My husband and I are in our mid-twenties, and we are expecting our first baby this year. We are also debt-free, except for our mortgage, and we expect to have it paid off in about four years. It has always been our dream for me to stay home with our kids, and maybe even homeschool them, when the time was right. My husband makes more than enough for us to live on, so we have always put the paychecks from my human resources job toward paying off the house. What do you think, Dave? I kind of hate to give up the income, but I want to do what is best for my family.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

First, congratulations on expecting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/what-i-learned-from-being-a-proud-parent">new baby!</a>&nbsp;I know it’s an exciting time in your lives. It sounds like you two have been killing it financially as well. You’ve both worked hard to set yourselves up for a great future.

Honestly, there’s no wrong answer here. Under the circumstances, the big question is what do&nbsp;you&nbsp;want to do? Of course, the final decision should be made by you and your husband&nbsp;together, but you’re doing the smart thing by analyzing the trade-off. By that, I mean comparing the ideas of continuing to bring extra cash to the household or being at home with your baby.

If you love your job and want to continue those duties full-time, it doesn’t make you a bad mom. It just makes you a working mom. But if you’re in a season of life where you don’t need a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/career-advice/resume-guide">career</a>&nbsp;income or workplace identity to be fulfilled, or if you just want to be home with your child, that’s a really cool thing, too. And hey, if you like your job, there’s no reason you couldn’t perform some HR functions from home on a contract basis, like 20 to 25 hours a week while the little one’s napping, with minimal strain on motherhood.

Even if you quit today and it takes a couple more years for you guys to pay off your house, so what? It’s still not a bad choice. The bad thing is, lots of ladies end up with mom-guilt no matter what they do. They feel guilty if they’re not staying home with the little one, and they feel guilty if they aren’t generating an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-options-for-high-income-earners">income</a>. Society wants you to be everything, and when you choose to be one or the other, it doesn’t know what to do with you—and lots of times becomes really judgey.

You’re blessed to be in a unique financial situation, Ann. So, do what you and your husband feel in your hearts is best for you and your family. Sit down together and talk about it, then make a plan and don’t worry about what the world thinks. God bless you guys!&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is an eight-time #1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648177011035.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,My husband and I are in our mid-twenties, and we are expecting our first baby this year. We are also debt-free, except for our mortgage, and we expect to have it paid off in about four years. It has always been our dream for me to stay home with our kids, and maybe even homeschool them, when the time was right. My husband makes more than enough for us to live on, so we have always put the paychecks from my human resources job toward paying off the house. What do you think, Dave? I kind of hate to give up the income, but I want to do what is best for my family.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AnnDear Ann,First, congratulations on expecting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/relationships/what-i-learned-from-being-a-proud-parent">new baby!</a>&nbsp;I know it’s an exciting time in your lives. It sounds like you two have been killing it financially as well. You’ve both worked hard to set yourselves up for a great future.Honestly, there’s no wrong answer here. Under the circumstances, the big question is what do&nbsp;you&nbsp;want to do? Of course, the final decision should be made by you and your husband&nbsp;together, but you’re doing the smart thing by analyzing the trade-off. By that, I mean comparing the ideas of continuing to bring extra cash to the household or being at home with your baby.If you love your job and want to continue those duties full-time, it doesn’t make you a bad mom. It just makes you a working mom. But if you’re in a season of life where you don’t need a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/career-advice/resume-guide">career</a>&nbsp;income or workplace identity to be fulfilled, or if you just want to be home with your child, that’s a really cool thing, too. And hey, if you like your job, there’s no reason you couldn’t perform some HR functions from home on a contract basis, like 20 to 25 hours a week while the little one’s napping, with minimal strain on motherhood.Even if you quit today and it takes a couple more years for you guys to pay off your house, so what? It’s still not a bad choice. The bad thing is, lots of ladies end up with mom-guilt no matter what they do. They feel guilty if they’re not staying home with the little one, and they feel guilty if they aren’t generating an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-options-for-high-income-earners">income</a>. Society wants you to be everything, and when you choose to be one or the other, it doesn’t know what to do with you—and lots of times becomes really judgey.You’re blessed to be in a unique financial situation, Ann. So, do what you and your husband feel in your hearts is best for you and your family. Sit down together and talk about it, then make a plan and don’t worry about what the world thinks. God bless you guys!&nbsp;&nbsp;— Dave<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey&nbsp;</a>is an eight-time #1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert, and host of&nbsp;The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

Dave Says: What do you want to do?

On June 20, 1872, the Great Seal of the United States was adopted, sporting the bald eagle at its center, and for the past&nbsp;150&nbsp;years the bald eagle has served as the living symbol of freedom, courage, strength, spirit, independence and excellence, all the things America stands for. June 20, was proclaimed nationwide &nbsp;American Eagle Day as a way to celebrate&nbsp;the bald eagle, Americas living symbol of freedom and to bring attention to its dramatic recovery from the brink of extinction. In honor of that, here are some bald eagle facts and trivia.&nbsp;

In the early 1960’s the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states had dropped to less than 500 nesting pairs, and in 1967 they were classified as endangered. In 1995, bald eagles were moved up to a list of threatened species, and&nbsp;today, thanks to conservation efforts&nbsp;there&nbsp;are&nbsp;estimated to be nearly 138,000 bald eagles&nbsp;in those same 48 states.&nbsp;Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks, (KDWP) estimates there to be 137 nesting pairs here in Kansas, and&nbsp;several thousand&nbsp;bald eagles spend time in Kansas each winter.&nbsp;The best time to view bald eagles in Kansas is&nbsp;from November through February, and the best viewing is near any of our large lakes and reservoirs and anywhere along the rivers.&nbsp;

Bald eagles often build nests 50 feet or more off the ground. Nests are not particularly pretty, resembling&nbsp;a haphazard pile of sticks. The same pair&nbsp;uses&nbsp;the same nest year after year, making them larger each time, and after several years a bald eagle nest can easily be the size of a small room.&nbsp;The largest eagle nest ever recorded was in Florida and measured 9 ½ feet across, was 20 feet high from top-to-bottom and weighed an estimated 4500 pounds.&nbsp;A female bald eagle lays from 1 to 3&nbsp;pure white&nbsp;eggs once per year in the spring.&nbsp;When I still lived in Ohio there were numerous active eagle nests along Lake Erie, and a game warden friend of mine was in charge of overseeing those nests. He had hours of amazing video of them checking the&nbsp;nests and the chicks in them each spring. They did it by helicopter using 3 people; the pilot, a second person who was lowered from the helicopter down into each nest and a third person as a lookout, constantly watching the sky for the adult eagles to prevent them from flying into the helicopter blades, killing the eagle and crashing the helicopter in the process. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The majority of the bald eagle’s diet is fish and waterfowl, so when things freeze solid in the winter up north, the eagles migrate south to find open water where they can still fish.&nbsp;Even when our&nbsp;Kansas reservoirs freeze over,&nbsp;the rivers feeding each reservoir still offer open water.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;ice fishermen&nbsp;often leave a few carp or other rough fish on the ice for the eagles.&nbsp;The&nbsp;huge influx of waterfowl through Kansas each winter&nbsp;is also a big draw to eagles.&nbsp;From their vantage point 1,000 or more feet above the&nbsp;ground an&nbsp;eagle’s miraculous eyes can spot prey over a 3 square mile area.&nbsp;

Sadly, it seems&nbsp;American&nbsp;Eagle Day gets very little publicity.&nbsp;At a time such as this, with all the negativity about our country and all the internal division, there would seem to me to be no better time than now to find something to celebrate and bring us together as Americans. So, remember this coming June 20th&nbsp;and take a little time, not only to celebrate the tenacity of our national symbol the bald eagle, but also to remember that we live in what is still the best country in the world.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>On June 20, 1872, the Great Seal of the United States was adopted, sporting the bald eagle at its center, and for the past&nbsp;150&nbsp;years the bald eagle has served as the living symbol of freedom, courage, strength, spirit, independence and excellence, all the things America stands for. June 20, was proclaimed nationwide &nbsp;American Eagle Day as a way to celebrate&nbsp;the bald eagle, Americas living symbol of freedom and to bring attention to its dramatic recovery from the brink of extinction. In honor of that, here are some bald eagle facts and trivia.&nbsp;In the early 1960’s the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states had dropped to less than 500 nesting pairs, and in 1967 they were classified as endangered. In 1995, bald eagles were moved up to a list of threatened species, and&nbsp;today, thanks to conservation efforts&nbsp;there&nbsp;are&nbsp;estimated to be nearly 138,000 bald eagles&nbsp;in those same 48 states.&nbsp;Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks, (KDWP) estimates there to be 137 nesting pairs here in Kansas, and&nbsp;several thousand&nbsp;bald eagles spend time in Kansas each winter.&nbsp;The best time to view bald eagles in Kansas is&nbsp;from November through February, and the best viewing is near any of our large lakes and reservoirs and anywhere along the rivers.&nbsp;Bald eagles often build nests 50 feet or more off the ground. Nests are not particularly pretty, resembling&nbsp;a haphazard pile of sticks. The same pair&nbsp;uses&nbsp;the same nest year after year, making them larger each time, and after several years a bald eagle nest can easily be the size of a small room.&nbsp;The largest eagle nest ever recorded was in Florida and measured 9 ½ feet across, was 20 feet high from top-to-bottom and weighed an estimated 4500 pounds.&nbsp;A female bald eagle lays from 1 to 3&nbsp;pure white&nbsp;eggs once per year in the spring.&nbsp;When I still lived in Ohio there were numerous active eagle nests along Lake Erie, and a game warden friend of mine was in charge of overseeing those nests. He had hours of amazing video of them checking the&nbsp;nests and the chicks in them each spring. They did it by helicopter using 3 people; the pilot, a second person who was lowered from the helicopter down into each nest and a third person as a lookout, constantly watching the sky for the adult eagles to prevent them from flying into the helicopter blades, killing the eagle and crashing the helicopter in the process. &nbsp;&nbsp;The majority of the bald eagle’s diet is fish and waterfowl, so when things freeze solid in the winter up north, the eagles migrate south to find open water where they can still fish.&nbsp;Even when our&nbsp;Kansas reservoirs freeze over,&nbsp;the rivers feeding each reservoir still offer open water.&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;ice fishermen&nbsp;often leave a few carp or other rough fish on the ice for the eagles.&nbsp;The&nbsp;huge influx of waterfowl through Kansas each winter&nbsp;is also a big draw to eagles.&nbsp;From their vantage point 1,000 or more feet above the&nbsp;ground an&nbsp;eagle’s miraculous eyes can spot prey over a 3 square mile area.&nbsp;Sadly, it seems&nbsp;American&nbsp;Eagle Day gets very little publicity.&nbsp;At a time such as this, with all the negativity about our country and all the internal division, there would seem to me to be no better time than now to find something to celebrate and bring us together as Americans. So, remember this coming June 20th&nbsp;and take a little time, not only to celebrate the tenacity of our national symbol the bald eagle, but also to remember that we live in what is still the best country in the world.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: American Eagle Day

By REBECCA LYN PHILLIPS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/27/in-my-story-and-those-of-others-opportunities-to-demystify-mental-illness/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

I was an overachiever big-time 
growing up. I attended a private, Christian school in Topeka, and I also
 signed a book contract with a major publisher in Nashville when I was 
just 15 years old. I also had a baby-sitting business and was involved 
in track, orchestra, choir and several musicals and plays. Never did I 
think I would be diagnosed with a mental illness, let alone 
schizophrenia.

“Schizophrenia?!” I thought to myself
 when they told my mom and me at the psychiatric hospital in the cold 
winter of 1994. I thought they were telling me I was stupid and not 
smart anymore. I thought they were telling me I would never amount to 
anything and I might as well just roll over and die.

Unfortunately, too many folks end up 
thinking similar thoughts when they or a loved one is diagnosed with a 
serious mental illness. It can happen to anyone. I have a good friend 
who has schizophrenia who attended Mount Holyoke and received a 
bachelor’s degree in political science and an M.B.A. from Baker. Her dad
 was a doctor and they were a close family.

