By MICHELLE BEFRAN Cottonwood Extension District

Have you ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle and, initially, the pieces and colors seem to make no sense? 

We’ve had a puzzle set up in our back room for several weeks and it is a good brain break. It also made me think about how we approach problems.

I start a jigsaw puzzle by trying to find all of the border pieces. This helps me to have a framework for how to get started. 

Next, I will start with a small area to identify colors or details that seem to go together. There are times when everything just feels like a jumble but finding the right spot for one or two pieces can keep me engaged and encourage me to keep looking for the next small step.

The first H in the 4-H Pledge is “head” as in, I pledge my head to clearer thinking. 

This is all about helping our young people learn to evaluate options and practice good decision-making skills. We use a lot of different techniques to help youth learn about and develop good decision-making skills. 

Some of these are fun such as a judging contest. Some are more serious such as decisions to be voted on during a club or project meeting. Sometimes, the decision-making practice comes as a part of another activity – if you don’t agree with a judge’s decision, YOU have a decision to make, such as truly listening to the feedback and choosing to find parts of it to improve in some way. 

Additionally, parents can and should model this behavior by not bashing a judge (or referee or other official) when you don’t agree with their determination. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree but I am a firm believer that there is always something that can be learned from each interaction; we just have to make a decision to be open to the lesson.

There are times when problems feel like a jigsaw puzzle and the solution is not clear, the details are confusing, and it is hard to know where to start.

 Stopping to find your border and then identifying one or two ways to get started is usually best. At some point – in puzzles and problem-solving – we can begin to see not only what is missing but what or WHO can fill that spot.

Just like I can’t quite get that puzzle piece in the right spot, youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions every time. But with guidance and support to evaluate and grow, they will make better decisions more often!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.

For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BEFRAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictHave you ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle and, initially, the pieces and colors seem to make no sense? We’ve had a puzzle set up in our back room for several weeks and it is a good brain break. It also made me think about how we approach problems.I start a jigsaw puzzle by trying to find all of the border pieces. This helps me to have a framework for how to get started. Next, I will start with a small area to identify colors or details that seem to go together. There are times when everything just feels like a jumble but finding the right spot for one or two pieces can keep me engaged and encourage me to keep looking for the next small step.The first H in the 4-H Pledge is “head” as in, I pledge my head to clearer thinking. This is all about helping our young people learn to evaluate options and practice good decision-making skills. We use a lot of different techniques to help youth learn about and develop good decision-making skills. Some of these are fun such as a judging contest. Some are more serious such as decisions to be voted on during a club or project meeting. Sometimes, the decision-making practice comes as a part of another activity – if you don’t agree with a judge’s decision, YOU have a decision to make, such as truly listening to the feedback and choosing to find parts of it to improve in some way. Additionally, parents can and should model this behavior by not bashing a judge (or referee or other official) when you don’t agree with their determination. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree but I am a firm believer that there is always something that can be learned from each interaction; we just have to make a decision to be open to the lesson.There are times when problems feel like a jigsaw puzzle and the solution is not clear, the details are confusing, and it is hard to know where to start. Stopping to find your border and then identifying one or two ways to get started is usually best. At some point – in puzzles and problem-solving – we can begin to see not only what is missing but what or WHO can fill that spot.Just like I can’t quite get that puzzle piece in the right spot, youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions every time. But with guidance and support to evaluate and grow, they will make better decisions more often!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Puzzle pieces

Two weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”

Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.

“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.

Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.

The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:

“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”

If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.

My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.

I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.

But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :

“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”

Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.

Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.

The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.

There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.

My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.

Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?

My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.

As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.

The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.

Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741102365726.png" alt="Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas ReflectorTwo weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

Opinion: Here’s the latest from Hays: Elon Musk fired my wife

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. 

A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. 

In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;

1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;

2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;

3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;

5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;

6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;

7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;

8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;

9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;

11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;

12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;

Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or <a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu" target="_blank">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal. 10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or <a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu" target="_blank">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;

KOERNER: 12 Benefits of Walking 

By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension Agent

Many reactions occur within the body during an attempt to deal with stressors. 

A few short-term effects include increased adrenaline, cortisol production (the stress hormone), and muscle tightness. Chronic stress affects our physical, emotional, and social well-being. Symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, changes to eating habits, or burnout can occur.

There are a variety of side effects depending on stress severity. For example, acute stress lasts no longer than one month and typically occurs before a stressful event such as an interview or performance.

On the other hand, chronic stress often develops after a stressful event, but this type is ongoing and persistent. For example, it can be caused by losing a loved one or struggling with poverty.

Living in a state of stress for an extended amount of time is not healthy in any aspect of well-being. Stress is proven to have severe effects on mental health and the development of chronic illnesses. 

In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of diseases are stress-related. When chronic stress is present, inflammation throughout the entire body increases. This can interfere with bodily processes and is linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders.

