Content Warning: This column contains discussion of gun violence and gun related homicide and suicide.

Medicaid expansion has been a hot topic over the past decade. Despite many states across the country expanding their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, Kansas has yet to do so.

According to the 2022 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey distributed by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, nearly 76% of Kansans support KanCare expansion — KanCare is the name of the state’s Medicaid program.

Despite extremely high levels of public support, the state legislature has failed to expand KanCare. The reason is most often attributed to partisan politics.

However, opponents of KanCare expansion may want to take a second look at some specific benefits of extending the program — 90% of which would be paid for by the federal government.

The RAND Corporation, a non-partisan policy think tank, has published new data about state-level firearm related deaths.

According to their findings, Kansas’ firearm death rates are 24% higher than the national average. This high percentage is driven mostly by the state’s firearm death by suicide rate, which is 46% higher than the national average.

Firearm homicides are 7% lower in Kansas than the national average.

Contrary to popular belief, gun violence is not unique to urban areas.

New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last month finds that gun violence is not even predominantly an urban issue — an argument that is generally used as justification for loosening gun laws. Rather, all areas of Kansas are impacted by gun violence. Especially self-harm via firearms.

In Kansas’ rural areas, firearm deaths are 14% higher than the national average, firearm deaths by suicide are 25% higher, and rural firearm homicides are 9% lower.

What does this have to do with KanCare expansion?

Research from the Kaiser Foundation finds that Medicaid expansion increases access to care for adults with mental health conditions, such as depression.

Medicaid expansion is associated with an increase in the number of mental health facilities accepting Medicaid patients and an increase in the number of visits individual patients make to mental health providers.

Medicaid expansion is especially beneficial in providing much needed mental healthcare to rural residents, as nearly half of all mental health professional shortage areas nationally are located in rural areas.

Furthermore, a report from the Kansas Health Institute and the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas found that an estimated 24,154 Kansans are likely to use extended mental and behavioral health services under KanCare expansion.

Another research study published in JAMA, this one in June 2022, finds that an average of 1818 deaths by suicide were averted in Medicaid expansion states after the expansions — mostly among 20-29 year olds.

Expanding KanCare could — and based on the research likely would — prevent firearms deaths, especially those by suicide, in our state.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University." />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Content Warning: This column contains discussion of gun violence and gun related homicide and suicide.Medicaid expansion has been a hot topic over the past decade. Despite many states across the country expanding their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, Kansas has yet to do so.According to the 2022 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey distributed by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, nearly 76% of Kansans support KanCare expansion — KanCare is the name of the state’s Medicaid program.Despite extremely high levels of public support, the state legislature has failed to expand KanCare. The reason is most often attributed to partisan politics.However, opponents of KanCare expansion may want to take a second look at some specific benefits of extending the program — 90% of which would be paid for by the federal government.The RAND Corporation, a non-partisan policy think tank, has published new data about state-level firearm related deaths.According to their findings, Kansas’ firearm death rates are 24% higher than the national average. This high percentage is driven mostly by the state’s firearm death by suicide rate, which is 46% higher than the national average.Firearm homicides are 7% lower in Kansas than the national average.Contrary to popular belief, gun violence is not unique to urban areas.New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last month finds that gun violence is not even predominantly an urban issue — an argument that is generally used as justification for loosening gun laws. Rather, all areas of Kansas are impacted by gun violence. Especially self-harm via firearms.In Kansas’ rural areas, firearm deaths are 14% higher than the national average, firearm deaths by suicide are 25% higher, and rural firearm homicides are 9% lower.What does this have to do with KanCare expansion?<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Research from the Kaiser Foundation finds that Medicaid expansion increases access to care for adults with mental health conditions, such as depression.Medicaid expansion is associated with an increase in the number of mental health facilities accepting Medicaid patients and an increase in the number of visits individual patients make to mental health providers.Medicaid expansion is especially beneficial in providing much needed mental healthcare to rural residents, as nearly half of all mental health professional shortage areas nationally are located in rural areas.Furthermore, a report from the Kansas Health Institute and the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas found that an estimated 24,154 Kansans are likely to use extended mental and behavioral health services under KanCare expansion.Another research study published in JAMA, this one in June 2022, finds that an average of 1818 deaths by suicide were averted in Medicaid expansion states after the expansions — mostly among 20-29 year olds.Expanding KanCare could — and based on the research likely would — prevent firearms deaths, especially those by suicide, in our state.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Firearms related deaths are high in Kansas, KanCare expansion could help

BOWERS: Senate Scene 2023 legislative wrap-up

The first Wheat Rx field day will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.&nbsp;Thursday, May 25 at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays, 1232 240th Ave.

This is a collaboration between K-State Research &amp; Extension and the Kansas Wheat Commission.

Growers and anyone interested will have the opportunity to see hands-on the most updated research on growing high-yield, high-quality, economically feasible wheat.

Crop walks include breeding nurseries, long-term fertility and tillage experiments, improved agronomy management and disease control trials, finishing up with an inside talk about recent economics of wheat production.

Attendance is free but registration is requested at <a href="https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-hays">https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-hays</a> for headcount a light breakfast and a lunch meal will be provided.

• 8 a.m. — Coffee and registration • 8:40 a.m. — Meeting kickoff and quick overview – Aaron Harries • 9 to 9:30 am: Guorong Zhang: Wheat research for western Kansas • 9:40 – 10:10 am: Augustine Obour: What we have learned after 48 years of tillage and N fertility management research • 10:20 – 10:50 a.m.: Romulo Lollato: Wheat agronomy intensification for combined food security and environmental stewardship • 10:50 – 11:20 a.m.: Kelsey Onofre: Wheat disease update and management • 11:30 a.m. — Lucas Haag: Economics of wheat production • noon — lunch RSVP requested at https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-hays

If you have any questions, give me a call at the Cottonwood Extension District office in Hays.

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.

The first Wheat Rx field day will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.&nbsp;Thursday, May 25 at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays, 1232 240th Ave.This is a collaboration between K-State Research &amp; Extension and the Kansas Wheat Commission.Growers and anyone interested will have the opportunity to see hands-on the most updated research on growing high-yield, high-quality, economically feasible wheat.Crop walks include breeding nurseries, long-term fertility and tillage experiments, improved agronomy management and disease control trials, finishing up with an inside talk about recent economics of wheat production.Attendance is free but registration is requested at <a href="https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-hays">https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-hays</a> for headcount a light breakfast and a lunch meal will be provided.• 8 a.m. — Coffee and registration • 8:40 a.m. — Meeting kickoff and quick overview – Aaron Harries • 9 to 9:30 am: Guorong Zhang: Wheat research for western Kansas • 9:40 – 10:10 am: Augustine Obour: What we have learned after 48 years of tillage and N fertility management research • 10:20 – 10:50 a.m.: Romulo Lollato: Wheat agronomy intensification for combined food security and environmental stewardship • 10:50 – 11:20 a.m.: Kelsey Onofre: Wheat disease update and management • 11:30 a.m. — Lucas Haag: Economics of wheat production • noon — lunch RSVP requested at https://kswheat.com/events/wheat-rx-haysIf you have any questions, give me a call at the Cottonwood Extension District office in Hays.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: Wheat Rx Field Day – May 25 Hays

They waited ‘til the midnight hour, almost, it was the evening of the final day of the 2023 legislative session when lawmakers compromised on school funding and school choice voucher bills.

Republicans, Democrats, legislators from rural counties, and urbanites from up-scale northeast suburbs had been arguing almost non-stop since January.&nbsp;

Since no group is happy with the Friday outcome, the closing bill SB113&nbsp;appears to be a true compromise.

The bill proves some sense of rational lawmaking prevailed and it will go forward for the governor’s approval or veto.

Fortunately, SB113&nbsp;continues the court-required education spending plan at S6.4 billion for the next two years but doesn’t include an additional $72 million for special education to meet the state’s statutory requirements.

Gone is the previous legislative proposal to award about $5,000 from the public school budget to current private school students who’ve never attended public school.

&nbsp;Gone is the proposal to give $1,000 to each public school student next year for educational support such as tutoring or piano lessons.

Gone are the most egregious school choice schemes—Education Savings Accounts.&nbsp; This proposal would have awarded about $5,000 of taxpayer funds for any public school student to attend private school, for homeschooling or to spend on academic learning services—all without adequate oversight or evaluation. Also gone is the ESA plan’s most recent iteration that would have awarded $5,000 vouchers to individual students but only those in the 10 most populous Kansas counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The compromise bill, however, does expand&nbsp;school choice through the state’s single existing school choice program originally designed as scholarships for low-income, low-performing students.

The 2023 bill would extend scholarship opportunities to students whose families earn up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, currently $69,375 for a family of four.&nbsp; Recipients would be eligible for up to $8,000 per year to attend private schools that are accredited or are “working toward accreditation.”&nbsp;

The scholarships are financed by individual and corporate donations that would give a 75 percent tax credit for donations up to $500,000 per year with fund disbursements capped at $10 million per year.

