over $3,576 in WPA funding. Available data didn’t explain how the district spent this money. By 1938, the state of Kansas collected a sales tax fund and sent the district $1,764 in state aid. This was the first mention of state aid in accessible records. In addition, District 2 received a $3, 094.92 sales tax refund. Notably, school monies were no longer generated only by local taxes. Despite state contributions, the district levied taxes of approximately $26,000 to fulfill their financial responsibilities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710531692614.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While a poor economy forced students to do without class rings, year books, and other expendable items, the Ellis district maintained a strong band program. According to Eileen Langley, a 1938 graduate, students traveled to various competitions throughout her high school years. She recalled that the American Legion sponsored uniforms, equipment, and trips when the district and parents couldn’t afford the full expense. Sacrifice and hard work paid off when the Ellis High School Band won a national title in Colorado Springs in 1939.Keep in mind that during these years, area residents suffered disastrous bank and farm failures, drought, and dust storms that deposited soil locals find in attics and walls when they renovate old homes. Despite the struggle, the schools taught not only local kids but also out-of-district pupils. Under such duress, they supported a music program to the degree those kids and their instructor brought home a national band competition title. During this time frame, national government introduced the WPA and Social Security, while Kansas state government established taxation to redistribute to school districts. From those days forward, school finances and structure began to change into what we deal with today.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710531819767.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

MADORIN: History of Ellis Schools Part 13: 1935 - 1939

We had a busy week on the House floor debating numerous bills. 

 Here are the details of some of those bills:

House Bill 2527 establishes cost recovery mechanisms for public utilities that construct certain electric generation facilities, revises the determination of rate base, capital structure, and return on equity in utility rate proceedings. The bill also revises the provision of economic development electric rates.

House Bill 2521 requires the State Board of Education to authorize teaching licenses for individuals who complete an alternative teacher certification program.

House Bill 2491 abolishes the Law Enforcement Training Center Fee Fund. All monies from the Law Enforcement Training Center Fee Fund are to be transferred to the State General Fund.

House Bill 2247 modifies certain terms, definitions, deadlines and provisions contained in the uniform consumer credit code and transfers mortgage provisions from the uniform consumer credit code to the Kansas mortgage business act.

Senate Bill 233 provides protections to Kansas citizens 17 and under, that they cannot undergo hormone treatments and or surgeries for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. In addition, there are significant consequences for any health care provider who chooses to proceed with this type of practice. Similar bills in other states have been successful in ensuring that minors are protected from these procedures and medications.

Senate Bill 340 removes an automobile club from the definition of “person” for purposes of enforcing penalties for violations of insurance law.

I voted “yes” on these remaining bills.  

On Wednesday, March 13, The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2811.  This bill would require the Department of Corrections to establish a women’s correctional center nursery on the grounds of the Topeka Correctional Facility by January 1, 2026, subject to appropriations. 

The Department would create the Nursery Program for Incarcerated Moms, which would allow eligible offenders to live with a child born to them while in custody for up to 36 months following the birth of the child. The Secretary of Corrections, or a designee of the Secretary, would be required to establish policies for operating the nursery. 

The bill specifies that to be eligible for the program, an offender would have to give birth to a child after sentencing or while in custody, have 36 months or less remaining on her sentence; meet other criteria established by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee, and have a child that meets the Secretary’s established eligibility criteria. The bill also specifies that any offender with current or prior convictions of certain violent or dangerous crimes would be automatically disqualified from the Program.

I am meeting with members to see if this is a bill we will work in committee.

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE The House Appropriations Committee met this week after we passed the House Budget out of committee the previous week. We had a briefing from the Infrastructure Hub that is administering the program that we established in last year’s budget, the BUILD Kansas program. This program allows for cities and counties from across the state of Kansas to apply for federal dollars. The federal match required, if approved, can be met by the funds that we set aside in last year’s budget.

 We also had another informational hearing on “Zeroeyes,” which implements artificial intelligence detecting cameras in schools and other public areas in identifying potential guns. This is being utilized in other states to quickly respond to school shootings.