Life is promised to be overwhelming at times, and stress can be challenging to manage. This is why it is important to have coping strategies readily available, so here are a few techniques to keep in your stress management toolbox:

· Exercise regularly. With any health advice comes the suggestion of physical activity. It’s a lifestyle component that affects the entire body! For stress management, exercise releases mood-boosting hormones and helps you sleep better at night.

· Practice mindfulness. Increasing awareness of worried thoughts and emotions can help you reframe your mindset and help you focus on the big picture. Mindfulness is shown to calm the mind, and those who do it regularly report enhanced emotional regulation and resiliency.

· Try journaling. Instead of letting frantic thoughts overwhelm your mind, jot down all you are worried about. Journaling helps us organize our thoughts and find solutions.

· Use gratitude to fight negative emotions. Research shows that positive physiological changes are triggered by a grateful mindset, which activates the body's relaxation response and lowers stress.

· Seek professional help. If your coping mechanisms aren’t enough, look for guidance. Professionals can help to reduce anxiety through cognitive behavioral therapy. If you are uncertain where to begin, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or call a local Community Mental Health Center.

Dedicating time to cope with stress is extremely important in today’s world of hustle and bustle. I often remind myself to take a step back, or eventually, I’ll be forced to due to the effects of unmanaged stress. So, pick a strategy or two and see if it makes a difference in your stress level. A few signs include improved sleep, an uplifted mood, and fewer sick days.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="Karissa Winkel,&nbsp;s the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karissa Winkel,&nbsp;s the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension AgentMany reactions occur within the body during an attempt to deal with stressors. A few short-term effects include increased adrenaline, cortisol production (the stress hormone), and muscle tightness. Chronic stress affects our physical, emotional, and social well-being. Symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, changes to eating habits, or burnout can occur.There are a variety of side effects depending on stress severity. For example, acute stress lasts no longer than one month and typically occurs before a stressful event such as an interview or performance.On the other hand, chronic stress often develops after a stressful event, but this type is ongoing and persistent. For example, it can be caused by losing a loved one or struggling with poverty.Living in a state of stress for an extended amount of time is not healthy in any aspect of well-being. Stress is proven to have severe effects on mental health and the development of chronic illnesses. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of diseases are stress-related. When chronic stress is present, inflammation throughout the entire body increases. This can interfere with bodily processes and is linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders.Life is promised to be overwhelming at times, and stress can be challenging to manage. This is why it is important to have coping strategies readily available, so here are a few techniques to keep in your stress management toolbox:· Exercise regularly. With any health advice comes the suggestion of physical activity. It’s a lifestyle component that affects the entire body! For stress management, exercise releases mood-boosting hormones and helps you sleep better at night.· Practice mindfulness. Increasing awareness of worried thoughts and emotions can help you reframe your mindset and help you focus on the big picture. Mindfulness is shown to calm the mind, and those who do it regularly report enhanced emotional regulation and resiliency.· Try journaling. Instead of letting frantic thoughts overwhelm your mind, jot down all you are worried about. Journaling helps us organize our thoughts and find solutions.· Use gratitude to fight negative emotions. Research shows that positive physiological changes are triggered by a grateful mindset, which activates the body's relaxation response and lowers stress.· Seek professional help. If your coping mechanisms aren’t enough, look for guidance. Professionals can help to reduce anxiety through cognitive behavioral therapy. If you are uncertain where to begin, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or call a local Community Mental Health Center.Dedicating time to cope with stress is extremely important in today’s world of hustle and bustle. I often remind myself to take a step back, or eventually, I’ll be forced to due to the effects of unmanaged stress. So, pick a strategy or two and see if it makes a difference in your stress level. A few signs include improved sleep, an uplifted mood, and fewer sick days.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

WINKEL: Managing the strain of stress

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 two 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="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>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 two 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.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Snow. Love it or hate it

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

With the bitterly cold temperatures we have experienced some this winter, producers may be wondering if overwintering insect pests could be killed and their populations reduced.

Cold temperatures are probably not the most significant influencer on insect demise. 

The reason temperature has little effect on their survival is related to their life cycle. Depending on the species, insects overwinter in all life stages – from adults to eggs, larvae or in chrysalis and cocoons. 

Some insects will avoid the cold altogether and migrate to warmer temperatures such as the monarch butterfly, armyworms, potato leafhopper and corn earworm, to name a few. Some literally will freeze to death (sorghum aphid) but the next generation will migrate in from the south.

Insects have survived for millions of years and evolve with the climate. 

Insects are cold-blooded, which means they do not generate heat. Their body temperatures fluctuate with the weather patterns, which gives many of them the ability to withstand just about any extreme weather nature brings their way. As cold-blooded insects, they go dormant or inactive when the temperatures drop below 50 degrees.