School choice supporters can claim compromise benefits because more Kansas students will have the opportunity to finance private schooling at least partially.&nbsp;

School advocates gave up fully funding special education and accepted tax credit funding but can claim compromise benefits because ESA vouchers, the greatest threat to free public education for all, were averted.&nbsp;

Tax credit scholarships drain taxpayer dollars indirectly because they diminish the larger, general fund. ESAs pull taxpayer dollars directly from budgeted school funds and thus weaken rural and small-town schools as well as fragment the education experience into multiple for-profit, ideological and religious segments that weakens the capability for citizenship instruction, a central mission of public schools.

As the single unifying institution of Kansas’ increasingly diverse population, safeguarding our local schools is vital.

It’s unfortunate that so much time was wasted in quarrels over school choice when it could have been devoted to important school needs like safety and security for students and teachers or ensuring all Kansas students have learning technology and internet access at home and school or increasing student achievement.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, with the session behind us, we should respect our lawmakers’ passion and acknowledge their ability to compromise, though long overdue.&nbsp; As has been often said, “better late than never.”

Sharon Hartin Iorio is the dean emerita of the Wichita State University College of Education.

Sources used in this report:&nbsp;KASB Resources—News; Sunflower State Journal; SB113.

They waited ‘til the midnight hour, almost, it was the evening of the final day of the 2023 legislative session when lawmakers compromised on school funding and school choice voucher bills.Republicans, Democrats, legislators from rural counties, and urbanites from up-scale northeast suburbs had been arguing almost non-stop since January.&nbsp;Since no group is happy with the Friday outcome, the closing bill SB113&nbsp;appears to be a true compromise.The bill proves some sense of rational lawmaking prevailed and it will go forward for the governor’s approval or veto.Fortunately, SB113&nbsp;continues the court-required education spending plan at S6.4 billion for the next two years but doesn’t include an additional $72 million for special education to meet the state’s statutory requirements.Gone is the previous legislative proposal to award about $5,000 from the public school budget to current private school students who’ve never attended public school.&nbsp;Gone is the proposal to give $1,000 to each public school student next year for educational support such as tutoring or piano lessons.Gone are the most egregious school choice schemes—Education Savings Accounts.&nbsp; This proposal would have awarded about $5,000 of taxpayer funds for any public school student to attend private school, for homeschooling or to spend on academic learning services—all without adequate oversight or evaluation. Also gone is the ESA plan’s most recent iteration that would have awarded $5,000 vouchers to individual students but only those in the 10 most populous Kansas counties.&nbsp;&nbsp;The compromise bill, however, does expand&nbsp;school choice through the state’s single existing school choice program originally designed as scholarships for low-income, low-performing students.The 2023 bill would extend scholarship opportunities to students whose families earn up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, currently $69,375 for a family of four.&nbsp; Recipients would be eligible for up to $8,000 per year to attend private schools that are accredited or are “working toward accreditation.”&nbsp;The scholarships are financed by individual and corporate donations that would give a 75 percent tax credit for donations up to $500,000 per year with fund disbursements capped at $10 million per year.School choice supporters can claim compromise benefits because more Kansas students will have the opportunity to finance private schooling at least partially.&nbsp;School advocates gave up fully funding special education and accepted tax credit funding but can claim compromise benefits because ESA vouchers, the greatest threat to free public education for all, were averted.&nbsp;Tax credit scholarships drain taxpayer dollars indirectly because they diminish the larger, general fund. ESAs pull taxpayer dollars directly from budgeted school funds and thus weaken rural and small-town schools as well as fragment the education experience into multiple for-profit, ideological and religious segments that weakens the capability for citizenship instruction, a central mission of public schools.As the single unifying institution of Kansas’ increasingly diverse population, safeguarding our local schools is vital.It’s unfortunate that so much time was wasted in quarrels over school choice when it could have been devoted to important school needs like safety and security for students and teachers or ensuring all Kansas students have learning technology and internet access at home and school or increasing student achievement.&nbsp;Nevertheless, with the session behind us, we should respect our lawmakers’ passion and acknowledge their ability to compromise, though long overdue.&nbsp; As has been often said, “better late than never.”Sharon Hartin Iorio is the dean emerita of the Wichita State University College of Education.Sources used in this report:&nbsp;KASB Resources—News; Sunflower State Journal; SB113.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Legislative school choice battles: The aftermath

By MONIQUE KOERNER KSRE Cottonwood Dist.&nbsp;

I’m writing this article on May Day! I was always excited for May Day when I was a kid because my mother and I had a tradition. 

I would make construction paper baskets and then we would go around Hays looking for flowers such as tulips and lilacs that were blooming. We would knock on doors and politely ask the homes occupant if we could snip a couple of flowers for our May Day baskets. Most of the time people were happy to help. Then we would place the flowers and some other sweet treats in my home-made construction paper baskets and take them to a few friends and my teachers. With May Day baskets, you ring the door bell and then leave to allow the basket to be an anonymous gift for the recipient. I was always so excited to go to school the next day and see if my teachers and friends enjoyed their May Day baskets. I enjoyed showing my children how to make the baskets and deliver them when they were young also.

I share this story because May is also Mental Health Awareness month. This story brings to light many things we can do for our mental health. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut mentally and emotionally, a few simple changes may help you break free:

• Take media breaks. Limit how much you are watching, reading, or listening to news stories and social media. Instead, get outside and enjoy the sunshine, warmth and breeze.

• Take care of your body. Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly.

• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

• Connect with others. Do something kind for someone.

Making May Day baskets can incorporate many of these items such as getting outside and enjoying nature or get some exercise, connecting with others, and doing enjoyable activities. Giving to others can help you change your mindset.

May Day baskets can also be a wonderful parent-child activity to do together. What better way to help a parent or child’s mental health then spending time together doing something fun and meaningful? If you do it yearly, it can become a tradition. Traditions within families help children feel a sense of belonging and worth.

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="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER KSRE Cottonwood Dist.&nbsp;I’m writing this article on May Day! I was always excited for May Day when I was a kid because my mother and I had a tradition. I would make construction paper baskets and then we would go around Hays looking for flowers such as tulips and lilacs that were blooming. We would knock on doors and politely ask the homes occupant if we could snip a couple of flowers for our May Day baskets. Most of the time people were happy to help. Then we would place the flowers and some other sweet treats in my home-made construction paper baskets and take them to a few friends and my teachers. With May Day baskets, you ring the door bell and then leave to allow the basket to be an anonymous gift for the recipient. I was always so excited to go to school the next day and see if my teachers and friends enjoyed their May Day baskets. I enjoyed showing my children how to make the baskets and deliver them when they were young also.I share this story because May is also Mental Health Awareness month. This story brings to light many things we can do for our mental health. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut mentally and emotionally, a few simple changes may help you break free:• Take media breaks. Limit how much you are watching, reading, or listening to news stories and social media. Instead, get outside and enjoy the sunshine, warmth and breeze.• Take care of your body. Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly.• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.• Connect with others. Do something kind for someone.Making May Day baskets can incorporate many of these items such as getting outside and enjoying nature or get some exercise, connecting with others, and doing enjoyable activities. Giving to others can help you change your mindset.May Day baskets can also be a wonderful parent-child activity to do together. What better way to help a parent or child’s mental health then spending time together doing something fun and meaningful? If you do it yearly, it can become a tradition. Traditions within families help children feel a sense of belonging and worth.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: It's May!

I love getting to highlight all of the different projects that 4-H offers! While livestock is usually the first thing that people think of, I have highlighted eighteen projects over the last few weeks and, while several have been related to agriculture, none have been our livestock projects.

This week I am starting off with the Rabbit project! Rabbits are a great small animal project and help teach animal science and responsibility as well as a multitude of specific features of different breeds, and grooming and showmanship. I had no idea there were so many types of rabbits! Additionally, youth can experience learning to judge rabbits.

Another small species project is poultry. While we generally think of chickens, the poultry project can include turkeys, geese, and ducks. Youth also have the opportunity to learn about other types of poultry, about eggs and candling, and can experience learning to poultry judge.

Nearly everyone has had a pet at some point and learning responsibility for feeding and care is a big deal! The Pet project lets 4-H youth explore different types of pets and how to care for a variety from fish to cats. Youth learn about potential hazards for pets in the home, about nutritional needs, and about diseases and symptoms. This is a great project for kids who want to explore the first steps of veterinary science.

Like any animal, the more that rabbits, poultry, and most pets are handled, the easier it is for youth to showcase their animal and what they have learned while gaining confidence and practicing communication skills in talking to a judge.

