I am deeply concerned about our foster care system in Kansas.&nbsp; I’ve met with foster parents in my district and they recounted the poor communication between agencies, the lack of respite care for foster parents and foster kids being returned to parents despite numerous positive drug tests.&nbsp; News reports and testimony to legislative committees have laid out an even bleaker picture of the foster care system in Kansas. There are stories on multiple placements (one child having 130 placements), children sleeping in offices overnight, children running away from placements with the state having no idea where a child was located, and foster care children aging into the corrections system. A 2019 survey found that 1 in 3 Kansas inmates had been in foster care.&nbsp; This breaks my heart – but I have some good news.&nbsp;

The House voted on House Bill 2115 on Thursday of this past week which came as a result of recommendations from the Legislature’s Special Committee on Foster Care Oversight. The bill establishes the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight.&nbsp; It makes sure eyes remain on the administration’s management of the system and on long-term improvements for children in foster care.&nbsp; They will be doing things like reviewing child welfare data and study how the programs and services impact the children.&nbsp; They will dive into how DCF, KDHE &amp; KDADS as they impact children.&nbsp; The House passed the bill 118-4 and it now goes to the Senate for consideration.

There is so much to be done to fix the foster care system, but this is the start to calling for accountability. &nbsp; I have met with foster parents here in Hays and the list of issues is long and frankly, very distressing.&nbsp; We have failed our most precious resource – our children.&nbsp; HB 2115 is just the beginning. &nbsp;

111th District State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578522379850.jpeg" alt="111th District State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays" />
 <figcaption>111th District State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Help and Change Coming For Foster Kids</h2>I am deeply concerned about our foster care system in Kansas.&nbsp; I’ve met with foster parents in my district and they recounted the poor communication between agencies, the lack of respite care for foster parents and foster kids being returned to parents despite numerous positive drug tests.&nbsp; News reports and testimony to legislative committees have laid out an even bleaker picture of the foster care system in Kansas. There are stories on multiple placements (one child having 130 placements), children sleeping in offices overnight, children running away from placements with the state having no idea where a child was located, and foster care children aging into the corrections system. A 2019 survey found that 1 in 3 Kansas inmates had been in foster care.&nbsp; This breaks my heart – but I have some good news.&nbsp;The House voted on House Bill 2115 on Thursday of this past week which came as a result of recommendations from the Legislature’s Special Committee on Foster Care Oversight. The bill establishes the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight.&nbsp; It makes sure eyes remain on the administration’s management of the system and on long-term improvements for children in foster care.&nbsp; They will be doing things like reviewing child welfare data and study how the programs and services impact the children.&nbsp; They will dive into how DCF, KDHE &amp; KDADS as they impact children.&nbsp; The House passed the bill 118-4 and it now goes to the Senate for consideration.There is so much to be done to fix the foster care system, but this is the start to calling for accountability. &nbsp; I have met with foster parents here in Hays and the list of issues is long and frankly, very distressing.&nbsp; We have failed our most precious resource – our children.&nbsp; HB 2115 is just the beginning. &nbsp;111th District State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays

WASINGER: Barb's Blog, Feb. 23

By ED CROSS Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association

In mid-February, an arctic blast swept
across Kansas and the nation and gave America a
preview of what an “existential threat” looks like.
Not the kind of fear-mongering “12-years to the
end of the earth” threat by the likes of U.S.
Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and fed
to Americans by President Biden as he issues job-
killing executive orders.


The threat we saw in February took away people’s power, heat, and clean water. The
blame lies with those who irresponsibly push not-ready-for-primetime renewable energy, like
wind and solar power, to make up a greater share of our energy grids.


There is a lot of conflicting information about electricity blackouts across the nation.
The root cause of the blackouts in Kansas and across the nation is national and state policy that
has prioritized the adoption of unreliable wind/solar energy over reliable energy.


For the last decade-plus energy policy in Kansas and the U.S. has been focused on
mandating or subsidizing as much wind and solar as possible.


The focus on wind has come above all at the expense of coal, natural gas, and nuclear
which has the resiliency advantage of being able to store large quantities of fuel onsite.


Because intermittent wind and solar can always go near zero, as we saw in mid-
February, they don't replace the cost of reliable power plants, they add to the cost of reliable
power plants. This is why the more wind and solar grids are used, the higher their electricity
prices.


To lessen the price increases from unreliable wind/solar energy, governments try to get
away with as few reliable power plants online as they can. The expense and distraction of
accommodating unreliable wind/solar energy takes away money and focus from resiliency.


While we don't know yet what exactly caused certain natural gas and coal plants to go
down, we know with 100% certainty that natural gas and coal plants can easily run in far more
adverse conditions than what was experienced in mid-February. And we know with 100%
certainty that even if no wind turbines had frozen they would have been nearly useless during
large portions of the weather in mid-February.


To expose the foolishness of the idea that fossil fuels could not handle the cold
temperatures in Texas, it helps to look at facts. In Texas, a spike in demand during cold
temperatures led to devastating blackouts. In Alberta, Canada, a spike in demand during far
colder temperatures led to very little disruption. Why? Alberta has a reliable grid with 43%
coal and 49% natural gas.


If you are looking at the facts, the obvious lesson here is: stop subsidizing and
mandating unreliable wind/solar energy, which are often useless when you need them most--
and do a better job at managing reliable energy sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear.


Instead of acknowledging the reality that
unreliable wind/solar energy can't keep us warm
or powered in the winter and that the "100%
renewable" direction is disastrous, advocates of
unreliable wind/solar energy are instead implying
that no source of electricity can be relied upon, so
no need to single out wind.


This is, of course, not correct. We know how to produce enough low-cost, reliable
electricity for every situation. You build reliable power plants, including those with on-site fuel
storage--such as coal and nuclear. You place a premium on reliability and resilience. That's it.


Several areas across the country, including Kansas, had an electricity crisis during bad
winter weather because they did not focus enough on building reliable power plants and
infrastructure. They were obsessed with getting as much unreliable wind/solar electricity as
possible. Let's all learn from this mistake.