Insects that overwinter in more exposed areas have additional cold adaptations. For example, soybean aphids overwinter as eggs and supercool to temperatures as low as -29 degrees, while European cornborer larvae can produce glycerol, a substance which acts as a biological antifreeze.

Insects overwinter in protected areas, sheltered from the extremes. They spend the winter deep in the soil, buried in plant debris, inside plants and even in our homes. These locations insulate and protect the developing stages ensuring emergence and survival.

Species that overwinter as eggs are usually very winter hardy. The eggs exist in tough shells, often in egg clusters. 

Grasshopper eggs are laid in the ground and if the ground is undisturbed, they can freeze over winter and still hatch out just fine. Praying mantids lay very tough and resilient egg cases on tree bark, sides of buildings, almost anywhere that they can. If left alone, these will survive to hatch in spring. Bagworms survive as eggs tucked inside a densely woven silken bag protected from the harshest elements.

Even though insect pest populations will undoubtedly survive extreme cold, remember that beneficial insects like parasitoids and natural predators will survive too.

Mentioning insects there is a program coming up concerning livestock insects. Dr. Cassandra Olds, professor of entomology at KSU is presenting a program. “Insect control for&nbsp;livestock” on Tuesday, March 4. It will be held at the Cottonwood Extension office at 601 Main St. in Hays. The program will start at 4 p.m. with light refreshments and run about an hour.

Dr. Olds is an expert in control of common livestock pests including flies, and ticks among others. 

Topics covered during the program include: Determining which flies your livestock have a problem with, why flies develop resistance to insecticides, what can you do to slow the spread of resistance within fly populations, and developing an effective/integrated pest management program for your operation.

RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary for the refreshments. Please email Alicia Boor at aboor@ksu.edu or call 785-628-9430 to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictWith the bitterly cold temperatures we have experienced some this winter, producers may be wondering if overwintering insect pests could be killed and their populations reduced.Cold temperatures are probably not the most significant influencer on insect demise. The reason temperature has little effect on their survival is related to their life cycle. Depending on the species, insects overwinter in all life stages – from adults to eggs, larvae or in chrysalis and cocoons. Some insects will avoid the cold altogether and migrate to warmer temperatures such as the monarch butterfly, armyworms, potato leafhopper and corn earworm, to name a few. Some literally will freeze to death (sorghum aphid) but the next generation will migrate in from the south.Insects have survived for millions of years and evolve with the climate. Insects are cold-blooded, which means they do not generate heat. Their body temperatures fluctuate with the weather patterns, which gives many of them the ability to withstand just about any extreme weather nature brings their way. As cold-blooded insects, they go dormant or inactive when the temperatures drop below 50 degrees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740609894721.png" alt="Soybean aphids on a leaf. Photo by Gregory Zolnerowich/Kansas State University" />
 <figcaption>Soybean aphids on a leaf. Photo by Gregory Zolnerowich/Kansas State University</figcaption>
 </figure>Insects that overwinter in more exposed areas have additional cold adaptations. For example, soybean aphids overwinter as eggs and supercool to temperatures as low as -29 degrees, while European cornborer larvae can produce glycerol, a substance which acts as a biological antifreeze.Insects overwinter in protected areas, sheltered from the extremes. They spend the winter deep in the soil, buried in plant debris, inside plants and even in our homes. These locations insulate and protect the developing stages ensuring emergence and survival.Species that overwinter as eggs are usually very winter hardy. The eggs exist in tough shells, often in egg clusters. Grasshopper eggs are laid in the ground and if the ground is undisturbed, they can freeze over winter and still hatch out just fine. Praying mantids lay very tough and resilient egg cases on tree bark, sides of buildings, almost anywhere that they can. If left alone, these will survive to hatch in spring. Bagworms survive as eggs tucked inside a densely woven silken bag protected from the harshest elements.Even though insect pest populations will undoubtedly survive extreme cold, remember that beneficial insects like parasitoids and natural predators will survive too.Mentioning insects there is a program coming up concerning livestock insects. Dr. Cassandra Olds, professor of entomology at KSU is presenting a program. “Insect control for&nbsp;livestock” on Tuesday, March 4. It will be held at the Cottonwood Extension office at 601 Main St. in Hays. The program will start at 4 p.m. with light refreshments and run about an hour.Dr. Olds is an expert in control of common livestock pests including flies, and ticks among others. Topics covered during the program include: Determining which flies your livestock have a problem with, why flies develop resistance to insecticides, what can you do to slow the spread of resistance within fly populations, and developing an effective/integrated pest management program for your operation.RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary for the refreshments. Please email Alicia Boor at aboor@ksu.edu or call 785-628-9430 to RSVP. We hope to see you there!Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Winter cold and insect survival

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS Feb. 25, 2025

Last Thursday marked a critical deadline known as “turnaround,” marking the official halfway point for the 2025 Legislative session. 