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at&nbsp;troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions.  I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>March 15, 2024 Topeka Bills debated on the House floorWe had a busy week on the House floor debating numerous bills. Here are the details of some of those bills:House Bill 2527 establishes cost recovery mechanisms for public utilities that construct certain electric generation facilities, revises the determination of rate base, capital structure, and return on equity in utility rate proceedings. The bill also revises the provision of economic development electric rates. House Bill 2521 requires the State Board of Education to authorize teaching licenses for individuals who complete an alternative teacher certification program.House Bill 2491 abolishes the Law Enforcement Training Center Fee Fund. All monies from the Law Enforcement Training Center Fee Fund are to be transferred to the State General Fund.House Bill 2247 modifies certain terms, definitions, deadlines and provisions contained in the uniform consumer credit code and transfers mortgage provisions from the uniform consumer credit code to the Kansas mortgage business act.Senate Bill 233 provides protections to Kansas citizens 17 and under, that they cannot undergo hormone treatments and or surgeries for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. In addition, there are significant consequences for any health care provider who chooses to proceed with this type of practice. Similar bills in other states have been successful in ensuring that minors are protected from these procedures and medications.Senate Bill 340 removes an automobile club from the definition of “person” for purposes of enforcing penalties for violations of insurance law.I voted “yes” on these remaining bills. House Bill 2811On Wednesday, March 13, The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2811. This bill would require the Department of Corrections to establish a women’s correctional center nursery on the grounds of the Topeka Correctional Facility by January 1, 2026, subject to appropriations. The Department would create the Nursery Program for Incarcerated Moms, which would allow eligible offenders to live with a child born to them while in custody for up to 36 months following the birth of the child. The Secretary of Corrections, or a designee of the Secretary, would be required to establish policies for operating the nursery. The bill specifies that to be eligible for the program, an offender would have to give birth to a child after sentencing or while in custody, have 36 months or less remaining on her sentence; meet other criteria established by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee, and have a child that meets the Secretary’s established eligibility criteria. The bill also specifies that any offender with current or prior convictions of certain violent or dangerous crimes would be automatically disqualified from the Program.I am meeting with members to see if this is a bill we will work in committee.APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE The House Appropriations Committee met this week after we passed the House Budget out of committee the previous week. We had a briefing from the Infrastructure Hub that is administering the program that we established in last year’s budget, the BUILD Kansas program. This program allows for cities and counties from across the state of Kansas to apply for federal dollars. The federal match required, if approved, can be met by the funds that we set aside in last year’s budget. We also had another informational hearing on “Zeroeyes,” which implements artificial intelligence detecting cameras in schools and other public areas in identifying potential guns. This is being utilized in other states to quickly respond to school shootings.Anytime that you would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, you can tune in by video or audio at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at&nbsp;troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Rep. Troy Waymaster is the House Appropriations Committee chairman and representative of the Kansas House 109th District which includes Ellsworth, Lincoln, Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties.&nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, March 15; licenses for alternative teacher certification considered

2024 SENATE SCENE WEEK 10 March 18, 2024

It may seem hard to believe, but the legislature is now fully ten weeks into its session and has just two weeks remaining prior to “first adjournment.”&nbsp; We will adjourn briefly before returning to wrap up the regular part of the session with veto session beginning April 29 and the target date to end May 2 which is 90 legislative days.&nbsp; This session calendar is very fluid with date changes announced by leadership during Senate and House action.&nbsp;

This week, the Senate took the first major step in finalizing the budget for FY 2025 by passing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb514/" target="_blank">Sub Bill for SB 514</a>.&nbsp; FY 2024 - The bill adjusts total state expenditures to $25.3 billion, including $9.9 billion SGF, in FY 2024.&nbsp; FY 2025 - the bill included expenditures totaling $25.1 billion, including $10.2 billion SGF, for FY 2025.&nbsp;

Major additions to the FY 2024 budget include the following:

The bill also includes the following deletions and transfers:

Eventually, the House will also pass a budget, after which a conference committee will work out differences between the two chambers.&nbsp; The legislature has a constitutional responsibility to pass a balanced budget every session.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb514/" target="_blank">Sub Bill for SB 514</a>&nbsp;passed by a vote of 24-15.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.

