TOPEKA - First off, I would like to thank everyone who braved the cold for the Rally for Life and march held last week on the capitol steps. It was great to see so many people at this rally especially the people from the 40th District in western Kansas even when the road conditions were snow and ice. We would like to remind the voters of a very important date, August 2, 2022, the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot. You can protect the most vulnerable by voting YES on the Value Them Both Amendment.

Every ten years the legislature is required to redraw the congressional, senate and house district maps according to the growth in each district. In preparation for the congressional map our committee held 20 town hall meetings along with many opportunities to participate virtually. Much of the growth in the State of Kansas was in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. These two counties saw the largest growth in residents. By law congressional districts require the same number of residents in each district;&nbsp; therefore, Johnson and Wyandotte county could not remain in the same district. It was decided after much testimony from the people in Johnson County that Johnson County should remain whole and Wyandotte county would be split as it has been numerous times in past maps. The dividing line in Wyandotte county is along I-70 west and east to the Kansas river. The bedroom communities of Miami, Franklin, and Anderson Counties joined Johnson County in the 3rd District. With this map District 3, Congresswoman Sharica Davis, would have still won this district as would have President Biden and Governor Kelly. 

The only district that needed little or no change was District 4 which included Wichita and surrounding counties. The balance of Wyandotte County joined District 2 which it had been part of in past maps. The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard. 

The First District needed an increase in population which required moving east to get the required number. The new map goes east and includes Lawrence, KS, the University of Kansas, Kansas State and Fort Hays State University in the 1st District. 

The challenge in redistricting is a math problem that requires that we have the same number of residents in each district.

On Thursday, the Kansas Senate adopted legislation which includes a substantial development incentive for the purpose of spurring large economic development investment in Kansas. The initial target of the incentive package is a $4.0 billion manufacturing project that would employee over 4,000 people and is one of the most significant private sector investments in Kansas history. The package, as it passed the Senate on Thursday, is known as the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act or APEX Act. APEX would establish new economic development incentives targeted at specific industries that agree to invest at least $1.0 billion within the state of Kansas. The APEX Act also targets incentives at the suppliers involved in the APEX project. The APEX Program would be under the purview of the Secretary of Commerce for the purpose of attracting large capital investments in new facilities and operations by businesses engaged in specified industries and encouraging the development of Kansas based supply chains.&nbsp;

To help drive taxes down for all who do business in Kansas, an important provision of the bill would lower the corporate income tax the year after a qualified firm or supplier receives benefits under the law. Qualified firms under the bill would be for-profit businesses subject to state income, sales, or property tax that are engaged in one or more of the following industries as determined by the Secretary of Commerce: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, distribution, logistics and transportation, food and agriculture, professional and technical services. The bill provides exceptions to the definition by stating that a for-profit business establishment in any industry is eligible as a “qualified firm” if it is seeking benefits to relocate or establish its national corporate headquarters within the state. 

Additionally, a project would need to be completed within five years. 

Incentives available under the bill would include: investment’s tax credits, reimbursement of percentage of total payroll, reimbursement of a percentage of eligible employee training and education expenses, partial real property tax exemption, sales tax exemption for construction costs of the qualified business facilities. 

Qualified firms and suppliers would not be eligible to participate in other economic development programs currently in existence, and they would be required to cooperate with any audit undertaken by the Department of Revenue. 

To ensure proper oversight, the firms and suppliers would be required to provide information required for publication in the Economic Development Incentive Database, as well as reports required to be submitted to the governor and the legislature, among other provisions to ensure property transparency and accountability. To ensure oversight occurs in the short-term, a sunset of March 31, 2023 was added to ensure that the legislature reviews the provisions of the APEX Act in just one year. The bill was rushed through the process in order the allow commerce enough time to negotiate their offer to the prospective company. I believe Kansas needs to be careful when making huge concessions to attract new businesses.

If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;- Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.

Kansas Legislature website-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org-/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.

Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th&nbsp;Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.

Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:

* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View, Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610490291573.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>January 31, 2022TOPEKA - First off, I would like to thank everyone who braved the cold for the Rally for Life and march held last week on the capitol steps. It was great to see so many people at this rally especially the people from the 40th District in western Kansas even when the road conditions were snow and ice. We would like to remind the voters of a very important date, August 2, 2022, the Value Them Both Constitutional Amendment will be on the ballot. You can protect the most vulnerable by voting YES on the Value Them Both Amendment.Every ten years the legislature is required to redraw the congressional, senate and house district maps according to the growth in each district. In preparation for the congressional map our committee held 20 town hall meetings along with many opportunities to participate virtually. Much of the growth in the State of Kansas was in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. These two counties saw the largest growth in residents. By law congressional districts require the same number of residents in each district;&nbsp; therefore, Johnson and Wyandotte county could not remain in the same district. It was decided after much testimony from the people in Johnson County that Johnson County should remain whole and Wyandotte county would be split as it has been numerous times in past maps. The dividing line in Wyandotte county is along I-70 west and east to the Kansas river. The bedroom communities of Miami, Franklin, and Anderson Counties joined Johnson County in the 3rd District. With this map District 3, Congresswoman Sharica Davis, would have still won this district as would have President Biden and Governor Kelly. The only district that needed little or no change was District 4 which included Wichita and surrounding counties. The balance of Wyandotte County joined District 2 which it had been part of in past maps. The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard. The First District needed an increase in population which required moving east to get the required number. The new map goes east and includes Lawrence, KS, the University of Kansas, Kansas State and Fort Hays State University in the 1st District. The challenge in redistricting is a math problem that requires that we have the same number of residents in each district.On Thursday, the Kansas Senate adopted legislation which includes a substantial development incentive for the purpose of spurring large economic development investment in Kansas. The initial target of the incentive package is a $4.0 billion manufacturing project that would employee over 4,000 people and is one of the most significant private sector investments in Kansas history. The package, as it passed the Senate on Thursday, is known as the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion Act or APEX Act. APEX would establish new economic development incentives targeted at specific industries that agree to invest at least $1.0 billion within the state of Kansas. The APEX Act also targets incentives at the suppliers involved in the APEX project. The APEX Program would be under the purview of the Secretary of Commerce for the purpose of attracting large capital investments in new facilities and operations by businesses engaged in specified industries and encouraging the development of Kansas based supply chains.&nbsp;To help drive taxes down for all who do business in Kansas, an important provision of the bill would lower the corporate income tax the year after a qualified firm or supplier receives benefits under the law. Qualified firms under the bill would be for-profit businesses subject to state income, sales, or property tax that are engaged in one or more of the following industries as determined by the Secretary of Commerce: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, distribution, logistics and transportation, food and agriculture, professional and technical services. The bill provides exceptions to the definition by stating that a for-profit business establishment in any industry is eligible as a “qualified firm” if it is seeking benefits to relocate or establish its national corporate headquarters within the state. Additionally, a project would need to be completed within five years. Incentives available under the bill would include: investment’s tax credits, reimbursement of percentage of total payroll, reimbursement of a percentage of eligible employee training and education expenses, partial real property tax exemption, sales tax exemption for construction costs of the qualified business facilities. Qualified firms and suppliers would not be eligible to participate in other economic development programs currently in existence, and they would be required to cooperate with any audit undertaken by the Department of Revenue. To ensure proper oversight, the firms and suppliers would be required to provide information required for publication in the Economic Development Incentive Database, as well as reports required to be submitted to the governor and the legislature, among other provisions to ensure property transparency and accountability. To ensure oversight occurs in the short-term, a sunset of March 31, 2023 was added to ensure that the legislature reviews the provisions of the APEX Act in just one year. The bill was rushed through the process in order the allow commerce enough time to negotiate their offer to the prospective company. I believe Kansas needs to be careful when making huge concessions to attract new businesses.If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;- Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.Kansas Legislature website-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org-/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th&nbsp;Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View, Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

BILLINGER: Senate Update, Jan. 31, 2022

A couple winters ago, I was given the opportunity to do some nuisance beaver trapping at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson. I’d been helping a local lad, Jared Austin learn the do’s and don’ts, and the in’s and out’s of trapping as I knew them, and he became a constant companion as the very first morning we caught what I hoped was the only beaver left there on the golf course. But, as is usually the case, more damage appeared in the form of chewed trees and shrubs, so our quest was not over.

For starters, it’s difficult enough to catch every single beaver on any given property, and when the water source is a stream or a river that obviously runs for miles, it’s nearly impossible. Turkey Creek Golf Course is named for Turkey Creek which runs completely through the course and for miles in each direction, plus the grounds also sports several acres of pond water to boot, so there can theoretically be a constant supply of predators and beavers. &nbsp;

The new chewing was on the opposite end of the creek from where our first beaver was caught, so we began by scouting there. Most beaver dwellings in our part of the country are dens in the bank of a pond, river or stream, and are often hard to spot because beavers attempt to conceal openings to their dens by placing them where they’ll be under water except during very dry times. We walked the creek bank for a time but spotted no den openings, so a couple traps were placed at points where the creek narrowed down, theorizing the beavers would encounter the traps as they cruised up and down through their neighborhood. Jared lived just a hop, skip and a jump from the golf course, so he checked the traps each morning, saving me lots of time and miles. After a week of checking empty traps, he was on the phone with me one afternoon as he had donned waders and was in the creek checking under every tree stump and looking under every single wad of overhanging grass, searching for a beaver den entrance (I vaguely remember when I still had that kind of exuberance.) Catching your quarry the first day like we had that first beaver is great, especially for building enthusiasm in a youthful apprentice like it had in Jared. But it also offers a teaching moment for the mentor to impress upon their apprentice how success in hunting, fishing and trapping is often not immediate. He found a couple likely looking locations, and although I silently thought them “iffy” at best, I encouraged him to move traps there and see what happened (yet another learning opportunity.) The next couple days he caught raccoons but no beavers, then a rain and ice storm raised the water level in the creek too high to find the traps for a day or so. The following Thursday morning I set several traps around the biggest pond on the golf course and the two of us made plans to meet early Friday to check them all.