It was a busy week for the Senate, as we spent two full days debating and voting on and passing out over 40 bills ahead of the Turnaround deadline. After being on the floor all day Tuesday and Wednesday, the Legislature broke until February 25 to give clerical staff time to process the significant amount of paperwork resulting from this week. 

By “turnaround,” a bill, with few exceptions, must have passed its Chamber of origin in order to be considered by the other Chamber before session is over for the year. 

When the Senate returns on Tuesday, the legislature is scheduled to meet for another month before our recess at the end of March. We will then return for a brief period to consider any vetoes prior to final adjournment. 

The focus for the next month will be to consider bills passed by the House Chamber and bills exempt from the Turnaround deadline. Under legislative rules, most bills must be adopted by one chamber in order to be considered by the other chamber. The major item we must complete prior to adjournment is passing the budget.

As of Thursday, February 20, 277 bills have been introduced in the Kansas Senate. Seventy-eight Senate bills have been sent to the House with 63 bills just last week. One Senate bill has become law (SB63). The Senate has confirmed 13 individuals since the session began on January 13.

SENATE FLOOR ACTION- WEEK 5 SB 84 would expand the criminal use of a financial card to include gift cards. The bill would provide that conduct involving a gift card would be classified and penalized in the same manner as conduct involving a financial card. It would be unlawful to use a gift card without the owner’s consent, possess or retain a gift card without authorization, or alter or tamper with a gift card. SB 84 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 5 would prohibit the use of funds provided by the United States government for the conduct of elections and election-related activities unless approved by the legislature. SB 5 passed with a vote of 33-6. I voted yes.

SB 7 increase the bonding cap on general obligation bonds issued by townships for the reconstruction, repair, and equipment of township buildings in any township with a population of more than 5,000 and would increase the bonding cap for bond issues of a township fire department. SB 7 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 8 requires the driver of a vehicle approaching a stopped vehicle displaying hazard warning signal lamps, road flares, or caution signals to proceed with caution and change lanes away from the stopped vehicle. If it is not safe or possible to change lanes away from the stopped vehicle, the bill would require the driver to proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle and maintain a safe speed for the road, weather, and traffic conditions. SB 8 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 9 would extend the time for land surveyors to file certain public land survey reports with the Secretary of the State Historical Society from 30 days to 90 days. SB 9 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 36&nbsp;amends the law concerning conservation districts. The bill would change the date from September 1 to November 1 by which conservation districts are required to submit a certification to&nbsp; the Division of Conservation of the amount of moneys required for conservation district activities each year, and would increase the cap on the amount of funding that would be allocated by the Division to the conservation districts from $25,000 to $50,000 per district, beginning in FY 2026, subject to appropriation. The bill would also increase the State’s current matching funding from $1 to $2 state funding to $1 county funding. SB 36 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 32 would reduce insurance company premium tax rates from 2.0% to 1.98% per year for tax year 2026 and subsequent years, lowering the tax rate on certain insurance companies by 1.0 percent. Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill would remove the requirement that the 1.0 percent of insurance company premium taxes received by the Insurance Commissioner be transferred to the State Treasurer to the credit of the Insurance Department Service Regulation Fund. SB 32 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

SB 125 authorized various claims against the state. SB 125 passed 39-0. I voted yes. SB 135 would make technical amendments to law concerning orders issued under the Protection from Abuse Act (PFAA) to reorganize the section to clarify how a protection order may be affected when a child-related order is issued pursuant to another legal action. SB 135 passed 39-0. I voted yes.

On Tuesday, February 18, the Kansas Senate voted 31-9 to override the governor’s veto of SB 63, the Help Not Harm Act. The House followed and the legislation is now law. Under the bill, the law took effect immediately.

The Kansas Senate adopted three bills passed out from the newly-formed Committee on Government Efficiency, or COGE: SB 77 would require an agency to provide written notice to businesses, local governments, and other known stakeholders regarding the agency’s proposed expedited revocation of a rule or regulation identified by the state agency as one that could be revoked. SB 77 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 85 would require the Secretary for Children and Families to enter into data-matching agreements with specified agencies to receive and review information from state and federal agencies for the purpose of verifying food assistance program eligibility and publish certain findings of noncompliance and fraud investigations on the Kansas Department for Children and Families’ website. SB 85 passed 30-10. I voted yes.

SB 161 would prohibit state agencies from seeking or implementing any public assistance program waiver or other federal government authorization that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or would increase costs to the state. The bill would also prohibit making certain changes to services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) without approval from either the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council. SB 161 passed 30-10. I voted yes.