If you are interested in learning more about these or other 4-H projects, check out <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/ellis-county4h/">kansas4-h.org</a> in the <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/ellis-county4h/ellis_projectResouces.html">Projects</a> section! All projects include communications skills, record keeping, career connections, and opportunities for leadership and community service!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682675861117.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran&nbsp;&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran&nbsp;&nbsp;is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>I love getting to highlight all of the different projects that 4-H offers! While livestock is usually the first thing that people think of, I have highlighted eighteen projects over the last few weeks and, while several have been related to agriculture, none have been our livestock projects.This week I am starting off with the Rabbit project! Rabbits are a great small animal project and help teach animal science and responsibility as well as a multitude of specific features of different breeds, and grooming and showmanship. I had no idea there were so many types of rabbits! Additionally, youth can experience learning to judge rabbits.Another small species project is poultry. While we generally think of chickens, the poultry project can include turkeys, geese, and ducks. Youth also have the opportunity to learn about other types of poultry, about eggs and candling, and can experience learning to poultry judge.Nearly everyone has had a pet at some point and learning responsibility for feeding and care is a big deal! The Pet project lets 4-H youth explore different types of pets and how to care for a variety from fish to cats. Youth learn about potential hazards for pets in the home, about nutritional needs, and about diseases and symptoms. This is a great project for kids who want to explore the first steps of veterinary science.Like any animal, the more that rabbits, poultry, and most pets are handled, the easier it is for youth to showcase their animal and what they have learned while gaining confidence and practicing communication skills in talking to a judge.If you are interested in learning more about these or other 4-H projects, check out <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/ellis-county4h/">kansas4-h.org</a> in the <a href="https://cottonwood.k-state.edu/ellis-county4h/ellis_projectResouces.html">Projects</a> section! All projects include communications skills, record keeping, career connections, and opportunities for leadership and community service!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: Rabbits, poultry and pet projects for 4-H

By DR. TISA MASON FHSU President

&nbsp;I am constantly reminded of the compassion and spirit of generosity of our Fort Hays State University students. I love hearing the stories of how they are impacting the lives of others every day. Emily Schulte, Hays, is one of those stories. As she sets her sights on a path to medical school after her FHSU graduation, Emily put herself on the patient side of the bone marrow donation process in January.

Emily is soft-spoken and known for her humble nature. As a biology major and student employee of FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services, Emily made the decision as a freshman to become a bone marrow donor when she worked at a Be the Match bone marrow drive on the FHSU campus.

During the drive, a DNA sample was swabbed from Emily’s cheek, sent to Be the Match, and then added to a national registry list. After waiting three years, Emily was notified last fall that she was a potential match for someone in need of a transplant.

“A large part of what motivated me was to be able to say that I gave someone the gift of life,” Emily said. “Also, to understand the donor process and know what donors go through.”

“For me, I didn’t have any doubts about doing it. I got called (from Be the Match) and knew that whatever I had to do, I was going to do it.”

Be the Match flew Emily and her mother to Chicago in January, where her bone marrow donation, which she described as similar to a lengthy blood donation, took about 4 ½ hours. Prior to the donation, filgrastim injections were performed to stimulate stem cell production, enabling Emily’s donation to have an above-average stem cell quantity.

As a student preparing for a medical career, Emily did some of the preparation work for the donation on her own. Her coworkers at FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services assisted her in the process.

“I definitely also had a really good support system, from both my coworkers and Be the Match during the preparation process,” Emily said.

Be the Match funded the flight, transportation, meals, and lodging for her and her mother during the trip. From their flight to Chicago to their flight back to Hays, the trip took the pair three days. The whirlwind travel and donation process were physically exhausting for Emily.

“Honestly, I felt like I got hit by a bus. But within two to three days after the donation, I felt pretty much back to normal,” she said. “They (the medical staff) want you to hydrate and rest and take care of yourself. I didn’t have any bad side effects after or before.”

Emily received a text saying her donation had been sent to the patient’s hospital within a day of her donation. She will be allowed to contact the recipient anonymously if she chooses. After a year, though, she and the recipient can exchange contact information. She hopes to meet the recipient with whom she shares this special connection.

Emily inspires those around her to consider donating bone marrow or contributing to an organization that provides that service.

“I would tell them that despite any doubts you might have, go through with it,” she said. “It is a really unique opportunity. The best gift you can give someone is a second chance at life.”

This is exactly why Fort Hays State is such a special place. Our students who are willing to step out of their comfort zones to ensure a future for others give me tremendous hope for the future. Thank you to Emily and all those who choose to make second chances possible.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>By DR. TISA MASON FHSU President&nbsp;I am constantly reminded of the compassion and spirit of generosity of our Fort Hays State University students. I love hearing the stories of how they are impacting the lives of others every day. Emily Schulte, Hays, is one of those stories. As she sets her sights on a path to medical school after her FHSU graduation, Emily put herself on the patient side of the bone marrow donation process in January.Emily is soft-spoken and known for her humble nature. As a biology major and student employee of FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services, Emily made the decision as a freshman to become a bone marrow donor when she worked at a Be the Match bone marrow drive on the FHSU campus.During the drive, a DNA sample was swabbed from Emily’s cheek, sent to Be the Match, and then added to a national registry list. After waiting three years, Emily was notified last fall that she was a potential match for someone in need of a transplant.“A large part of what motivated me was to be able to say that I gave someone the gift of life,” Emily said. “Also, to understand the donor process and know what donors go through.”“For me, I didn’t have any doubts about doing it. I got called (from Be the Match) and knew that whatever I had to do, I was going to do it.”Be the Match flew Emily and her mother to Chicago in January, where her bone marrow donation, which she described as similar to a lengthy blood donation, took about 4 ½ hours. Prior to the donation, filgrastim injections were performed to stimulate stem cell production, enabling Emily’s donation to have an above-average stem cell quantity.As a student preparing for a medical career, Emily did some of the preparation work for the donation on her own. Her coworkers at FHSU’s Health and Wellness Services assisted her in the process.“I definitely also had a really good support system, from both my coworkers and Be the Match during the preparation process,” Emily said.Be the Match funded the flight, transportation, meals, and lodging for her and her mother during the trip. From their flight to Chicago to their flight back to Hays, the trip took the pair three days. The whirlwind travel and donation process were physically exhausting for Emily.“Honestly, I felt like I got hit by a bus. But within two to three days after the donation, I felt pretty much back to normal,” she said. “They (the medical staff) want you to hydrate and rest and take care of yourself. I didn’t have any bad side effects after or before.”Emily received a text saying her donation had been sent to the patient’s hospital within a day of her donation. She will be allowed to contact the recipient anonymously if she chooses. After a year, though, she and the recipient can exchange contact information. She hopes to meet the recipient with whom she shares this special connection.Emily inspires those around her to consider donating bone marrow or contributing to an organization that provides that service.“I would tell them that despite any doubts you might have, go through with it,” she said. “It is a really unique opportunity. The best gift you can give someone is a second chance at life.”This is exactly why Fort Hays State is such a special place. Our students who are willing to step out of their comfort zones to ensure a future for others give me tremendous hope for the future. Thank you to Emily and all those who choose to make second chances possible.

Heart of a Tiger: Giving the gift of life

I’ve used this space many times over the years to provide some defense of the political powers and interests of the cities that over 75% of Kansans live in. I did last month in response to a bill in Topeka—which thankfully died in committee—that would have forbidden cities from exercising almost any kind of local control over the businesses which their residents interact with. This month I’m looking at another bill, one that isn’t as egregious a violation of Home Rule on its face, but in the long run might turn out to be just as bad, or worse.

The bill in question is an omnibus bill, containing a large huge number of proposed changes to Kansas tax laws. There is much in it that Kansans of many different political orientations might either criticize or praise, but its “government competition” section deserves special criticism.

As written, it would mean that any restaurant, child-care center, or heath club which operates within five miles of any similar entity which can be defined, on the basis of its tax status, as “owned or operated by a governmental entity,” would be exempt from paying property taxes.

That this provision of the bill is an attempt (the latest of several) by the owners of Genesis Health Clubs to get state legislators to guarantee them the same property-tax exemption which non-profit YMCAs enjoy has been exposed by multiple journalists.&nbsp;It is worth taking a moment, though, to be clear on why a provision like this can get this far.

It’s not simply because of the influence of wealthy constituents and donors. Sure, that’s what philosophers might call the efficient cause of the provision—the part that actually acted to make it happen. But what of its material cause—that is, the substance or context out of which the provision was made or was enabled to come to be, when the efficient cause went to work?

Here I think one can only point to the pervasive disrespect too many in our state government have for the responsibility of the cities and counties to make governing decisions in response to the needs and demands of their own residents.