I remember Friday morning was foggy with a light mist falling as we commandeered a golf cart to make our rounds. Our first stop was where he had moved traps a few days prior, and we parked the cart beside a chewed-up tree the beaver had cut completely down. I think the cart was still moving when Jared dove out and all-but-sprinted down the bank. I was still stumbling around trying to wipe the mist and fog from my glasses when I heard him splashing across the creek, followed by hoots of “Got one, alright, finally!” The traps we use kill a beaver very quickly, so with my glasses still foggy and propped onto my nose, I blundered across the creek to find a kid with a smile on his face the size of a crescent moon holding up a gigantic old beaver. I estimated the old monster to weigh 45 – 50 pounds with immense front incisor teeth an inch long and as wide as my thumb nails. No wonder it had caused so much damage and was capable of completely toppling trees. Who knows how long that old rascal had lived there and how many of the problem beavers we were after it had apprenticed itself. We continued on, checking traps I had set around the pond and were rewarded with one more average sized beaver. I explained to Jared why I’d put each trap where I had, and he helped me set a couple more. He also got to sense my frustration with not catching as many as I’d hoped in the traps I had set.&nbsp;

Beavers are amazing critters that get themselves in trouble just doin’ what God created them to do. Beaver colonies cutting down trees to dam up streams in mountain meadows somewhere create ponds that actually do Nature a favor by providing homes for trout, ducks and other wildlife. But here in Midwestern farm country, beavers damming up streams and rivers that flood productive farm land, or chewing and cutting down trees on the local pristine golf course are not going to be tolerated. It’s kind of ironic that my apprentice’s first beaver was so big, as the first beaver I ever caught was just as large and required my wife and I hauling it up a steep river bank, through a briar patch and a couple hundred yards to the waiting pickup. I don’t know the average life span of a Kansas beaver, but thanks to the exuberance of my young friend, that one won’t be cluttering the golf course any more. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>A couple winters ago, I was given the opportunity to do some nuisance beaver trapping at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson. I’d been helping a local lad, Jared Austin learn the do’s and don’ts, and the in’s and out’s of trapping as I knew them, and he became a constant companion as the very first morning we caught what I hoped was the only beaver left there on the golf course. But, as is usually the case, more damage appeared in the form of chewed trees and shrubs, so our quest was not over.For starters, it’s difficult enough to catch every single beaver on any given property, and when the water source is a stream or a river that obviously runs for miles, it’s nearly impossible. Turkey Creek Golf Course is named for Turkey Creek which runs completely through the course and for miles in each direction, plus the grounds also sports several acres of pond water to boot, so there can theoretically be a constant supply of predators and beavers. &nbsp;The new chewing was on the opposite end of the creek from where our first beaver was caught, so we began by scouting there. Most beaver dwellings in our part of the country are dens in the bank of a pond, river or stream, and are often hard to spot because beavers attempt to conceal openings to their dens by placing them where they’ll be under water except during very dry times. We walked the creek bank for a time but spotted no den openings, so a couple traps were placed at points where the creek narrowed down, theorizing the beavers would encounter the traps as they cruised up and down through their neighborhood. Jared lived just a hop, skip and a jump from the golf course, so he checked the traps each morning, saving me lots of time and miles. After a week of checking empty traps, he was on the phone with me one afternoon as he had donned waders and was in the creek checking under every tree stump and looking under every single wad of overhanging grass, searching for a beaver den entrance (I vaguely remember when I still had that kind of exuberance.) Catching your quarry the first day like we had that first beaver is great, especially for building enthusiasm in a youthful apprentice like it had in Jared. But it also offers a teaching moment for the mentor to impress upon their apprentice how success in hunting, fishing and trapping is often not immediate. He found a couple likely looking locations, and although I silently thought them “iffy” at best, I encouraged him to move traps there and see what happened (yet another learning opportunity.) The next couple days he caught raccoons but no beavers, then a rain and ice storm raised the water level in the creek too high to find the traps for a day or so. The following Thursday morning I set several traps around the biggest pond on the golf course and the two of us made plans to meet early Friday to check them all.I remember Friday morning was foggy with a light mist falling as we commandeered a golf cart to make our rounds. Our first stop was where he had moved traps a few days prior, and we parked the cart beside a chewed-up tree the beaver had cut completely down. I think the cart was still moving when Jared dove out and all-but-sprinted down the bank. I was still stumbling around trying to wipe the mist and fog from my glasses when I heard him splashing across the creek, followed by hoots of “Got one, alright, finally!” The traps we use kill a beaver very quickly, so with my glasses still foggy and propped onto my nose, I blundered across the creek to find a kid with a smile on his face the size of a crescent moon holding up a gigantic old beaver. I estimated the old monster to weigh 45 – 50 pounds with immense front incisor teeth an inch long and as wide as my thumb nails. No wonder it had caused so much damage and was capable of completely toppling trees. Who knows how long that old rascal had lived there and how many of the problem beavers we were after it had apprenticed itself. We continued on, checking traps I had set around the pond and were rewarded with one more average sized beaver. I explained to Jared why I’d put each trap where I had, and he helped me set a couple more. He also got to sense my frustration with not catching as many as I’d hoped in the traps I had set.&nbsp;Beavers are amazing critters that get themselves in trouble just doin’ what God created them to do. Beaver colonies cutting down trees to dam up streams in mountain meadows somewhere create ponds that actually do Nature a favor by providing homes for trout, ducks and other wildlife. But here in Midwestern farm country, beavers damming up streams and rivers that flood productive farm land, or chewing and cutting down trees on the local pristine golf course are not going to be tolerated. It’s kind of ironic that my apprentice’s first beaver was so big, as the first beaver I ever caught was just as large and required my wife and I hauling it up a steep river bank, through a briar patch and a couple hundred yards to the waiting pickup. I don’t know the average life span of a Kansas beaver, but thanks to the exuberance of my young friend, that one won’t be cluttering the golf course any more. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Oh, for the exuberance of youth

The state Legislature has passed a new congressional district map reflecting population changes, as they must every 10 years. While a veto by Governor Kelly, further tweaking in the legislature, and lawsuits over racial representation are all likely, the general outlines of this proposed map are likely to stick, which makes some things frustratingly clear, especially for Democrats.

The proposed map splits Wyandotte County, taking the northern half from the Third District and putting it in the Second, which now twists like a contorted “S” from the northern state border to the south. And it extends the First District all the way east to Douglas County, dipping south just far enough to grab Lawrence, meaning both K-State and KU, home of some of the state’s most liberal voters, would be politically counted as part of conservative western Kansas.

This may still change, of course. But if you’re a Republican who applauded when former Senate President Susan Wagle promised in 2020 that, with a super-majority, the Republicans could draw a map that would make impossible the re-election of Sharice Davids, the Third District’s Democratic representative, these changes probably make you happy. If you’re a Democrat, they don’t.

This kind of gerrymandering — drawing borders to include more voters of one party than the other — is an American tradition, however much it is attacked. Except in those few states that have made the redistricting process non-partisan, it has become predictable, with political and legal moves well practiced. Hence, it has also reached the point of diminishing returns.

Yes, Representative Davis will likely have a harder race this November, but not dramatically so; gerrymanders which completely change electoral outcomes are rare these days. Redistricting is governed by a host of rules rooted in the principle of “one person, one vote,” and while there are some ways around those rules, the requirement that the districts are drawn to provide relatively equal representation forces even the most aggressive partisans to deal with hard population realities. In a state with slow growth like Kansas, those realities are particularly stark.&nbsp;

American elections are of the “single-member plurality” type — we carve up the country (or state, county, city, etc.) into sections, and elect whichever single person gets the most votes within those borders. There are more proportional election systems, but so long as we use this one, the advantage will be on the side of voters that are spread out, occupying a lot of sectional space.

Over the past century, likely Democratic voters (racial and sexual minorities, immigrants, college students, etc.) have usually clustered in urban areas. Those urban votes add up — Kelly’s state-wide majority came from winning only nine of Kansas’s 105 counties, all of them more urbanized, and also the only parts of Kansas growing in population. But because those voters are densely clustered, they often find themselves easily packed into sections where their numbers are more than balanced out by Republican voters spread out over rural and suburban space.

Thus, aside from states with sprawling urban agglomerations like New York City or Chicago, redistricting usually fails to serve Democratic voters well. Kansas Democrats will rightly fight this structural bias, perhaps successfully. But our system just wasn’t built with urban living patterns in mind, a reality that even Democrats in a slow-growth, mostly rural state like Kansas can’t avoid.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>The state Legislature has passed a new congressional district map reflecting population changes, as they must every 10 years. While a veto by Governor Kelly, further tweaking in the legislature, and lawsuits over racial representation are all likely, the general outlines of this proposed map are likely to stick, which makes some things frustratingly clear, especially for Democrats.The proposed map splits Wyandotte County, taking the northern half from the Third District and putting it in the Second, which now twists like a contorted “S” from the northern state border to the south. And it extends the First District all the way east to Douglas County, dipping south just far enough to grab Lawrence, meaning both K-State and KU, home of some of the state’s most liberal voters, would be politically counted as part of conservative western Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This may still change, of course. But if you’re a Republican who applauded when former Senate President Susan Wagle promised in 2020 that, with a super-majority, the Republicans could draw a map that would make impossible the re-election of Sharice Davids, the Third District’s Democratic representative, these changes probably make you happy. If you’re a Democrat, they don’t.This kind of gerrymandering — drawing borders to include more voters of one party than the other — is an American tradition, however much it is attacked. Except in those few states that have made the redistricting process non-partisan, it has become predictable, with political and legal moves well practiced. Hence, it has also reached the point of diminishing returns.Yes, Representative Davis will likely have a harder race this November, but not dramatically so; gerrymanders which completely change electoral outcomes are rare these days. Redistricting is governed by a host of rules rooted in the principle of “one person, one vote,” and while there are some ways around those rules, the requirement that the districts are drawn to provide relatively equal representation forces even the most aggressive partisans to deal with hard population realities. In a state with slow growth like Kansas, those realities are particularly stark.&nbsp;American elections are of the “single-member plurality” type — we carve up the country (or state, county, city, etc.) into sections, and elect whichever single person gets the most votes within those borders. There are more proportional election systems, but so long as we use this one, the advantage will be on the side of voters that are spread out, occupying a lot of sectional space.Over the past century, likely Democratic voters (racial and sexual minorities, immigrants, college students, etc.) have usually clustered in urban areas. Those urban votes add up — Kelly’s state-wide majority came from winning only nine of Kansas’s 105 counties, all of them more urbanized, and also the only parts of Kansas growing in population. But because those voters are densely clustered, they often find themselves easily packed into sections where their numbers are more than balanced out by Republican voters spread out over rural and suburban space.Thus, aside from states with sprawling urban agglomerations like New York City or Chicago, redistricting usually fails to serve Democratic voters well. Kansas Democrats will rightly fight this structural bias, perhaps successfully. But our system just wasn’t built with urban living patterns in mind, a reality that even Democrats in a slow-growth, mostly rural state like Kansas can’t avoid.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Redistricting woes — mostly for Democrats

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

“California girls.” Does that bring to mind blonde hair and sandy beaches?&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet a young woman from California with interests beyond the beachfront.&nbsp;&nbsp;She developed an interest in agriculture, married a Kansan, and made her way to the Sunflower State where the couple is adding value to their family beef operation through direct-to-consumer marketing.