SB 2 would declare valid the result of the question-submitted election held May 21, 2024, approving issuance of not more than $4.6 million in general obligation bonds for USD 200 (Greeley County), for specified improvements to its facilities. SB 2 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 13 would eliminate several filing requirements with the Office of the Secretary of State and make several conforming and technical changes. SB 13 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 18 as amended, would authorize issuance of the Hunter Nation distinctive license plate on and after January 1, 2026, for use on a passenger vehicle or truck registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less. SB 18 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 20 would grant the Commissioner of Insurance the ability to decrease the number of appointed board members on certain boards that fall under her appointing authority. The bill would remove the requirements for the Committee on Surety Bonds and Insurance to meet at least once per month and that the meetings be held in the office of the Commissioner. SB 20 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 21 would amend the Third-Party Administrators Act to require third-party administrators to maintain a separate fiduciary account for each payor and prohibit co-mingling of funds, either collected or held, in a fiduciary account by the administrator on behalf of multiple payors. SB 21 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 22 as amended, would amend law related to title insurance agent audits, surety bonds, and controlled business. SB 22 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 23 would establish a response time for agents and insurers to respond to inquiries from the Kansas Insurance Department and add the failure to respond to such inquiries to the list of actions that could lead to action against an agent or insurer’s license. The bill would also allow for an extension of one-year pilot programs with approval from the Commissioner for a specific period of time determined by the Commissioner. SB 23 passed 40-0. I voted yes

SB 24 would authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to set the amount of fees and fines for applications, license renewals, certificates of authority, and other required filings by certain insurance entities and public adjusters under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner. The bill would set the fees and fines for insurance entities and public adjusters. SB 24 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 27 would amend certain reporting requirements for the Commissioner of Insurance and amend the definition of “person” in statute regarding enforcement of insurance law. SB 27 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 28 as amended, would amend the Uniform Insurance Agents Licensing Act and the Public Adjusters Licensing Act to provide the Commissioner of Insurance with the authority to consult the status of certain licenses or registrations in reviewing applications or renewals for insurance agents and public adjusters. SB 28 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 29 protects Kansans’ First Amendment right to assemble by removing the ability of government to restrict or prohibit public gatherings. Under the bill, public health officials could still recommend public gatherings but would not be able to prohibit them. The Kansas Senate voted 28-12. I voted yes.

SB 30 would require the Secretary of Labor to conduct state and national criminal history record checks on employees who have access to federal tax information received directly from the Internal Revenue Service. Such criminal record checks would require fingerprinting of the employee. SB 30 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 42 as amended, would enact the Kansas Real Time Motor Vehicle Insurance Verification Act. The Act would require the Commissioner of Insurance to establish a web-based system for online verification of motor vehicle insurance, and require motor vehicle insurers to cooperate with the&nbsp;Commissioner to establish and maintain the system as specified in the Act; and establish the web-based system created in the Act as the only electronic system to be used for the purpose of verifying motor vehicle liability insurance. SB 42 passed 38-2. I voted yes.

SB 44 would expand the eligibility requirements for postsecondary education institutions to participate in the Kansas Promise Scholarship Program and increase the maximum amount that could be appropriated to the program. SB 44 passed 37-3. I voted yes.

SB 45 would establish a statutory calculation, for purposes of accreditation, of the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for each school district and any schools within the district, including virtual. SB 45 passed 32-8. I voted yes.

SB 47 would require school districts to list names and email addresses of current school board members on their websites, allow members of the public to publicly comment in regularly scheduled or budgetary school board hearings, and allow school board members to access school district property during school hours or activities. The bill also would amend law regarding annual dues for membership in a not-for-profit organization. SB 47 passed 21-19. I voted no as this is local school board processes with elected board members.

SB 50 would establish uniform interest rates, repayment schedules, and fees for all scholarships, grants, or other student financial aid program established in law under the authority of the State Board of Regents. SB 50 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 51 would provide a generous sales tax exemption to certain firms making investments in a qualified data center, as defined by the bill. SB 51 passed 34-6. I voted yes.

SB 52 would enact the Kansas Film and Digital Media Production Development Act. The Act would create a sales tax exemption and nonrefundable income tax credits for qualifying film production activities to incentivize and promote the growth of film and digital media production and industry in Kansas. The bill would also create definitions pursuant to its implementation and specify reporting requirements on relevant tax incentives for the Secretary of Commerce. SB 52 passed 33-7. I voted yes.

SB 53 would amend law concerning the selection of attorney members of the county law library (CLL) boards of trustees and fees that may be used for enhancing and facilitating the functions of the district court in the county. SB 53 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 54 would amend the Kansas Code of Civil Procedure to require the disclosure of third-party litigation funding agreements and require reporting of such agreements to the Judicial Council for study. SB 54 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 58 would make various changes to multi-year flex accounts. SB 58 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 64 would amend the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) statutes. The bill would extend the timeline for a KPERS member to request an administrative hearing to appeal a decision made by the KPERS Board of Trustees without a hearing. The bill would also update KPERS statutes to align with federal Internal Revenue Code regulations relating to the applicable age for required minimum distribution of pension benefits, recalculation of life expectancy for determining benefits, distributions from a defined contribution or deferred compensation plan, and the addition of a&nbsp;SIMPLE IRA that meets specific rollover requirements to the list of eligible retirement plans. SB 64 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 67 would amend law regarding certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) to expand certain independent prescription authority to align the scope of practice more closely to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). SB 67 passed 36-4. I voted yes.