Plans to subsidize wind/solar energy should change. Biden’s energy plan calls for nearly
100% solar and wind electricity by 2035! Everyone should be asking how the Biden plan would
have fared in mid-February.


Kansas and America need to totally change direction in energy policy toward one of
energy freedom.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584027001010.png" alt="Ed Cross is president of the&nbsp;Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association." />
 <figcaption>Ed Cross is president of the&nbsp;Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association.</figcaption>
 </figure>By ED CROSS Kansas Independent Oil &amp; Gas Association In mid-February, an arctic blast swept
across Kansas and the nation and gave America a
preview of what an “existential threat” looks like.
Not the kind of fear-mongering “12-years to the
end of the earth” threat by the likes of U.S.
Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and fed
to Americans by President Biden as he issues job-
killing executive orders.
The threat we saw in February took away people’s power, heat, and clean water. The
blame lies with those who irresponsibly push not-ready-for-primetime renewable energy, like
wind and solar power, to make up a greater share of our energy grids.
There is a lot of conflicting information about electricity blackouts across the nation.
The root cause of the blackouts in Kansas and across the nation is national and state policy that
has prioritized the adoption of unreliable wind/solar energy over reliable energy.
For the last decade-plus energy policy in Kansas and the U.S. has been focused on
mandating or subsidizing as much wind and solar as possible.
The focus on wind has come above all at the expense of coal, natural gas, and nuclear
which has the resiliency advantage of being able to store large quantities of fuel onsite.
Because intermittent wind and solar can always go near zero, as we saw in mid-
February, they don't replace the cost of reliable power plants, they add to the cost of reliable
power plants. This is why the more wind and solar grids are used, the higher their electricity
prices.
To lessen the price increases from unreliable wind/solar energy, governments try to get
away with as few reliable power plants online as they can. The expense and distraction of
accommodating unreliable wind/solar energy takes away money and focus from resiliency.
While we don't know yet what exactly caused certain natural gas and coal plants to go
down, we know with 100% certainty that natural gas and coal plants can easily run in far more
adverse conditions than what was experienced in mid-February. And we know with 100%
certainty that even if no wind turbines had frozen they would have been nearly useless during
large portions of the weather in mid-February.
To expose the foolishness of the idea that fossil fuels could not handle the cold
temperatures in Texas, it helps to look at facts. In Texas, a spike in demand during cold
temperatures led to devastating blackouts. In Alberta, Canada, a spike in demand during far
colder temperatures led to very little disruption. Why? Alberta has a reliable grid with 43%
coal and 49% natural gas.
If you are looking at the facts, the obvious lesson here is: stop subsidizing and
mandating unreliable wind/solar energy, which are often useless when you need them most--
and do a better job at managing reliable energy sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear.
Instead of acknowledging the reality that
unreliable wind/solar energy can't keep us warm
or powered in the winter and that the "100%
renewable" direction is disastrous, advocates of
unreliable wind/solar energy are instead implying
that no source of electricity can be relied upon, so
no need to single out wind.
This is, of course, not correct. We know how to produce enough low-cost, reliable
electricity for every situation. You build reliable power plants, including those with on-site fuel
storage--such as coal and nuclear. You place a premium on reliability and resilience. That's it.
Several areas across the country, including Kansas, had an electricity crisis during bad
winter weather because they did not focus enough on building reliable power plants and
infrastructure. They were obsessed with getting as much unreliable wind/solar electricity as
possible. Let's all learn from this mistake.
Plans to subsidize wind/solar energy should change. Biden’s energy plan calls for nearly
100% solar and wind electricity by 2035! Everyone should be asking how the Biden plan would
have fared in mid-February.
Kansas and America need to totally change direction in energy policy toward one of
energy freedom.

CROSS: The perils of 'electrifying everything'

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher

Our first beef calves of the season arrived a few days into February. Each day into calving season temperatures grew colder, and our lives transitioned from normal routines to the highly vigilant survival mode required to weather the arctic storm. 

My quiet moments during this bitterly cold stretch have been filled with reflections on the farming and ranching lifestyle. Calving through a storm is hard work that takes a kind of deep, character-refining strength.

It takes strong logic to overcome a pull on your heartstrings that comes when you take a brand new calf away from a momma cow minutes after it is born. Farmers do this because they know that no matter how hard the cow tries to clean up her baby, she will never get it dry enough by herself in frigid temperatures. Spending a few hours under a heat lamp keeps the baby warm until she is dry enough to survive in the cold.

It takes strong purpose to put the needs of the herd before your own comfort. During the run-on days of the storm, farmers miss meals, delay bathroom breaks, ditch their gloves and lose the feeling their hands while milking a cow to teach a calf to nurse. They ruin clothing, end up with soiled vehicles, and may even sacrifice their bathtubs to the needs of the newborns.

It takes physical strength to chop through the layers of ice in water tanks or safely wrestle a 50-pound calf into the passenger seat of your pickup to move it to the warming shed. Farmers don’t give a second thought to the bruise forming on their leg from a baby calves’ flailing legs or the soreness in their muscles after long physical days because aches and pains seem like a small price to pay to protect the herd.  

It takes mental strength to wake at all hours of the night after a scarce 30-minute nap and reach a state of alertness to identify signs of distress during a frequent pen checks. Farmers make constant rounds day and night in the cold because they know that a cow may have a quick or a difficult labor. Being vigilant helps farmers to provide needed assistance as quickly as possible.  

It takes emotional strength not to feel weighed down with guilt when a calf is born in subzero temperatures and you just did not get there quick enough to save it. Farmers do not have the luxury of dwelling on what went wrong. They have to get back to helping their remaining animals and trying their best not to lose another one.

Calving through a storm is hard, but it is the kind of hard that’s worthwhile.