Myndi and Jason Krafft are the owners of Krafft Beef in Phillips County. Jason is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher. He grew up farming with his dad, grandfather, and uncle and was active in 4-H and FFA. He made the livestock judging team at Colby Community College and then the team at Cal Poly in California. He met Myndi in an animal science class.&nbsp;

Myndi had grown up in southern California. Her family had a garden and backyard chickens. Her great grandfather had farmed near Enid, Okla. and Liberal, Kan.&nbsp;

“I remembered his stories and I became interested in where our food comes from,” Myndi said. She studied agriculture at Cal Poly, met and married Jason, and earned her ag teaching credentials plus a masters degree.&nbsp;

“I was an ag teacher for 10 years in the bay area,” Myndi said. She team-taught soil chemistry and a sustainable ag biology class which counted toward the students’ science requirements. “Agriculture is science,” Myndi said.&nbsp;

Jason worked with a veterinarian who specialized in embryo transfer of high quality beef seedstock. He had learned beef cow artificial insemination at K-State’s Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit in Manhattan, among other places, and worked across the west coast.&nbsp;

By 2017, the Kraffts had daughters Kinley and Kensi who were five and two years old, respectively. “We were living in a bedroom community about 1-2 hours from Silicon Valley and San Francisco,” Jason said. They chose to move to Phillips County to be closer to family and to raise their daughters in the rural countryside of Kansas.&nbsp;

Their farm is outside the rural community of Phillipsburg, population 2,581 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“I loved it right away,” Myndi said. “It’s so much nicer, compared to the traffic in California,” Myndi said. In fact, Phillipsburg’s total population is smaller than the student population at the school where Myndi had taught.&nbsp;

The Kraffts have a livestock and grain farm, raising hay and grain to go with the cow-calf operation plus feeding steers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When we lived in California, Jason’s parents would send us a half of beef, and our friends would rave about how good it was,” Myndi said. The Kraffts saw the opportunity to market their beef directly, identified a nearby butcher to do the processing, and launched a website.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Today, Krafft Beef sells products all over the nation. “100% of our (meat) sales are online,” Myndi said. Krafft Beef delivers to local area customers, but most products are shipped.&nbsp;

“This week we shipped a beef bundle to the Hamptons,” Myndi said. Their products have gone coast to coast, from California to Massachusetts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Myndi manages the online marketing side of the business, which means maintaining the website, managing the inventory, doing the email marketing and connecting with customers through social media such as Instagram and Facebook. “The next generation of consumers, that is where they are,” Myndi said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This is an additional marketing option for our beef,” Jason said. “We need to figure out how to do more with the acres we have.”&nbsp;

“This became my way to contribute to the family operation,” Myndi said. “You really need to pay attention to the market.”&nbsp;

For example, a chuck roast for the crockpot tends to be popular in the Midwest, but other cuts are more popular in warmer regions where people can grill most of the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Everybody loves ribeyes,” Myndi said.&nbsp;

The Kraffts describe their beef as “family grown and responsibly raised.”&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.krafftbeef.com/">www.krafftbeef.com</a>.&nbsp;

We commend Myndi and Jason Krafft for making a difference with their creative way to market their products. If entrepreneurs in other states had knowledge of agriculture like hers, I wish they all could be that kind of California girl.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643206736489.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“California girls.” Does that bring to mind blonde hair and sandy beaches?&nbsp;Today we’ll meet a young woman from California with interests beyond the beachfront.&nbsp;&nbsp;She developed an interest in agriculture, married a Kansan, and made her way to the Sunflower State where the couple is adding value to their family beef operation through direct-to-consumer marketing. Myndi and Jason Krafft are the owners of Krafft Beef in Phillips County. Jason is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher. He grew up farming with his dad, grandfather, and uncle and was active in 4-H and FFA. He made the livestock judging team at Colby Community College and then the team at Cal Poly in California. He met Myndi in an animal science class.&nbsp;Myndi had grown up in southern California. Her family had a garden and backyard chickens. Her great grandfather had farmed near Enid, Okla. and Liberal, Kan.&nbsp;“I remembered his stories and I became interested in where our food comes from,” Myndi said. She studied agriculture at Cal Poly, met and married Jason, and earned her ag teaching credentials plus a masters degree.&nbsp;“I was an ag teacher for 10 years in the bay area,” Myndi said. She team-taught soil chemistry and a sustainable ag biology class which counted toward the students’ science requirements. “Agriculture is science,” Myndi said.&nbsp;Jason worked with a veterinarian who specialized in embryo transfer of high quality beef seedstock. He had learned beef cow artificial insemination at K-State’s Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit in Manhattan, among other places, and worked across the west coast.&nbsp;By 2017, the Kraffts had daughters Kinley and Kensi who were five and two years old, respectively. “We were living in a bedroom community about 1-2 hours from Silicon Valley and San Francisco,” Jason said. They chose to move to Phillips County to be closer to family and to raise their daughters in the rural countryside of Kansas.&nbsp;Their farm is outside the rural community of Phillipsburg, population 2,581 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“I loved it right away,” Myndi said. “It’s so much nicer, compared to the traffic in California,” Myndi said. In fact, Phillipsburg’s total population is smaller than the student population at the school where Myndi had taught.&nbsp;The Kraffts have a livestock and grain farm, raising hay and grain to go with the cow-calf operation plus feeding steers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“When we lived in California, Jason’s parents would send us a half of beef, and our friends would rave about how good it was,” Myndi said. The Kraffts saw the opportunity to market their beef directly, identified a nearby butcher to do the processing, and launched a website.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, Krafft Beef sells products all over the nation. “100% of our (meat) sales are online,” Myndi said. Krafft Beef delivers to local area customers, but most products are shipped.&nbsp;“This week we shipped a beef bundle to the Hamptons,” Myndi said. Their products have gone coast to coast, from California to Massachusetts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Myndi manages the online marketing side of the business, which means maintaining the website, managing the inventory, doing the email marketing and connecting with customers through social media such as Instagram and Facebook. “The next generation of consumers, that is where they are,” Myndi said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“This is an additional marketing option for our beef,” Jason said. “We need to figure out how to do more with the acres we have.”&nbsp;“This became my way to contribute to the family operation,” Myndi said. “You really need to pay attention to the market.”&nbsp;For example, a chuck roast for the crockpot tends to be popular in the Midwest, but other cuts are more popular in warmer regions where people can grill most of the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Everybody loves ribeyes,” Myndi said.&nbsp;The Kraffts describe their beef as “family grown and responsibly raised.”&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.krafftbeef.com/">www.krafftbeef.com</a>.&nbsp;We commend Myndi and Jason Krafft for making a difference with their creative way to market their products. If entrepreneurs in other states had knowledge of agriculture like hers, I wish they all could be that kind of California girl.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Myndi & Jason Krafft, Krafft Beef 

Show me a Midwesterner who doesn’t have some sort of love-hate relationship with snow, and I’ll show you the rock they have lived under. It seems as though a person either love it or hates it, and for some of us it depends upon the day. It’s hard to explain how something that makes the landscape suddenly seem so sparkling clean and pure can turn on you in an instant and ruin your day. I was reminded last week how much I love to watch snow fall and how beautiful it makes everything it touches, but also how much I hate removing it from my driveway. I’m kind of a purist, in that I believe God put it there and I don’t want to shovel it and take away any satisfaction He might get from taking it away himself! Yes, to the traveler, home owner, maintenance man and commuter, snow is often an unwelcome inconvenience. To the outdoorsman, however, snow opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

For the outdoors photographer or painter there is no other canvas that compares to an outdoor scene sporting a fresh snowfall. Suddenly, as if by magic, the mundane becomes majestic, the drab becomes dynamic and the everyday becomes extraordinary. Outdoor spots we pass daily with no recognition suddenly become scenes from a calendar. Like the lava lamps of days gone by, the look of the landscape slowly changes from hour to hour with the wind.

Obviously, skiers and snowboarders live for fresh snow. After an overnight snowfall, hills too steep to climb become mere carnival rides beneath their feet. Cross country skiers can, in one day, see country it would take them several days to see on foot without the snow. And let’s not forget the farmers; around one foot of snow equals one inch of rain and snow supposedly brings with it good nutrients too, so after a couple dry years like we’ve had, all this snow is more than welcome for our Kansas wheat and alfalfa.

Hunters and trappers can benefit greatly from a fresh snowfall. Tracks of deer, coyotes, bobcats and other game animals are tough to spot in our often-dry Kansas soil, so trying to learn their movement patterns can rely on being fortunate enough to see the animals themselves. Remember going to dances back-in-the-day when your hand was stamped with a mark that only showed up under a special “black light?” That mark was there the whole time but only became visible when put under the light. Just like the black light, snow suddenly shows tracks of wildlife that have been traveling those same paths for months, but leaving no visible signs.

After a significant snowfall a few years ago, I spent time scouting an area I still had yet to trap. It was a soybean stubble field along the river where my wife harvested her first deer several years before. Besides hordes of deer tracks, I followed 2 sets of bobcat tracks as they meandered back and forth across the field and between several freshly made brush piles. I tracked a coyote for several hundred yards and was able to observe exactly how it related to certain land features. I followed coyote tracks on a frozen drainage ditch and could see where it had stopped to nose around under logs and other attractions. Its tracks showed me cattle trails it had traveled along the steep banks and where it had entered and left the ditch. Closing my eyes, I could almost see these animals as they left the footprints that held my attention.

So, the next time it snows, or before this current snow all melts, after you’ve shoveled the driveway, cleaned the walks, swept the deck and cursed the weatherman, grab your camera or walking stick and head for the woods. It will definitely influence your relationship with the “white stuff” as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Steve GillilandShow me a Midwesterner who doesn’t have some sort of love-hate relationship with snow, and I’ll show you the rock they have lived under. It seems as though a person either love it or hates it, and for some of us it depends upon the day. It’s hard to explain how something that makes the landscape suddenly seem so sparkling clean and pure can turn on you in an instant and ruin your day. I was reminded last week how much I love to watch snow fall and how beautiful it makes everything it touches, but also how much I hate removing it from my driveway. I’m kind of a purist, in that I believe God put it there and I don’t want to shovel it and take away any satisfaction He might get from taking it away himself! Yes, to the traveler, home owner, maintenance man and commuter, snow is often an unwelcome inconvenience. To the outdoorsman, however, snow opens up a whole new world of opportunities.For the outdoors photographer or painter there is no other canvas that compares to an outdoor scene sporting a fresh snowfall. Suddenly, as if by magic, the mundane becomes majestic, the drab becomes dynamic and the everyday becomes extraordinary. Outdoor spots we pass daily with no recognition suddenly become scenes from a calendar. Like the lava lamps of days gone by, the look of the landscape slowly changes from hour to hour with the wind.Obviously, skiers and snowboarders live for fresh snow. After an overnight snowfall, hills too steep to climb become mere carnival rides beneath their feet. Cross country skiers can, in one day, see country it would take them several days to see on foot without the snow. And let’s not forget the farmers; around one foot of snow equals one inch of rain and snow supposedly brings with it good nutrients too, so after a couple dry years like we’ve had, all this snow is more than welcome for our Kansas wheat and alfalfa.Hunters and trappers can benefit greatly from a fresh snowfall. Tracks of deer, coyotes, bobcats and other game animals are tough to spot in our often-dry Kansas soil, so trying to learn their movement patterns can rely on being fortunate enough to see the animals themselves. Remember going to dances back-in-the-day when your hand was stamped with a mark that only showed up under a special “black light?” That mark was there the whole time but only became visible when put under the light. Just like the black light, snow suddenly shows tracks of wildlife that have been traveling those same paths for months, but leaving no visible signs.After a significant snowfall a few years ago, I spent time scouting an area I still had yet to trap. It was a soybean stubble field along the river where my wife harvested her first deer several years before. Besides hordes of deer tracks, I followed 2 sets of bobcat tracks as they meandered back and forth across the field and between several freshly made brush piles. I tracked a coyote for several hundred yards and was able to observe exactly how it related to certain land features. I followed coyote tracks on a frozen drainage ditch and could see where it had stopped to nose around under logs and other attractions. Its tracks showed me cattle trails it had traveled along the steep banks and where it had entered and left the ditch. Closing my eyes, I could almost see these animals as they left the footprints that held my attention.So, the next time it snows, or before this current snow all melts, after you’ve shoveled the driveway, cleaned the walks, swept the deck and cursed the weatherman, grab your camera or walking stick and head for the woods. It will definitely influence your relationship with the “white stuff” as you continue to Explore Kansas OutdoorsSteve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Snow; Love it or hate it

For me, this year in particular signals surges of hopefulness and confidence in our students and the future of Fort Hays State University. That confidence is fueled by the resiliency of our students and the determination of our hardworking faculty and staff.&nbsp;

Every day I look out the front window of the president’s residence, and I’m hopeful as I see the activity of our campus, the beauty of our grounds, and the promise of the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Everything we do at FHSU is ultimately about student success; that is what drives us.&nbsp;

“One of the many benefits of our Center for Student Success was the idea of not only creating efficiencies by moving multiple offices in one location, but re-thinking how those services were provided,” said Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs. “We have streamlined student support services in such a way that makes it very easy for students to receive multiple facets of assistance – all in one convenient location, connected to the Memorial Union.”