Yes, mental illness can happen to anyone.

So much of the time, however, we only
 hear about mental health when a shooting happens or something else that
 is terrible and disturbing. Words like “nutcase” or “psycho” or “crazy”
 or “schizo” are often used to describe someone who is a bad person.

I was filmed in a national 
documentary several years ago, and the psychologist in the short film, 
Xavier Amador, is consulted by many powerful organizations and law 
enforcement to discuss people who end up doing things when they were 
psychotic.

Amador, who taught at Columbia and 
travels the world to speak to professionals about communicating with 
people with mental illness, is a true advocate of the mentally ill. He 
was Bethenny Frankel’s counselor in New York City. He also had a brother
 with schizophrenia who he talks about in his book, “I’m Not Sick, I 
Don’t Need Help.” He helps people learn how to help their loved one 
accept treatment even when they don’t think they have a problem.

So many hot topics in today’s society
 relate to mental health and its challenges — from health insurance, 
like Medicaid, to housing, to law enforcement, to stigma, to family 
support. My mom, Claire, helps teach a family support group for our 
local NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The other three 
ladies who guide the group are brave and compassionate. That
 is just what it takes to deal with the issues and challenges that those
 with mental illness present. Mental illness is not a bad behavior or a 
sin: It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. And yes, the brain is a 
physical part of the body. It’s all connected.

Valeo CEO Bill Persinger has one of 
the biggest jobs in Topeka trying to figure out how to help people in 
need, many of whom arrive at Valeo underinsured or not insured at all. 
With the implementation of KanCare, the three managed-care companies 
that make up Kansas Medicaid, many behavioral health care providers have
 had to rise to the immense and incredible challenge of dealing not with
 one managed care company, but three. Medicaid cuts haven’t been kind to
 providers either.

Housing is another huge issue that 
affects too many with serious mental health challenges. Breakthrough 
House, another Topeka nonprofit organization, offers several group 
homes, but what is really needed is about 25 group homes.

Breakthrough House staff does their 
best to try to help individuals find shelter. They also have a clubhouse
 in the former Social Security building downtown where clients can come 
for meals and support. They help them get housing, help them in their 
pursuit of finding a job or going back to school, or volunteering.

The third program is a financial 
management service where the clients get help paying their rent and 
other bills. Financial abuse is a huge issue as well for folks with 
mental illness. Too often they are taken advantage of and misused. I 
have two friends who have boyfriends who use them for their money and 
their family’s money.

Recent news about Brittney Spears’ 
situation has raised the subject of guardianship or conservatorship, 
which is when a person with mental illness has someone who makes 
financial and other types of decisions for them. These relationships can
 too often become abusive.

Another important issue is law 
enforcement and how the police respond to mental health crisis. Many 
police departments have Crisis Intervention Team officers who have been 
trained in learning how to respond to these situations.&nbsp;

I have spoken at the annual Topeka 
CIT Training and showed the documentary I was in for the past eight 
years, except last year. Too often, across the nation, officers don’t 
understand how to communicate with these folks in need and in crisis. 
The Topeka Police Department does a great job, however.

So, is there recovery for people with
 mental illness? I am a firm believer in recovery, but it is more of a 
recovery journey, not a destination, because there is no cure or magical
 healing. I continue to share because without talking about mental 
illness and its challenges, there can be no understanding of how to 
offer help and hope.

Since it is Mental Health Awareness 
Month, every one of us needs to ask ourselves, “How can I reach out to 
those in need? How can I help end stigma and start the conversation 
regarding mental illness?”

By starting a conversation in one’s 
family or at a coffee shop with friends or anywhere else, one can dare 
to care and dare to offer a glimmer of hope. There is hope. There is a 
way to recovery. We just need to open our eyes and be brave. We need to 
reach beyond our comfort zone, and take a step outside our door into the
 big world of knowledge and compassion.

Rebecca Lyn Phillips is a published author, speaker and mental health advocate. Several years ago, she was filmed in a national documentary about mental illness. The national premiere was in Washington, D.C., and she has traveled nationwide to share her story. Five years ago, she was also published in Guideposts magazine, which reaches 2 million readers each month. For nine years, she has shared at the Topeka Police Department for the annual Crisis Intervention Team training. Rebecca is a firm believer in recovery.

By REBECCA LYN PHILLIPS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/27/in-my-story-and-those-of-others-opportunities-to-demystify-mental-illness/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>I was an overachiever big-time 
growing up. I attended a private, Christian school in Topeka, and I also
 signed a book contract with a major publisher in Nashville when I was 
just 15 years old. I also had a baby-sitting business and was involved 
in track, orchestra, choir and several musicals and plays. Never did I 
think I would be diagnosed with a mental illness, let alone 
schizophrenia.“Schizophrenia?!” I thought to myself
 when they told my mom and me at the psychiatric hospital in the cold 
winter of 1994. I thought they were telling me I was stupid and not 
smart anymore. I thought they were telling me I would never amount to 
anything and I might as well just roll over and die.Unfortunately, too many folks end up 
thinking similar thoughts when they or a loved one is diagnosed with a 
serious mental illness. It can happen to anyone. I have a good friend 
who has schizophrenia who attended Mount Holyoke and received a 
bachelor’s degree in political science and an M.B.A. from Baker. Her dad
 was a doctor and they were a close family.Yes, mental illness can happen to anyone.So much of the time, however, we only
 hear about mental health when a shooting happens or something else that
 is terrible and disturbing. Words like “nutcase” or “psycho” or “crazy”
 or “schizo” are often used to describe someone who is a bad person.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653661843885.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I was filmed in a national 
documentary several years ago, and the psychologist in the short film, 
Xavier Amador, is consulted by many powerful organizations and law 
enforcement to discuss people who end up doing things when they were 
psychotic.Amador, who taught at Columbia and 
travels the world to speak to professionals about communicating with 
people with mental illness, is a true advocate of the mentally ill. He 
was Bethenny Frankel’s counselor in New York City. He also had a brother
 with schizophrenia who he talks about in his book, “I’m Not Sick, I 
Don’t Need Help.” He helps people learn how to help their loved one 
accept treatment even when they don’t think they have a problem.So many hot topics in today’s society
 relate to mental health and its challenges — from health insurance, 
like Medicaid, to housing, to law enforcement, to stigma, to family 
support. My mom, Claire, helps teach a family support group for our 
local NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The other three 
ladies who guide the group are brave and compassionate. That
 is just what it takes to deal with the issues and challenges that those
 with mental illness present. Mental illness is not a bad behavior or a 
sin: It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. And yes, the brain is a 
physical part of the body. It’s all connected.Valeo CEO Bill Persinger has one of 
the biggest jobs in Topeka trying to figure out how to help people in 
need, many of whom arrive at Valeo underinsured or not insured at all. 
With the implementation of KanCare, the three managed-care companies 
that make up Kansas Medicaid, many behavioral health care providers have
 had to rise to the immense and incredible challenge of dealing not with
 one managed care company, but three. Medicaid cuts haven’t been kind to
 providers either.Housing is another huge issue that 
affects too many with serious mental health challenges. Breakthrough 
House, another Topeka nonprofit organization, offers several group 
homes, but what is really needed is about 25 group homes.Breakthrough House staff does their 
best to try to help individuals find shelter. They also have a clubhouse
 in the former Social Security building downtown where clients can come 
for meals and support. They help them get housing, help them in their 
pursuit of finding a job or going back to school, or volunteering.The third program is a financial 
management service where the clients get help paying their rent and 
other bills. Financial abuse is a huge issue as well for folks with 
mental illness. Too often they are taken advantage of and misused. I 
have two friends who have boyfriends who use them for their money and 
their family’s money.Recent news about Brittney Spears’ 
situation has raised the subject of guardianship or conservatorship, 
which is when a person with mental illness has someone who makes 
financial and other types of decisions for them. These relationships can
 too often become abusive.Another important issue is law 
enforcement and how the police respond to mental health crisis. Many 
police departments have Crisis Intervention Team officers who have been 
trained in learning how to respond to these situations.&nbsp;I have spoken at the annual Topeka 
CIT Training and showed the documentary I was in for the past eight 
years, except last year. Too often, across the nation, officers don’t 
understand how to communicate with these folks in need and in crisis. 
The Topeka Police Department does a great job, however.So, is there recovery for people with
 mental illness? I am a firm believer in recovery, but it is more of a 
recovery journey, not a destination, because there is no cure or magical
 healing. I continue to share because without talking about mental 
illness and its challenges, there can be no understanding of how to 
offer help and hope.Since it is Mental Health Awareness 
Month, every one of us needs to ask ourselves, “How can I reach out to 
those in need? How can I help end stigma and start the conversation 
regarding mental illness?”By starting a conversation in one’s 
family or at a coffee shop with friends or anywhere else, one can dare 
to care and dare to offer a glimmer of hope. There is hope. There is a 
way to recovery. We just need to open our eyes and be brave. We need to 
reach beyond our comfort zone, and take a step outside our door into the
 big world of knowledge and compassion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653661950723.jpeg" alt="phillips" />
 <figcaption>phillips</figcaption>
 </figure>Rebecca Lyn Phillips is a published author, speaker and mental health advocate. Several years ago, she was filmed in a national documentary about mental illness. The national premiere was in Washington, D.C., and she has traveled nationwide to share her story. Five years ago, she was also published in Guideposts magazine, which reaches 2 million readers each month. For nine years, she has shared at the Topeka Police Department for the annual Crisis Intervention Team training. Rebecca is a firm believer in recovery.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

OPINION: Opportunities to demystify mental illness in personal stories

The Kansas legislative year ended in&nbsp;a stalemate for culture warriors and without any major legislation for overall improvement of teaching and learning, because none of the bills addressed the elephant in the middle of the room—a shortage of fully prepared teachers.

During this year’s legislative session more than 50 school-related bills were put forward. Many reflected a partisan battle at the national level between Republicans and Democrats.

In Kansas, the battle is more often between public school supporters and conservatives who advocate school choice and criticize how race, gender and history is taught.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, we’re in a situation where political motives can be very different from important concerns that everyday people have for their kids’ education.&nbsp;

In these circumstances big problems, such as teacher shortages, can become invisible, like the proverbial elephant in the middle of the room, and any real progress to improve schools overlooked.

With the legislature adjourned, each political side can claim victories.&nbsp;

The most important and far reaching success for supporters of public education was the abandonment of a bill, defeated last year, which would allow parents to use public tax dollars to send their children to costly, selective admission, ideologically driven private schools.&nbsp;

Supporters of public education also prevailed when Governor Kelly vetoed the “Parents Bill of Rights” legislation that educators found to be transparency overkill and an unfunded mandate.&nbsp;

This bill required schools and individual teachers to post and maintain for parental review volumes of curriculum information as well as information on school library holdings.

Conservates scored a win when Governor Kelly signed into law an open enrollment plan that allows out-of-district students, regardless of where they live, to transfer to any public school.&nbsp;

The policy sets precedent for enlarging school-choice; however, it won’t be effective until 2024.&nbsp;

School districts will determine their own enrollment capacity and not be required to accept all students who apply, plus parents will have to pay for transportation, so there likely won’t be many shifts in school enrollment.&nbsp;

Conservatives also backed a policy requirement included in the school finance bill that requires&nbsp;local school boards to annually review state academic assessments when approving the school district’s budget.&nbsp;

Some legislation did receive across-the-aisle cooperation.&nbsp; For example, a change requiring high schools to offer at least one computer science course and an individual income tax credit of $250 per year for teachers’ classroom and school supplies.