If we believe in local government, then those local governments obviously need revenue to be able to do the collective work which the citizens who live in those cities and counties ask them to do, particularly when it comes to providing the quality-of-life improvements which many non-profits make available at no (or at least comparatively low) cost to Kansas communities. If this provision becomes law, it could greatly harm the ability of Kansas municipalities to collect property taxes, as it may allow restaurants and gyms operating miles from not just from YMCAs, but from anything as small as a limited-hours deli, or an on-site day-care center, operating inside a city hall or a court house or other public facility, to no longer contribute any property tax to the cities which provide them with fire and police protection and much more. Which would only help undermine the whole point of local democracy in the first place.

With any luck, Governor Kelly will use her line-item veto power to strike out this provision, thus making certain Kansas cities and counties can continue to take responsibility for those things which the Home Rule provision of the state constitution says they should be able to. But as for striking out the disregard too many have the right of municipalities to govern themselves—well, the evidence suggests that will take a lot longer.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>I’ve used this space many times over the years to provide some defense of the political powers and interests of the cities that over 75% of Kansans live in. I did last month in response to a bill in Topeka—which thankfully died in committee—that would have forbidden cities from exercising almost any kind of local control over the businesses which their residents interact with. This month I’m looking at another bill, one that isn’t as egregious a violation of Home Rule on its face, but in the long run might turn out to be just as bad, or worse.The bill in question is an omnibus bill, containing a large huge number of proposed changes to Kansas tax laws. There is much in it that Kansans of many different political orientations might either criticize or praise, but its “government competition” section deserves special criticism.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As written, it would mean that any restaurant, child-care center, or heath club which operates within five miles of any similar entity which can be defined, on the basis of its tax status, as “owned or operated by a governmental entity,” would be exempt from paying property taxes.That this provision of the bill is an attempt (the latest of several) by the owners of Genesis Health Clubs to get state legislators to guarantee them the same property-tax exemption which non-profit YMCAs enjoy has been exposed by multiple journalists.&nbsp;It is worth taking a moment, though, to be clear on why a provision like this can get this far.It’s not simply because of the influence of wealthy constituents and donors. Sure, that’s what philosophers might call the efficient cause of the provision—the part that actually acted to make it happen. But what of its material cause—that is, the substance or context out of which the provision was made or was enabled to come to be, when the efficient cause went to work?Here I think one can only point to the pervasive disrespect too many in our state government have for the responsibility of the cities and counties to make governing decisions in response to the needs and demands of their own residents.If we believe in local government, then those local governments obviously need revenue to be able to do the collective work which the citizens who live in those cities and counties ask them to do, particularly when it comes to providing the quality-of-life improvements which many non-profits make available at no (or at least comparatively low) cost to Kansas communities. If this provision becomes law, it could greatly harm the ability of Kansas municipalities to collect property taxes, as it may allow restaurants and gyms operating miles from not just from YMCAs, but from anything as small as a limited-hours deli, or an on-site day-care center, operating inside a city hall or a court house or other public facility, to no longer contribute any property tax to the cities which provide them with fire and police protection and much more. Which would only help undermine the whole point of local democracy in the first place.With any luck, Governor Kelly will use her line-item veto power to strike out this provision, thus making certain Kansas cities and counties can continue to take responsibility for those things which the Home Rule provision of the state constitution says they should be able to. But as for striking out the disregard too many have the right of municipalities to govern themselves—well, the evidence suggests that will take a lot longer.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Limiting Kansas cities in the name of 'competition'

​As&nbsp;calendar pages flipped closer to a new century,&nbsp;Ellis and&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;communities&nbsp;grew&nbsp;and prospered.&nbsp;Schools reflected that prosperity in the number of students and the days of attendance.&nbsp;

​In 1889, Professor Whelan introduced a three-term school year. The first&nbsp;2 terms consisted of&nbsp;3 months&nbsp;while&nbsp;the last&nbsp;totaled&nbsp;2 months. To improve school quality, he&nbsp;stated&nbsp;“No students could enroll after the first week of each term.”&nbsp;He intended&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;instructional integrity for all Ellis students.&nbsp;A total of&nbsp;222 youngsters enrolled that first term. The board approved the 8-month school and funded it with a 12-mill levy (Ellis Review&nbsp;Headlight&nbsp;7-30-1889).

​As Ellis&nbsp;evolved from&nbsp;frontier outpost&nbsp;to thriving town,&nbsp;board and administrative decisions&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;reflected state educational policy. The State Superintendent of Schools mandated all schools in his jurisdiction fly the United States&nbsp;flag. To meet this requirement, pupils and&nbsp;residents&nbsp;organized&nbsp;socials to raise $30.10 to purchase a 12 x18 foot flag and pole (ERH12-31-1889). To celebrate&nbsp;reaching&nbsp;their goal, they commemorated the flag and flew it for the first time at Kansas Day Ceremonies on January 29, 1890 (ERH 1-14-1890).

​April saw even more improvements. The board&nbsp;planted&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;trees on school grounds (ERH 4-25-1890). To finish the year, students, teachers, and townspeople&nbsp;planned&nbsp;a school exhibition that earned $44.60 to buy books for the school library. Sources estimated this amount would buy 75-80 volumes for the&nbsp;library shelves (ERH 5-2-90). One can imagine the community’s satisfaction with its educational system as it&nbsp;worked through&nbsp;the final decade of the century.

​By 1891, the Ellis school system had earned a fine reputation. The President of the Agricultural College sent a note published in the Ellis Review Headlight, February 6, 1891, stating that “Pupils who complete our course of study as far as the eighth grade will be admitted to the college on certificate of that fact without further examination.” That same year, the system boasted 5 teachers: Miss Peters, Miss Kingsley, Miss Courts, Miss Frost, and Miss Holman.

​The following year, 1892, offered a grand opportunity to celebrate education in Ellis. Although the school had operated for 19 years, no one had graduated. That changed when two girls and boy received diplomas from Ellis High School (Langley, 1990).&nbsp;

​The August 6, 1970, Centennial Edition of the Ellis Review shared former student Emma Kastner’s memories of early school practices. She recalled&nbsp;the janitor rang the bell at 8:30 each morning. The final bell rang at 9:00 a.m. Students lined up and marched up the stairs to a tune&nbsp;a teacher played on a triangle. Faculty marked students tardy if they failed to make the line before the door closed. First through fourth grades remained on the 1st&nbsp;floor of the building. Fifth and sixth graders studied in the basement, and high school&nbsp;classes met&nbsp;upstairs where courses included algebra, geometry, history, and rhetoric (now known as English). In addition to academic subjects, teachers instructed character, culture, and citizenship “as rigidly as the three R’s.”

​&nbsp;Under the watchful eyes of their&nbsp;community, students succeeded&nbsp;in their&nbsp;educational efforts.&nbsp;Imagine their&nbsp;joy saluting that first flag, filling those library shelves, and celebrating that first graduation. The&nbsp;stone&nbsp;school&nbsp;continued to build&nbsp;Ellis one youngster at a time.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682015927926.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN​As&nbsp;calendar pages flipped closer to a new century,&nbsp;Ellis and&nbsp;surrounding&nbsp;communities&nbsp;grew&nbsp;and prospered.&nbsp;Schools reflected that prosperity in the number of students and the days of attendance.&nbsp;​In 1889, Professor Whelan introduced a three-term school year. The first&nbsp;2 terms consisted of&nbsp;3 months&nbsp;while&nbsp;the last&nbsp;totaled&nbsp;2 months. To improve school quality, he&nbsp;stated&nbsp;“No students could enroll after the first week of each term.”&nbsp;He intended&nbsp;to&nbsp;strengthen&nbsp;instructional integrity for all Ellis students.&nbsp;A total of&nbsp;222 youngsters enrolled that first term. The board approved the 8-month school and funded it with a 12-mill levy (Ellis Review&nbsp;Headlight&nbsp;7-30-1889).​As Ellis&nbsp;evolved from&nbsp;frontier outpost&nbsp;to thriving town,&nbsp;board and administrative decisions&nbsp;increasingly&nbsp;reflected state educational policy. The State Superintendent of Schools mandated all schools in his jurisdiction fly the United States&nbsp;flag. To meet this requirement, pupils and&nbsp;residents&nbsp;organized&nbsp;socials to raise $30.10 to purchase a 12 x18 foot flag and pole (ERH12-31-1889). To celebrate&nbsp;reaching&nbsp;their goal, they commemorated the flag and flew it for the first time at Kansas Day Ceremonies on January 29, 1890 (ERH 1-14-1890).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158605319.jpeg" alt="Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>​April saw even more improvements. The board&nbsp;planted&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;trees on school grounds (ERH 4-25-1890). To finish the year, students, teachers, and townspeople&nbsp;planned&nbsp;a school exhibition that earned $44.60 to buy books for the school library. Sources estimated this amount would buy 75-80 volumes for the&nbsp;library shelves (ERH 5-2-90). One can imagine the community’s satisfaction with its educational system as it&nbsp;worked through&nbsp;the final decade of the century.​By 1891, the Ellis school system had earned a fine reputation. The President of the Agricultural College sent a note published in the Ellis Review Headlight, February 6, 1891, stating that “Pupils who complete our course of study as far as the eighth grade will be admitted to the college on certificate of that fact without further examination.” That same year, the system boasted 5 teachers: Miss Peters, Miss Kingsley, Miss Courts, Miss Frost, and Miss Holman.​The following year, 1892, offered a grand opportunity to celebrate education in Ellis. Although the school had operated for 19 years, no one had graduated. That changed when two girls and boy received diplomas from Ellis High School (Langley, 1990).&nbsp;​The August 6, 1970, Centennial Edition of the Ellis Review shared former student Emma Kastner’s memories of early school practices. She recalled&nbsp;the janitor rang the bell at 8:30 each morning. The final bell rang at 9:00 a.m. Students lined up and marched up the stairs to a tune&nbsp;a teacher played on a triangle. Faculty marked students tardy if they failed to make the line before the door closed. First through fourth grades remained on the 1st&nbsp;floor of the building. Fifth and sixth graders studied in the basement, and high school&nbsp;classes met&nbsp;upstairs where courses included algebra, geometry, history, and rhetoric (now known as English). In addition to academic subjects, teachers instructed character, culture, and citizenship “as rigidly as the three R’s.”​&nbsp;Under the watchful eyes of their&nbsp;community, students succeeded&nbsp;in their&nbsp;educational efforts.&nbsp;Imagine their&nbsp;joy saluting that first flag, filling those library shelves, and celebrating that first graduation. The&nbsp;stone&nbsp;school&nbsp;continued to build&nbsp;Ellis one youngster at a time.&nbsp;