The vision of the three-level center was purposeful and strategic. The first floor concentrates on inclusive academic support, such as free tutoring, professional advising, and career services.&nbsp;

Also on the first floor is a student welcome center for prospective students – the heartbeat of our on-campus strategic enrollment plan. The second floor features student organizations and campus activities, ensuring all students understand the importance of student engagement, whether on campus or online.

“Many universities across the country have created success centers. Most have concentrated on academic support resources and student involvement opportunities,” Dr. Linn said. “What sets our center apart, and makes it truly forward-thinking, is the integration of health and wellness services on the third floor."

The third floor of the success center connects all areas of student health – mind, body, and soul.&nbsp; From supportive counseling services and accessibility services, to convenient and affordable medical services, all focuses on the students’ well-being.

As we transition to a new semester, among our new staff on campus is Dr. Jeff Curtis, medical director of the Health and Wellness Center. Although new in this role, Dr. Curtis is not new to Tiger Nation. He is an alumnus of FHSU and can be seen frequently on campus at sporting events and a myriad of other activities. He currently serves on the executive committee of the FHSU Foundation. He is also well known to the community, having served as a cardiologist and director of cardiology services at Hays Medical Center.

The hiring of Dr. Curtis is strategic. It is one of the many deliberate decisions we are making that fills me with that hopefulness and confidence. He not only brings a valuable skill set to the position but also a philosophy that is congruent with the mission of the Student Success Center.

Gina Smith, director of health and wellness, adds, “Our floor is ideal for meeting the physical and mental health needs of FHSU students. We can easily communicate and collaborate between counseling and health staff to address the comprehensive needs of our students in a timely manner. I look forward to working with Hays Medical Center to bring specialists to the Health and Wellness Services office and to implement programming such as cooking nutritious meals on a limited budget and time-efficient ways to manage stress for a healthy lifestyle.”

Will Stutterheim, assistant director of health and wellness, shared, “we are very excited to have someone of Dr. Curtis’ caliber join our team. His connections with HaysMed are invaluable in helping us work collaboratively to provide the best care for our students. He has had many years of practice and has seen countless innovations in his time as a provider working in Kansas.”

“Our current space provides us the opportunity to have a specialist or a visiting provider,” Will added. “With Dr. Curtis’ connections to other providers and agencies in town, there is a real opportunity to expand services based on the needs of our students.”

As we strategically think about how we can better serve our students in the future, staff members are exploring the expansion of services and rethinking how to best care for our students. I look forward to learning more about new programming and potential new partnerships with local agencies.&nbsp;

Dr. Curtis said, “the integration of student physical and mental health services in a collaborative fashion in a single student-centered location, was a draw for me to consider this position.”

“Students are much more likely to succeed academically and socially if they are physically and mentally fit,” he said. “I can’t think of a better reason to come out of retirement. It is a great opportunity to serve our students and to give back to my alma mater.”&nbsp;

This center, and the focus of the staff who work there, truly encapsulates how student success and the culture of care is at the heart of this great 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>For me, this year in particular signals surges of hopefulness and confidence in our students and the future of Fort Hays State University. That confidence is fueled by the resiliency of our students and the determination of our hardworking faculty and staff.&nbsp;Every day I look out the front window of the president’s residence, and I’m hopeful as I see the activity of our campus, the beauty of our grounds, and the promise of the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success. Everything we do at FHSU is ultimately about student success; that is what drives us.&nbsp;“One of the many benefits of our Center for Student Success was the idea of not only creating efficiencies by moving multiple offices in one location, but re-thinking how those services were provided,” said Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs. “We have streamlined student support services in such a way that makes it very easy for students to receive multiple facets of assistance – all in one convenient location, connected to the Memorial Union.”The vision of the three-level center was purposeful and strategic. The first floor concentrates on inclusive academic support, such as free tutoring, professional advising, and career services.&nbsp;Also on the first floor is a student welcome center for prospective students – the heartbeat of our on-campus strategic enrollment plan. The second floor features student organizations and campus activities, ensuring all students understand the importance of student engagement, whether on campus or online.“Many universities across the country have created success centers. Most have concentrated on academic support resources and student involvement opportunities,” Dr. Linn said. “What sets our center apart, and makes it truly forward-thinking, is the integration of health and wellness services on the third floor."The third floor of the success center connects all areas of student health – mind, body, and soul.&nbsp; From supportive counseling services and accessibility services, to convenient and affordable medical services, all focuses on the students’ well-being.As we transition to a new semester, among our new staff on campus is Dr. Jeff Curtis, medical director of the Health and Wellness Center. Although new in this role, Dr. Curtis is not new to Tiger Nation. He is an alumnus of FHSU and can be seen frequently on campus at sporting events and a myriad of other activities. He currently serves on the executive committee of the FHSU Foundation. He is also well known to the community, having served as a cardiologist and director of cardiology services at Hays Medical Center.The hiring of Dr. Curtis is strategic. It is one of the many deliberate decisions we are making that fills me with that hopefulness and confidence. He not only brings a valuable skill set to the position but also a philosophy that is congruent with the mission of the Student Success Center.Gina Smith, director of health and wellness, adds, “Our floor is ideal for meeting the physical and mental health needs of FHSU students. We can easily communicate and collaborate between counseling and health staff to address the comprehensive needs of our students in a timely manner. I look forward to working with Hays Medical Center to bring specialists to the Health and Wellness Services office and to implement programming such as cooking nutritious meals on a limited budget and time-efficient ways to manage stress for a healthy lifestyle.”Will Stutterheim, assistant director of health and wellness, shared, “we are very excited to have someone of Dr. Curtis’ caliber join our team. His connections with HaysMed are invaluable in helping us work collaboratively to provide the best care for our students. He has had many years of practice and has seen countless innovations in his time as a provider working in Kansas.”“Our current space provides us the opportunity to have a specialist or a visiting provider,” Will added. “With Dr. Curtis’ connections to other providers and agencies in town, there is a real opportunity to expand services based on the needs of our students.”As we strategically think about how we can better serve our students in the future, staff members are exploring the expansion of services and rethinking how to best care for our students. I look forward to learning more about new programming and potential new partnerships with local agencies.&nbsp;Dr. Curtis said, “the integration of student physical and mental health services in a collaborative fashion in a single student-centered location, was a draw for me to consider this position.”“Students are much more likely to succeed academically and socially if they are physically and mentally fit,” he said. “I can’t think of a better reason to come out of retirement. It is a great opportunity to serve our students and to give back to my alma mater.”&nbsp;This center, and the focus of the staff who work there, truly encapsulates how student success and the culture of care is at the heart of this great university.

MASON: A promising year ahead at Fort Hays State

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer January generally means implementing warmer socks, warmer drinks and warmer meals on our farm. The days require additional layers of work clothes while we load our stored grain into trucks headed to feed yards, mills or ethanol plants. Breakfast at our table is now enjoyed with the addition of warm mugs of hot cocoa before the kids have to bundle up to catch their bus for school. Meals are planned to intentionally utilize the oven to warm the kitchen while also making food that will warm bellies. &nbsp; It’s no secret I’m not a fan of winter. The colder and darker days do not make me favor this season in the slightest. In fact, if I had a choice, I’d spend my winter days as far south as possible. &nbsp; The extra layers, constant chill and seemingly dreary days do not bode well with me. They never have, and I suspect they never will. Perhaps it’s because I was a beach and desert dweller in my childhood. Perhaps it’s the many memories from the early days of my marriage of cold, newborn calves being brought inside the house to get warmed up and healthy. Perhaps it’s the idea that my children can’t enjoy recess outside due to the windchill. Whatever the reason, winter will always rank last for me. &nbsp; Yes, the chill of winter has set in. And with that, I’m constantly on the lookout for reminders to help me adjust my attitude and warm my spirit during this time of the year.&nbsp; &nbsp; During my daily walk to check the mail, I look forward to opening the box to discover a new catalog highlighting seeds and gardening essentials. It’s a reminder that spring planting is near, and I have the opportunity to plan for a future harvest of homegrown goodies during these cold days. &nbsp; The beautifully made quilts and blankets I have been gifted over time have now been brought out of storage and added to the backs of our sitting chairs or spread over beds. All too often these handmade treasures seem too heavy or too hot during the rest of the year, but now are a perfect addition. These items not only offer warmth while I read in the evenings or snuggle in at night; they also warm my heart as I remember those who made these precious gifts. &nbsp; Since the winter’s cold pushes my kids and husband into the house sooner in the evenings, I have the opportunity to enjoy more of their company. Whether it’s to play a game together, facilitate a science experiment or crafting session, or simply sitting together to enjoy a movie, I know once the days get longer and warmer this time will become less frequent. Having my little family together is something I cherish during the cold, dark winter months.&nbsp; &nbsp; Yes, even in the depths of winter, there are reminders of warmth all around. You just have to recognize them when you experience them.

"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/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer January generally means implementing warmer socks, warmer drinks and warmer meals on our farm. The days require additional layers of work clothes while we load our stored grain into trucks headed to feed yards, mills or ethanol plants. Breakfast at our table is now enjoyed with the addition of warm mugs of hot cocoa before the kids have to bundle up to catch their bus for school. Meals are planned to intentionally utilize the oven to warm the kitchen while also making food that will warm bellies. &nbsp; It’s no secret I’m not a fan of winter. The colder and darker days do not make me favor this season in the slightest. In fact, if I had a choice, I’d spend my winter days as far south as possible. &nbsp; The extra layers, constant chill and seemingly dreary days do not bode well with me. They never have, and I suspect they never will. Perhaps it’s because I was a beach and desert dweller in my childhood. Perhaps it’s the many memories from the early days of my marriage of cold, newborn calves being brought inside the house to get warmed up and healthy. Perhaps it’s the idea that my children can’t enjoy recess outside due to the windchill. Whatever the reason, winter will always rank last for me. &nbsp; Yes, the chill of winter has set in. And with that, I’m constantly on the lookout for reminders to help me adjust my attitude and warm my spirit during this time of the year.&nbsp; &nbsp; During my daily walk to check the mail, I look forward to opening the box to discover a new catalog highlighting seeds and gardening essentials. It’s a reminder that spring planting is near, and I have the opportunity to plan for a future harvest of homegrown goodies during these cold days. &nbsp; The beautifully made quilts and blankets I have been gifted over time have now been brought out of storage and added to the backs of our sitting chairs or spread over beds. All too often these handmade treasures seem too heavy or too hot during the rest of the year, but now are a perfect addition. These items not only offer warmth while I read in the evenings or snuggle in at night; they also warm my heart as I remember those who made these precious gifts. &nbsp; Since the winter’s cold pushes my kids and husband into the house sooner in the evenings, I have the opportunity to enjoy more of their company. Whether it’s to play a game together, facilitate a science experiment or crafting session, or simply sitting together to enjoy a movie, I know once the days get longer and warmer this time will become less frequent. Having my little family together is something I cherish during the cold, dark winter months.&nbsp; &nbsp; Yes, even in the depths of winter, there are reminders of warmth all around. You just have to recognize them when you experience them."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: Warm reminders

My wife and I own a small catering business. We have a few big corporations as clients, and our company has been very successful over the last two or three years. Now, we are planning to build a house. I was wondering what you think about how much should be spent on the land itself versus the construction of the actual house.&nbsp;

When the whole thing is done, the payment you end up with shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay on a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. The ratio of land to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;can vary, and that part’s up to you. If you’re buying a big piece of land, you’re probably going to have a higher ratio of land cost to home cost than if you bought a simple lot and put a really nice home there.