Yet, no legislation addressed the preparation or retention of teachers even though there is a major shortage of teachers and substitutes and a consensus among educators that to improve student learning we must stabilize the pool of qualified teachers.&nbsp;

Data from the Kansas State Department of Education for spring 2022 shows 1381 unfilled teacher vacancies. Special education openings were reported at 305, elementary education at 251, English language arts at 108, math at 94 and science at 86. These numbers don’t include classrooms currently filled by teachers not fully licensed for the subjects they teach.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are currently 906 active emergency licenses for substitutes holding only a high school diploma.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Downgrading requirements for teachers and substitutes have increased over the past five years, that helps fill our classrooms without growing the number of teachers prepared and licensed to teach their assigned courses.&nbsp;

Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas legislative year ended in&nbsp;a stalemate for culture warriors and without any major legislation for overall improvement of teaching and learning, because none of the bills addressed the elephant in the middle of the room—a shortage of fully prepared teachers.During this year’s legislative session more than 50 school-related bills were put forward. Many reflected a partisan battle at the national level between Republicans and Democrats.In Kansas, the battle is more often between public school supporters and conservatives who advocate school choice and criticize how race, gender and history is taught.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, we’re in a situation where political motives can be very different from important concerns that everyday people have for their kids’ education.&nbsp;In these circumstances big problems, such as teacher shortages, can become invisible, like the proverbial elephant in the middle of the room, and any real progress to improve schools overlooked.With the legislature adjourned, each political side can claim victories.&nbsp;The most important and far reaching success for supporters of public education was the abandonment of a bill, defeated last year, which would allow parents to use public tax dollars to send their children to costly, selective admission, ideologically driven private schools.&nbsp;Supporters of public education also prevailed when Governor Kelly vetoed the “Parents Bill of Rights” legislation that educators found to be transparency overkill and an unfunded mandate.&nbsp;This bill required schools and individual teachers to post and maintain for parental review volumes of curriculum information as well as information on school library holdings.Conservates scored a win when Governor Kelly signed into law an open enrollment plan that allows out-of-district students, regardless of where they live, to transfer to any public school.&nbsp;The policy sets precedent for enlarging school-choice; however, it won’t be effective until 2024.&nbsp;School districts will determine their own enrollment capacity and not be required to accept all students who apply, plus parents will have to pay for transportation, so there likely won’t be many shifts in school enrollment.&nbsp;Conservatives also backed a policy requirement included in the school finance bill that requires&nbsp;local school boards to annually review state academic assessments when approving the school district’s budget.&nbsp;Some legislation did receive across-the-aisle cooperation.&nbsp; For example, a change requiring high schools to offer at least one computer science course and an individual income tax credit of $250 per year for teachers’ classroom and school supplies.Yet, no legislation addressed the preparation or retention of teachers even though there is a major shortage of teachers and substitutes and a consensus among educators that to improve student learning we must stabilize the pool of qualified teachers.&nbsp;Data from the Kansas State Department of Education for spring 2022 shows 1381 unfilled teacher vacancies. Special education openings were reported at 305, elementary education at 251, English language arts at 108, math at 94 and science at 86. These numbers don’t include classrooms currently filled by teachers not fully licensed for the subjects they teach.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are currently 906 active emergency licenses for substitutes holding only a high school diploma.&nbsp;&nbsp;Downgrading requirements for teachers and substitutes have increased over the past five years, that helps fill our classrooms without growing the number of teachers prepared and licensed to teach their assigned courses.&nbsp;The shortage is becoming dire.Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Session closes with education elephant still in the room

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Let’s go to Atlanta, to the largest blade and knife show in the world. Among the exhibitors is a craftsman from halfway across the continent. He is displaying his high quality knives that are handmade in rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvey King is the craftsman who started his own business, known as Harvey King Knives. Harvey is a native of Topeka. After college, he met and married Bonnie who was from Eskridge. They moved to Eskridge and lived there for 34 years. In 2004, he and Bonnie noticed a place that they admired in the country near Alta Vista, and eventually moved to where they live today.&nbsp;

“I have been interested in knives most of my life,” King said. “My dad was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and he taught me the value of a good knife at a young age.”&nbsp;

“I spent 31 years building earthmover tires at Goodyear in Topeka,” said King, who is now retired. “The maintenance men at Goodyear knew I liked to hunt and fish and trap. They showed me some of the knives that they made in their spare time and, pretty quick, I wanted to try it.”&nbsp;

He started making knives in 1988 and soon found other people wanted them. A taxidermist friend talked him into sharing a table at some of the local shows and Harvey’s knives sold well. He launched his own business, Harvey King Knives, and started selling them at knife and gun shows around the country. In July 2022, King will turn 75.&nbsp;

“My daughter asked when I would retire,” King said. “I told her, when it ceases to be fun or when I’m too shaky to do it right. (Right now), it’s still fun.”&nbsp;

Hunters have an old saying: The gun does the work for 30 seconds, but the knife does the work for 2-3 hours. In other words, a hunting knife is used extensively, so it is important to have a good one.&nbsp;

What are the keys to making a good knife? ”Fit and finish,” King said. “The parts need to fit together just right, with no gaps, voids or holes, and the finish grind lines need to be straight.”&nbsp;

It is also important to start with the right materials, he said.&nbsp;

“A good knife starts with a properly heat-treated quality steel blade,” King said. He makes his blades out of D2 tool steel in 1/8” or 5/32” thickness. “It holds a good edge.”&nbsp;

What about the knife handle? “I like natural handles,” he said. King constructs his handles out of California buckeye, Amboyna Burl (a wood from southeast Asia), boxelder and hedge. The wood is injected with polyurethane carbonate to stabilize it. “It polishes out great,” King said.&nbsp;

He also handcrafts a leather sheath that goes with each knife.&nbsp;&nbsp;King creates various models of knives for small game, hunting, personal, companion use and more.&nbsp;

King has a supply of knives for sale and also makes custom knives on demand. In a year, he might produce as many as 175 knives. He is a member of the Professional Knifemakers Association, the American Bladesmith Society, and a past voting member of the Knifemakers Guild.&nbsp;

“I go to gun and knife shows,” he said, at one point attending 26 a year. He used to go to the Blade Show in Atlanta, which is the largest knife show in the world, but he prefers the shows in Denver and in Ohio, which are more personal. His knives have gone from coast to coast, from California to New York.&nbsp;

It's an impressive record for a craftsman located near the rural community of Alta Vista, population 409 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.harveykingknives.com/">www.harveykingknives.com</a>.&nbsp;

It’s time to leave the world’s largest knife show, where Harvey King is displaying his beautiful knives that were handcrafted in rural Kansas. We salute Harvey King for making a difference with his skills and craftmanship. You might say they are cutting edge.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653485610058.png" alt="Harvey King / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Harvey King / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentLet’s go to Atlanta, to the largest blade and knife show in the world. Among the exhibitors is a craftsman from halfway across the continent. He is displaying his high quality knives that are handmade in rural Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Harvey King is the craftsman who started his own business, known as Harvey King Knives. Harvey is a native of Topeka. After college, he met and married Bonnie who was from Eskridge. They moved to Eskridge and lived there for 34 years. In 2004, he and Bonnie noticed a place that they admired in the country near Alta Vista, and eventually moved to where they live today.&nbsp;“I have been interested in knives most of my life,” King said. “My dad was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and he taught me the value of a good knife at a young age.”&nbsp;“I spent 31 years building earthmover tires at Goodyear in Topeka,” said King, who is now retired. “The maintenance men at Goodyear knew I liked to hunt and fish and trap. They showed me some of the knives that they made in their spare time and, pretty quick, I wanted to try it.”&nbsp;He started making knives in 1988 and soon found other people wanted them. A taxidermist friend talked him into sharing a table at some of the local shows and Harvey’s knives sold well. He launched his own business, Harvey King Knives, and started selling them at knife and gun shows around the country. In July 2022, King will turn 75.&nbsp;“My daughter asked when I would retire,” King said. “I told her, when it ceases to be fun or when I’m too shaky to do it right. (Right now), it’s still fun.”&nbsp;Hunters have an old saying: The gun does the work for 30 seconds, but the knife does the work for 2-3 hours. In other words, a hunting knife is used extensively, so it is important to have a good one.&nbsp;What are the keys to making a good knife? ”Fit and finish,” King said. “The parts need to fit together just right, with no gaps, voids or holes, and the finish grind lines need to be straight.”&nbsp;It is also important to start with the right materials, he said.&nbsp;“A good knife starts with a properly heat-treated quality steel blade,” King said. He makes his blades out of D2 tool steel in 1/8” or 5/32” thickness. “It holds a good edge.”&nbsp;What about the knife handle? “I like natural handles,” he said. King constructs his handles out of California buckeye, Amboyna Burl (a wood from southeast Asia), boxelder and hedge. The wood is injected with polyurethane carbonate to stabilize it. “It polishes out great,” King said.&nbsp;He also handcrafts a leather sheath that goes with each knife.&nbsp;&nbsp;King creates various models of knives for small game, hunting, personal, companion use and more.&nbsp;King has a supply of knives for sale and also makes custom knives on demand. In a year, he might produce as many as 175 knives. He is a member of the Professional Knifemakers Association, the American Bladesmith Society, and a past voting member of the Knifemakers Guild.&nbsp;“I go to gun and knife shows,” he said, at one point attending 26 a year. He used to go to the Blade Show in Atlanta, which is the largest knife show in the world, but he prefers the shows in Denver and in Ohio, which are more personal. His knives have gone from coast to coast, from California to New York.&nbsp;It's an impressive record for a craftsman located near the rural community of Alta Vista, population 409 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.harveykingknives.com/">www.harveykingknives.com</a>.&nbsp;It’s time to leave the world’s largest knife show, where Harvey King is displaying his beautiful knives that were handcrafted in rural Kansas. We salute Harvey King for making a difference with his skills and craftmanship. You might say they are cutting edge.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Harvey King Knives 

By KATRINA RAY-SAULIS <a href="https://mainebeacon.com/opinion-things-to-do-when-the-news-cycle-makes-you-feel-hopeless/">For the Maine Beacon</a>

Lately, it hasn’t taken me more than a
 few minutes of scrolling social media to start feeling that heavy, 
hopeless feeling. In just one month we’ve faced the leaked Supreme Court
 draft revealing that we’ll likely be losing Roe v. Wade, a 
racist shooting in Buffalo, NY, that took the lives of ten Black people,
 and yesterday a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that
 has (so far) taken the lives of 19 children.&nbsp;

Everywhere we turn people are asking, “What will we do?” The tiktoks, tweets, reels and posts seem endless.

Here in Maine—thanks to some amazing 
foresight from past leadership—we will still have abortion rights after 
June, and we have leadership that is fighting for sensible gun safety 
legislation. However, we’re coming up on an election that could change 
that, so we need all hands on deck. And one thing I’ve learned is that 
it’s a lot easier to fight for your rights when you are feeling your 
power.&nbsp;

Back when I was drowning in the endlessly horrific sound bytes of the 2016 election I started a list of things to do to feel my personal power when the news makes me feel hopeless.
 At the time, the list was very specific. For instance, whenever a 
misogynist quote from then-candidate Donald Trump surfaced, I would 
donate a couple of dollars to Planned Parenthood. Over the last few 
years the list of similar action items has become more general so that 
it can change with the news cycle, and so I can share it with others. I 
hope it helps you.&nbsp;

Read and educate. There are so
 many great reading and watch lists to learn not only about the history 
of progressive politics and social justice, but what the future looks 
like as well. Get yourself a stack of books. Queue up a streaming list. 
Learn. And share what you learn with those around you.