MADORIN: History of Ellis schools, Part 5

In 2019, the Governors of Kansas and Missouri both committed to a truce, pausing the pointless, destructive tax border war.&nbsp; Prior to that, KC-area companies would regularly leverage millions
 of dollars from their respective states in order to move just a few miles across the state line.&nbsp; Waddell and Reed received $62 million to move from Kansas to Missouri, while AMC Theaters got over $21 million to move from Missouri to Kansas.&nbsp; Neither move
 took the respective companies out of the KC area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The result of this nonsense was millions of dollars lost to state services, most notably public schools, all for companies to relocate–not create–jobs.&nbsp; State money was in the mix, too—it was
 not just a Kansas City issue. The choice is then whether to cut essential services like schools and infrastructure, or make up the revenue by raising taxes on individuals and small businesses that do not have powerful, well-connected lobbyists.&nbsp; No jobs are
 created in this process, except of course for lawyers and lobbyists.

This is absurd.&nbsp; Fortunately, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Missouri Governor Mike Parson agree.&nbsp; In 2019, they agreed to a tax break truce, and it is holding.&nbsp; The Missouri General Assembly
 also passed legislation codifying it, but only if the Kansas Legislature would pass similar legislation within two years, which they did not.&nbsp; Kelly and Parson have each been re-elected since, but to make this commitment more binding once their terms are up,
 the two legislatures need to renew their own deal.&nbsp; This time, the Kansas Legislature needs to reciprocate.

To be clear, both states are still gung ho about tax breaks such as the massive “APEX” deal that lured a Panasonic electric-vehicle battery factory to Desoto. However, since 2019 there have
 been no massive tax packages dangled before existing KC employers to move a few blocks or a few miles.&nbsp; Yet unfinished business remains.&nbsp; Not only do the legislatures need to make the deal permanent, there is yet another issue that they need to address: a
 lack of tax reciprocity.

Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers live in Kansas and work in Missouri, and vice-versa.&nbsp; Each one is required to file and pay taxes in both states.&nbsp; Each state offers residents a credit for
 taxes paid to other states, but the process is cumbersome and error-prone.&nbsp; By contrast, Ohio has had a tax reciprocity agreement with all states which it borders for decades.&nbsp; Most notably, this includes the Cincinnati area, a substantial portion of which
 lies in Kentucky.&nbsp; Under those agreements, one pays taxes to the state where one lives, not where one works.&nbsp; A single state tax return is filed, and that is the end of it.&nbsp; If there are any complications, the other state need only check the taxpayer’s state
 of legal residency.&nbsp; Kansas could also do this with Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opportunities are being lost and time wasted because of the baffling complexity of filing two tax returns and negotiating each state’s complicated process of taking a credit for the taxes paid
 to other states.&nbsp; It also incentivizes many people with otherwise-simple tax status to rely on paid tax preparers, wasting money.&nbsp; But for the border issue, these taxpayers could easily complete the forms on their own.

This should not be an ideological or partisan issue.&nbsp; The Kansas Legislature needs to renew the tax truce legislation and pass tax reciprocity–the sooner, the better.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2019, the Governors of Kansas and Missouri both committed to a truce, pausing the pointless, destructive tax border war.&nbsp; Prior to that, KC-area companies would regularly leverage millions
 of dollars from their respective states in order to move just a few miles across the state line.&nbsp; Waddell and Reed received $62 million to move from Kansas to Missouri, while AMC Theaters got over $21 million to move from Missouri to Kansas.&nbsp; Neither move
 took the respective companies out of the KC area.&nbsp;&nbsp;The result of this nonsense was millions of dollars lost to state services, most notably public schools, all for companies to relocate–not create–jobs.&nbsp; State money was in the mix, too—it was
 not just a Kansas City issue. The choice is then whether to cut essential services like schools and infrastructure, or make up the revenue by raising taxes on individuals and small businesses that do not have powerful, well-connected lobbyists.&nbsp; No jobs are
 created in this process, except of course for lawyers and lobbyists.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This is absurd.&nbsp; Fortunately, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Missouri Governor Mike Parson agree.&nbsp; In 2019, they agreed to a tax break truce, and it is holding.&nbsp; The Missouri General Assembly
 also passed legislation codifying it, but only if the Kansas Legislature would pass similar legislation within two years, which they did not.&nbsp; Kelly and Parson have each been re-elected since, but to make this commitment more binding once their terms are up,
 the two legislatures need to renew their own deal.&nbsp; This time, the Kansas Legislature needs to reciprocate.To be clear, both states are still gung ho about tax breaks such as the massive “APEX” deal that lured a Panasonic electric-vehicle battery factory to Desoto. However, since 2019 there have
 been no massive tax packages dangled before existing KC employers to move a few blocks or a few miles.&nbsp; Yet unfinished business remains.&nbsp; Not only do the legislatures need to make the deal permanent, there is yet another issue that they need to address: a
 lack of tax reciprocity.Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers live in Kansas and work in Missouri, and vice-versa.&nbsp; Each one is required to file and pay taxes in both states.&nbsp; Each state offers residents a credit for
 taxes paid to other states, but the process is cumbersome and error-prone.&nbsp; By contrast, Ohio has had a tax reciprocity agreement with all states which it borders for decades.&nbsp; Most notably, this includes the Cincinnati area, a substantial portion of which
 lies in Kentucky.&nbsp; Under those agreements, one pays taxes to the state where one lives, not where one works.&nbsp; A single state tax return is filed, and that is the end of it.&nbsp; If there are any complications, the other state need only check the taxpayer’s state
 of legal residency.&nbsp; Kansas could also do this with Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;Opportunities are being lost and time wasted because of the baffling complexity of filing two tax returns and negotiating each state’s complicated process of taking a credit for the taxes paid
 to other states.&nbsp; It also incentivizes many people with otherwise-simple tax status to rely on paid tax preparers, wasting money.&nbsp; But for the border issue, these taxpayers could easily complete the forms on their own.This should not be an ideological or partisan issue.&nbsp; The Kansas Legislature needs to renew the tax truce legislation and pass tax reciprocity–the sooner, the better.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Tax truce is holding, but it’s time to finish the job

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

GOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.

Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.

We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;

"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.

Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.

I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.

Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;

Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.

Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;

In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.

The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;

Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.

As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;

The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.

Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;

Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.

At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;

The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.

Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.

They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.

Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.

Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;

Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.

You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.

Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;

One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.

He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.

The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;

However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. 

The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.

So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;

Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.

More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>

Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.

Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.

Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.

The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.

Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.

Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>

This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;

They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.

Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.