Generally, a standard subdivision lot is going to be around 20% of the total price. If you spend $100,000 on the lot, you’ll end up with a total project cost of about a half-million. Now, keep in mind that’s just a fairly standard ratio. It’s not a rule.

The only rule here is my rule about mortgage payments. Again, no more than 25% of your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">take-home pay</a>&nbsp;on a fixed-rate, 15-year note. Otherwise, you can end up house poor. And when you’re house poor, it takes away your ability to save, build wealth, and give.

Having a big house and a lot of land is cool if you can afford it, Lee. But it’s not worth it if it’s financially stressful and prevents you from living your best life!

*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe 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 regain 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/2021/10/1635524005597.png" alt="Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,My wife and I own a small catering business. We have a few big corporations as clients, and our company has been very successful over the last two or three years. Now, we are planning to build a house. I was wondering what you think about how much should be spent on the land itself versus the construction of the actual house.&nbsp;LeeDear Lee,When the whole thing is done, the payment you end up with shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay on a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. The ratio of land to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/mortgage-calculator">house</a>&nbsp;can vary, and that part’s up to you. If you’re buying a big piece of land, you’re probably going to have a higher ratio of land cost to home cost than if you bought a simple lot and put a really nice home there.Generally, a standard subdivision lot is going to be around 20% of the total price. If you spend $100,000 on the lot, you’ll end up with a total project cost of about a half-million. Now, keep in mind that’s just a fairly standard ratio. It’s not a rule.The only rule here is my rule about mortgage payments. Again, no more than 25% of your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/guide-to-budgeting">take-home pay</a>&nbsp;on a fixed-rate, 15-year note. Otherwise, you can end up house poor. And when you’re house poor, it takes away your ability to save, build wealth, and give.Having a big house and a lot of land is cool if you can afford it, Lee. But it’s not worth it if it’s financially stressful and prevents you from living your best life!— Dave*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host ofThe 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 regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: How much dirt, and how much house?

2022 Senate Scene – Week 1 and 2

TOPEKA - As we get settled into the first and second week of the 2022 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 19 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, budget and utilities—to name a few.&nbsp; Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can follow us at our website at&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;A daily calendar is available as well as directions on how to view committee work live-time and view archive past committee and floor action.&nbsp;

My committees remain the same as last year - the Ethics, Elections and Local Government committee is now two committees renamed Transparency and Ethics and Local Government.&nbsp; I will Chair Transparency and Ethics and will serve as the Vice-Chair of Local Government.&nbsp; I continue to serve on the Transportation, Judiciary and Utility committees and remain on the Historical Preservation Committee.&nbsp; I was also assigned to a new committee, the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, January 11th, Governor Kelly delivered her State of the State address in the House Chambers. Her address is the starting point for the budget process in Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations and sets the tone for the upcoming session.&nbsp; Both committees are currently reviewing her budget proposals for 2022.&nbsp;Currently, the state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3.0 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. &nbsp;While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions aimed at helping Kansas families and boosting the Kansas economy.

House Bill 2477 (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2477/" target="_blank">HB 2477</a>) -&nbsp;legislation crafted to codify two executive orders to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. It accomplishes this by temporarily deregulating several provisions of Kansas law, including:

*Allowing nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education.

*Providing the ability for students who are enrolled in programs to become healthcare professionals, as well as military members who are also emergency medical personnel to volunteer at healthcare facilities

*Allows Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Anesthetists, Registered Professional Nurses and Licensed Pharmacists to provide additional services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

*Health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas.

The bill sunsets the provisions in January of 2023, which will allow the legislature to look at the matter again in one year.&nbsp; HB 2477 passed the Senate 36-2. The House then immediately concurred on the legislation, sending it to the governor, who then immediately signed the legislation.

Senate Bill 318 – (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/" target="_blank">SB 318</a>)&nbsp;introduced by Senator Billinger, Senator Tyson and myself will aid property owners whose property is destroyed by natural disasters.&nbsp; It was written and pre-filed to address the recent fires in Ellis, Osborne, Rooks and Russell counties to provide sales tax relief for new fencing which will be needed after the fires on December 15th.&nbsp;

*It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters.

*It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair, or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021.

The bill was amended in the Senate Committee of the Whole to, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.&nbsp;&nbsp; SB 318 passed the Senate 35-0.

Before the session is complete, the legislature must pass new maps for Congress, the State Senate, the State House, and the State Board of Education.&nbsp; The maps are treated like typical legislative bills, which means they must be passed by both chambers and be signed into law by the governor – or, if the governor vetoes the bill containing the map(s), the legislature can override her veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers.

The Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn, had its first meeting of the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday, January 12th.&nbsp; Chairman Wilborn discussed the 14 in-person tours and numerous virtual tours that the legislature hosted throughout the late summer and fall, where we received incredible input from people from every corner of our great state.&nbsp; The committee also adopted its rules and guidelines for the mapping process.

On Friday, the Kansas Senate passed the “Ad Astra 2” map, a Congressional Map that is primarily based upon suggestions received on the in-person and virtual listening tours. The same map was also introduced in the House Redistricting Committee.

*The map only splits four counties. Pawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Wyandotte are the only split counties on the new map. Both Douglas and Wyandotte are primarily divided along natural and geographic barriers such as highways and rivers.

*The First District contains both University of Kansas and Kansas State University, which have aligned goals, returning them to the same Congressional district.

*The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard.

*The Third District keeps Johnson County together, blending the Kansas City suburbs with nearby bedroom communities.

*The Fourth District includes Wichita and surrounding communities.

*Indian Reservations are kept wholly within Congressional districts.

American Legion Girl and Boy State

The annual programs will return this year and are taking applications for the leadership programs.&nbsp; Girl State will be held June 12-17th&nbsp;at the University of Kansas and Boys State June 5-11th&nbsp;at Kansas State University.&nbsp; Both programs focus on “learning by doing” and is political exercise that simulate elections, political parties and government at the state, county, and local levels.&nbsp; Girl State applicants will need to have completed their junior year and Boy State applicants will need to have completed their sophomore year.&nbsp; 

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksgirlsstate.org/" target="_blank">www.ksgirlsstate.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com" target="_blank">secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;with a deadline of May 30th.&nbsp; Boy State information -&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info.1937@ksbstate.org" target="_blank">info.1937@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785 550-6492 with a deadline of March 31st, 2022.

You can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed and can also be viewed on the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. The Kansas Legislature website is easy to use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:

Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>

YouTube Streaming:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHF34R6w-q9Yyc4qETkM4i0oK77_HAcUcgnTEzGR0bc3XlkSfwIv7NNomoykZXxAe6JYkaUz8mVZZ4=&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0</a>

Committee Hearings:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFxPF3ofZot5nNQg29dl4IyyVwRxdehplaQI7UbFxYaMuHnBMclSTctfgUBGJFJhfBo5ERAz73sU3LnGPhP0mE6TsXQN3ZnpUtIzuCJEE31Q7s8BoUqzHzoE_0wonREwYfL5UydW56Tj2K886u6fhh9w==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/</a>

My office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator.&nbsp; Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 19 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office.

As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony wasn’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill.&nbsp; A personal email with your thoughts is the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.&nbsp;