My most surprising reflection is that this storm has made me better. I feel a little bit like leaving the gym after a strength training session. My mind and body are exhausted, but I feel joy, peace and contentment. What looked so daunting at the beginning was overcome through perseverance and exercising logic, selflessness, compassion, wisdom and humility.

You may never have the chance to help a farm or ranch survive a calving season storm, but we all have storms in our lives. Opportunity to exercise our character by putting the needs of others before our own comfort; taking the uncomfortable steps to help others who cannot help themselves; and forgiving ourselves or letting go of things beyond our control. And we all have the strength to weather these storms.

"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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancherOur first beef calves of the season arrived a few days into February. Each day into calving season temperatures grew colder, and our lives transitioned from normal routines to the highly vigilant survival mode required to weather the arctic storm. My quiet moments during this bitterly cold stretch have been filled with reflections on the farming and ranching lifestyle. Calving through a storm is hard work that takes a kind of deep, character-refining strength.It takes strong logic to overcome a pull on your heartstrings that comes when you take a brand new calf away from a momma cow minutes after it is born. Farmers do this because they know that no matter how hard the cow tries to clean up her baby, she will never get it dry enough by herself in frigid temperatures. Spending a few hours under a heat lamp keeps the baby warm until she is dry enough to survive in the cold.It takes strong purpose to put the needs of the herd before your own comfort. During the run-on days of the storm, farmers miss meals, delay bathroom breaks, ditch their gloves and lose the feeling their hands while milking a cow to teach a calf to nurse. They ruin clothing, end up with soiled vehicles, and may even sacrifice their bathtubs to the needs of the newborns.It takes physical strength to chop through the layers of ice in water tanks or safely wrestle a 50-pound calf into the passenger seat of your pickup to move it to the warming shed. Farmers don’t give a second thought to the bruise forming on their leg from a baby calves’ flailing legs or the soreness in their muscles after long physical days because aches and pains seem like a small price to pay to protect the herd. It takes mental strength to wake at all hours of the night after a scarce 30-minute nap and reach a state of alertness to identify signs of distress during a frequent pen checks. Farmers make constant rounds day and night in the cold because they know that a cow may have a quick or a difficult labor. Being vigilant helps farmers to provide needed assistance as quickly as possible. It takes emotional strength not to feel weighed down with guilt when a calf is born in subzero temperatures and you just did not get there quick enough to save it. Farmers do not have the luxury of dwelling on what went wrong. They have to get back to helping their remaining animals and trying their best not to lose another one.Calving through a storm is hard, but it is the kind of hard that’s worthwhile.My most surprising reflection is that this storm has made me better. I feel a little bit like leaving the gym after a strength training session. My mind and body are exhausted, but I feel joy, peace and contentment. What looked so daunting at the beginning was overcome through perseverance and exercising logic, selflessness, compassion, wisdom and humility.You may never have the chance to help a farm or ranch survive a calving season storm, but we all have storms in our lives. Opportunity to exercise our character by putting the needs of others before our own comfort; taking the uncomfortable steps to help others who cannot help themselves; and forgiving ourselves or letting go of things beyond our control. And we all have the strength to weather these storms."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.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The strength to weather storms

I never feel like I catch as many coyotes as I should, so now that we had a little snow on the ground, I decided to drive around to a few properties where I’d had coyote traps this year to see if there were tracks in the snow. I drove across a couple fields of soybean stubble to a spot clear in the middle of a section where the bean stubble bordered an overgrown pasture. 

At one end of the field was the deep drainage ditch known locally as the “big ditch,” and several game trails going down the far side of the ditch and ending up in front of me on the other side were covered with fresh coyote tracks in the snow. I set snares in 3 of the trails, and the second morning one snare held the body of a coyote so terribly infected with mange that it was barely recognizable. The poor critter hardly had enough fur on its entire body to cover a pair of ear muffs.

After a discussion with my wife during which I whole-heartedly disputed a story she had heard about mange being intentionally introduced, I did some research. I found story-after-story and record-after-record verifying that fact. Between 1883 and 1918, Montana paid over $340,000 in bounties for the killing of more than 80,000 wolves. Seeking a cheaper method of control, for wolves and coyotes, a 1905 Montana law provided for the capture of a number of wild wolves and coyotes that were then intentionally infected with Sarcoptic mange and released back into the wild.&nbsp;

Sarcoptic Mange is a disease found in canines, both wild and domestic, caused by Sarcoptic Mites. These parasitic mites burrow into the skin, causing intense scratching and resulting hair loss, weakness and very possibly death as the infected animal loses most or all of its fur and becomes too weak to hunt. The hair loss usually begins on the tail and hind legs then slowly works its way across the animal’s entire body. Cold temperatures will not kill the mites as they are burrowed into the skin, so the mites won’t die until the coyote dies. Mange is highly treatable in domestic canines but obviously not in wild foxes, wolves and coyotes, thus it can wreak havoc with wild populations. I think most trappers here in the Midwest catch a few coyotes with mange every year. It’s not entirely known what kind of survival rate to expect, but that seems to be highly determined by winter conditions in the area. Our local conservation officer pointed out to me that despite some periods of frigid temperatures and a few snow storms, the last several winters have been fairly mild here in Kansas, possible allowing some infected animals to survive. It’s also thought that young coyote pups contracting mange will most certainly die. Mange is very transmittable from one animal to another, and the higher the wild population of that particular species, the more chances to transmit the disease. Coyotes are very family-oriented and live in family groups, so the mites have ample opportunities to spread throughout the entire family group.&nbsp;

Human infections of mange are extremely rare and short lived and are easily treated medically. Also, mange from wildlife very rarely transfers to domestic animals or livestock. Despite the rare likelihood of transmission, hunters and trappers should handle infected animals with gloves and should throw away or disinfect those gloves afterward. Carcasses of dead mange-infected animals can be buried or burned, or at very least left someplace where dogs or wild canines will not feed on them.