Text RESIST to 50409. Using 
the resistbot to communicate with elected officials has become a go-to 
for me. I’ve lost track of how many letters I’ve written supporting 
universal healthcare, but I’ll keep writing them until it’s a reality.&nbsp;

Check Ballotpedia.org and learn about local elections.
 Sometimes it helps me to look at what we’ve won in the past, but also 
there is power in knowing exactly which elections are coming up as 
well.&nbsp;

Join a campaign. Once you know
 what’s coming up, sign up. Volunteering for a campaign is one of the 
most empowering things I’ve ever done, and it’s a sure fire way to make 
sure your voice is heard.&nbsp;

Donate money to a local organization that is fighting for our rights. This isn’t always possible, but it does always feel good.&nbsp;

Consider running for office. Go
 to Runforsomething.net or emergeamerica.org. (I’ve considered this a 
few times, but so far it’s only culminated in a playlist of campaign 
songs… maybe one day.)&nbsp;

Attend a local meeting, such 
as a town hall meeting, school board meeting or city council meeting. 
There’s nothing like being in the room where it happens.&nbsp;

Write a letter to the editor. Did you know you can do that? Anyone can.&nbsp;

Join or start a union. If you 
are already in a union, check in with your union representatives and 
elected officers and find out if you can do anything to help out with 
upcoming negotiations or actions.&nbsp;

Train the algorithm. When 
things get really hopeless I’ll spend a bit of time on social media 
liking very specific content to better curate my feed to things that 
make me feel good. At the moment, Instagram is convinced the only thing I
 want to see is videos of dachshunds. I mean, it isn’t wrong…&nbsp;

Turn off your phone for a bit.
 You deserve a break. Garden. Knit. Bake. Make art. But once you’ve had a
 moment, don’t forget to come back to the fight. We need you.&nbsp;

By KATRINA RAY-SAULIS <a href="https://mainebeacon.com/opinion-things-to-do-when-the-news-cycle-makes-you-feel-hopeless/">For the Maine Beacon</a>Lately, it hasn’t taken me more than a
 few minutes of scrolling social media to start feeling that heavy, 
hopeless feeling. In just one month we’ve faced the leaked Supreme Court
 draft revealing that we’ll likely be losing Roe v. Wade, a 
racist shooting in Buffalo, NY, that took the lives of ten Black people,
 and yesterday a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that
 has (so far) taken the lives of 19 children.&nbsp;Everywhere we turn people are asking, “What will we do?” The tiktoks, tweets, reels and posts seem endless.Here in Maine—thanks to some amazing 
foresight from past leadership—we will still have abortion rights after 
June, and we have leadership that is fighting for sensible gun safety 
legislation. However, we’re coming up on an election that could change 
that, so we need all hands on deck. And one thing I’ve learned is that 
it’s a lot easier to fight for your rights when you are feeling your 
power.&nbsp;Back when I was drowning in the endlessly horrific sound bytes of the 2016 election I started a list of things to do to feel my personal power when the news makes me feel hopeless.
 At the time, the list was very specific. For instance, whenever a 
misogynist quote from then-candidate Donald Trump surfaced, I would 
donate a couple of dollars to Planned Parenthood. Over the last few 
years the list of similar action items has become more general so that 
it can change with the news cycle, and so I can share it with others. I 
hope it helps you.&nbsp;Read and educate. There are so
 many great reading and watch lists to learn not only about the history 
of progressive politics and social justice, but what the future looks 
like as well. Get yourself a stack of books. Queue up a streaming list. 
Learn. And share what you learn with those around you.Text RESIST to 50409. Using 
the resistbot to communicate with elected officials has become a go-to 
for me. I’ve lost track of how many letters I’ve written supporting 
universal healthcare, but I’ll keep writing them until it’s a reality.&nbsp;Check Ballotpedia.org and learn about local elections.
 Sometimes it helps me to look at what we’ve won in the past, but also 
there is power in knowing exactly which elections are coming up as 
well.&nbsp;Join a campaign. Once you know
 what’s coming up, sign up. Volunteering for a campaign is one of the 
most empowering things I’ve ever done, and it’s a sure fire way to make 
sure your voice is heard.&nbsp;Donate money to a local organization that is fighting for our rights. This isn’t always possible, but it does always feel good.&nbsp;Consider running for office. Go
 to Runforsomething.net or emergeamerica.org. (I’ve considered this a 
few times, but so far it’s only culminated in a playlist of campaign 
songs… maybe one day.)&nbsp;Attend a local meeting, such 
as a town hall meeting, school board meeting or city council meeting. 
There’s nothing like being in the room where it happens.&nbsp;Write a letter to the editor. Did you know you can do that? Anyone can.&nbsp;Join or start a union. If you 
are already in a union, check in with your union representatives and 
elected officers and find out if you can do anything to help out with 
upcoming negotiations or actions.&nbsp;Train the algorithm. When 
things get really hopeless I’ll spend a bit of time on social media 
liking very specific content to better curate my feed to things that 
make me feel good. At the moment, Instagram is convinced the only thing I
 want to see is videos of dachshunds. I mean, it isn’t wrong…&nbsp;Turn off your phone for a bit.
 You deserve a break. Garden. Knit. Bake. Make art. But once you’ve had a
 moment, don’t forget to come back to the fight. We need you.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

OPINION: When the news cycle makes you feel hopeless ...

By DAVE TRABERT Kansas Policy Institute

The&nbsp;Ellis County Attorney’s decision to not prosecute election bribery&nbsp;signals that the trend of&nbsp;picking and choosing&nbsp;which crimes to&nbsp;prosecute&nbsp;is no longer confined&nbsp;to&nbsp;major U.S.&nbsp;cities with progressive prosecutors. &nbsp;And that is a very dangerous sign for freedom in Kansas.

As we reported&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/prosecutor-considers-election-bribery-charge-against-hays-superintendent/">earlier this month</a>,&nbsp;USD 489 Hays Superintendent Ron Wilson&nbsp;emailed district staff on April 22nd concerning the May 10 bond issue election, which included this offer:

“Here’s my challenge to you. If 100% of the eligible voters in your building vote before May 10th we will bring lunch for you one day before the end of school. Yes, we’ll know if you vote (and no we&nbsp;can not&nbsp;see how you vote) The first building in our district to get 100% also gets dessert with their lunch! My expectation is to buy lunch for every building in our district!”

Wilson’s email makes it&nbsp;pretty clear&nbsp;that he is asking employees to vote for bond issue. He writes, “If we want to change the spaces we work in, we must be willing to take the time to vote and change our teaching and learning environments. It doesn’t cost us a penny to vote! Simply, by not voting really registers as a NO vote when it comes to our school staff.”

Ellis County Attorney&nbsp;Robert A. Anderson Jr.&nbsp;recently announced that he won’t prosecute Wilson — not because he doesn’t believe a crime was committed,&nbsp;but because&nbsp;he has more important crimes to prosecute.

Anderson&nbsp;practically&nbsp;acknowledges that a serious crime was committed in his statement reprinted below. He just didn’t want to&nbsp;take action. &nbsp;And by failing to act, he has&nbsp;all but declared open season on election fraud in Hays, Kansas.

As the Ellis County Attorney, I am not required to provide this statement. However, I recognize that as the Ellis County Attorney I have been entrusted with a great deal of discretionary authority and with that, an immense responsibility. There has been a great deal of public attention and concern surrounding allegations that USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson committed “Election Bribery” in violation of K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 25-2409, a severity level 7 non-person felony. There were also many alleged instances of “Electioneering” (illegal placement of signs) in violation of K.S.A. 25-2430 on both sides of the bond issue. It is my intention to address those concerns now.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, we live in a time where we are very divided politically. Community, friendship, and family bonds are all too often dissolved&nbsp;as a consequence of&nbsp;political divisiveness. Elections and political issues are fraught with passion. Despite the best of intentions, we say and do things in support of our position without carefully considering the consequences . . . because these issues are important to us. Because&nbsp;acting and speaking for what we believe in is fundamental to who we are as Americans and as Kansans. It’s patriotic to vote, debate, challenge others, and to act when our values are questioned or challenged. It’s patriotic to encourage others to fulfill their civic duty to vote. But, according to a strict interpretation of our “Election Bribery” statute, there’s a thin line between conduct that is patriotic and conduct that is criminal.

Under K.S.A. 25-2409, “Election Bribery," it is a severity level 7 non-person felony crime if you confer, offer or agree to confer, or solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit as consideration to vote (generally); it is the same crime (and same punishment) if you confer, offer or agree to confer, or solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit as consideration to vote specifically for or against a particular candidate or issue. The latter is objectively more criminal than the former, yet they are the same under this statute. &nbsp;

Similarly, when talking about value equal to or greater than $3.00, the crime is the same regardless of the value. Objectively, it is less serious to offer someone something valued at $3.00 to go out and vote (generally – not for a particular candidate or issue) versus offering someone $1,000.00 to vote for a specific candidate or issue. Yet, they are the same crime and punishment under this statute.

The strict letter of the law seemingly criminalizes more conduct than what was probably originally targeted, and that becomes more apparent when examining all the election crimes in Chapter 25. Of the thirty election crimes statutes, “Election Bribery” and “Bribe Accepted by an Elected Official” are the two most serious election crimes in Kansas.&nbsp;

“Election Bribery” is more serious than: voting more than once, bribing an elected official, intimidating voters, tampering with the election, voting without being qualified, election forgery, election perjury, possessing false or forged election supplies, voter machine fraud, election fraud by an election officer, electioneering, and corrupt political advertising . . . just to name a few.&nbsp;

I have a duty to prioritize the efforts of my office and maximize community safety. I cannot justify prosecuting Superintendent Ron Wilson, or any recipients of the email who “agreed to accept value” for “Election Bribery” because it will come at the cost of diverting time and resources away from prosecution of sexual assaults, homicides, child abuse &amp; neglect, aggravated batteries, aggravated assaults, drug distribution crimes, burglaries, and other very serious matters that have a major impact on community safety. As such, concerning the allegations against Superintendent Ron Wilson, others who may have “agreed to accept value” to vote, and those who may have committed acts of “Electioneering," I will take no action at this time.

By DAVE TRABERT Kansas Policy InstituteThe&nbsp;Ellis County Attorney’s decision to not prosecute election bribery&nbsp;signals that the trend of&nbsp;picking and choosing&nbsp;which crimes to&nbsp;prosecute&nbsp;is no longer confined&nbsp;to&nbsp;major U.S.&nbsp;cities with progressive prosecutors. &nbsp;And that is a very dangerous sign for freedom in Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As we reported&nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/prosecutor-considers-election-bribery-charge-against-hays-superintendent/">earlier this month</a>,&nbsp;USD 489 Hays Superintendent Ron Wilson&nbsp;emailed district staff on April 22nd concerning the May 10 bond issue election, which included this offer:“Here’s my challenge to you. If 100% of the eligible voters in your building vote before May 10th we will bring lunch for you one day before the end of school. Yes, we’ll know if you vote (and no we&nbsp;can not&nbsp;see how you vote) The first building in our district to get 100% also gets dessert with their lunch! My expectation is to buy lunch for every building in our district!”Wilson’s email makes it&nbsp;pretty clear&nbsp;that he is asking employees to vote for bond issue. He writes, “If we want to change the spaces we work in, we must be willing to take the time to vote and change our teaching and learning environments. It doesn’t cost us a penny to vote! Simply, by not voting really registers as a NO vote when it comes to our school staff.”Ellis County Attorney&nbsp;Robert A. Anderson Jr.&nbsp;recently announced that he won’t prosecute Wilson — not because he doesn’t believe a crime was committed,&nbsp;but because&nbsp;he has more important crimes to prosecute.Anderson&nbsp;practically&nbsp;acknowledges that a serious crime was committed in his statement reprinted below. He just didn’t want to&nbsp;take action. &nbsp;And by failing to act, he has&nbsp;all but declared open season on election fraud in Hays, Kansas.****As the Ellis County Attorney, I am not required to provide this statement. However, I recognize that as the Ellis County Attorney I have been entrusted with a great deal of discretionary authority and with that, an immense responsibility. There has been a great deal of public attention and concern surrounding allegations that USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson committed “Election Bribery” in violation of K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 25-2409, a severity level 7 non-person felony. There were also many alleged instances of “Electioneering” (illegal placement of signs) in violation of K.S.A. 25-2430 on both sides of the bond issue. It is my intention to address those concerns now.&nbsp;Unfortunately, we live in a time where we are very divided politically. Community, friendship, and family bonds are all too often dissolved&nbsp;as a consequence of&nbsp;political divisiveness. Elections and political issues are fraught with passion. Despite the best of intentions, we say and do things in support of our position without carefully considering the consequences . . . because these issues are important to us. Because&nbsp;acting and speaking for what we believe in is fundamental to who we are as Americans and as Kansans. It’s patriotic to vote, debate, challenge others, and to act when our values are questioned or challenged. It’s patriotic to encourage others to fulfill their civic duty to vote. But, according to a strict interpretation of our “Election Bribery” statute, there’s a thin line between conduct that is patriotic and conduct that is criminal.Under K.S.A. 25-2409, “Election Bribery," it is a severity level 7 non-person felony crime if you confer, offer or agree to confer, or solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit as consideration to vote (generally); it is the same crime (and same punishment) if you confer, offer or agree to confer, or solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit as consideration to vote specifically for or against a particular candidate or issue. The latter is objectively more criminal than the former, yet they are the same under this statute. &nbsp;Similarly, when talking about value equal to or greater than $3.00, the crime is the same regardless of the value. Objectively, it is less serious to offer someone something valued at $3.00 to go out and vote (generally – not for a particular candidate or issue) versus offering someone $1,000.00 to vote for a specific candidate or issue. Yet, they are the same crime and punishment under this statute.The strict letter of the law seemingly criminalizes more conduct than what was probably originally targeted, and that becomes more apparent when examining all the election crimes in Chapter 25. Of the thirty election crimes statutes, “Election Bribery” and “Bribe Accepted by an Elected Official” are the two most serious election crimes in Kansas.&nbsp;“Election Bribery” is more serious than: voting more than once, bribing an elected official, intimidating voters, tampering with the election, voting without being qualified, election forgery, election perjury, possessing false or forged election supplies, voter machine fraud, election fraud by an election officer, electioneering, and corrupt political advertising . . . just to name a few.&nbsp;I have a duty to prioritize the efforts of my office and maximize community safety. I cannot justify prosecuting Superintendent Ron Wilson, or any recipients of the email who “agreed to accept value” for “Election Bribery” because it will come at the cost of diverting time and resources away from prosecution of sexual assaults, homicides, child abuse &amp; neglect, aggravated batteries, aggravated assaults, drug distribution crimes, burglaries, and other very serious matters that have a major impact on community safety. As such, concerning the allegations against Superintendent Ron Wilson, others who may have “agreed to accept value” to vote, and those who may have committed acts of “Electioneering," I will take no action at this time.