SB 70 would require local units of government to have a public comment period, requires live streaming to cover all aspects of public meetings for the public to observe, as well as limiting the fees a government can charge for open records requests. The bill also would exempt disclosure of certain closed investigations and change the date for counties or district attorneys to report complaints regarding the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) and the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). SB 70 passed 26-14. I voted yes.

SB 71 would increase criminal penalties for buying sexual relations. It also would require certain offenders to complete an educational or treatment program regarding commercial sexual exploitation. Under current law, violation of buying sexual relations is a misdemeanor on a first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses. The bill would remove the crime’s misdemeanor classification and instead make all violations of buying sexual relations a severity level 9-person felony and increase the minimum fine amount from $1,200 to $2,000. SB 71 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 76 establishes the Given Name Act to prohibit school district employees from referring to a minor by a pronoun or name inconsistent with the minor’s biological sex or birth certificate without written parental permission. It would also prohibit school district or postsecondary education institution employees from suffering any adverse employment actions for declining to address an individual by a name or pronoun inconsistent with the individual’s birth certificate or biological sex. SB 76 passed 26-14.

SB 78 would require a governing body of a postsecondary educational institution to regularly review and update the institution’s accreditation policies, allow the institution greater freedom in selecting its accrediting agency, and prohibit accrediting agencies from compelling institutions to violate state laws. SB 78 passed 38-2. I voted yes.

SB 79 which would direct the Secretary for Children and Families to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SB 79 passed 29-11. I voted yes.

SB 82 would add provisions that would become part of and supplemental to the Rural Emergency Hospital Act. The bill would authorize the Secretary for Aging and Disability Service upon application by a rural emergency hospital and compliance with certain requirements, to grant a physical environment waiver for existing nursing facilities to a REH to provide skilled nursing facility care. SB 82 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 87 as amended, would expand eligibility requirements for students to receive scholarships under the same program to include kids who have been in foster care or placed in a kinship care placement at any time prior to graduation from high school or reaching the age of 21, a parent who is on active duty with any branch of the armed forces of the United States or who was killed in the line of duty; a parent who is an emergency medical service provider, firefighter, or law enforcement officer as&nbsp;defined by law. The bill also increased the current cap of the program to $15 million and potentially up to $25 million if the program continues to be popular. SB 87 passed 24-16. I voted yes.

SB 88 would amend the Long-term Care Ombudsman Act to require the State Long-term Care Ombudsman to include Alzheimer’s and other dementia training in the prescribed and provided training, as specified in the bill. The bill would require the training to address the needs and rights of long-term care residents with dementia, include strategies to care for and address the specific issues encountered by such residents, and include a list of specific topics to be addressed in such training. SB 88 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 89 would amend the Poultry Disease Control Act and establish fees related to the Act and the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). SB 89 passed 38-2. I voted yes.

SB 92 would increase from 120 days to 180 days, the time in which the Kansas Corporation Commission must issue a final order on an electric transmission line siting permit application after the date the application was filed. SB 92 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 97 would require a vehicle dealer that obtains ownership of a used all-terrain, work-site utility, recreational off-highway vehicle, or motorcycle that would otherwise qualify as a nonhighway vehicle, to apply to the county treasurer for a dealer inventory-only title. SB 97 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 98 would authorize issuance of the Route 66 Association of Kansas distinctive license plate on and after January 1, 2026, for use on a passenger vehicle or truck registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less. SB 98 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 104 would authorize, rather than require, creation of a citizens commission on local government in every county with a population of more than 170,000 and not more than 200,000.&nbsp;SB 104 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 105 would amend the process of filling such vacancies in the offices of U.S. Senator, State Treasurer, and Commissioner of Insurance. In most instances where a seat would become vacant, the bill would establish the Joint Committee on Vacancy Appointments, which would be made up of legislators from both parties in each chamber. The committee would recommend three names for the governor to pick from. If the legislature was in session, both chambers would vote on a resolution to send to the governor with said names and the governor would have to pick from among the names. If the legislature was not in session, the committee’s recommendations would go directly to the governor. The names on the resolution would have to be members of the vacating official’s political party for the last six years. SB 105 passed 31-9. I voted yes.

SB 114 would authorize non-public school students and virtual school students participating in a school activity governed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) to also participate in ancillary activities like pep rallies, award ceremonies, lettering events, and the like. SB 114 passed 32-8. I voted yes.