Most people take a dim view of coyotes because they can be such ruthless predators, so when trappers talk of disease problems among the coyote population most folks barely bat an eye. As stated above, the larger the coyote population, the easier it is for disease to get a foothold. Trapping is proven to be a very effective tool in controlling predator populations, and thus helping to control diseases. Besides, as a trapper I like trying to match wits with the wily buggers; I’m often unsuccessful, but I like trying. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I never feel like I catch as many coyotes as I should, so now that we had a little snow on the ground, I decided to drive around to a few properties where I’d had coyote traps this year to see if there were tracks in the snow. I drove across a couple fields of soybean stubble to a spot clear in the middle of a section where the bean stubble bordered an overgrown pasture. At one end of the field was the deep drainage ditch known locally as the “big ditch,” and several game trails going down the far side of the ditch and ending up in front of me on the other side were covered with fresh coyote tracks in the snow. I set snares in 3 of the trails, and the second morning one snare held the body of a coyote so terribly infected with mange that it was barely recognizable. The poor critter hardly had enough fur on its entire body to cover a pair of ear muffs.After a discussion with my wife during which I whole-heartedly disputed a story she had heard about mange being intentionally introduced, I did some research. I found story-after-story and record-after-record verifying that fact. Between 1883 and 1918, Montana paid over $340,000 in bounties for the killing of more than 80,000 wolves. Seeking a cheaper method of control, for wolves and coyotes, a 1905 Montana law provided for the capture of a number of wild wolves and coyotes that were then intentionally infected with Sarcoptic mange and released back into the wild.&nbsp;Sarcoptic Mange is a disease found in canines, both wild and domestic, caused by Sarcoptic Mites. These parasitic mites burrow into the skin, causing intense scratching and resulting hair loss, weakness and very possibly death as the infected animal loses most or all of its fur and becomes too weak to hunt. The hair loss usually begins on the tail and hind legs then slowly works its way across the animal’s entire body. Cold temperatures will not kill the mites as they are burrowed into the skin, so the mites won’t die until the coyote dies. Mange is highly treatable in domestic canines but obviously not in wild foxes, wolves and coyotes, thus it can wreak havoc with wild populations. I think most trappers here in the Midwest catch a few coyotes with mange every year. It’s not entirely known what kind of survival rate to expect, but that seems to be highly determined by winter conditions in the area. Our local conservation officer pointed out to me that despite some periods of frigid temperatures and a few snow storms, the last several winters have been fairly mild here in Kansas, possible allowing some infected animals to survive. It’s also thought that young coyote pups contracting mange will most certainly die. Mange is very transmittable from one animal to another, and the higher the wild population of that particular species, the more chances to transmit the disease. Coyotes are very family-oriented and live in family groups, so the mites have ample opportunities to spread throughout the entire family group.&nbsp;Human infections of mange are extremely rare and short lived and are easily treated medically. Also, mange from wildlife very rarely transfers to domestic animals or livestock. Despite the rare likelihood of transmission, hunters and trappers should handle infected animals with gloves and should throw away or disinfect those gloves afterward. Carcasses of dead mange-infected animals can be buried or burned, or at very least left someplace where dogs or wild canines will not feed on them.Most people take a dim view of coyotes because they can be such ruthless predators, so when trappers talk of disease problems among the coyote population most folks barely bat an eye. As stated above, the larger the coyote population, the easier it is for disease to get a foothold. Trapping is proven to be a very effective tool in controlling predator populations, and thus helping to control diseases. Besides, as a trapper I like trying to match wits with the wily buggers; I’m often unsuccessful, but I like trying. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at syevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Mange, mange go away