OPINION: Choosing which crimes to prosecute comes to Kan. on election bribery

At Fort Hays State University, our number one priority is taking care of our students. We work intentionally to create a level of personalized care that goes beyond friendly and nice. Tiger Nation connects deeply and sincerely. Our welcome is genuine. From Day One, faculty and staff invest in each student, taking time to make one-on-one contact, build confidence, and nurture each Tiger to their personal success.

The best evidence of this philosophy can be witnessed at the annual&nbsp;Fischli’s&nbsp;Excellence in Higher Education annual banquet, hosted by the Fort Hays Honor Society. Students gather to celebrate, thank, and honor the faculty and staff members who made Fort Hays State a remarkable experience. It is indeed one of my favorite events. I always leave&nbsp;there&nbsp;joyful and thankful for our incredible faculty and staff who care so deeply for our students.

This year was no exception. The keynote speaker, Dr. David Fitzhugh, gave a heartfelt presentation on connecting with students. Every Monday morning, Dr. Fitzhugh, associate professor of health and human performance, asks his students about their weekend. He creates an environment where everyone connects with one another and shares about their life. He also takes time to notice when someone doesn’t appear to “be themselves” and reaches out to them in private.

Dr. Fitzhugh shared a beautiful story of a student who started to withdraw. The professor noticed. He followed up. It made a difference. A couple of years after that student graduated and went on to have a successful career, she wrote Dr. Fitzhugh a letter to let him know the deep impact his outreach had on her life during a very difficult time.&nbsp;

During the banquet dinner, I marveled at the genuine exchange among the people at my table – two faculty members and five students. Ken&nbsp;Windholz, instructor of psychology, was talking with&nbsp;Jozlyn&nbsp;Brown, a student who commutes from Russell. Part of their conversation was about texting for clarification on assignments and class materials. I mentioned how amazed I was that the students had their faculty members’ cell phone numbers. The students at the table indicated they had the cell phone numbers of many of their professors.

Also at my table was Dr. Emily Weber, an instructor of biological sciences.&nbsp;Windholz&nbsp;shared how impressed he was with Dr. Weber’s ability and dedication to learn the names of every student. He shared that she arrived early to her classes, stood at the door, and greeted every student by name. Each of her classes had between 35 and 48 students. Another student shared that she had Dr. Weber for one class and enthusiastically agreed how special her daily greetings were. The next semester, this student bumped into Dr. Weber, who greeted her by name and asked her how she was doing. Extraordinary!

And then there was the story of Dr. Robert Lloyd, assistant professor of management. The fact that he teaches management is even more significant to this account. Apparently, in Dr. Lloyd’s class, there is a final paper due. Then, on the scheduled exam day, students gather in the class. Their final exam is to name every student in the class and say something you learned about each one. That is what I call modeling the way. I love that!

Story after story, students talked about how faculty and staff nurtured a sense of belonging and how that feeling of mattering helped them succeed at Fort Hays State. Our faculty facilitate relationships that intentionally create environments to prepare them for a truly prosperous future.&nbsp;

Because our engagement with each student matters deeply to us, we deliver a high-value education based on responsiveness, positivity, and kindness. That is Fort Hays State University.

<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>At Fort Hays State University, our number one priority is taking care of our students. We work intentionally to create a level of personalized care that goes beyond friendly and nice. Tiger Nation connects deeply and sincerely. Our welcome is genuine. From Day One, faculty and staff invest in each student, taking time to make one-on-one contact, build confidence, and nurture each Tiger to their personal success.The best evidence of this philosophy can be witnessed at the annual&nbsp;Fischli’s&nbsp;Excellence in Higher Education annual banquet, hosted by the Fort Hays Honor Society. Students gather to celebrate, thank, and honor the faculty and staff members who made Fort Hays State a remarkable experience. It is indeed one of my favorite events. I always leave&nbsp;there&nbsp;joyful and thankful for our incredible faculty and staff who care so deeply for our students.This year was no exception. The keynote speaker, Dr. David Fitzhugh, gave a heartfelt presentation on connecting with students. Every Monday morning, Dr. Fitzhugh, associate professor of health and human performance, asks his students about their weekend. He creates an environment where everyone connects with one another and shares about their life. He also takes time to notice when someone doesn’t appear to “be themselves” and reaches out to them in private.Dr. Fitzhugh shared a beautiful story of a student who started to withdraw. The professor noticed. He followed up. It made a difference. A couple of years after that student graduated and went on to have a successful career, she wrote Dr. Fitzhugh a letter to let him know the deep impact his outreach had on her life during a very difficult time.&nbsp;During the banquet dinner, I marveled at the genuine exchange among the people at my table – two faculty members and five students. Ken&nbsp;Windholz, instructor of psychology, was talking with&nbsp;Jozlyn&nbsp;Brown, a student who commutes from Russell. Part of their conversation was about texting for clarification on assignments and class materials. I mentioned how amazed I was that the students had their faculty members’ cell phone numbers. The students at the table indicated they had the cell phone numbers of many of their professors.Also at my table was Dr. Emily Weber, an instructor of biological sciences.&nbsp;Windholz&nbsp;shared how impressed he was with Dr. Weber’s ability and dedication to learn the names of every student. He shared that she arrived early to her classes, stood at the door, and greeted every student by name. Each of her classes had between 35 and 48 students. Another student shared that she had Dr. Weber for one class and enthusiastically agreed how special her daily greetings were. The next semester, this student bumped into Dr. Weber, who greeted her by name and asked her how she was doing. Extraordinary!And then there was the story of Dr. Robert Lloyd, assistant professor of management. The fact that he teaches management is even more significant to this account. Apparently, in Dr. Lloyd’s class, there is a final paper due. Then, on the scheduled exam day, students gather in the class. Their final exam is to name every student in the class and say something you learned about each one. That is what I call modeling the way. I love that!Story after story, students talked about how faculty and staff nurtured a sense of belonging and how that feeling of mattering helped them succeed at Fort Hays State. Our faculty facilitate relationships that intentionally create environments to prepare them for a truly prosperous future.&nbsp;Because our engagement with each student matters deeply to us, we deliver a high-value education based on responsiveness, positivity, and kindness. That is Fort Hays State University.

MASON: Responsiveness, positivity, kindness: That is Fort Hays State

By DARRELL EHRLICK <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2022/05/26/thoughts-and-prayers-of-a-different-kind/">Daily Montanan</a>

After the school shooting in 
Texas, I realized that I was about the only columnist in America that 
didn’t talk to my kids about within 24 hours of event.

Sure, I’ll cop to being a mediocre parent, but not for that reason.

Instead, after years – literally decades – of reporting, editing and 
reading stories about guns being used against children, I’m completely 
numb. The trauma barely registers and that’s, at best, tacky to say. 
But, it’s also an urgent indicator of the necessity to do something. 
That I check social media to see which blusterpot politician can talk 
about praying and thinking good thoughts is so cynical, while the 
thought of losing a child to gun violence should consume my attention.

Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of “thoughts and prayers” response.

If anyone was sincerely committed to thoughts and prayers, the 
situation would have been radically changed by now. I say this as a gun 
owner who supports basic checks on our freedom to own guns. Freedom is 
anarchy and chaos without some measure of responsibility. And, our 
unyielding worship of guns borders on pathological.

If politicians were sincere about the “thoughts” part, they’d think 
through the pain of the parents, the loss of innocent lives and devise 
reasonable solutions and safeguards. After all, guns are like 
automobiles, implements that can be used to improve our lives, but 
without reasonable rules and safeguards, they’re killing machines. And 
yet, every time some politician urges that ol’ “thoughts and prayers” 
line, they never oblige us with any kind of meaningful thought, 
discourse or discussion on what they pondered as families planned 
funerals for their grade-schoolers.

Count me in when it comes to wanting to hear more about their 
thoughts in relation to school shootings, and why they seem incapable of
 even the most basic protections.

As far as the prayers portion of the “thoughts-and-prayer” approach, 
might I suggest the problem isn’t with the approach, but the technique?

Here’s what I mean: Maybe politicians are so used to using their 
mouths that even during the personal act of praying, they’re not 
listening. Maybe instead of talking to God, they should listen more.

As much as I would like for politicians not to implicate God in the 
bargain every time they talk about praying, maybe the problem is too 
much talking. And even though it’s dangerous, bordering on blasphemous, 
to assume to know how God may respond in any situation, I would like to 
think if all those politicians were really praying so earnestly and 
fervently that they would hear the unmistakable sound of the holy urging
 them to take action to protect the little children.

After all, it was Jesus who rebuked his disciples saying, “Let the little children come to me; do not harm them.”

For all the biblical ambiguity that exists, Jesus is repeatedly clear on what happens to those who hurt children.

I cannot imagine that even if, in those half-moments of silence as 
politicians are catching their breath while feverishly praying, God 
interjects and says, “Protect the Second Amendment at all costs.” That 
seems incongruent with the same religion that discuses turning swords 
into ploughshares.

Using the phrase “thoughts and prayers” is a disservice to both, 
which are vitally important during this discussion. Yet those clever 
politicians have figured that it is a magical incantation which thwarts 
more substantive questions from the public hungry for action. Because, 
you know, no one would be so brazen as to question a politician’s 
sincerity during a national tragedy. No one would suggest their words 
are hypocritical, pandering or insincere.

I am dismissing and rejecting any politician – Democrat or Republican
 – who offers thoughts and prayers as the antidote to gunning down 
children.

It’s as meaningless and nonsensical as prescribing meditation and scripture for DUI accidents.

Americans get the government they are willing to tolerate, so after 
all these thoughts and prayers, it’s time to demand more. Leaving it to 
God is punting responsibility, shifting the problem of gun violence from
 humans to the supernatural. It has allowed far too many politicians to 
embrace religion and killing, two ideas diametrically opposed to each 
other.