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580853658061.jpeg" alt="Sen. Elaine Bowers , R-Concordia, 36th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Elaine Bowers , R-Concordia, 36th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>2022 Senate Scene – Week 1 and 2Senate HighlightsTOPEKA - As we get settled into the first and second week of the 2022 legislative session, most of our work is concentrated in committees where bills are being prioritized and vetted. The Senate has 19 standing committees which cover many different topics, including education, agriculture, judiciary, budget and utilities—to name a few.&nbsp; Once a committee completes hearings and votes on a bill, if passed, it will then make its way to the Senate floor and the full body will begin to debate and vote on the measure. Floor debates and votes will begin in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in tracking our work, you can follow us at our website at&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;A daily calendar is available as well as directions on how to view committee work live-time and view archive past committee and floor action.&nbsp;Committee AssignmentsMy committees remain the same as last year - the Ethics, Elections and Local Government committee is now two committees renamed Transparency and Ethics and Local Government.&nbsp; I will Chair Transparency and Ethics and will serve as the Vice-Chair of Local Government.&nbsp; I continue to serve on the Transportation, Judiciary and Utility committees and remain on the Historical Preservation Committee.&nbsp; I was also assigned to a new committee, the Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight.&nbsp;<a>State of the State</a>On Tuesday, January 11th, Governor Kelly delivered her State of the State address in the House Chambers. Her address is the starting point for the budget process in Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations and sets the tone for the upcoming session.&nbsp; Both committees are currently reviewing her budget proposals for 2022.&nbsp;Currently, the state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3.0 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. &nbsp;While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions aimed at helping Kansas families and boosting the Kansas economy.Senate Floor ActionHouse Bill 2477 (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2477/" target="_blank">HB 2477</a>) -&nbsp;legislation crafted to codify two executive orders to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. It accomplishes this by temporarily deregulating several provisions of Kansas law, including:*Allowing nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education.*Providing the ability for students who are enrolled in programs to become healthcare professionals, as well as military members who are also emergency medical personnel to volunteer at healthcare facilities*Allows Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Anesthetists, Registered Professional Nurses and Licensed Pharmacists to provide additional services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic*Health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas.The bill sunsets the provisions in January of 2023, which will allow the legislature to look at the matter again in one year.&nbsp; HB 2477 passed the Senate 36-2. The House then immediately concurred on the legislation, sending it to the governor, who then immediately signed the legislation.Senate Bill 318 – (<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb318/" target="_blank">SB 318</a>)&nbsp;introduced by Senator Billinger, Senator Tyson and myself will aid property owners whose property is destroyed by natural disasters.&nbsp; It was written and pre-filed to address the recent fires in Ellis, Osborne, Rooks and Russell counties to provide sales tax relief for new fencing which will be needed after the fires on December 15th.&nbsp; The bill does so in two ways:*It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters.*It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair, or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021.The bill was amended in the Senate Committee of the Whole to, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.&nbsp;&nbsp; SB 318 passed the Senate 35-0.Redistricting processBefore the session is complete, the legislature must pass new maps for Congress, the State Senate, the State House, and the State Board of Education.&nbsp; The maps are treated like typical legislative bills, which means they must be passed by both chambers and be signed into law by the governor – or, if the governor vetoes the bill containing the map(s), the legislature can override her veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers.The Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn, had its first meeting of the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday, January 12th.&nbsp; Chairman Wilborn discussed the 14 in-person tours and numerous virtual tours that the legislature hosted throughout the late summer and fall, where we received incredible input from people from every corner of our great state.&nbsp; The committee also adopted its rules and guidelines for the mapping process.On Friday, the Kansas Senate passed the “Ad Astra 2” map, a Congressional Map that is primarily based upon suggestions received on the in-person and virtual listening tours. The same map was also introduced in the House Redistricting Committee.Highlights of the map include:*The map only splits four counties. Pawnee, Douglas, Jackson and Wyandotte are the only split counties on the new map. Both Douglas and Wyandotte are primarily divided along natural and geographic barriers such as highways and rivers.*The First District contains both University of Kansas and Kansas State University, which have aligned goals, returning them to the same Congressional district.*The Second District includes several military installations, including Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Forbes Field, and the Kansas National Guard.*The Third District keeps Johnson County together, blending the Kansas City suburbs with nearby bedroom communities.*The Fourth District includes Wichita and surrounding communities.*Indian Reservations are kept wholly within Congressional districts.American Legion Girl and Boy StateThe annual programs will return this year and are taking applications for the leadership programs.&nbsp; Girl State will be held June 12-17th&nbsp;at the University of Kansas and Boys State June 5-11th&nbsp;at Kansas State University.&nbsp; Both programs focus on “learning by doing” and is political exercise that simulate elections, political parties and government at the state, county, and local levels.&nbsp; Girl State applicants will need to have completed their junior year and Boy State applicants will need to have completed their sophomore year.&nbsp; For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksgirlsstate.org/" target="_blank">www.ksgirlsstate.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com" target="_blank">secretaryksgirlsstate@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;with a deadline of May 30th.&nbsp; Boy State information -&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info.1937@ksbstate.org" target="_blank">info.1937@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or call 785 550-6492 with a deadline of March 31st, 2022.Following the Kansas LegislatureYou can view video streaming of both chambers via the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. In addition, many committees are now audio streamed and can also be viewed on the Kansas Legislature YouTube page. The Kansas Legislature website is easy to use with Senate and House calendars and journals as well as the rosters of both chambers. Here are the relevant links:Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFJOLxmvcn9GmLmACkPZbxMCH8a9zXNkiD1EVgLLAQsAwZitpKf2khnVK0mX6afJLmB2EKV17zX7f7tcasgCeiEQ==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://www.kslegislature.org</a>YouTube Streaming:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHF34R6w-q9Yyc4qETkM4i0oK77_HAcUcgnTEzGR0bc3XlkSfwIv7NNomoykZXxAe6JYkaUz8mVZZ4=&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2CZj9O0</a>Committee Hearings:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YDBQy8-rsja0IE-azP2XHdnoiX7Ql4nNWrgHxHHtC7o4HeAA-0Aqe73zytd32tHFxPF3ofZot5nNQg29dl4IyyVwRxdehplaQI7UbFxYaMuHnBMclSTctfgUBGJFJhfBo5ERAz73sU3LnGPhP0mE6TsXQN3ZnpUtIzuCJEE31Q7s8BoUqzHzoE_0wonREwYfL5UydW56Tj2K886u6fhh9w==&amp;c=i2w4lkseQgtBVS4zSQ_aahnejaFbU1aDQFBhokGNh0NtT6pPxPG4Kg==&amp;ch=zcIfvSl6GRRuKxTv2Gjm07rByrF453B_cAk8d6LJKMN6JaX0CJJ3gA==" target="_blank">http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/</a>Office InformationMy office remains in the same suite, 223E (East wing second floor) next to the cage elevator.&nbsp; Randi Walters who has worked in the Capitol for 19 years as an assistant and a committee assistant is in our office.As session progresses, not every bill introduced will make it to the governor’s desk, but that doesn’t mean opinions, facts and testimony wasn’t heard. Your participation in the state legislature is vital. As we continue to weed through the different bills, I hope to hear from you. I want to know how legislation will impact you and our district, or the ideas you have to improve a bill.&nbsp; A personal email with your thoughts is the best way to reach us as we sit in committees for most of the day and seldom get to stay at our desks for long periods.&nbsp;Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300 SW 10th St. <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov</a> 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is senator of the 36th District in Kansas which includes:* Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell,&nbsp;Smith and Washington Counties * Marshall County: Cities: Blue Rapids, Marysville, Oketo and Waterville;&nbsp;Townships: Blue Rapids, Blue Rapids City, Cottage Hill, Elm Creek,&nbsp;Herkimer, Logan, Marysville, Oketo, Walnut and Waterville * Phillips County: Cities: Agra, Glade, Kirwin and Phillipsburg;&nbsp;Townships: Arcade, Bow Creek, Crystal Deer Creek, Freedom,&nbsp;Glenwood, Greenwood, Kirwin, Phillipsburg, Plum,&nbsp;Rushville, Solomon(part), Sumner,&nbsp;Valley and Walnut

BOWERS: Senate Scene Weeks 1 and 2

TOPEKA - The 2022 legislative session began Monday, January 10 and senators immediately began work on a host of issues. 

The major requirements for this session are to complete the redistricting process and pass a budget. One of the first bills the Senate worked on was SB 318 which would aid property owners whose property was destroyed by natural disasters. The bill does so in two ways: It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021. It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters. This bill was amended to include, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.

Health care worker shortages continue to plague the country with shortages among nurses and other health care workers. In the ultimate twist of logic, some are even asking workers who test positive to come back to work, while unvaccinated who test negative will be laid off.&nbsp; Last year health care providers were heros and this year they are losing their jobs because of vaccination status. Kansas Senate adopted HB2477 which was crafted to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. This bill temporarily deregulates several provisions of Kansas law and will now allow nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education, allow physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse anesthetists, registered professional nurses and licensed pharmacists to provide addition services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp; Also, health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas. This bill will sunset in January 2023.

On Wednesday, the governor introduced her budget which outlined ways to spend taxpayer money for the fiscal year. Included in her budget were her well-known proposal to eliminate the food sales tax, which she vetoed two years ago. The governor also proposed a $250 tax rebate to Kansans, a 5% pay increase for state employees, Medicaid expansion and money for renovation of the Docking office building in Topeka, remodeling a building for the Division of Emergency Management and constructing a new armory for the National Guard in Hays.

The state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions to help Kansas families and boost Kansas economy and continue to stabilize KPERS.

Despite repeated promises from the Biden Administration that the record inflation will soon reverse, it appears that the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. This week the government announced that the inflation rate, as per its Consumer Price index, has reached 7%, the highest it’s been since 1982. The consumer price index only tells us about the past. The future is all about the Producer Price index, which measures the costs to make things.

<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a> - Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.

* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton,
Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County:
Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont,
Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,
Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610490291573.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, 40th District" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, 40th District</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA - The 2022 legislative session began Monday, January 10 and senators immediately began work on a host of issues. The major requirements for this session are to complete the redistricting process and pass a budget. One of the first bills the Senate worked on was SB 318 which would aid property owners whose property was destroyed by natural disasters. The bill does so in two ways: It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021. It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters. This bill was amended to include, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.Health care worker shortages continue to plague the country with shortages among nurses and other health care workers. In the ultimate twist of logic, some are even asking workers who test positive to come back to work, while unvaccinated who test negative will be laid off.&nbsp; Last year health care providers were heros and this year they are losing their jobs because of vaccination status. Kansas Senate adopted HB2477 which was crafted to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. This bill temporarily deregulates several provisions of Kansas law and will now allow nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education, allow physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse anesthetists, registered professional nurses and licensed pharmacists to provide addition services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp; Also, health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas. This bill will sunset in January 2023.On Wednesday, the governor introduced her budget which outlined ways to spend taxpayer money for the fiscal year. Included in her budget were her well-known proposal to eliminate the food sales tax, which she vetoed two years ago. The governor also proposed a $250 tax rebate to Kansans, a 5% pay increase for state employees, Medicaid expansion and money for renovation of the Docking office building in Topeka, remodeling a building for the Division of Emergency Management and constructing a new armory for the National Guard in Hays.The state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions to help Kansas families and boost Kansas economy and continue to stabilize KPERS.Despite repeated promises from the Biden Administration that the record inflation will soon reverse, it appears that the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. This week the government announced that the inflation rate, as per its Consumer Price index, has reached 7%, the highest it’s been since 1982. The consumer price index only tells us about the past. The future is all about the Producer Price index, which measures the costs to make things.If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20220124/-1/14088?viewMode=1#handoutFile_">Kansas Legislature Audio</a> - Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.Kansas Legislature website-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org-/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th&nbsp;Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton,
Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties *Phillips County:
Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont,
Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,
Solomon(part) and Towanda&nbsp;

BILLINGER: Senate update, Jan. 24, 2022

A century of sausage-making. That sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of tasty food. Today we’ll learn the remarkable story of a family-owned meat business that had its beginnings 100 years ago. Now, another young family is taking the business to the next level.&nbsp;

Adam and Ashley Comeau are the owners of Brant’s Market in Lucas and Plainville.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ashley grew up at the nearby rural community of Zurich, population 99 people. She went to Fort Hays State and then earned her law degree at Washburn Law School.&nbsp;

Adam is the son of Plainville entrepreneur Chuck Comeau who we have previously profiled. Adam graduated from the University of Kansas and earned an associate’s degree in paramedicine at Barton County Community College. He met and married Ashley. They moved back to Plainville where Adam works for Ellis County EMS and Ashley is a practicing attorney.&nbsp;

In 2018, they heard disturbing news: Brant’s Market in Lucas was going to close. This meat market had a rich history.&nbsp;

In 1922, James and Marie Brant purchased the meat shop in Lucas and renamed it Brant’s Meat Market. It was a full-service butcher shop that became especially famous for James’s recipes from Czechoslovakia, such as&nbsp;jaternice, ring bologna, and sausage.&nbsp;

James’ sons George and Frank learned these recipes and continued the family business. George’s son Doug became the third generation in the business, later assisted by daughter Stephanie.&nbsp;

By 2018, the required paperwork and regulations had grown to the point that Doug wanted to retire. He never listed the store for sale but announced that it would close.&nbsp;

“We had gone to Brant’s many times,” Ashley said. They loved the products and hated to see the community lose such a long-standing business. They reached out to Doug and eventually purchased the business.&nbsp;

“The Brants really care for the community and they didn’t want the business to leave town,” Adam said. Doug passed along the old family recipes and helped Ashley and Adam get started.&nbsp;

Brant’s Market is located in Lucas, the grassroots art capitol of Kansas. “People came to Lucas to see the Garden of Eden or the Grassroots Art Center, but they came back to go to Brant’s,” Adam said.&nbsp;

In fact, the sausage and bologna sold out every week in Lucas, so the Comeaus saw the opportunity to expand. In late 2018, they bought a building in downtown Plainville to serve as a production facility and second retail store.&nbsp;

After a year of renovation, they opened the second store in February 2020 – just in time for the pandemic. The Comeaus pivoted to online and curbside service. They re-opened the store as conditions allowed. When the pandemic caused reduced product in larger stores, local people had reason to go to local outlets such as Brant’s.&nbsp;

“We bring in whole loins from federally inspected plants,” Ashley said. Adam has learned the process of handcrafting the finished product from there.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The classic sausage and other ethnic recipes made by the Brant family continue to be a hit. Ashley and Adam have also enhanced their online presence, which has had a significant impact.&nbsp;

Today, Brant’s Market has had its products go coast-to-coast and beyond. Brant’s was named by the Kansas Department of Commerce as a merit award winner in 2019 and was selected by the Kansas Sampler Foundation as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Commerce.&nbsp;