However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Prairie chickens thrive on land that is being grazed by cattle because the cattle help maintain vegetation at varying densities, which is ideal for the life cycle of the birds. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostGOVE COUNTY, Kan. — The prairie was still asleep when I drug my blurry-eyed self and camera gear out of a van onto a pasture in Gove County.Our instructions indicated we should follow the stacks of cow pies to the lek, mating grounds for prairie chickens, usually used year after year.We quickly set up our pop-up blinds and settled into the darkness, waiting and listening as the cold, dry Kansas wind slapped our faces.&nbsp;"You will hear them before you see them," our guide whispered as he zipped us in.Then through the darkness, you could hear warbles and then bloop, bloop, bloop of the lesser prairie chickens and finally the booooma of a greater prairie chicken.I participated in the <a href="https://www.audubonofkansas.org/grousetours">Kansas Audubon Society</a>'s Lek Trek weekend April 13 to 16, which was based in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935690526.jpeg" alt="The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The greater prairie chicken on the left, inflates its air sacs, as the lesser prairie chicken does the same on the right. Greater prairie chickens tend to be bigger and have an orange air sac. The lesser prairie chickens are smaller and have a red air sac. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although greater prairie chickens can be found from Texas to southern Canada, northwestern Kansas is the only place in the world where greater and lesser prairie chickens occur in the same place.&nbsp;Lesser prairie chickens have a much smaller range that includes parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico — the majority of that range is in western Kansas.Last weekend, more than 140 birders from across the nation came to Kansas, with Hays as their base, to see prairie chickens during their mating season.&nbsp;In addition to the males inflating sacks on either side of their throats to make their signature booms, prairie chickens are also known for their distinct (and in my view, comical) mating dances.The males shoot up feathers located on the back of their necks called&nbsp;pinnae. Those feathers stick up above their heads like horns. They stick their tail feathers up in the air, wiggle their butts and quickly stomp their feet. It looks like a combo between a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and grandma trying to do the chicken dance.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935984841.jpeg" alt="Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Male lesser prairie chickens square off on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Although you're supposed to be dead silent in those blinds, it's hard not to giggle just a little at the whole sight.As more birds join the lek, fights erupt. Two males will face off in the middle of the lek, staring at each other. Sometimes they just walk away. Other times one will fly up and pounce on the other bird.&nbsp;The females, who are much less showy, which is common in the bird world, mingle with the males appearing uninterested and unamused.Even after all the girls have left the lek for the morning, a few males tend to hang out, too tired to spar anymore.&nbsp;Observing prairie chickens from a blind gets you the best views of the birds and the best glimpses of their natural behaviors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936081724.jpeg" alt="A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A male lesser prairie chicken, right, tries to woo a female lesser prairie chicken, left. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>At times, birds were no more than 10 feet from our blinds and could be easily seen without scopes or binoculars.&nbsp;The downside is that you have to be in those blinds before the first light and must stay in the blinds without a bathroom break until after 9 a.m. in our case when the birds for no apparent reason all flushed at once. We met to load vans to head toward our leks at 3:30 a.m.Even last Friday when the high was 80, it was cold on that hilltop in Gove County, even with three layers of clothes and gloves. A birder from San Fransisco who went out on one of the blind tours Saturday morning when the high was only in the 50s said it was the coldest he had ever been.They haven't been here when the wind chills were 50 below.Prairie chickens were once ubiquitous on the prairie. Early settlers hunted them for food. However, their numbers have been in decline for decades.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936235390.jpeg" alt="A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A prairie chicken tries to pounce on a rival male as they fight for mates on a lek in Gove County. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Prairie chickens need large open areas of grassland to sustain their populations and perform their signature mating dances. They don't like anything that is taller than they are. This includes trees, power poles, windmills and oil derricks.&nbsp;Some researchers have proffered the prairie chickens avoid these natural and manmade structures because they have historically been used by birds of prey for perches.You likely have heard lesser prairie chickens mentioned in the news recently. The federal government has listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, which is not sitting too well with some energy companies and local landowners.Prairie chickens thrive on cattle pastures. Grazing keeps cover at the needed heights for the prairie chickens through their life cycles. They need some short grass, some medium cover and some thicker cover.&nbsp;One of these said landowners stopped our van on the way out of the pasture Friday morning and started chit-chatting about the chickens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936388982.jpeg" alt="An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An overview of the prairie chicken lek as dawn slowly breaks over the prairie. A male lesser prairie chicken, center, can be seen here with several females. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>He said he too had prairie chickens on his property, but he said he was concerned about the limits the listing would place on property rights.The landowner said he isn't bothered by the prairie chickens or the researchers and visitors who come to see them.&nbsp;However, he said he wants to be able to manage his cattle and land without interference from the feds in D.C. The farmer's concerns did not fall on deaf ears. We've had a farm in our family for several generations. It's hard work, and farmers are often left with small profits and big debts.So why go through all this trouble to save this one goofy little bird?&nbsp;Jackie Augustine, organizer of the Prairie Chicken Festival and an expert on the birds, said simply they're cute.More importantly, they are a sign of healthy prairie habitat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936745789.jpeg" alt="Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Lesser prairie chickens have been listed as threatened by the federal government, but the state of Kansas is fighting that designation. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/727ddb20-ced5-4d23-9090-aeb6cfda8a9e">She also argued voluntary measures have been in place for years, but the prairie chicken populations have yet to stabilize.</a>Commerce doesn't have to be given up entirely for conservation.Augustine said cattle ranchers can still run cattle on their land, and the listing doesn't completely restrict oil and energy production in this region. It encourages it to be done in areas that won't destroy leks.Birders are a passionate group. They have what they call life lists, which include every bird they have seen in their lifetimes. Some birders travel internationally to add to those life lists.The Prairie Chicken Festival attendees, most of whom were from out of state, paid hundreds of dollars in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/audubonofkansas">Audubon</a> fees alone, not to mention food, gas, lodging and entertainment to watch these birds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936920208.jpeg" alt="Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Most of the prairie chicken leks in Kansas are on private land. This one was marked by cow pie piles. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Coming to a compromise between maintaining property owner rights and implementing conservation tactics that will preserve the lesser prairie chicken is where we need to be, but that's not where politics are going.Unfortunately, parties in the prairie chicken debate have taken to their corners for a fight. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1f995f9e-3403-4556-b353-c968c3e5e924">Last week, the Kansas Attorney General sued President Biden in an attempt to have the lesser prairie chicken delisted from the threatened species list.</a>This weekend was my third time observing prairie chickens in the wild. They never cease to amaze me. They always make me smile. Their boom ... boom ... boom ... makes me feel more in rhythm.&nbsp;They don't understand land deeds or lawsuits. They are just doing what prairie chickens do.Those who know me, know I am not a morning person. I don't know anyone who is a 3 a.m. morning person. However, as I emerged from our little prairie cocoons Friday morning on lek, I had a huge smile on my face. The hike, no bathroom, the early wakeup, and the cold were worth it.However, as the birds flushed and disappeared into the gray morning Friday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I wondered what was next for my feathered friends.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681936568023.jpeg" alt="Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney standing outside of her blind in the late morning after her prairie chicken viewing tour. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

📸 Reporter experiences Kansas prairie chickens first hand

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Living in a small town is wonderful. Knowing people in the grocery store, the space and security for children to play in parks or yards and a shared sense of ownership with your neighbors to help and make life better for each other are some of the things that make this life sweet. Smaller usually feels like an advantage in rural communities, except there are fewer people to help financially support the cost of community resources. Farmers and other landowners cover a large portion of the communities’ financial needs through property tax payments to support local municipalities, schools, hospitals and other taxing entities. Incredibly rural communities often have a choice between shockingly high taxes or a glaring lack of important community services. Bond issues are a way for the community to declare their opinion of whether some of the taxes are worth it. This spring, our school district like many other across the state, has a bond issue on the upcoming ballot. The school is asking our community to make improvements to existing facilities to accommodate unmet and future needs. Bond measures are really asking whether you and your neighbors want to join together and spend money out of your own pocket on an investment in the community. All investments should be considered carefully by weighing the cost against the risk and reward. In our ultra-polarized world, some people will quickly jump to one side or the other of this issue. Some will oppose the measure because the cost is too high or they believe the improvements are not needed. Others are strongly in favor of all investments in education and community improvements regardless of the cost. This community has been fortunate to have had citizens who balanced fiscal responsibility with a vision for a community that is a great place to live. As I look around, it is easy to see all the places where people have made investments of time and money to make our community great. I often marvel about how people have been proactive and really cared about the future of our community. It’s not like that everywhere. I appreciate the past investments and feel a sense of obligation and desire to do my best for the future of this place.&nbsp; Personally, I am typically pro-investment because community growth and improvements to our schools and other facilities make for a high quality of life that attracts new people and helps us all to thrive. However, the idea of more taxes pushes me to temper that reaction with an evaluation of the project before deciding my stance. It is my responsibility as a voter and community member to evaluate the proposed bond against my own desires and the needs of our community. The vote is a few weeks away, and I have been investigating the proposal, discussing it with my fellow voters and seeking knowledge to fill gaps in my understanding. If you have a bond issue in your community, I hope you will take the time to evaluate what is being asked and if the solution is the right course of action. Getting to the decision right can have a big impact on the future of your community. I haven’t made a decision on the bond issue yet but am confident I will walk into the polling booth as an informed voter with the best interest our community in mind. I also have faith that my fellow community members have the same feelings of responsibility and ownership of the decision they make. "Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher Living in a small town is wonderful. Knowing people in the grocery store, the space and security for children to play in parks or yards and a shared sense of ownership with your neighbors to help and make life better for each other are some of the things that make this life sweet. Smaller usually feels like an advantage in rural communities, except there are fewer people to help financially support the cost of community resources. Farmers and other landowners cover a large portion of the communities’ financial needs through property tax payments to support local municipalities, schools, hospitals and other taxing entities. Incredibly rural communities often have a choice between shockingly high taxes or a glaring lack of important community services. Bond issues are a way for the community to declare their opinion of whether some of the taxes are worth it. This spring, our school district like many other across the state, has a bond issue on the upcoming ballot. The school is asking our community to make improvements to existing facilities to accommodate unmet and future needs. Bond measures are really asking whether you and your neighbors want to join together and spend money out of your own pocket on an investment in the community. All investments should be considered carefully by weighing the cost against the risk and reward. In our ultra-polarized world, some people will quickly jump to one side or the other of this issue. Some will oppose the measure because the cost is too high or they believe the improvements are not needed. Others are strongly in favor of all investments in education and community improvements regardless of the cost. This community has been fortunate to have had citizens who balanced fiscal responsibility with a vision for a community that is a great place to live. As I look around, it is easy to see all the places where people have made investments of time and money to make our community great. I often marvel about how people have been proactive and really cared about the future of our community. It’s not like that everywhere. I appreciate the past investments and feel a sense of obligation and desire to do my best for the future of this place.&nbsp; Personally, I am typically pro-investment because community growth and improvements to our schools and other facilities make for a high quality of life that attracts new people and helps us all to thrive. However, the idea of more taxes pushes me to temper that reaction with an evaluation of the project before deciding my stance. It is my responsibility as a voter and community member to evaluate the proposed bond against my own desires and the needs of our community. The vote is a few weeks away, and I have been investigating the proposal, discussing it with my fellow voters and seeking knowledge to fill gaps in my understanding. If you have a bond issue in your community, I hope you will take the time to evaluate what is being asked and if the solution is the right course of action. Getting to the decision right can have a big impact on the future of your community. I haven’t made a decision on the bond issue yet but am confident I will walk into the polling booth as an informed voter with the best interest our community in mind. I also have faith that my fellow community members have the same feelings of responsibility and ownership of the decision they make. "Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Community bonds