By JOHN P. TRETBAR Operators continue to enjoy the highest prices in more than a year. U.S. crude futures prices jumped more than 3 percent Monday, topping $61 a barrel for the first time since early January of last year. By noon, the near-month contract for light sweet crude was up nearly $2 at $61.13 per barrel. London Brent was also up 3 percent at $64.65 per barrel. The government says gasoline inventories are increasing, signaling decreasing demand. But prices continue to rise at pumps across the country, largely due to spiking crude-oil prices. The Energy Information Administration says total motor gasoline inventories increased by 700,000 barrels last week and are about 1% above the five year average for this time of year. But gasoline prices have already topped last year's more than three dozen states. The motor club AAA said the gasoline price spike kept up with spiking crude-oil prices, and predicted both would soon top the highest prices of last year. The national average price at the pump last week was just over $2.57. Nearly 40 state average pump prices had already topped last year's highs, with half of those seeing double-digit increases. Kansas was the tenth cheapest state in the U.S. last week, with an average of just over $2.35 per gallon. That's up nearly eight cents over a week ago, and eighteen cents a gallon higher than a month ago. Filling up your 15-gallon tank cost just over $36, up more than a dollar from last week and nearly two dollars more than last month.&nbsp; Cold weather wreaked havoc in the oil patch last week. Output was down by more than two million barrels per day as the coldest weather in 30 years hits states that aren't used to it. Quoting unnamed traders and company executives, Bloomberg reported supply losses in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, along with the Eagle Ford play in southern Texas and the Anadarko basin in Oklahoma.&nbsp; The cold snap was good news for small natural gas producers. The freeze is giving a rare boost to a market that’s never recovered from a crash more than a ten years ago. As Texas output is disrupted by frozen pipes, prices have surged more than 4,000% in Oklahoma. &nbsp; The Rig Count in Kansas last week was unchanged statewide, down one east of Wichita and up one in Western Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service notes that operators have now reached total depth at new well in Ellis County and another in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports the national rig count was unchanged. The count of oil rigs was up one, while the gas rig count was down one. Texas and North Dakota were each up one rig, while Louisiana and Alaska both dropped by one.&nbsp; There were just four new permits filed last week in Kansas. All of them were in counties east of Wichita. That's 94 permits for drilling at new locations in Kansas so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 16 newly-completed wells across Kansas last week, eight of them east of Wichita and eight in Western Kansas, including two in Ellis County. The government says U.S. crude-oil stockpiles dropped by 7.3 million barrels during the week ending February 12. The Energy Information Administration reports inventories are right at the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports U.S. crude imports rose 41,000 barrels per day last week. We currently import an average of 5.9 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, imports have averaged 13% less than the same four-week period last year. U.S. crude-oil production dropped below 11 million barrels per day last week, and remains more than two million barrels per day behind year-ago totals. In a monthly report, the government predicts total shale production in the U.S. will continue to decline. Output from the seven major shale plays tracked by EIA will drop 77,000 barrels per day in March, to just over 7.5 million barrels per day. That would mark the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Shale production accounts for roughly three-fourths of U.S. crude-oil production. Regulators in North Dakota say production continues to drop in the #2 U.S. crude-producing state. The Department of Mineral Resources reported output of 1.19 million barrels per day in December, down nearly 35,000 barrels per day from the month before. Declining production in North Dakota has helped the state meet its environmental goals. In its latest report, DMR reported a 93 percent gas-capture rate. That means of all the natural gas produced at oil wells in North Dakota, only seven percent was vented or burned at the well head. During it's initial oil boom, the state's operators flared four times that amount. Last year marked the first in which the U.S. was a net petroleum exporter, exporting more petroleum than we imported on an annual basis. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says declining imports drove the shift, but now predicts we will return to net importer status for the next two years. In it's Short Term Energy Outlook, the government predicts U.S. petroleum consumption will continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, growing by seven percent this year and another five percent next year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBAR Operators continue to enjoy the highest prices in more than a year. U.S. crude futures prices jumped more than 3 percent Monday, topping $61 a barrel for the first time since early January of last year. By noon, the near-month contract for light sweet crude was up nearly $2 at $61.13 per barrel. London Brent was also up 3 percent at $64.65 per barrel. The government says gasoline inventories are increasing, signaling decreasing demand. But prices continue to rise at pumps across the country, largely due to spiking crude-oil prices. The Energy Information Administration says total motor gasoline inventories increased by 700,000 barrels last week and are about 1% above the five year average for this time of year. But gasoline prices have already topped last year's more than three dozen states. The motor club AAA said the gasoline price spike kept up with spiking crude-oil prices, and predicted both would soon top the highest prices of last year. The national average price at the pump last week was just over $2.57. Nearly 40 state average pump prices had already topped last year's highs, with half of those seeing double-digit increases. Kansas was the tenth cheapest state in the U.S. last week, with an average of just over $2.35 per gallon. That's up nearly eight cents over a week ago, and eighteen cents a gallon higher than a month ago. Filling up your 15-gallon tank cost just over $36, up more than a dollar from last week and nearly two dollars more than last month.&nbsp; Cold weather wreaked havoc in the oil patch last week. Output was down by more than two million barrels per day as the coldest weather in 30 years hits states that aren't used to it. Quoting unnamed traders and company executives, Bloomberg reported supply losses in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, along with the Eagle Ford play in southern Texas and the Anadarko basin in Oklahoma.&nbsp; The cold snap was good news for small natural gas producers. The freeze is giving a rare boost to a market that’s never recovered from a crash more than a ten years ago. As Texas output is disrupted by frozen pipes, prices have surged more than 4,000% in Oklahoma. &nbsp; The Rig Count in Kansas last week was unchanged statewide, down one east of Wichita and up one in Western Kansas. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service notes that operators have now reached total depth at new well in Ellis County and another in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports the national rig count was unchanged. The count of oil rigs was up one, while the gas rig count was down one. Texas and North Dakota were each up one rig, while Louisiana and Alaska both dropped by one.&nbsp; There were just four new permits filed last week in Kansas. All of them were in counties east of Wichita. That's 94 permits for drilling at new locations in Kansas so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 16 newly-completed wells across Kansas last week, eight of them east of Wichita and eight in Western Kansas, including two in Ellis County. The government says U.S. crude-oil stockpiles dropped by 7.3 million barrels during the week ending February 12. The Energy Information Administration reports inventories are right at the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reports U.S. crude imports rose 41,000 barrels per day last week. We currently import an average of 5.9 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, imports have averaged 13% less than the same four-week period last year. U.S. crude-oil production dropped below 11 million barrels per day last week, and remains more than two million barrels per day behind year-ago totals. In a monthly report, the government predicts total shale production in the U.S. will continue to decline. Output from the seven major shale plays tracked by EIA will drop 77,000 barrels per day in March, to just over 7.5 million barrels per day. That would mark the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Shale production accounts for roughly three-fourths of U.S. crude-oil production. Regulators in North Dakota say production continues to drop in the #2 U.S. crude-producing state. The Department of Mineral Resources reported output of 1.19 million barrels per day in December, down nearly 35,000 barrels per day from the month before. Declining production in North Dakota has helped the state meet its environmental goals. In its latest report, DMR reported a 93 percent gas-capture rate. That means of all the natural gas produced at oil wells in North Dakota, only seven percent was vented or burned at the well head. During it's initial oil boom, the state's operators flared four times that amount. Last year marked the first in which the U.S. was a net petroleum exporter, exporting more petroleum than we imported on an annual basis. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says declining imports drove the shift, but now predicts we will return to net importer status for the next two years. In it's Short Term Energy Outlook, the government predicts U.S. petroleum consumption will continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, growing by seven percent this year and another five percent next year.