“Rooks County Economic Development and Russell County Economic Development have been great to work with,” Ashley said. “Also, a shout-out to NetWork Kansas which supported us with an E-community loan.”&nbsp;

“It’s definitely hard work, but there’s a lot of opportunities in rural Kansas,” Ashley said. “If a business has been around for nearly 100 years, it deserves to stay open.”&nbsp;

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

A century of sausage-making. That’s a remarkable achievement, and it’s wonderful to see a young couple carry on this tradition. We commend Ashley and Adam Comeau for making a difference with their entrepreneurship and commitment. They are beginning the next century of sausage – and of service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642602415626.png" alt="Adam and Ashley Comeau" />
 <figcaption>Adam and Ashley Comeau</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;A century of sausage-making. That sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of tasty food. Today we’ll learn the remarkable story of a family-owned meat business that had its beginnings 100 years ago. Now, another young family is taking the business to the next level.&nbsp;Adam and Ashley Comeau are the owners of Brant’s Market in Lucas and Plainville.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ashley grew up at the nearby rural community of Zurich, population 99 people. She went to Fort Hays State and then earned her law degree at Washburn Law School.&nbsp;Adam is the son of Plainville entrepreneur Chuck Comeau who we have previously profiled. Adam graduated from the University of Kansas and earned an associate’s degree in paramedicine at Barton County Community College. He met and married Ashley. They moved back to Plainville where Adam works for Ellis County EMS and Ashley is a practicing attorney.&nbsp;In 2018, they heard disturbing news: Brant’s Market in Lucas was going to close. This meat market had a rich history.&nbsp;In 1922, James and Marie Brant purchased the meat shop in Lucas and renamed it Brant’s Meat Market. It was a full-service butcher shop that became especially famous for James’s recipes from Czechoslovakia, such as&nbsp;jaternice, ring bologna, and sausage.&nbsp;James’ sons George and Frank learned these recipes and continued the family business. George’s son Doug became the third generation in the business, later assisted by daughter Stephanie.&nbsp;By 2018, the required paperwork and regulations had grown to the point that Doug wanted to retire. He never listed the store for sale but announced that it would close.&nbsp;“We had gone to Brant’s many times,” Ashley said. They loved the products and hated to see the community lose such a long-standing business. They reached out to Doug and eventually purchased the business.&nbsp;“The Brants really care for the community and they didn’t want the business to leave town,” Adam said. Doug passed along the old family recipes and helped Ashley and Adam get started.&nbsp;Brant’s Market is located in Lucas, the grassroots art capitol of Kansas. “People came to Lucas to see the Garden of Eden or the Grassroots Art Center, but they came back to go to Brant’s,” Adam said.&nbsp;In fact, the sausage and bologna sold out every week in Lucas, so the Comeaus saw the opportunity to expand. In late 2018, they bought a building in downtown Plainville to serve as a production facility and second retail store.&nbsp;After a year of renovation, they opened the second store in February 2020 – just in time for the pandemic. The Comeaus pivoted to online and curbside service. They re-opened the store as conditions allowed. When the pandemic caused reduced product in larger stores, local people had reason to go to local outlets such as Brant’s.&nbsp;“We bring in whole loins from federally inspected plants,” Ashley said. Adam has learned the process of handcrafting the finished product from there.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The classic sausage and other ethnic recipes made by the Brant family continue to be a hit. Ashley and Adam have also enhanced their online presence, which has had a significant impact.&nbsp;Today, Brant’s Market has had its products go coast-to-coast and beyond. Brant’s was named by the Kansas Department of Commerce as a merit award winner in 2019 and was selected by the Kansas Sampler Foundation as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Commerce.&nbsp;“Rooks County Economic Development and Russell County Economic Development have been great to work with,” Ashley said. “Also, a shout-out to NetWork Kansas which supported us with an E-community loan.”&nbsp;“It’s definitely hard work, but there’s a lot of opportunities in rural Kansas,” Ashley said. “If a business has been around for nearly 100 years, it deserves to stay open.”&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.brantsmarket.com/">www.brantsmarket.com</a>.&nbsp;A century of sausage-making. That’s a remarkable achievement, and it’s wonderful to see a young couple carry on this tradition. We commend Ashley and Adam Comeau for making a difference with their entrepreneurship and commitment. They are beginning the next century of sausage – and of service.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Ashley and Adam Comeau, Brant’s Market 

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. // It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of color are concerned. —&nbsp;Martin Luther King Jr., “March on Washington” (1963)

The fierce urgency of today’s now means we must let go our unresolvable, circular arguments about Critical Race Theory.

As in other states, the Kansas Legislature and many local school boards want to ban “CRT” in the K-12 classroom. The outrage probably stems from a negative reaction to&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’&nbsp;1619 project, an in-depth exploration of slavery’s role in settling what became the United States. While “CRT” as such is rarely taught in K-12 schools, it has certainly influenced projects like 1619, which do indeed come with lesson plans for the lower grades. This is controversial, but legislators’ responses have been truly alarming. For example, Iowa’s new law prohibits teaching anything that makes anyone “feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” because of one’s race or sex. This will likely prove impossible to enforce and a legal mess. No matter — similar legislation is probably coming here in Kansas.

Slaves did much of the labor building the early United States, while the Native Americans lucky enough to survive at all were displaced from their land, heritage, and livelihoods. These are historical facts, not a theory. Yet Dr. King still offers us hope. What he did so well is to extract the&nbsp;promise&nbsp;of the Constitution and the Declaration-- the&nbsp;belief&nbsp;that we are all equal—from the difficult history. The founders who set these words to paper did not live up to that ideal themselves. Some owned slaves, while others profited from the slave trade. Too often, we try to excuse away these actions by minimizing them, like when Southerners called slavery a “peculiar institution.” Dr. King pivoted away from this. Instead, he sought to restore a promise, calling upon us all to pay that promissory note. King celebrated the&nbsp;idea&nbsp;of America, while making redemption the business of all Americans. He called this work “the fierce urgency of now.”

If conservatives will still answer Dr. King’s call, they must confront the depth of American racism, past and present, including today’s troubling rise of the so-called “alt-right.” If progressives are to do the same, they must avoid treating King’s words as mere platitudes. To understand Dr. King is to see him as he was-- a Baptist preacher, steeped in centuries of Christian and Jewish theology. Many of today’s young progressives have turned away from religion. This is for understandable reasons, but unfortunately, it makes it much harder to understand Dr. King’s message as something besides a poster caption.

Our own time brings unique challenges, but our history offers hope. Never mind Critical Race Theory — America still has a promise to redeem.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. // It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note in so far as her citizens of color are concerned. —&nbsp;Martin Luther King Jr., “March on Washington” (1963)The fierce urgency of today’s now means we must let go our unresolvable, circular arguments about Critical Race Theory.As in other states, the Kansas Legislature and many local school boards want to ban “CRT” in the K-12 classroom. The outrage probably stems from a negative reaction to&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones’&nbsp;1619 project, an in-depth exploration of slavery’s role in settling what became the United States. While “CRT” as such is rarely taught in K-12 schools, it has certainly influenced projects like 1619, which do indeed come with lesson plans for the lower grades. This is controversial, but legislators’ responses have been truly alarming. For example, Iowa’s new law prohibits teaching anything that makes anyone “feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” because of one’s race or sex. This will likely prove impossible to enforce and a legal mess. No matter — similar legislation is probably coming here in Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Slaves did much of the labor building the early United States, while the Native Americans lucky enough to survive at all were displaced from their land, heritage, and livelihoods. These are historical facts, not a theory. Yet Dr. King still offers us hope. What he did so well is to extract the&nbsp;promise&nbsp;of the Constitution and the Declaration-- the&nbsp;belief&nbsp;that we are all equal—from the difficult history. The founders who set these words to paper did not live up to that ideal themselves. Some owned slaves, while others profited from the slave trade. Too often, we try to excuse away these actions by minimizing them, like when Southerners called slavery a “peculiar institution.” Dr. King pivoted away from this. Instead, he sought to restore a promise, calling upon us all to pay that promissory note. King celebrated the&nbsp;idea&nbsp;of America, while making redemption the business of all Americans. He called this work “the fierce urgency of now.”If conservatives will still answer Dr. King’s call, they must confront the depth of American racism, past and present, including today’s troubling rise of the so-called “alt-right.” If progressives are to do the same, they must avoid treating King’s words as mere platitudes. To understand Dr. King is to see him as he was-- a Baptist preacher, steeped in centuries of Christian and Jewish theology. Many of today’s young progressives have turned away from religion. This is for understandable reasons, but unfortunately, it makes it much harder to understand Dr. King’s message as something besides a poster caption.Our own time brings unique challenges, but our history offers hope. Never mind Critical Race Theory — America still has a promise to redeem.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: The critical promise of redemption

Years ago, shortly after I’d first moved to Kansas, I stored my boat for the winter in an airy old shed at my dad’s farm. To help keep it clean inside and to keep out the moisture, I wrapped it with a tarp. When I pulled it out the following spring, I found corn stalks, milo stalks, (some with heads still attached) and wads of various other crop residue stuffed into every imaginable nook and cranny inside the boat. Dad took one look at the mess and nonchalantly mused “Packrats huh.” I think I replied “Pack what?”&nbsp;

I don’t know about present day, but as a kid growing up in Ohio, we knew nothing of packrats. But in this part of the country, they seem to have been the bane of every farmer and rancher for generations. They build nests around the bases of trees and in old farm machinery in tree rows, and also under the hoods or inside of any vehicles they can get into. That in itself is bad enough, but they also have a love for electrical wiring and seem to feel it’s their life’s purpose to chew any and all they can reach, often causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage and requiring extensive repairs.&nbsp;

Also known as eastern wood rats, packrats get that nickname because of their habit of “collecting” interesting and often shiny objects and storing them in their nests. Some years ago, Joyce and I stumbled upon a packrat “commune” a few miles away. There were dozens of nests four or five feet off the ground in scrubby thorn trees in the midst of a low swampy thicket. I picked up a good sturdy stick and began poking and tearing apart nests to see what I could find. What looked like a slipshod, willy-nilly mess of bark and limbs on the outside became a snug almost cocoon-like nest lined with fur, grass and even tufts of wool on the inside. In the nests I found yellow plastic trash bag ties, pieces of a plastic 1-gallon anti-freeze container (which I spotted nearby,) freshly chewed sticks, fresh green plant leaves, a large bone of some description and what appeared to be coyote droppings, but no shiny trinkets of any sort.&nbsp; Evidently those particular pack rats were of a more frugal persuasion and no longer saw the value of wasting time collecting shiny baubles. Or maybe they just don’t want to lug them up the tree.

A couple years ago, a local farmer whose land I trap for coyotes called me about exterminating some packrats that had become a problem. They had gotten into a small barn and built a nest under the hood of an old classic grain truck he still liked to use, causing it to catch fire in the driveway. The last straw was when they recently chewed wires under the hood of his semi tractor parked in the farmyard, making expensive repairs necessary. I had never dealt with packrats, so I contacted two trapper friends who both do nuisance control trapping. The first friend runs a large pest control company with his family; his advice was to forget trapping them and use potent poison bait he recommended. The second friend, who has been my coyote trapping mentor whenever I need advice, told me that in his experience, poisoned bait just ends up carried back to packrat nests as nesting material, so he gave me suggestions for trapping them using sardines for bait. He said packrats love sardines and find the shiny lid of the can attractive. 