Have you ever stepped into the water on the first fishing trip of the spring only to find your waders leaked? Or lost a nice fish because the line on your reel was old and snapped? Or even found while trying to make the&nbsp;first cast of the year that your reel wouldn’t work at all?&nbsp;All of the above are scenarios&nbsp;that can easily be avoided with a little prior planning. So&nbsp;here are a few tips to help make you ready for action&nbsp;when your buddy calls and screams&nbsp;into the phone&nbsp;“The fish are bitin’!”

Check your gear early. We all lose tackle each year to rocks and “stick fish,” so go through your tackle box, make a list and stock up. Check your waders for leaks. If they didn’t leak the last time you took them off, they probably won’t leak now, but be sure; it’s better than an unexpected boot full of cold water. Line on fishing reels should be changed every few years; the more often you use it the more often it should be changed. You can&nbsp;buy&nbsp;spools of line and DIY, or most sporting&nbsp;goods stores have&nbsp;a&nbsp;machine to do it for a small fee.&nbsp;If you fish from a boat, hopefully you’ve gone over it by now to make sure the batteries are good, the motor starts and runs well and the trailer&nbsp;tires aren’t flat.&nbsp;Also be certain to have life preservers on board for every passenger, because if stopped by wildlife and parks on the water or at the dock, they will check that.&nbsp;If you hate wearing life jackets while fishing like most of us do, look into some of the new technology that now allows life jackets to be much smaller, thinner and less obstructing. &nbsp;

We were just leaving town the other day when my wife snapped her fingers in the air and stated “Darn, I forgot to get my&nbsp;new&nbsp;fishing license.” That excuse won’t fly with a game warden if you get&nbsp;checked&nbsp;only to discover your fishing (or hunting) license has expired, so be sure yours is up-to-date. If you are 65, you can&nbsp;purchase a lifetime&nbsp;combination hunting / fishing license&nbsp;for&nbsp;only&nbsp;$42.50&nbsp;that’s good until you turn&nbsp;74 and no longer need a license; it’s the deal of the century!&nbsp;Have you ever bought your hunting license late in the season, and grumbled about it only being good for a short time until New Year’s Eve? Well grumble no more as that now has changed. Now all annual&nbsp;licenses (NOT&nbsp;special permits like deer and turkey tags and fur harvester’s permits) are valid for 365 days from the time you purchase them. So, for example, if you buy a hunting license just in time for the November pheasant opener, that license will be good until that date the&nbsp;following year. And to take convenience one step further, if you purchase licenses online, you can now sign up for a feature called “auto renew” that will send you a notice a few weeks before your new license is due each year, then automatically renew it and&nbsp;charge it to a credit or debit card. &nbsp;

Along with possessing the proper licenses and permits, comes knowledge of all Kansas fishing rules and regulations. Some regulations are statewide and apply to every cubic inch of Kansas water, whether lake, river, stream or reservoir. Some lakes and reservoirs however have length limits, etc that are unique to that water. That’s why every Kansas fisherman’s tackle box should contain a copy of the 2023&nbsp;Kansas Fishing regulations Summary, a&nbsp;multi-page pamphlet that lists&nbsp;all that information for all Kansas lakes, reservoirs, state fishing lakes and community fishing lakes, so you should never get “caught”&nbsp;with your hook bare, so to speak. These should be available everywhere tackle and licenses are sold.

If you’re like me,&nbsp;and not a died-in-the-wool fisherman, it’s handy to know what lakes and reservoirs are best for what fish species. Another handy booklet no Kansas fisherman should be without is the 2023Fishing Forecast. This forecast&nbsp;is assembled by Kansas fisheries biologists using data gathered when they sample&nbsp;lakes in each of their jurisdictions. For each fish species, it rates lakes, reservoirs, state fishing lakes and community fishing lakes for largest fish and largest fish populations. These forecasts are available at all Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offices and to download online from the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com/">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>.&nbsp;So instead of helping put the “pro” in procrastinate, take care of business by getting your&nbsp;fishing stuff in order, making certain your license is up-to-date, arm yourselves with all the available information readily available about Kansas fishing regulations and opportunities, and take someone along who’s new to fishing as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Have you ever stepped into the water on the first fishing trip of the spring only to find your waders leaked? Or lost a nice fish because the line on your reel was old and snapped? Or even found while trying to make the&nbsp;first cast of the year that your reel wouldn’t work at all?&nbsp;All of the above are scenarios&nbsp;that can easily be avoided with a little prior planning. So&nbsp;here are a few tips to help make you ready for action&nbsp;when your buddy calls and screams&nbsp;into the phone&nbsp;“The fish are bitin’!”Check your gear early. We all lose tackle each year to rocks and “stick fish,” so go through your tackle box, make a list and stock up. Check your waders for leaks. If they didn’t leak the last time you took them off, they probably won’t leak now, but be sure; it’s better than an unexpected boot full of cold water. Line on fishing reels should be changed every few years; the more often you use it the more often it should be changed. You can&nbsp;buy&nbsp;spools of line and DIY, or most sporting&nbsp;goods stores have&nbsp;a&nbsp;machine to do it for a small fee.&nbsp;If you fish from a boat, hopefully you’ve gone over it by now to make sure the batteries are good, the motor starts and runs well and the trailer&nbsp;tires aren’t flat.&nbsp;Also be certain to have life preservers on board for every passenger, because if stopped by wildlife and parks on the water or at the dock, they will check that.&nbsp;If you hate wearing life jackets while fishing like most of us do, look into some of the new technology that now allows life jackets to be much smaller, thinner and less obstructing. &nbsp;We were just leaving town the other day when my wife snapped her fingers in the air and stated “Darn, I forgot to get my&nbsp;new&nbsp;fishing license.” That excuse won’t fly with a game warden if you get&nbsp;checked&nbsp;only to discover your fishing (or hunting) license has expired, so be sure yours is up-to-date. If you are 65, you can&nbsp;purchase a lifetime&nbsp;combination hunting / fishing license&nbsp;for&nbsp;only&nbsp;$42.50&nbsp;that’s good until you turn&nbsp;74 and no longer need a license; it’s the deal of the century!&nbsp;Have you ever bought your hunting license late in the season, and grumbled about it only being good for a short time until New Year’s Eve? Well grumble no more as that now has changed. Now all annual&nbsp;licenses (NOT&nbsp;special permits like deer and turkey tags and fur harvester’s permits) are valid for 365 days from the time you purchase them. So, for example, if you buy a hunting license just in time for the November pheasant opener, that license will be good until that date the&nbsp;following year. And to take convenience one step further, if you purchase licenses online, you can now sign up for a feature called “auto renew” that will send you a notice a few weeks before your new license is due each year, then automatically renew it and&nbsp;charge it to a credit or debit card. &nbsp;Along with possessing the proper licenses and permits, comes knowledge of all Kansas fishing rules and regulations. Some regulations are statewide and apply to every cubic inch of Kansas water, whether lake, river, stream or reservoir. Some lakes and reservoirs however have length limits, etc that are unique to that water. That’s why every Kansas fisherman’s tackle box should contain a copy of the 2023&nbsp;Kansas Fishing regulations Summary, a&nbsp;multi-page pamphlet that lists&nbsp;all that information for all Kansas lakes, reservoirs, state fishing lakes and community fishing lakes, so you should never get “caught”&nbsp;with your hook bare, so to speak. These should be available everywhere tackle and licenses are sold.If you’re like me,&nbsp;and not a died-in-the-wool fisherman, it’s handy to know what lakes and reservoirs are best for what fish species. Another handy booklet no Kansas fisherman should be without is the 2023Fishing Forecast. This forecast&nbsp;is assembled by Kansas fisheries biologists using data gathered when they sample&nbsp;lakes in each of their jurisdictions. For each fish species, it rates lakes, reservoirs, state fishing lakes and community fishing lakes for largest fish and largest fish populations. These forecasts are available at all Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offices and to download online from the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksoutdoors.com/">www.ksoutdoors.com</a>.&nbsp;So instead of helping put the “pro” in procrastinate, take care of business by getting your&nbsp;fishing stuff in order, making certain your license is up-to-date, arm yourselves with all the available information readily available about Kansas fishing regulations and opportunities, and take someone along who’s new to fishing as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Be prepared when the fish are biting