News From the Oil Patch: Oil, gasoline prices reach 13-month highs

One of the most neglected tools for vegetable gardeners is a soil thermometer. Soil temperature is a much better measure of when to plant than air temperature or the calendar. Planting when soil is too cool can cause some seeds to rot and transplants to sit there. A number of vegetables can germinate and grow at cool temperatures. For example, peas will germinate and grow well at a soil temperature of 40 F. Though lettuce, parsnips, and spinach can sprout at a soil temperature of 35 F, they prefer at least 45 F for best germination and growth. &nbsp;Radishes also do well at a soil temperature of 45 F. &nbsp;Even if the seeds of these cool-season crops are planted below the recommended soil temperature, the seed will rarely rot. Warm-season crops such as tomatoes, sweet corn, and beans are different. &nbsp;They prefer at least 55 F for germination (or transplanting), but others such as peppers, cucumbers, melons, and sweet potatoes need it even warmer, about 60 F. &nbsp;If planted when soils are too cool, they likely will rot before germinating. Taking soil temperature accurately is a bit of a science. First, use a metal soil thermometer, which is sold in many garden, auto parts, and hardware stores. Take temperature 2.5 inches deep at about 10 to 11 a.m. Temperature variations throughout the day and night affect soil temperature, with the lowest readings after dawn and the warmest around mid-afternoon. The late-morning reading gives a good average temperature. If taking the soil temperature at this time is not practical, take a reading before you leave for work and a second when you return home and use the average. Also be sure to get a consistent reading for four to five days in a row before planting, and make sure a cold snap is not predicted.An excellent guide sheet on this subject is published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and is titled “Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination.” It can be found <a href="https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/soiltemps.pdf">HERE</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the most neglected tools for vegetable gardeners is a soil thermometer. Soil temperature is a much better measure of when to plant than air temperature or the calendar. Planting when soil is too cool can cause some seeds to rot and transplants to sit there. A number of vegetables can germinate and grow at cool temperatures. For example, peas will germinate and grow well at a soil temperature of 40 F. Though lettuce, parsnips, and spinach can sprout at a soil temperature of 35 F, they prefer at least 45 F for best germination and growth. &nbsp;Radishes also do well at a soil temperature of 45 F. &nbsp;Even if the seeds of these cool-season crops are planted below the recommended soil temperature, the seed will rarely rot. Warm-season crops such as tomatoes, sweet corn, and beans are different. &nbsp;They prefer at least 55 F for germination (or transplanting), but others such as peppers, cucumbers, melons, and sweet potatoes need it even warmer, about 60 F. &nbsp;If planted when soils are too cool, they likely will rot before germinating. Taking soil temperature accurately is a bit of a science. First, use a metal soil thermometer, which is sold in many garden, auto parts, and hardware stores. Take temperature 2.5 inches deep at about 10 to 11 a.m. Temperature variations throughout the day and night affect soil temperature, with the lowest readings after dawn and the warmest around mid-afternoon. The late-morning reading gives a good average temperature. If taking the soil temperature at this time is not practical, take a reading before you leave for work and a second when you return home and use the average. Also be sure to get a consistent reading for four to five days in a row before planting, and make sure a cold snap is not predicted.An excellent guide sheet on this subject is published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and is titled “Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination.” It can be found <a href="https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/soiltemps.pdf">HERE</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Soil temperature and vegetables 

This week marked the sixth week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us.&nbsp; As we approach “turn-around” the Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and Thursday and worked bills which were sent out of committees to the full Senate.&nbsp; The bills voted on by the full Senate now cross over to the House of Representatives where the process starts over.&nbsp;

On February 13th, our friend Senator Bud Estes passed away.&nbsp; Senator Estes was first elected to the Kansas Senate in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He also served in the Kansas House prior to his Senate elections.&nbsp; The funeral for Senator Estes will be held on Monday, February 22nd&nbsp;and the Senate will not be operating other than on a pro-forma basis.

FLOOR ACTION – 12 BILLS PASSED OFF SENATE FLOOR

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb49/" target="_blank">SB 49</a>&nbsp;would extend the sunset on the single city port authority tax credit from the end of tax year 2021 to the end of tax year 2024 to corporation income taxpayers. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/SB52/" target="_blank">SB 52</a>&nbsp;establishes the Sedgwick County Urban Area Nuisance Abatement Act (Act). <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb60/" target="_blank">SB 60</a>&nbsp;requested by Attorney General Derek Schmidt would amend the statute governing jurisdictional application of the Kansas Criminal Code to define “proximate result.”&nbsp; Currently a crime is considered to have been committed partly within the state if the proximate result of the person’s act occurs within the state.&nbsp; This bill will help the state go after the bad actors who have filed fraudulent Kansas Unemployment claims. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb65/" target="_blank">SB 65</a>&nbsp;would decouple participation in the Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) program or the Kansas Industrial Retraining (KIR) program as a method to qualify for the High

Performance Incentive Program (HPIP) tax credit.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb66/" target="_blank">SB 66</a>&nbsp;would reauthorize the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit Act (Act) until tax year 2026. The bill would also make changes to the definitions and elements of how the Act operates.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb67/" target="_blank">SB 67</a>&nbsp;would amend the definitions for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and recreational off-highway vehicle and would increase the maximum width of such a vehicle from 50 inches to 55 inches.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb77/" target="_blank">SB 77</a>&nbsp;would enact the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb85/" target="_blank">SB 85</a>&nbsp;would require a foster care case management contractor under contract with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to notify DCF whenever a child in foster care has gone missing or spent any overnight period in a location not licensed as a placement for foster youth. The bill would establish time frames and actions that would be required to be taken, should the contractor notify DCF of the missing child or overnight stay at a non-licensed location and also establish fines on the contractor. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb88/" target="_blank">SB 88</a>&nbsp;would amend law regarding the process for vacation of city streets or other public easements and would add law regarding challenging a street vacation ordinance.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb103/" target="_blank">SB 103</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Power of Attorney Act to state a power of attorney executed on or after July 1, 2021, would be deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with a form set forth by the Judicial Council.

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb107/" target="_blank">SB 107</a>&nbsp;would enact the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (UFIPA).