An overview of the budget can be viewed by going to:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/bill_exp_sb514_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/bill_exp_sb514_01_0000.pdf</a>

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb539/" target="_blank">SB 539</a>&nbsp;is the second attempt this session at a compromise tax plan after the first bill was vetoed by the governor and sustained by the House.&nbsp;

 A few highlights are listed below.&nbsp;

SB 539 passed with a bi-partisan supermajority of 29-11.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;voted&nbsp;yes.&nbsp;

The Supplemental Note can be viewed by going to:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb539_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb539_02_0000.pdf</a>&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2036/" target="_blank">HB 2036</a>&nbsp;would create a sales tax exemption beginning January 1, 2023, for tangible personal property and services purchased by Kansas resident veterans who have been honorably discharged and have at least a 50 percent permanent disability rating sustained through military service.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 38-2.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb484/" target="_blank">SB 484</a>&nbsp;would exempt, beginning in tax year 2025, certain personal property from all property or ad valorem taxes levied under Kansas law, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorized bicycles, small trailers, and watercraft.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>2024 SENATE SCENE WEEK 10 March 18, 2024It may seem hard to believe, but the legislature is now fully ten weeks into its session and has just two weeks remaining prior to “first adjournment.”&nbsp; We will adjourn briefly before returning to wrap up the regular part of the session with veto session beginning April 29 and the target date to end May 2 which is 90 legislative days.&nbsp; This session calendar is very fluid with date changes announced by leadership during Senate and House action.&nbsp;SENATE FLOOR ACTIONThis week, the Senate took the first major step in finalizing the budget for FY 2025 by passing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb514/" target="_blank">Sub Bill for SB 514</a>.&nbsp; FY 2024 - The bill adjusts total state expenditures to $25.3 billion, including $9.9 billion SGF, in FY 2024.&nbsp; FY 2025 - the bill included expenditures totaling $25.1 billion, including $10.2 billion SGF, for FY 2025.&nbsp;Major additions to the FY 2024 budget include the following:<ul>
 <li>The budget also allocates&nbsp;$78.7 million to increase Medicaid outpatient reimbursement rates to help raise Kansas Medicaid base rates, which currently stand at 27% of the average commercial rate at all Kansas hospitals.</li><li>$10.0 million SGF 9State General Fund for the Career Campus match for the Lansing Correctional Facility.</li><li>$20.7 million SGF to cover the shortfall in contract nursing staff costs at Larned State Hospital and Osawatomie State Hospital.</li><li>$20.0 million, all from the Kansas Highway Patrol Operations Fund, to construct a new Central Dispatch Facility and a firing range.</li><li>$10.8 million, including $10.2 million SGF, in FY 2024 and $1.0 million for FY 2025 to address the Pay Plan Shortfall in 2023 SB 25.</li><li>$7.0 million SGF for the centralized electronic credentials verification system required by 2023 SB 66.</li>
 </ul>The bill also includes the following deletions and transfers:<ul>
 <li>Transfer $41.0 million from the Legislature Employment Security Fund to the University of Kansas ($20.5 million) and Wichita State University ($20.5 million)</li><li>$15.7 million SGF for a Southwest border mission. The bill includes language directing expenditures be made to respond to a request for assistance from the State of Texas pursuant to the Emergency Management Compact and that the Adjutant General collaborate with the Governor to activate, mobilize, and deploy state resources to prevent drug and human trafficking and other crimes contributing to an emergency in FY 2024.</li><li>$75 million for a new cancer center at the University of Kansas Medical Center.</li>
 </ul>Eventually, the House will also pass a budget, after which a conference committee will work out differences between the two chambers.&nbsp; The legislature has a constitutional responsibility to pass a balanced budget every session.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb514/" target="_blank">Sub Bill for SB 514</a>&nbsp;passed by a vote of 24-15.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.An overview of the budget can be viewed by going to:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/bill_exp_sb514_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/bill_exp_sb514_01_0000.pdf</a>SENATE TAX BILL<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb539/" target="_blank">SB 539</a>&nbsp;is the second attempt this session at a compromise tax plan after the first bill was vetoed by the governor and sustained by the House.