2023 SENATE SCENE WEEK THIRTEEN – 1st&nbsp;Adjournment

Senate Highlights – Weekly overview April 17

This was the last week of legislative activity before VETO session.&nbsp; Early Friday morning, the Senate gaveled out for adjournment and will reconvene on April 26th.&nbsp; When we return, the legislature will consider any items the governor has vetoed and complete its work on the budget and any other remaining bills.&nbsp; The wrap-up period is expected to not last long, but work remains on a few topics.

The Senate voted on numerous conference committee reports and also debated bills on the Senate Floor.&nbsp; A conference committee is a small, bipartisan, and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House and Senate’s version of a similar bill.&nbsp; Once the conference committee reaches a compromise, the negotiated bill is sent to both the House and Senate for a final vote before advancing to the governor’s desk.&nbsp; Within ten days after passage, a bill must be signed by the presiding officers of each chamber, the chief clerk of the House and the secretary of the Senate, and be presented to the governor for approval.&nbsp; The governor has ten days after receipt of the bill to act on it.&nbsp; If the governor does not act on it during the ten-day period, the bill automatically becomes law without the governor’s signature.&nbsp; Most bills passed by the Legislature are approved by the governor.&nbsp; However, the governor may veto a bill by refusing to sign it and returning it to the chamber in which the bill originated, together with a statement of the reasons for the veto.&nbsp; In appropriation bills only, the governor may veto some items (line-item) and approve the others by signing the bill.&nbsp; However, should the governor veto a bill, the Legislature, by a two-thirds vote in both chambers, may override (overturn) the governor's veto and the bill will be enacted into law without the governor’s signature.&nbsp; Once the bill becomes a law, whether by the governor’s approval or a legislative override, it is filed with the Secretary of State.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2238/" target="_blank">HB 2238</a>&nbsp;– will create the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to require student athletes to compete in gender-specific sports based upon the student’s biological gender.&nbsp; The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act will now become law. The Kansas Senate on April 5th&nbsp;followed in the footsteps of the Kansas House (vote of 84-40) in voting to override the veto of HB 2238 by Governor Kelly.&nbsp;HB&nbsp;2238 passed 28-12.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2184/" target="_blank">HB 2184</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp; The Senate and House both passed their budget for the year.&nbsp; This budget bill, HB&nbsp;2184, makes appropriations to various state agencies for fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.&nbsp; The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 24-12 and the House by a vote of 79-44.&nbsp; The budget will now be presented to the governor for consideration. It is important to note that HB 2184 does not contain K-12 education funding, so it only represents about 50% of state expenditures.&nbsp; The education funding will be taken care of in the omnibus budget during veto session.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a>I voted yes.</a>

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb169/" target="_blank">House Sub. for SB 169</a>&nbsp;- Both chambers passed their major tax legislation, SB 169, late last week.&nbsp; The bill makes various changes to income, sales, and property tax law.&nbsp; Specifically, the bill replaces current individual income tax brackets with a single rate of 5.15 percent.&nbsp; The bill also expands the exemption of Social Security income and provides for annual standard deduction increases by a cost-of-living adjustment.&nbsp; The bill accelerates the elimination of state sales tax on food to January 1, 2024, lowers the corporate tax rate by 1% and also increases the amount of the appraised value of residential property exempt from the statewide uniform 20-mill school finance levy to $60,000 (from the current $40,000).&nbsp; The bill passed the Senate 24-13 and the House 85-38 and is also under consideration by the Governor.&nbsp;&nbsp;House Sub. for SB 169 heads to the governor.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/scr1611/" target="_blank">SCR 1611</a>&nbsp;if adopted by a two-thirds majority of each chamber of the Kansas Legislature and approved by voters, would amend the Kansas Constitution to generally limit, for property tax purposes, the valuation growth of any real property to 4 percent per year.&nbsp; The limit would not apply when the property (among other exemptions) includes new construction or when improvements have been made, title to the property is transferred, changed, or conveyed to another person.&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR 1611 passed 28-11.&nbsp; If it passes the House, it will go to the voters for approval.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2138/" target="_blank">Senate Sub. for HB 2138</a>&nbsp;would require school district boards of education to adopt a policy regarding separate overnight accommodations for students of each biological sex during school district sponsored travel and provide for administrative review by the State Board of Education of resolutions adopted by school district boards to permanently close a school building.&nbsp; Senate Sub. for HB&nbsp;2138 passed 28-10.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2039/" target="_blank">HB 2039</a>&nbsp;would require the Secretary of Wildlife and Parks or the Secretary’s designee to issue a free permanent hunting and fishing license to any person residing in the state upon providing proof to the Secretary that such person is a disabled veteran.&nbsp; The bill also would designate the Lehigh Portland Trails in Allen County as Lehigh Portland State Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2039 passed 35-5.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb116/" target="_blank">House Sub. for SB 116</a>&nbsp;would amend the Personal and Family Protection Act to remove certain fees paid by persons who have applied for a concealed carry license (CCL) or who are seeking renewal of such license, specifying no such fees would be required to be paid except to cover the cost of taking fingerprints.&nbsp;&nbsp;House Sub. for SB 116 passed 27-10.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2264/" target="_blank">HB 2264</a>&nbsp;would amend the Woman’s-Right-to-Know Act to add a notification requirement about reversal of abortion options with certain medications and amend the definition of abortion.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2264 passed 26-11.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb209/" target="_blank">SB 209</a>&nbsp;would change the deadline for all advance voting ballots to be received by the county election officer from the third day following the date of the election to 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election.&nbsp;SB 209 passed 23-14.&nbsp;&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/scr1603/" target="_blank">SCR 1603</a>&nbsp;states the Kansas Legislature urges&nbsp;the President of the United States to restore energy independence in the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR 1603 passed 29-10.&nbsp; Having also passed the house, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2100/" target="_blank">HB 2100</a>,&nbsp;would create the Kansas Public Investments and Contracts Protection Act and would amend law governing the Kansas Public Employees Retirement Fund (Trust Fund) and investment standards to prohibit state agencies and other political subdivisions from giving preferential treatment to or discriminating against companies based on environmental, social, or governance (ESG) criteria.&nbsp;HB 2100 passed 27-12.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb217/" target="_blank">SB 217</a>&nbsp;would amend law regarding the use of electronic tracking systems (air tags) to target a person’s location, movement, or travel patterns and the timeframes of protective orders.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB&nbsp;217 passed 37-0. Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/" target="_blank">SB 180</a>&nbsp;would establish the Women’s Bill of Rights and provide a meaning of biological sex for purposes of statutory construction.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 180 passed 28-12.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2350/" target="_blank">HB 2350</a>&nbsp;would create the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling, provide for criminal penalties, and make these provisions supplemental to the Kansas Criminal Code.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2350 passed 36-2.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb26/" target="_blank">SB 26</a>&nbsp;would create the Kansas Child Mutilation Prevention Act (Act).&nbsp; The bill would allow an individual who had gender reassignment service performed as a child to bring a civil cause of action under the Act against the physician who performed such service.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 26 passed 23-12.&nbsp; Having also passed the House, it heads to the Governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2020/" target="_blank">HB 2020</a>&nbsp;would amend law pertaining to the employment classification of drivers for motor carriers and transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber.&nbsp;&nbsp;HB 2020 passed 28-12. Having also passed the House, it heads to the governor.&nbsp;I voted yes.

Opinion