Sadly, I fear God has plenty of other work keeping him occupied right
 now, like welcoming in nearly two dozen children and people who were 
cut down early in the wake of the Texas tragedy. And I just hope for 
them and their families that Jesus’ words about kids are absolutely 
true: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Darrell Ehrlick is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Montanan, after leading his native state’s largest paper, The Billings Gazette.

By DARRELL EHRLICK <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2022/05/26/thoughts-and-prayers-of-a-different-kind/">Daily Montanan</a>After the school shooting in 
Texas, I realized that I was about the only columnist in America that 
didn’t talk to my kids about within 24 hours of event.Sure, I’ll cop to being a mediocre parent, but not for that reason.Instead, after years – literally decades – of reporting, editing and 
reading stories about guns being used against children, I’m completely 
numb. The trauma barely registers and that’s, at best, tacky to say. 
But, it’s also an urgent indicator of the necessity to do something. 
That I check social media to see which blusterpot politician can talk 
about praying and thinking good thoughts is so cynical, while the 
thought of losing a child to gun violence should consume my attention.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of “thoughts and prayers” response.To quote kids today: Just stop.If anyone was sincerely committed to thoughts and prayers, the 
situation would have been radically changed by now. I say this as a gun 
owner who supports basic checks on our freedom to own guns. Freedom is 
anarchy and chaos without some measure of responsibility. And, our 
unyielding worship of guns borders on pathological.If politicians were sincere about the “thoughts” part, they’d think 
through the pain of the parents, the loss of innocent lives and devise 
reasonable solutions and safeguards. After all, guns are like 
automobiles, implements that can be used to improve our lives, but 
without reasonable rules and safeguards, they’re killing machines. And 
yet, every time some politician urges that ol’ “thoughts and prayers” 
line, they never oblige us with any kind of meaningful thought, 
discourse or discussion on what they pondered as families planned 
funerals for their grade-schoolers.Count me in when it comes to wanting to hear more about their 
thoughts in relation to school shootings, and why they seem incapable of
 even the most basic protections.As far as the prayers portion of the “thoughts-and-prayer” approach, 
might I suggest the problem isn’t with the approach, but the technique?Here’s what I mean: Maybe politicians are so used to using their 
mouths that even during the personal act of praying, they’re not 
listening. Maybe instead of talking to God, they should listen more.As much as I would like for politicians not to implicate God in the 
bargain every time they talk about praying, maybe the problem is too 
much talking. And even though it’s dangerous, bordering on blasphemous, 
to assume to know how God may respond in any situation, I would like to 
think if all those politicians were really praying so earnestly and 
fervently that they would hear the unmistakable sound of the holy urging
 them to take action to protect the little children.After all, it was Jesus who rebuked his disciples saying, “Let the little children come to me; do not harm them.”For all the biblical ambiguity that exists, Jesus is repeatedly clear on what happens to those who hurt children.I cannot imagine that even if, in those half-moments of silence as 
politicians are catching their breath while feverishly praying, God 
interjects and says, “Protect the Second Amendment at all costs.” That 
seems incongruent with the same religion that discuses turning swords 
into ploughshares.Using the phrase “thoughts and prayers” is a disservice to both, 
which are vitally important during this discussion. Yet those clever 
politicians have figured that it is a magical incantation which thwarts 
more substantive questions from the public hungry for action. Because, 
you know, no one would be so brazen as to question a politician’s 
sincerity during a national tragedy. No one would suggest their words 
are hypocritical, pandering or insincere.Well, almost no one.I am dismissing and rejecting any politician – Democrat or Republican
 – who offers thoughts and prayers as the antidote to gunning down 
children.It’s as meaningless and nonsensical as prescribing meditation and scripture for DUI accidents.Americans get the government they are willing to tolerate, so after 
all these thoughts and prayers, it’s time to demand more. Leaving it to 
God is punting responsibility, shifting the problem of gun violence from
 humans to the supernatural. It has allowed far too many politicians to 
embrace religion and killing, two ideas diametrically opposed to each 
other.Sadly, I fear God has plenty of other work keeping him occupied right
 now, like welcoming in nearly two dozen children and people who were 
cut down early in the wake of the Texas tragedy. And I just hope for 
them and their families that Jesus’ words about kids are absolutely 
true: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Darrell Ehrlick is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Montanan, after leading his native state’s largest paper, The Billings Gazette.

OPINION: Thoughts and prayers of a different kind

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently saw my first copperhead of the year while out trying to catch some pre-spawn bass at a farm pond. Initially I thought it was a snapping turtle poking its head above the water before I caught a glimpse of the telltale oscillation of the more sinister reptile. As is usually the case when I encounter a serpent in the wild, the old adage that it’s just as afraid of me as I am of it proved laughably false. If that held true, the two-foot reptile would have turned around when the first rock splashed near its head. Instead, it kept slithering closer to the bank where I stood. Clearly my dislike for this creature wasn’t reciprocated. It paid me no mind as it settled onto a rock about 30 yards away were it began basking in the sun. I resumed casting a lure into the water while keeping an eye on the danger coiled up a short distance away. Our interaction continued with me being vigilant on the snake’s whereabouts, while it regarded me with extreme indifference. It eventually warmed up enough to slither back into the water and across the pond. I took the opportunity to walk back to my tacklebox, keeping my eyes fixed on the ground for signs of another visitor. I safely fetched my gear and went on my way without seeing another serpent, but there were a few suspicious looking sticks that helped quicken my retreat. All of this fear is, of course, illogical. There’s no shortage of statistics detailing the just how unlikely my demise will come at the fangs of a snake. Of the several thousand people bitten each year, only about a dozen deaths are recorded. The venom in the native snakes of Kansas — three varieties of rattlers and the aforementioned copperhead — also is relatively mild according to the people who judge these things. By mild, I mean the venom will cause excruciating pain instead of killing you, which isn’t enough to overcome the strong desire for self-preservation. So, there’s an evolutionary case to be made for the illogical reactions being completely rational. I also learned a healthy amount of fear from family members. My grandfather once mistook a coil of hose for a black snake when spraying cattle in the corral. He raced across the pen and up a fencepost before warning the rest of us about the alleged intruder. While the rest of us found the situation quite comical, we also knew it could have been any of us fleeing in panic. I’ve stumbled over myself more than once after hearing a rattle in tall grass only to see a cicada fly off. Whether innate or learned, the fear is real. I spent a decent portion of my youth trying to imitate St. Patrick and eradicate snakes in my portion of the world. Blacksnakes, bull-snakes and other nonvenomous relatives were left alone to deal with vermin around the outbuildings, but even the sight of them would set my heart racing. The closest encounter I’ve ever had with any snake is when I was about 10 or so and stepped on a water snake while crossing a pond dam. I can still recall the squish under my boot in a way that gives me shivers. Once again, I was more bothered by our encounter than the snake. At least I pretended to be scared, what with my gasping and lurching and stumbling backward away from mortal danger. The snake barely lifted its head to flick its tongue in my direction. The one thing I haven’t managed over all these years is to develop a good sense of not going to the same places I regularly encounter snakes. I’m relying on a good pair of boots, long pants and the apparent apathy serpents have for my existence to keep me safe in the pastures, ponds and creeks over the Plains.

"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/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau I recently saw my first copperhead of the year while out trying to catch some pre-spawn bass at a farm pond. Initially I thought it was a snapping turtle poking its head above the water before I caught a glimpse of the telltale oscillation of the more sinister reptile. As is usually the case when I encounter a serpent in the wild, the old adage that it’s just as afraid of me as I am of it proved laughably false. If that held true, the two-foot reptile would have turned around when the first rock splashed near its head. Instead, it kept slithering closer to the bank where I stood. Clearly my dislike for this creature wasn’t reciprocated. It paid me no mind as it settled onto a rock about 30 yards away were it began basking in the sun. I resumed casting a lure into the water while keeping an eye on the danger coiled up a short distance away. Our interaction continued with me being vigilant on the snake’s whereabouts, while it regarded me with extreme indifference. It eventually warmed up enough to slither back into the water and across the pond. I took the opportunity to walk back to my tacklebox, keeping my eyes fixed on the ground for signs of another visitor. I safely fetched my gear and went on my way without seeing another serpent, but there were a few suspicious looking sticks that helped quicken my retreat. All of this fear is, of course, illogical. There’s no shortage of statistics detailing the just how unlikely my demise will come at the fangs of a snake. Of the several thousand people bitten each year, only about a dozen deaths are recorded. The venom in the native snakes of Kansas — three varieties of rattlers and the aforementioned copperhead — also is relatively mild according to the people who judge these things. By mild, I mean the venom will cause excruciating pain instead of killing you, which isn’t enough to overcome the strong desire for self-preservation. So, there’s an evolutionary case to be made for the illogical reactions being completely rational. I also learned a healthy amount of fear from family members. My grandfather once mistook a coil of hose for a black snake when spraying cattle in the corral. He raced across the pen and up a fencepost before warning the rest of us about the alleged intruder. While the rest of us found the situation quite comical, we also knew it could have been any of us fleeing in panic. I’ve stumbled over myself more than once after hearing a rattle in tall grass only to see a cicada fly off. Whether innate or learned, the fear is real. I spent a decent portion of my youth trying to imitate St. Patrick and eradicate snakes in my portion of the world. Blacksnakes, bull-snakes and other nonvenomous relatives were left alone to deal with vermin around the outbuildings, but even the sight of them would set my heart racing. The closest encounter I’ve ever had with any snake is when I was about 10 or so and stepped on a water snake while crossing a pond dam. I can still recall the squish under my boot in a way that gives me shivers. Once again, I was more bothered by our encounter than the snake. At least I pretended to be scared, what with my gasping and lurching and stumbling backward away from mortal danger. The snake barely lifted its head to flick its tongue in my direction. The one thing I haven’t managed over all these years is to develop a good sense of not going to the same places I regularly encounter snakes. I’m relying on a good pair of boots, long pants and the apparent apathy serpents have for my existence to keep me safe in the pastures, ponds and creeks over the Plains."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: Snakes on the Plains

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

Building better beef. That’s one goal of an innovative Kansas entrepreneur who is using a unique breed of cattle and careful quality control to create a remarkable beef-eating experience for consumers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dave Dreiling is the founder and owner of Booth Creek Wagyu. As we have previously profiled, Dave is a successful entrepreneur who studied business at K-State. He met and married Kristen Spaeth. Dave founded GTM, the sportswear company, and also owns numerous restaurants.&nbsp;

In 2008, he bought a Pottawatomie County ranch, primarily for deer hunting. Through the years, he expanded the property, now known as Booth Creek Ranch. Meanwhile, Dareiling’s uncle raised greyhounds near Abilene and had started raising beef cattle as well, including some cows that had been bred to a bull from a Japanese breed known as Wagyu.&nbsp;

“We got some of this beef and fell in love with it,” Dreiling said. They found it to be especially tender and flavorful. Dreiling went to his uncle’s dispersal sale with the intention of buying one animal, but ended up purchasing four full-blood Wagyu and 28 Wagyu embryos. “My intent was to buy a few head to have great beef for family and friends,” he said.&nbsp;

The more Dreiling learned about Wagyu, the more he became convinced about the potential of the breed and the opportunities to upgrade beef consumption. “There aren’t a lot of Wagyu producers,” he said. “One was a cattle company in California that was shipping them to Kansas to be fed, and then shipping them back to be processed.”&nbsp;

“Kansas is a better place to raise cattle,” Dreiling said. “Why couldn’t we do this here, all the way through?”&nbsp;

So Booth Creek Wagyu became the basis for a vertically integrated beef production operation, from the genetics and production all the way to processing, sales, and distribution. This would assure quality control through the entire process.&nbsp;

They purchased a meat processing business, now known as MeatWorks, in Riley. In March 2022, they opened a Booth Creek Wagyu retail store and sampling kitchen in east Manhattan.&nbsp;

What makes Wagyu beef exceptional? “It’s all about the marbling, which contributes to taste and tenderness,” Dreiling said. “Then I stumbled on the health benefits. Most of the fat is unsaturated. Wagyu beef is higher in Omega 3s and 6s than salmon and is lower in cholesterol than chicken.”&nbsp;