I had the traps and not the poison, so I built small enclosures (cubbies) from empty one-gallon tin cans with the labels removed to make them shiny, and from short pieces of galvanized furnace pipe. I stapled small pieces of 2x4 in one end of each furnace pipe so the rats could only gain entry from one end and fastened a short piece of old vinyl flooring on the end of each to hold a weight. I smashed the one-gallon tin cans partially shut and fastened a 2x4 down one side to keep the can from rolling around. One small jaw trap was fastened to each cubby. In the small barn I placed 3 cubbies and baited them with sardines of different varieties and with peanut butter which I also read to be good packrat bait. There was a long notch cut out of the foundation in the back of the barn that was obviously letting the rats in, but I left it open to start. In another big shed I placed two more cubbies with the same baits and weighted them all down with bricks.

The next morning two possums awaited me in the barn and had pulled the traps and cubbies around, entangling them in stuff setting along the wall, but nothing was caught in the shed. I partially blocked the notch in the barn foundation to exclude any animal bigger than a rat, but caught nothing more all week. The owner then called me and said he was ready to order some of the bait recommended by my other friend.&nbsp;

A tree row a couple hundred yards long runs just behind all his buildings, and like most tree rows here in Kansas, is full of dandy places for packrat nests. I’m afraid that like coyotes, roaches and possums, packrats are here to stay and will still be here when mankind is long gone. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Years ago, shortly after I’d first moved to Kansas, I stored my boat for the winter in an airy old shed at my dad’s farm. To help keep it clean inside and to keep out the moisture, I wrapped it with a tarp. When I pulled it out the following spring, I found corn stalks, milo stalks, (some with heads still attached) and wads of various other crop residue stuffed into every imaginable nook and cranny inside the boat. Dad took one look at the mess and nonchalantly mused “Packrats huh.” I think I replied “Pack what?”&nbsp;I don’t know about present day, but as a kid growing up in Ohio, we knew nothing of packrats. But in this part of the country, they seem to have been the bane of every farmer and rancher for generations. They build nests around the bases of trees and in old farm machinery in tree rows, and also under the hoods or inside of any vehicles they can get into. That in itself is bad enough, but they also have a love for electrical wiring and seem to feel it’s their life’s purpose to chew any and all they can reach, often causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage and requiring extensive repairs.&nbsp;Also known as eastern wood rats, packrats get that nickname because of their habit of “collecting” interesting and often shiny objects and storing them in their nests. Some years ago, Joyce and I stumbled upon a packrat “commune” a few miles away. There were dozens of nests four or five feet off the ground in scrubby thorn trees in the midst of a low swampy thicket. I picked up a good sturdy stick and began poking and tearing apart nests to see what I could find. What looked like a slipshod, willy-nilly mess of bark and limbs on the outside became a snug almost cocoon-like nest lined with fur, grass and even tufts of wool on the inside. In the nests I found yellow plastic trash bag ties, pieces of a plastic 1-gallon anti-freeze container (which I spotted nearby,) freshly chewed sticks, fresh green plant leaves, a large bone of some description and what appeared to be coyote droppings, but no shiny trinkets of any sort.&nbsp; Evidently those particular pack rats were of a more frugal persuasion and no longer saw the value of wasting time collecting shiny baubles. Or maybe they just don’t want to lug them up the tree.A couple years ago, a local farmer whose land I trap for coyotes called me about exterminating some packrats that had become a problem. They had gotten into a small barn and built a nest under the hood of an old classic grain truck he still liked to use, causing it to catch fire in the driveway. The last straw was when they recently chewed wires under the hood of his semi tractor parked in the farmyard, making expensive repairs necessary. I had never dealt with packrats, so I contacted two trapper friends who both do nuisance control trapping. The first friend runs a large pest control company with his family; his advice was to forget trapping them and use potent poison bait he recommended. The second friend, who has been my coyote trapping mentor whenever I need advice, told me that in his experience, poisoned bait just ends up carried back to packrat nests as nesting material, so he gave me suggestions for trapping them using sardines for bait. He said packrats love sardines and find the shiny lid of the can attractive. I had the traps and not the poison, so I built small enclosures (cubbies) from empty one-gallon tin cans with the labels removed to make them shiny, and from short pieces of galvanized furnace pipe. I stapled small pieces of 2x4 in one end of each furnace pipe so the rats could only gain entry from one end and fastened a short piece of old vinyl flooring on the end of each to hold a weight. I smashed the one-gallon tin cans partially shut and fastened a 2x4 down one side to keep the can from rolling around. One small jaw trap was fastened to each cubby. In the small barn I placed 3 cubbies and baited them with sardines of different varieties and with peanut butter which I also read to be good packrat bait. There was a long notch cut out of the foundation in the back of the barn that was obviously letting the rats in, but I left it open to start. In another big shed I placed two more cubbies with the same baits and weighted them all down with bricks.The next morning two possums awaited me in the barn and had pulled the traps and cubbies around, entangling them in stuff setting along the wall, but nothing was caught in the shed. I partially blocked the notch in the barn foundation to exclude any animal bigger than a rat, but caught nothing more all week. The owner then called me and said he was ready to order some of the bait recommended by my other friend.&nbsp;A tree row a couple hundred yards long runs just behind all his buildings, and like most tree rows here in Kansas, is full of dandy places for packrat nests. I’m afraid that like coyotes, roaches and possums, packrats are here to stay and will still be here when mankind is long gone. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: What’s in your hedgerow?

This past December, devastating fires swept through the state of Kansas, most namely the four-county fire that affected many in the 109th Kansas House district. Governor Kelly issued a disaster declaration prior to the wildfires which allowed the state of Kansas to partner with the U.S. government to assist those in need. On December 20, the Adjunct General for the state of Kansas briefed the Legislative Budget Committee that the state has been in direct contact with Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA), and that the damage threshold from the wildfires had been exceeded.

After the fires destroyed property, livestock, and livelihoods of many in the district,36th Dist. Senator Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, and I toured the devastating results of the fire and met with many on how the state of Kansas can assist. The discussions that Senator Bowers and I had with those affected prompted both of us to introduce similar legislation in both chambers prior to the beginning of the legislative session to assist those in need.

In years prior, the state of Kansas has initiated a sales tax exemption for the farmers and ranchers that lost fencing due to wildfires. The four-county fire alone generated a loss of nearly 5,000 miles of destroyed fencing.

House Bill 2464 and Senate Bill 318 were introduced to allow for the sales tax exemption of fencing materials that were lost due to a wildfire; however, it would ensure that this provision would not expire, which had occurred in the past. I testified in favor of House Bill 2464 in the House Tax Committee. On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the committee passed House Bill 2464 for debate on floor of the House. Then on Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Senate passed Senate Bill 318.

Governor Kelly’s State of the State Speech

On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, Governor Kelly presented her State of the State Speech to a Joint Session of the Kansas Legislature. The Governor released her objectives for the coming year, especially regarding the state budget and taxation.

The following morning, the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees were briefed by the Director of Budget on the specifics of the Governor’s budget details. Some of the details enveloped with the Governor’s budget included tax relief in the form of sales tax reduction to zero on food sales and a tax filer rebate, one-time investments, dissolution of creative accounting tactics, and increased spending for education, public safety, mental health,&nbsp;and a five percent pay increase for state employees. We will be analyzing the Governor’s budget during the next few months.

In addition to the introduction of House Bill 2464 that I introduced prior to the beginning of the 2022 Legislative Session, there were many other bills introduced during our first two weeks. Listed below are the details of those bills:

* House Bill 2482 would discontinue the sales tax exemption for vehicles purchased through leasing or for rental purposes;

* House Bill 2479 makes it unlawful to capture or possess the Ornate Box Turtle;

* House Bill 2480 relates to the financing of public water supply projects;

* House Bill 2484 provides for a zero percent state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients. This bill would also allow for cities and counties to levy a sales tax rate. This is the proposal that Governor Kelly mentioned in her State of the State speech.

* House Bill 2477 codifies the Executive Orders by Governor Kelly which extends renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate, or registration. This bill was necessary to address the Executive Orders and to protect our healthcare professionals and adult care homes. This bill passed the House Floor on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 106-5. I voted “yes.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th District&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th District&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Wildfire AssistanceThis past December, devastating fires swept through the state of Kansas, most namely the four-county fire that affected many in the 109th Kansas House district. Governor Kelly issued a disaster declaration prior to the wildfires which allowed the state of Kansas to partner with the U.S. government to assist those in need. On December 20, the Adjunct General for the state of Kansas briefed the Legislative Budget Committee that the state has been in direct contact with Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA), and that the damage threshold from the wildfires had been exceeded.After the fires destroyed property, livestock, and livelihoods of many in the district,36th Dist. Senator Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, and I toured the devastating results of the fire and met with many on how the state of Kansas can assist. The discussions that Senator Bowers and I had with those affected prompted both of us to introduce similar legislation in both chambers prior to the beginning of the legislative session to assist those in need.In years prior, the state of Kansas has initiated a sales tax exemption for the farmers and ranchers that lost fencing due to wildfires. The four-county fire alone generated a loss of nearly 5,000 miles of destroyed fencing.House Bill 2464 and Senate Bill 318 were introduced to allow for the sales tax exemption of fencing materials that were lost due to a wildfire; however, it would ensure that this provision would not expire, which had occurred in the past. I testified in favor of House Bill 2464 in the House Tax Committee. On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the committee passed House Bill 2464 for debate on floor of the House. Then on Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Senate passed Senate Bill 318.Governor Kelly’s State of the State SpeechOn Tuesday, January 11, 2022, Governor Kelly presented her State of the State Speech to a Joint Session of the Kansas Legislature. The Governor released her objectives for the coming year, especially regarding the state budget and taxation.The following morning, the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees were briefed by the Director of Budget on the specifics of the Governor’s budget details. Some of the details enveloped with the Governor’s budget included tax relief in the form of sales tax reduction to zero on food sales and a tax filer rebate, one-time investments, dissolution of creative accounting tactics, and increased spending for education, public safety, mental health,&nbsp;and a five percent pay increase for state employees. We will be analyzing the Governor’s budget during the next few months.Bills Introduced in the HouseIn addition to the introduction of House Bill 2464 that I introduced prior to the beginning of the 2022 Legislative Session, there were many other bills introduced during our first two weeks. Listed below are the details of those bills:* House Bill 2482 would discontinue the sales tax exemption for vehicles purchased through leasing or for rental purposes;* House Bill 2479 makes it unlawful to capture or possess the Ornate Box Turtle;* House Bill 2480 relates to the financing of public water supply projects;* House Bill 2484 provides for a zero percent state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients. This bill would also allow for cities and counties to levy a sales tax rate. This is the proposal that Governor Kelly mentioned in her State of the State speech.* House Bill 2477 codifies the Executive Orders by Governor Kelly which extends renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate, or registration. This bill was necessary to address the Executive Orders and to protect our healthcare professionals and adult care homes. This bill passed the House Floor on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 106-5. I voted “yes.”We also have in the respective committees the bills that were introduced during the 2021 Legislative Session that we may still consider. The Appropriations Committee currently has about twenty of those bills.Contact InformationAnytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House&nbsp;Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes: * Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties * Barton County: Cities:
Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne,
Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and
Wheatland * Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships:
Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison,
Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound * Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper * Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale

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