<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb118/" target="_blank">SB 118</a>&nbsp;would establish a procedure by which a city or county may assume the powers, responsibilities, and duties of a special district within the city’s corporate boundary or the

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

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

<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

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

TOUR THE STATE CAPITOL AND STATE-OWNED HISTORICAL SITES FROM HOME

Take an online tour of the magnificent Kansas State Capitol, floor by floor at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843" target="_blank">https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843</a>.&nbsp; The classically inspired building is an impressive public monument as well as the working offices for the governor and legislators. The building holds a dramatic array of art, architecture, and colorful Kansas history.&nbsp; There are also 16 state-owned sites, administered by the Kansas Historical Society, explore different topics in our state’s fascinating history.&nbsp; Two of these sites in Senate District #36 are Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Hanover and Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic.&nbsp;

Explora&nbsp;is an online resource for middle and high school students that is available&nbsp;<a href="https://kslib.info/students" target="_blank">https://kslib.info/students</a>&nbsp;from the State Library of Kansas. Click on the grade appropriate icon for assistance with homework or class assignments.&nbsp;Explora&nbsp;delivers high-quality articles from reputable publishers with no pop-ups or ads. Reading level indicators allow selection of material that matches students’ reading abilities. Broad topic overviews provide students with a starting point for their research.&nbsp; If the link above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.&nbsp; Most schools and Kansans will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Questions:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kslc@ks.gov" target="_blank">kslc@ks.gov</a>.

I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; 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 <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785 296-7389</a> <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>

Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Kansas District senator.&nbsp;The 36th District includes&nbsp;Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties.

<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>February 22, 2021SENATE HIGHLIGHTSThis week marked the sixth week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us.&nbsp; As we approach “turn-around” the Senate held floor debate on Tuesday and Thursday and worked bills which were sent out of committees to the full Senate.&nbsp; The bills voted on by the full Senate now cross over to the House of Representatives where the process starts over.&nbsp;REMEMBERING SENATOR BUD ESTESOn February 13th, our friend Senator Bud Estes passed away.&nbsp; Senator Estes was first elected to the Kansas Senate in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He also served in the Kansas House prior to his Senate elections.&nbsp; The funeral for Senator Estes will be held on Monday, February 22nd&nbsp;and the Senate will not be operating other than on a pro-forma basis.FLOOR ACTION – 12 BILLS PASSED OFF SENATE FLOOR<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb49/" target="_blank">SB 49</a>&nbsp;would extend the sunset on the single city port authority tax credit from the end of tax year 2021 to the end of tax year 2024 to corporation income taxpayers. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/SB52/" target="_blank">SB 52</a>&nbsp;establishes the Sedgwick County Urban Area Nuisance Abatement Act (Act). <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb60/" target="_blank">SB 60</a>&nbsp;requested by Attorney General Derek Schmidt would amend the statute governing jurisdictional application of the Kansas Criminal Code to define “proximate result.”&nbsp; Currently a crime is considered to have been committed partly within the state if the proximate result of the person’s act occurs within the state.&nbsp; This bill will help the state go after the bad actors who have filed fraudulent Kansas Unemployment claims. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb65/" target="_blank">SB 65</a>&nbsp;would decouple participation in the Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) program or the Kansas Industrial Retraining (KIR) program as a method to qualify for the HighPerformance Incentive Program (HPIP) tax credit.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb66/" target="_blank">SB 66</a>&nbsp;would reauthorize the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit Act (Act) until tax year 2026. The bill would also make changes to the definitions and elements of how the Act operates.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb67/" target="_blank">SB 67</a>&nbsp;would amend the definitions for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and recreational off-highway vehicle and would increase the maximum width of such a vehicle from 50 inches to 55 inches.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb77/" target="_blank">SB 77</a>&nbsp;would enact the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb85/" target="_blank">SB 85</a>&nbsp;would require a foster care case management contractor under contract with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to notify DCF whenever a child in foster care has gone missing or spent any overnight period in a location not licensed as a placement for foster youth. The bill would establish time frames and actions that would be required to be taken, should the contractor notify DCF of the missing child or overnight stay at a non-licensed location and also establish fines on the contractor. <a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb88/" target="_blank">SB 88</a>&nbsp;would amend law regarding the process for vacation of city streets or other public easements and would add law regarding challenging a street vacation ordinance.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb103/" target="_blank">SB 103</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Power of Attorney Act to state a power of attorney executed on or after July 1, 2021, would be deemed sufficient if in substantial compliance with a form set forth by the Judicial Council.<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb107/" target="_blank">SB 107</a>&nbsp;would enact the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (UFIPA).<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb118/" target="_blank">SB 118</a>&nbsp;would establish a procedure by which a city or county may assume the powers, responsibilities, and duties of a special district within the city’s corporate boundary or thecounty’s boundaries. Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;ADDITIONAL RESOURCES&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/" target="_blank">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.Kansas Legislature website&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.TOUR THE STATE CAPITOL AND STATE-OWNED HISTORICAL SITES FROM HOMETake an online tour of the magnificent Kansas State Capitol, floor by floor at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843" target="_blank">https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-online-tour/15843</a>.&nbsp; The classically inspired building is an impressive public monument as well as the working offices for the governor and legislators. The building holds a dramatic array of art, architecture, and colorful Kansas history.&nbsp; There are also 16 state-owned sites, administered by the Kansas Historical Society, explore different topics in our state’s fascinating history.&nbsp; Two of these sites in Senate District #36 are Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Hanover and Pawnee Indian Museum in Republic.&nbsp;FROM THE KANSAS STATE LIBRARYExplora&nbsp;is an online resource for middle and high school students that is available&nbsp;<a href="https://kslib.info/students" target="_blank">https://kslib.info/students</a>&nbsp;from the State Library of Kansas. Click on the grade appropriate icon for assistance with homework or class assignments.&nbsp;Explora&nbsp;delivers high-quality articles from reputable publishers with no pop-ups or ads. Reading level indicators allow selection of material that matches students’ reading abilities. Broad topic overviews provide students with a starting point for their research.&nbsp; If the link above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.&nbsp; Most schools and Kansans will be automatically recognized as being in Kansas and will not need this step. Questions:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kslc@ks.gov" target="_blank">kslc@ks.gov</a>.I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E300 SW 10th St. Topeka, KS 66612 <a href="mailto:elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov" target="_blank">elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785 296-7389</a> <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, is the 36th Kansas District senator.&nbsp;The 36th District includes&nbsp;Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Smith and Washington counties.