SB 117 would expand the property tax exemption for Strother Field Airport to include property owned by the political subdivisions comprising the Strother Field Airport Commission regardless of the date of acquisition and to specify the exempt uses for such property. SB 117 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 121 would authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to select and announce the version of insurance calculations, instructions promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), or other documents required by the NAIC to be in effect for the next calendar year and require the Commissioner to publish such an announcement in the Kansas Register by December 1. SB 121 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 126 would enact the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. The Compact’s would facilitate the interstate practice of physician assistants (PAs) with the goal of improving public access to medical services and achieve a number of objectives that reduce administrative burden while increasing availability of licensed PAs as well as cooperation among member state licensing bodies. SB 126 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 128 would create an exception to certain mandatory reporting obligations for licensed social workers who are supervised by an attorney. The bill would permit such attorneys to require such social workers to maintain attorney client privilege. SB 128 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 138 would amend law concerning the issuance of search warrants to specify only law enforcement officers may provide sworn statements supporting a finding of probable cause to issue a search warrant. Under current law, any person may provide such statements. SB 138 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 139 would amend the State Banking Code. SB 139 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 156 would create the crime of unlawful use of a laser pointer and would establish related penalties in the Kansas Criminal Code. SB 156 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 157 would require warrants issued for failure to appear to be provided to a compensated surety, change the criteria for setting aside bond forfeitures, and require the return of a percentage of an appearance bond in certain circumstances. SB 157 passed 31-9. I voted yes.

SB 166 would create the Fostering Competitive Career Opportunities Act, which would prohibit state employers from making hiring decisions based solely on an applicant’s lack of a post-secondary degree. The bill would not apply to positions for which a postsecondary degree is justifiably necessary. SB 166 passed 39-1. I voted yes.

SB 175 would amend the Athletic Trainers Licensure Act to amend the definition of “athletic training,” provide a licensure exemption, make changes to the application for licensure as an athletic trainer, and make technical amendments. SB 175 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 186 would require affidavits or sworn testimony supporting probable cause in the issuance of a warrant or summons to be made available to law enforcement agencies prior to the execution of such warrant or summons. SB 186 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 193 would amend the Statewide Opioid Antagonist Protocol by exempting law enforcement agencies from the Protocol’s requirement to utilize a physician medical director or licensed pharmacist unless the agency was electing to use an emergency opioid antagonist dispensed or furnished pursuant to the Protocol. SB 193 passed 40-0.

SB 197 includes several reforms to the STAR bonds law. It can no longer use eminent domain; no State General Funds could be used to pay STAR Bonds; The Commerce Department must publish all&nbsp;STAR Bond documents and no tax increment revenue from one STAR Bond can fund another. It also adds malls to possible projects. SB 197 passed 32-8. I voted yes.

SB 199 would permit year-round fireworks sales under certain conditions and make additional changes to law related to the sale of fireworks. SB 199 passed 27-13. I voted no – wildfires are still a real concern to rural Kansas.

SB 204 would require the sealing of certain records relating to case information, warrants, and subpoenas in certain criminal and juvenile cases. SB 204 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 222 would return power to the people by prohibiting a state court or an administrative hearing officer from deferring to an executive branch agency’s interpretation of certain statutes, rules and regulations, and documents that have the force and effect of law. SB 222 passed 31-9. I voted yes.

SB 227 would increase tax credit amounts allowed for preservation of historic structures and make changes to the conditions under which different credit amounts are allowed. SB 227 passed 31-9. I voted yes.

SB 241 would prohibit certain restrictive covenants from being considered a restraint of trade pursuant to the Kansas Restraint of Trade Act and would presume such covenants are enforceable. SB 241 passed 40-0. I voted yes.

SB 244 would prohibit a compensated surety from making loans for the purpose of financing the minimum appearance bond premium required to be paid before posting a bond. SB 244 passed 37-3. I voted yes.

SB 250 would create the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act. The bill would authorize a manufacturer operating in an eligible facility to make available individualized investigative treatments and allow individuals with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to request an individualized investigational drug, biologic product, or device from such manufacturers. SB 250 passed 36-4. I voted yes.

SB 260 would amend the Kansas Parimutuel Racing Act to change certain licensing requirements regarding live horse racing and to alter the distribution of moneys from certain funds. The bill would also make technical changes. SB 260 passed 36-4. I voted yes.

A full description of each bill can be found at <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org </a>as well as the Final Action vote on each measure.

PAGES FOR THE SENATE – February 18

On February 18, Taylor and Nathan Knoll, Osborne, paged for the Kansas Senate. The pages spent their day with us at the Capitol running errands, working in my office, and met with Lt. Governor David Toland in his Capitol Office.

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. 