“I’ve heard our store described as a jewelry store for beef because we offer lots of choices,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;

Booth Creek Wagyu sells beef cuts at the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, with the higher levels featuring higher amounts of marbling. USDA Prime beef is 8-12% IMF, while a Platinum full-blood Wagyu is 26% IMF or more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“That makes a rich steak so people might not eat as much of it,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;

“Wagyu is like coffee these days – people have lots of different preferences. Some want dark roast, some want it lighter, and no one is wrong. Some (beef consumers) prefer more tenderness and some want less fat.”&nbsp;

He’s devised a camera system that takes an electronic image of each cut of meat, and the image is transmitted to Japan for grading. “We know where every steak comes from and how it grades,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;

The Booth Creek Wagyu store includes a sampling kitchen so people can decide what level of marbling they prefer. “We want to help people dial in on what kind of beef they like,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;

His intent is to build on the Manhattan store and open additional Wagyu stores and sampling kitchens across the region and the nation.&nbsp;

All of the store’s Wagyu beef originates at Booth Creek Ranch, located near the rural community of Olsburg, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boothcreekwagyu.com/">www.boothcreekwagyu.com</a>.&nbsp;

Can beef be better? That’s become a passion for this Kansas entrepreneur. We commend Dave Dreiling and all those involved with Booth Creek Wagyu for making a difference with innovative production and marketing. We’re glad he’s making a business of building better beef.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652883467504.png" alt="Dave Dreiling" />
 <figcaption>Dave Dreiling</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Building better beef. That’s one goal of an innovative Kansas entrepreneur who is using a unique breed of cattle and careful quality control to create a remarkable beef-eating experience for consumers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dave Dreiling is the founder and owner of Booth Creek Wagyu. As we have previously profiled, Dave is a successful entrepreneur who studied business at K-State. He met and married Kristen Spaeth. Dave founded GTM, the sportswear company, and also owns numerous restaurants.&nbsp;In 2008, he bought a Pottawatomie County ranch, primarily for deer hunting. Through the years, he expanded the property, now known as Booth Creek Ranch. Meanwhile, Dareiling’s uncle raised greyhounds near Abilene and had started raising beef cattle as well, including some cows that had been bred to a bull from a Japanese breed known as Wagyu.&nbsp;“We got some of this beef and fell in love with it,” Dreiling said. They found it to be especially tender and flavorful. Dreiling went to his uncle’s dispersal sale with the intention of buying one animal, but ended up purchasing four full-blood Wagyu and 28 Wagyu embryos. “My intent was to buy a few head to have great beef for family and friends,” he said.&nbsp;The more Dreiling learned about Wagyu, the more he became convinced about the potential of the breed and the opportunities to upgrade beef consumption. “There aren’t a lot of Wagyu producers,” he said. “One was a cattle company in California that was shipping them to Kansas to be fed, and then shipping them back to be processed.”&nbsp;“Kansas is a better place to raise cattle,” Dreiling said. “Why couldn’t we do this here, all the way through?”&nbsp;So Booth Creek Wagyu became the basis for a vertically integrated beef production operation, from the genetics and production all the way to processing, sales, and distribution. This would assure quality control through the entire process.&nbsp;They purchased a meat processing business, now known as MeatWorks, in Riley. In March 2022, they opened a Booth Creek Wagyu retail store and sampling kitchen in east Manhattan.&nbsp;What makes Wagyu beef exceptional? “It’s all about the marbling, which contributes to taste and tenderness,” Dreiling said. “Then I stumbled on the health benefits. Most of the fat is unsaturated. Wagyu beef is higher in Omega 3s and 6s than salmon and is lower in cholesterol than chicken.”&nbsp;“I’ve heard our store described as a jewelry store for beef because we offer lots of choices,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;Booth Creek Wagyu sells beef cuts at the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, with the higher levels featuring higher amounts of marbling. USDA Prime beef is 8-12% IMF, while a Platinum full-blood Wagyu is 26% IMF or more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“That makes a rich steak so people might not eat as much of it,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;“Wagyu is like coffee these days – people have lots of different preferences. Some want dark roast, some want it lighter, and no one is wrong. Some (beef consumers) prefer more tenderness and some want less fat.”&nbsp;He’s devised a camera system that takes an electronic image of each cut of meat, and the image is transmitted to Japan for grading. “We know where every steak comes from and how it grades,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;The Booth Creek Wagyu store includes a sampling kitchen so people can decide what level of marbling they prefer. “We want to help people dial in on what kind of beef they like,” Dreiling said.&nbsp;His intent is to build on the Manhattan store and open additional Wagyu stores and sampling kitchens across the region and the nation.&nbsp;All of the store’s Wagyu beef originates at Booth Creek Ranch, located near the rural community of Olsburg, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boothcreekwagyu.com/">www.boothcreekwagyu.com</a>.&nbsp;Can beef be better? That’s become a passion for this Kansas entrepreneur. We commend Dave Dreiling and all those involved with Booth Creek Wagyu for making a difference with innovative production and marketing. We’re glad he’s making a business of building better beef.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Dave Dreiling, Booth Creek Wagyu 

Should Kansas ban abortion, politicians in Topeka will have some hefty policy decisions to make. “Banning abortion” sounds simple, but realistically that involves choices about penalties, enforcement, and money.&nbsp;

If&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;is overturned and voters vote “yes” on the abortion amendment on the August 2nd&nbsp;ballot, the Kansas legislature can then pass an abortion ban similar to House Bill 2746 this year that outlaws abortion, even in cases of rape, incest, or a woman’s life or health.&nbsp;

“Banning abortion” won’t eliminate abortion in Kansas. Women, especially wealthy and connected White women, had abortions before&nbsp;Roe—often secretively and unsafely. That may be reality again in Kansas in a post-Roe, “yes” vote world.&nbsp;

Let’s imagine that abortion is illegal in Kansas. You know a woman who had an abortion here and the medical providers who performed it. You want to report their crime. Other states are ahead of Kansas in specifying logistics of abortion bans and can illuminate the choices that Kansas politicians will face in this scenario.&nbsp;

State abortion bans that trigger if&nbsp;Roe&nbsp;falls specify crimes and penalties. Under many, abortion becomes a first or second degree felony. Louisiana lawmakers recently attempted to classify abortion as murder. In 2021, a Texas lawmaker introduced legislation to make abortion a death penalty offense, and some Texas Republicans campaigned on that issue in this year’s primaries.&nbsp;

Some states specify penalties only for those who perform, assist, or advise women to have abortions. Others also specify penalties for women getting abortions. Penalties vary, including fines and prison up to life sentences.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Local police and locally elected district attorneys enforce most criminal law, so that’s probably who you’ll call to report abortions. However, many prosecutors nationwide are saying they will exercise prosecutorial discretion to not prosecute abortion should state laws change. Conservatives in some states are preempting local control here, and proposing bills to centralize abortion reporting to state agencies and allow state government to override county prosecutors.&nbsp;

Local property and sales taxes primarily fund law enforcement and courts. The Kansas Judicial Council reports that average trial costs in Kansas can run five or six figures, depending on the charge. We cannot reliably predict prosecution frequency, enforcement costs, or burden on law enforcement. But, we can confidently predict that local Kansas taxpayers will shoulder costs for investigating and prosecuting abortion locally, unless state lawmakers provide additional statewide taxpayer funding.&nbsp;

Conservatives in some states, including Missouri, have introduced “abortion travel bans” that criminalize either women leaving their states to have abortions or helping women to do so. These bills are constitutionally questionable, but have growing support from conservatives. Abortion will likely remain legal in Colorado, so Kansas lawmakers might regulate Kansas women traveling there for abortions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some American businesses—including Microsoft, Apple, Citigroup, Amazon, and Starbucks—have announced that they will financially assist employees to cross state lines for abortions. Conservative lawmakers in various states have responded that they will pursue punitive tax measures against any such companies operating in their states. Would Kansas, too?&nbsp;

Banning abortion isn’t simple. Should&nbsp;Roe&nbsp;fall and the August abortion amendment pass, Kansas politicians must make controversial decisions about regulations, local control, and money if they criminalize abortion. Get ready for this expanded culture war front to dominate Topeka’s attention.&nbsp;

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Should Kansas ban abortion, politicians in Topeka will have some hefty policy decisions to make. “Banning abortion” sounds simple, but realistically that involves choices about penalties, enforcement, and money.&nbsp;If&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;is overturned and voters vote “yes” on the abortion amendment on the August 2nd&nbsp;ballot, the Kansas legislature can then pass an abortion ban similar to House Bill 2746 this year that outlaws abortion, even in cases of rape, incest, or a woman’s life or health.&nbsp;“Banning abortion” won’t eliminate abortion in Kansas. Women, especially wealthy and connected White women, had abortions before&nbsp;Roe—often secretively and unsafely. That may be reality again in Kansas in a post-Roe, “yes” vote world.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Let’s imagine that abortion is illegal in Kansas. You know a woman who had an abortion here and the medical providers who performed it. You want to report their crime. Other states are ahead of Kansas in specifying logistics of abortion bans and can illuminate the choices that Kansas politicians will face in this scenario.&nbsp;Penalties?&nbsp;State abortion bans that trigger if&nbsp;Roe&nbsp;falls specify crimes and penalties. Under many, abortion becomes a first or second degree felony. Louisiana lawmakers recently attempted to classify abortion as murder. In 2021, a Texas lawmaker introduced legislation to make abortion a death penalty offense, and some Texas Republicans campaigned on that issue in this year’s primaries.&nbsp;Some states specify penalties only for those who perform, assist, or advise women to have abortions. Others also specify penalties for women getting abortions. Penalties vary, including fines and prison up to life sentences.&nbsp;&nbsp;Enforcement?&nbsp;Local police and locally elected district attorneys enforce most criminal law, so that’s probably who you’ll call to report abortions. However, many prosecutors nationwide are saying they will exercise prosecutorial discretion to not prosecute abortion should state laws change. Conservatives in some states are preempting local control here, and proposing bills to centralize abortion reporting to state agencies and allow state government to override county prosecutors.&nbsp;Financing?&nbsp;Local property and sales taxes primarily fund law enforcement and courts. The Kansas Judicial Council reports that average trial costs in Kansas can run five or six figures, depending on the charge. We cannot reliably predict prosecution frequency, enforcement costs, or burden on law enforcement. But, we can confidently predict that local Kansas taxpayers will shoulder costs for investigating and prosecuting abortion locally, unless state lawmakers provide additional statewide taxpayer funding.&nbsp;Travel bans? Punishing businesses?&nbsp;Conservatives in some states, including Missouri, have introduced “abortion travel bans” that criminalize either women leaving their states to have abortions or helping women to do so. These bills are constitutionally questionable, but have growing support from conservatives. Abortion will likely remain legal in Colorado, so Kansas lawmakers might regulate Kansas women traveling there for abortions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some American businesses—including Microsoft, Apple, Citigroup, Amazon, and Starbucks—have announced that they will financially assist employees to cross state lines for abortions. Conservative lawmakers in various states have responded that they will pursue punitive tax measures against any such companies operating in their states. Would Kansas, too?&nbsp;Banning abortion isn’t simple. Should&nbsp;Roe&nbsp;fall and the August abortion amendment pass, Kansas politicians must make controversial decisions about regulations, local control, and money if they criminalize abortion. Get ready for this expanded culture war front to dominate Topeka’s attention.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Banning abortion isn’t as simple as it sounds 