&nbsp; A few highlights are listed below.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Repeal of Income Tax on Social Security:&nbsp;Beginning in tax year 2024, the bill would exempt all Social Security benefits.&nbsp;</li><li>Property Tax Reductions:&nbsp;The bill would increase, beginning in tax year 2024, the amount of residential property exempt from the statewide uniform 20-mill levy to $100,000 of appraised value.&nbsp;</li><li>Standard Deduction Increased for Single Filers:&nbsp;The bill would, beginning in tax year 2024, increase the Kansas individual income tax standard deduction amount for single filers from $3,500 to $4,000.</li><li>Personal Exemptions.&nbsp;The bill increases the personal exemption. Currently, it stands at $2,250 for each person in a household. Under the bill, this would increase to $11,000 for single filers, $22,000 for married filers, plus an additional $3,000 for each dependent in the household to be annually increased by the cost-of-living adjustment determined under Section 1(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Financial Institutions Privilege Tax Rate Changes:&nbsp;The bill would reduce the privilege tax rates applied to financial institutions. For banks, the normal tax rate would be reduced to 1.94 percent for tax year 2025, and 1.63 percent for tax year 2026. For trust companies and savings and loan associations, the normal tax rate would be reduced from 2.25 percent to 1.93 percent for tax year 2025.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Single Rate.&nbsp; After personal exemptions and the standard deduction are calculated, the bill would establish a single rate of 5.7%, which would decrease by .5% annually through 2029, eventually reaching 5.45%.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>SB 539 passed with a bi-partisan supermajority of 29-11.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;voted&nbsp;yes.&nbsp;The Supplemental Note can be viewed by going to:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb539_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb539_02_0000.pdf</a>&nbsp;OTHER SENATE FLOOR ACTION<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2036/" target="_blank">HB 2036</a>&nbsp;would create a sales tax exemption beginning January 1, 2023, for tangible personal property and services purchased by Kansas resident veterans who have been honorably discharged and have at least a 50 percent permanent disability rating sustained through military service.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 38-2.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb484/" target="_blank">SB 484</a>&nbsp;would exempt, beginning in tax year 2025, certain personal property from all property or ad valorem taxes levied under Kansas law, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorized bicycles, small trailers, and watercraft.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb376/" target="_blank">SB 376</a>&nbsp;as amended, would extend the income tax credit attributable to the retirement of indebtedness authorized by a single city port authority, currently scheduled to expire after tax year 2024, through tax year 2029.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 35-5.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb311/" target="_blank">SB 311</a>&nbsp;as amended, would prohibit the sale price at which a property sells in an Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 exchange, build-to-suit transaction, or a sale/leaseback arrangement from being considered an indicator of fair market value or used in arriving at fair market value for property tax purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 21-19.&nbsp; I&nbsp;voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb498/" target="_blank">SB 498</a>&nbsp;as amended, would amend the adoption tax credit, enact the Pregnancy Resource Act that would provide a tax credit and sales tax exemption for certain contributions to certain pregnancy resource centers and residential maternity facilities.&nbsp; Under the bill, beginning in tax year 2024, the adoption tax credit would increase to 100 percent of the federal adoption tax credit.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 28-12.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a>I voted yes.</a><a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb307/" target="_blank">SB 307</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Fights Addiction Act to include for-profit private entities in the definition of “qualified applicant.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed the Senate 39-1 and will be sent to the governor.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2587/" target="_blank">HB 2587</a>&nbsp;would authorize the board of directors of a drainage district within a county or city to meet in executive session in accordance with provisions of the Kansas Open Meetings Act.&nbsp; HB 2587 passed the Senate 40-0.