For those who want to pursue a&nbsp;more in-depth analysis of bills, go to and pull up “Bills &amp; Laws,” then “Senate Bills,” before scrolling to the desired number and hitting “SN” (Supplemental Notes) for a general explanation which is written by the Legislative research &amp; reviser staff. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ or watch session at this website as well as reviewing past committee meetings and sessions.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.

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

BOWERS: 2025 Senate Scene Week 5 & 6

Last week was Turnaround Week in the legislature, so the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on many, many bills. In total 86 bills were debated and voted on, all of which passed their votes and moved onto the Senate. On Wednesday, in the afternoon, I even chaired the deliberation for six hours, covering 29 bills. 

Below is a selection of 10 bills from that long list of legislation:

House Bill (HB) 2170. This bill designates the first full week of February as Burn Awareness Week in Kansas, in order to raise awareness on the dangers and last impact of burn wounds.

HB 2031, which amends state law by adding valid drivers licenses from other states as sufficient criteria for meeting the listed requirements in attaining a driving instructor license in Kansas.

HB 2155, this legislation changes state law to specify that in performance of official acts related to the charge and custody of jails sheriffs, and deputies, are to be held liable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSE DELIBERATIONSLast week was Turnaround Week in the legislature, so the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on many, many bills. In total 86 bills were debated and voted on, all of which passed their votes and moved onto the Senate. On Wednesday, in the afternoon, I even chaired the deliberation for six hours, covering 29 bills. Below is a selection of 10 bills from that long list of legislation:House Bill (HB) 2170. This bill designates the first full week of February as Burn Awareness Week in Kansas, in order to raise awareness on the dangers and last impact of burn wounds.HB 2031, which amends state law by adding valid drivers licenses from other states as sufficient criteria for meeting the listed requirements in attaining a driving instructor license in Kansas.HB 2155, this legislation changes state law to specify that in performance of official acts related to the charge and custody of jails sheriffs, and deputies, are to be held liable.HB 2280, which expands the list of authorized activities that emergency medical responder personnel can perform under supervision of healthcare professionals, permit nonemergency ambulance services to operate for less than 24 hours in a day, and require external automated defibrillators be registered with the Emergency Medical Services Board.HB 2016, this bill adds published online obituaries as sufficient criteria for election officers to remove deceased voters from voter rolls, under state law.HB 2075, which adjusts state law regarding initial permanence hearings deadlines for children taken into the custody of the Kansas Department of Children and Families, changing it from the current 12 to 9 months. The bill would also require that a hearing be held every 9 months for the child after the initial hearing.HB 2121, which alters state law regarding registration fees for hybrid and all-electric vehicles. A $30 fee for all-electric motorcycles would be created, the fee for electric hybrids would be increased from $50 to $100, the fee for all-electric motor vehicles would be raised from $100 to $175, and fees for electric and hybrid trucks and tractors with a gross weight less than 12,000 pounds would also be increased to $200 and $125, respectively. All revenue raised from these increases would be remitted to the State Highway Fund and the Special City and County Highway Fund.HB 2333, this bill renames the Kansas Insurance Department to the Kansas Department of Insurance, along with several related offices. The bill also eliminates the requirement of senate confirmation for the Department of Insurance Assistant Commissioner, and appointees in the securities division.House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 5008, which proposes a constitutional amendment, adding to Article 2 of the Kansas Constitution, granting the legislature the ability to revise and revoke administrative rules and regulations by adoption of a concurrent resolution, which requires supermajority support from both chambers. If passed the resolution would go to a public vote in the primary election of 2026.HB 2134, which establishes limits on fees Executive Branch agencies may charge for access to copies of public records. For printed copies fees would not exceed 25 cents per page and for electronic copies fees would be prohibited. Cost related to employee time for making records available would not exceed the lowest hourly rate of the aforementioned employee. The bill would also permit appeals to the agency heads responsible if the costs of requesting the documents were felt unreasonable.I voted yes on each of these bills.BUDGET PASSES THE HOUSE The House passed Substitute for House Bill 2007, the legislature’s budget, in final action on Wednesday, the 19th, by a vote of 83 to 36, I voted yes. This budget is the product of diligent labor by the Special Legislative Budget Committee, House Appropriations Committee, and its subcommittees, over the past five weeks. I am confident that this budget both adequately funds the state’s core functions and works toward meeting key needs of Kansans, like our nursing homes and the state water plan. And just as important the spending within this budget is conservative, total state general fund (SGF) is reduced by $246.1 million between fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Debate on the bill lasted roughly two and a half hours and six amendments were brought during debate. Two of those amendments passed, relating to funding for the operating budgets of the Department of Commerce and the State Fire Marshall. The failed amendments ranged from Medicaid Expansion to Summer EBT spending increases.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.Contact My Office Representative Troy L. Waymaster 300 SW 10th Street Topeka, Kansas&nbsp;66612 troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> www.troywaymaster.com&nbsp;&nbsp;