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher It’s beginning to feel and look a lot more like summer is quickly nearing! The kids have wrapped up their school year, the alfalfa is about to bloom, the cows have come home to graze, and the wheat is waving in the warm Kansas winds.&nbsp; After a week of cool rainy days, it’s as if Mother Nature has decided it’s time to contemplate beginning a new season. The days are warmer. The sun is shining brighter. The crops are growing rapidly. Before long there should be first cuttings of alfalfa in fields. The alfalfa’s tiny purple blossoms are beginning to show themselves hinting that it’s getting closer to begin making hay.&nbsp; While driving to town to pick up my kids from their last day of school, the bright blue sky was dotted with planes swooping down to spray fields. The colorful airplanes flying low and running patterns back and forth over fields is a sight I see almost every year around this time.&nbsp; From my porch, the distant buzz of an airplane suggesting a quick descent followed by a plane emerging above tree rows is something that still catches my attention. I can’t help but stop what I’m doing to watch these planes dance through the sky for a few moments before I refocus on my current task. The cattle have returned to the pasture just south of our house to begin their summer grazing. It’s always a happy day when I can look out my kitchen window in the morning and see fat cattle grazing along the creek. The sight and sound of cattle switching their tails and taking slow steps while grazing on lush grass allows me to briefly calm my mind and appreciate a simple moment during this part of the year. In recent afternoons I have caught myself briefly looking out into the wheat fields to soak in the view. The wheat has definitely grown and with the combination of the height of the plants and the continuous wind, it has begun to collectively wave daily. The synchronized movement of green is mesmerizing like ocean waves and is both soothing to watch while also reminding me that the green wheat before me will soon ripen to its golden harvest-ready beauty. Soon we will enter our busy season of summer, but for now, I’ll appreciate moments within these days knowing that summer is definitely in sight!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher It’s beginning to feel and look a lot more like summer is quickly nearing! The kids have wrapped up their school year, the alfalfa is about to bloom, the cows have come home to graze, and the wheat is waving in the warm Kansas winds.&nbsp; After a week of cool rainy days, it’s as if Mother Nature has decided it’s time to contemplate beginning a new season. The days are warmer. The sun is shining brighter. The crops are growing rapidly. Before long there should be first cuttings of alfalfa in fields. The alfalfa’s tiny purple blossoms are beginning to show themselves hinting that it’s getting closer to begin making hay.&nbsp; While driving to town to pick up my kids from their last day of school, the bright blue sky was dotted with planes swooping down to spray fields. The colorful airplanes flying low and running patterns back and forth over fields is a sight I see almost every year around this time.&nbsp; From my porch, the distant buzz of an airplane suggesting a quick descent followed by a plane emerging above tree rows is something that still catches my attention. I can’t help but stop what I’m doing to watch these planes dance through the sky for a few moments before I refocus on my current task. The cattle have returned to the pasture just south of our house to begin their summer grazing. It’s always a happy day when I can look out my kitchen window in the morning and see fat cattle grazing along the creek. The sight and sound of cattle switching their tails and taking slow steps while grazing on lush grass allows me to briefly calm my mind and appreciate a simple moment during this part of the year. In recent afternoons I have caught myself briefly looking out into the wheat fields to soak in the view. The wheat has definitely grown and with the combination of the height of the plants and the continuous wind, it has begun to collectively wave daily. The synchronized movement of green is mesmerizing like ocean waves and is both soothing to watch while also reminding me that the green wheat before me will soon ripen to its golden harvest-ready beauty. Soon we will enter our busy season of summer, but for now, I’ll appreciate moments within these days knowing that summer is definitely in sight!"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: Summer in sight

Summer’s just around the corner, which means you might be thinking about one of my favorite things ever: vacation! In fact, I always joke that vacation planning is basically one of my spiritual gifts. But we all know vacations can get expensive real fast, which makes them a lot less fun than they should be. So, here are a few tips that will help you plan an amazing vacation without hurting your budget:

No matter what Baby Step you’re on, you don’t have to deprive yourself of having fun this summer. But it&nbsp;is&nbsp;important to plan in a way that makes sense for your finances. If you’re on Baby Step 1 or 2 (saving a $1,000 emergency fund and getting out of debt), you’ll want to find some creative ways to have a great time without spending money. You could do a staycation and use a couple days of your paid time off to relax with your family and explore free events in your own city. You could also go camping—even if it’s just in your backyard—or stay with close friends or family. Don’t lose sight of your financial goals right now, because if you stay gazelle intense, you’ll be able to take your dream vacation a lot sooner than you might think!

If you’re on Baby Step 3 (saving 3 to 6 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund), you could do a smaller-scale trip like a couple nights or a long weekend away. This still isn’t the time to splurge, so take a look at some less popular (but fun) destinations like a cabin in the mountains. There can be more vacation flexibility on Baby Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7, but you should still plan to cash flow something that works with your budget and other financial goals.

Doing your research to find the best rates on hotels, flights, attractions, etc. will seriously pay off. Always compare airfare rates on sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner and Scott’s Cheap Flights, and book your tickets as far in advance as you can. And check out Groupon for deals on attractions and events. Rumor has it that if you call a hotel and ask them to price match a rate you found at a similar hotel, you could knock some money off your total bill.

Speaking of price matching, when you’re shopping around for the best deals, don’t be afraid to use the power of negotiation. I know it can feel uncomfortable in the moment, but simply asking for a discount, family rate or any promotions they might be offering can save you a ton of money. I’ve done this myself. One time, my husband and I were planning an end-of-summer trip a few weeks before the fall rates were supposed to kick in, so I asked if we could have the off-season rates a little early. And they let us! We ended up saving a lot on that trip, so I’d recommend asking. The worst they can say is no, right?

You might be tempted to get a credit card just for those airline miles and reward points, but trust me: It’s not worth it! By the time you’ve put enough stuff on a credit card to&nbsp;maybe&nbsp;rack up enough miles for a one-way flight, you’ll be deeper in debt and further away from actually being able to cash flow a vacation.

And if you’re worried about not being able to use a debit card on your trip, I promise you can do everything with a debit card that you can with a credit card—renting a car, booking a hotel, you name it. Depending on the location, you might have to ask around at a few different places to find one that accepts debit cards (my husband and I have had to do this with rental car companies), but you’ll find one. And it will be worth it to know you steered clear of debt in the process!

We’ve all heard the famous quote about comparison being the thief of joy, but you guys, it’s so true—especially when it comes to vacations. You might even want to take a break from social media for a while if you know you won’t be able to scroll without feeling jealous of your neighbors’ tropical vacation and comparing it to the trip you took (or weren’t able to take). And when you spend less time comparing, you’ll be less tempted to overspend on your own vacation.

Remember, social media doesn’t give you the full picture of reality. And at the end of the day, no matter what kind of vacation or staycation you do, you still get to take a break and spend time with the people you love. That’s something worth celebrating!

For more tips and travel hacks that will help you save on your next vacation, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/cheapest-places-to-travel?utm_source=cnl&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=5.1_cnl_blog_1_ramseyplus_personalities_rachel_cruze&amp;utm_term=rplus_bu&amp;utm_campaign=cnl_newsletter&amp;utm_id=cnl_newsletter&amp;cd17=RSCOM-11309_CNL-Eng&amp;_kx=23KkAjsdLRn5R6eB28Hw3V-eG_jHG8rCpuRtXk9NB5Otl8qPb2-qc9TsGz0BsKk4.RzHn5B">this article</a>.

Rachel Cruze&nbsp;is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of&nbsp;The Rachel Cruze Show.&nbsp;She has appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY Show and Live! With Kelly &amp; Ryan, among others. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people to avoid debt, save money, budget and how to win with money at any stage in life. Follow Rachel on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/rachelcruze" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachelcruze/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachelramseycruze" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/rachelcruze" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rachelcruze.com/" target="_blank">rachelcruze.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627261014766.jpeg" alt="Cruze" />
 <figcaption>Cruze</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL CRUZESummer’s just around the corner, which means you might be thinking about one of my favorite things ever: vacation! In fact, I always joke that vacation planning is basically one of my spiritual gifts. But we all know vacations can get expensive real fast, which makes them a lot less fun than they should be. So, here are a few tips that will help you plan an amazing vacation without hurting your budget:<ol>
 <li>Base your plans on the Baby Steps</li>
 </ol>No matter what Baby Step you’re on, you don’t have to deprive yourself of having fun this summer. But it&nbsp;is&nbsp;important to plan in a way that makes sense for your finances. If you’re on Baby Step 1 or 2 (saving a $1,000 emergency fund and getting out of debt), you’ll want to find some creative ways to have a great time without spending money. You could do a staycation and use a couple days of your paid time off to relax with your family and explore free events in your own city. You could also go camping—even if it’s just in your backyard—or stay with close friends or family. Don’t lose sight of your financial goals right now, because if you stay gazelle intense, you’ll be able to take your dream vacation a lot sooner than you might think!If you’re on Baby Step 3 (saving 3 to 6 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund), you could do a smaller-scale trip like a couple nights or a long weekend away. This still isn’t the time to splurge, so take a look at some less popular (but fun) destinations like a cabin in the mountains. There can be more vacation flexibility on Baby Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7, but you should still plan to cash flow something that works with your budget and other financial goals.<ol>
 <li>Shop around&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Doing your research to find the best rates on hotels, flights, attractions, etc. will seriously pay off. Always compare airfare rates on sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner and Scott’s Cheap Flights, and book your tickets as far in advance as you can. And check out Groupon for deals on attractions and events. Rumor has it that if you call a hotel and ask them to price match a rate you found at a similar hotel, you could knock some money off your total bill.<ol>
 <li>Negotiate&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Speaking of price matching, when you’re shopping around for the best deals, don’t be afraid to use the power of negotiation. I know it can feel uncomfortable in the moment, but simply asking for a discount, family rate or any promotions they might be offering can save you a ton of money. I’ve done this myself. One time, my husband and I were planning an end-of-summer trip a few weeks before the fall rates were supposed to kick in, so I asked if we could have the off-season rates a little early. And they let us! We ended up saving a lot on that trip, so I’d recommend asking. The worst they can say is no, right?<ol>
 <li>Don’t fall for the points and rewards</li>
 </ol>You might be tempted to get a credit card just for those airline miles and reward points, but trust me: It’s not worth it! By the time you’ve put enough stuff on a credit card to&nbsp;maybe&nbsp;rack up enough miles for a one-way flight, you’ll be deeper in debt and further away from actually being able to cash flow a vacation.And if you’re worried about not being able to use a debit card on your trip, I promise you can do everything with a debit card that you can with a credit card—renting a car, booking a hotel, you name it. Depending on the location, you might have to ask around at a few different places to find one that accepts debit cards (my husband and I have had to do this with rental car companies), but you’ll find one. And it will be worth it to know you steered clear of debt in the process!<ol>
 <li>Don’t compare your vacation to anyone else’s</li>
 </ol>We’ve all heard the famous quote about comparison being the thief of joy, but you guys, it’s so true—especially when it comes to vacations. You might even want to take a break from social media for a while if you know you won’t be able to scroll without feeling jealous of your neighbors’ tropical vacation and comparing it to the trip you took (or weren’t able to take). And when you spend less time comparing, you’ll be less tempted to overspend on your own vacation.Remember, social media doesn’t give you the full picture of reality. And at the end of the day, no matter what kind of vacation or staycation you do, you still get to take a break and spend time with the people you love. That’s something worth celebrating!For more tips and travel hacks that will help you save on your next vacation, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/cheapest-places-to-travel?utm_source=cnl&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=5.1_cnl_blog_1_ramseyplus_personalities_rachel_cruze&amp;utm_term=rplus_bu&amp;utm_campaign=cnl_newsletter&amp;utm_id=cnl_newsletter&amp;cd17=RSCOM-11309_CNL-Eng&amp;_kx=23KkAjsdLRn5R6eB28Hw3V-eG_jHG8rCpuRtXk9NB5Otl8qPb2-qc9TsGz0BsKk4.RzHn5B">this article</a>.Rachel Cruze&nbsp;is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of&nbsp;The Rachel Cruze Show.&nbsp;She has appeared on Good Morning America, TODAY Show and Live! With Kelly &amp; Ryan, among others. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches people to avoid debt, save money, budget and how to win with money at any stage in life. Follow Rachel on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/rachelcruze" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rachelcruze/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachelramseycruze" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/rachelcruze" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rachelcruze.com/" target="_blank">rachelcruze.com</a>.

Opinion