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb500/" target="_blank">SB 500</a>&nbsp;would amend law pertaining to restricted driving privileges for certain individuals who violate the misdemeanor offense of failure to comply with a traffic citation.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 500 passed the Senate 38-2.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb480/" target="_blank">SB 480</a>&nbsp;would allow the State Board of Tax Appeals to conduct small claims and expedited hearings and appeals by teleconference or video conference as directed by the Chief Hearing Officer or a designee.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 39-1.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb482/" target="_blank">SB 482</a>&nbsp;as amended, would make several modifications to the revenue neutral rate notification and hearing process.&nbsp; Among the provisions, the bill would specify that county clerks are not required to send hearing notices to owners of property that is exempt from taxation and would also require the vote of a governing body to exceed the revenue neutral rate to take place on the same day as the commencement of the public hearing to exceed the rate.&nbsp;&nbsp;The bill passed 32-8.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb60/" target="_blank">SB 60</a>&nbsp;was the original sales tax exemption bill introduced last year which removes sales tax on the process of meat at our meat processing businesses and was supported by Kansas Farm Bureau and Livestock Association.&nbsp; It was amended in the Taxation and Assessment Committee and the Committee of the Whole by adding a school sales tax holiday, sales tax exemptions for diapers – both children and adult and children and menstrual supplies.&nbsp; It also includes purchases by Exploration Place and Kansas Children’s Discovery Center for their projects.&nbsp; It also includes sales tax exemptions for the Johnson County Christmas Bureau and Doorstep Inc. for the need of personal assistance with food, clothing, and short-term emergency needs.&nbsp;Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.UPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDTIf you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!&nbsp; We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.&nbsp; Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.Main Line: 785-296-3071Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484Consumer Complaint:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov">kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov</a>Producer Licensing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Licensing@ks.gov">kid.licensing@ks.gov</a>Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Commissioner@ks.gov">KID.Commissioner@ks.gov</a>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SoDYgtD-dFj2steoGgFmoL8pLuf0NSmUSYwQCgp1HsxoadVCfwcm_95Am0jNUs0wFnhLh6WZZDNC0I3bvXKrYLcDAFEsmw8M0DoCWSkqIfiLrZCsRdIrP9T0QLWMfcrFnRn8KKAZuWRvenC77dA6Tw==&amp;c=_XGtk_g_SmaADwMA6e5Ys1lOAPiD2n0Y0WhdVf1Fcsl9xHGubVgxOA==&amp;ch=r3uWbCcKhRBHU_y3dsLIzaxpLTKaKBOHKjED-RjqskJBJwcemc8Blw==" target="_blank">Insurance.kansas.gov</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710858175421.jpeg" alt="Savanah Slaubaugh, Mackenzie Dixon, Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Elaine Bowers, Maura Knappert, and Maryann Walter. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Slaubaugh, Mackenzie Dixon, Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Elaine Bowers, Maura Knappert, and Maryann Walter. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>PAGES FOR THE SENATE – March 14On March 14th, Machkenzie Dixon, Plainville; Savanah Slaubaugh, Hays; Maryann Walter and Maura Knappert both of Beloit, served as pages for the Kansas Senate.&nbsp;&nbsp;The pages spent their day with us at the Capitol running errands, working in my office, attending committee meetings, and taking a historical tour of the Capitol as well as the dome tour.LEGISLATIVE TOWNHALLSSeveral legislative townhalls have been conducted throughout the 36th&nbsp;Kansas Senate District with more scheduled in the upcoming few weeks.&nbsp; On April 13, there is a legislative coffee scheduled in Concordia at 8:00 am at Jitters Coffee House with Representative Susan Concannon and Representative Bill Bloom sponsored by Farm Bureau.&nbsp; Representative Susan and I are scheduled to be in Beloit on April 20 with more details to follow at a later date.THANK YOU FOR ENGAGINGThank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas.&nbsp; I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.&nbsp; An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. Topeka, KS 66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a> Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas, which includes:* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville; Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek, Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg; Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom, Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum, Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner, Valley and Walnut