BOWERS: Senate Scene, Week 6

What a difference a week makes, as we have seen a temperature shift of nearly 70 degrees. This is not only hard on us humans, but for our pets and especially outdoor livestock and those that are amid calving seasons. We wish you good luck. One of the things that last week brought out was the possibility of higher energy prices in your next bill. Our providers have been working hard to keep costs down and we are continuing to seek answers on where we go from here. This will become one of the top issues we will be dealing with the rest of the session.

Last week, the Commerce Committee worked on a bill that would provide more guidance to the Department of Labor in dealing with unemployment claims. This has been a frustrating issue and I am trying to work with Kansans and those who are continuing to run into roadblocks in receiving benefits that they have legitimately filed for. The Department of Labor sent an email to legislators late last week saying the backlog should be moving by March 1st.

I have received many comments on the issue of the failings of the Department of Labor, it is a situation that no one could have predicted. On one hand, the system was working before the pandemic so many would be upset if we have a grandiose system that was underutilized, and the legislature would have been scrutinized for unnecessarily spending money. On the other hand, should an upgrade been made, yes, but at what level and scope will always be open for speculation. I believe the legislature will make strides to fix many of these issues by the end of session.

Another issues that we continue to work on is the foster care system in Kansas. There are stories on multiple placements (one child having 130 placements), children sleeping in offices overnight, children running away from placements with the state having no idea where a child was located, and foster care children aging into the corrections system. In fact, a 2019 survey found that 1 in 3 Kansas inmates had been in foster care.

Last week, the House approved House Bill 2115, which emerged as one of the recommendations from the Legislature’s Special Committee on Foster Care Oversight. The bill establishes continual oversight – with creation of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight – to ensure eyes remain on the administration’s management of the system and on long-term improvements for children in foster care. The House passed the bill 118-4. I voted for the bill. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Also, late last week, the House approved House Bill 2114, which establishes the Kansas Senior Care Task Force. The task force will study issues a range of issues that impact seniors in our state, including available care for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, other age-related mental health conditions; safeguards to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors; and adult care home surveys and fines for violations. The House passed the bill, with a vote of 113-8.

The House also debated and approved House Bill 2151, a bill requested by Attorney General Derek Schmidt to improve efforts to prevent elder abuse in Kansas. Under HB 2151, a team of professionals would coordinate investigations of elder and dependent adult abuse. These teams, located in each of&nbsp;the state’s judicial districts, would also identify opportunities to improve the state’s response to the abuse of seniors. The House passed the bill, with a vote of 121-0. Both bills now go to the Senate for consideration. I voted for both.

It has been a quiet time in the agriculture committee, one of the bills we will be moving forward is commercialization of Industrial Hemp as the research phase has expired, we will reach “halftime” of the session the first weekend in March. Watch your local media outlet or social media as many county Farm Bureau’s are working on virtual town halls with legislators.

Because of COVID, we are not encouraging visitors to come to Topeka but if you would like to contact me, my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session. You can also follow me on Facebook at Ken for Kansas.

It is my honor to be your representative.

Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581437228209.jpeg" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist." />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>02-22-21Hello from Topeka! What a difference a week makes, as we have seen a temperature shift of nearly 70 degrees. This is not only hard on us humans, but for our pets and especially outdoor livestock and those that are amid calving seasons. We wish you good luck. One of the things that last week brought out was the possibility of higher energy prices in your next bill. Our providers have been working hard to keep costs down and we are continuing to seek answers on where we go from here. This will become one of the top issues we will be dealing with the rest of the session.Last week, the Commerce Committee worked on a bill that would provide more guidance to the Department of Labor in dealing with unemployment claims. This has been a frustrating issue and I am trying to work with Kansans and those who are continuing to run into roadblocks in receiving benefits that they have legitimately filed for. The Department of Labor sent an email to legislators late last week saying the backlog should be moving by March 1st.I have received many comments on the issue of the failings of the Department of Labor, it is a situation that no one could have predicted. On one hand, the system was working before the pandemic so many would be upset if we have a grandiose system that was underutilized, and the legislature would have been scrutinized for unnecessarily spending money. On the other hand, should an upgrade been made, yes, but at what level and scope will always be open for speculation. I believe the legislature will make strides to fix many of these issues by the end of session.Another issues that we continue to work on is the foster care system in Kansas. There are stories on multiple placements (one child having 130 placements), children sleeping in offices overnight, children running away from placements with the state having no idea where a child was located, and foster care children aging into the corrections system. In fact, a 2019 survey found that 1 in 3 Kansas inmates had been in foster care.Last week, the House approved House Bill 2115, which emerged as one of the recommendations from the Legislature’s Special Committee on Foster Care Oversight. The bill establishes continual oversight – with creation of the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight – to ensure eyes remain on the administration’s management of the system and on long-term improvements for children in foster care. The House passed the bill 118-4. I voted for the bill. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.Also, late last week, the House approved House Bill 2114, which establishes the Kansas Senior Care Task Force. The task force will study issues a range of issues that impact seniors in our state, including available care for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, other age-related mental health conditions; safeguards to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of seniors; and adult care home surveys and fines for violations. The House passed the bill, with a vote of 113-8.The House also debated and approved House Bill 2151, a bill requested by Attorney General Derek Schmidt to improve efforts to prevent elder abuse in Kansas. Under HB 2151, a team of professionals would coordinate investigations of elder and dependent adult abuse. These teams, located in each of&nbsp;the state’s judicial districts, would also identify opportunities to improve the state’s response to the abuse of seniors. The House passed the bill, with a vote of 121-0. Both bills now go to the Senate for consideration. I voted for both.It has been a quiet time in the agriculture committee, one of the bills we will be moving forward is commercialization of Industrial Hemp as the research phase has expired, we will reach “halftime” of the session the first weekend in March. Watch your local media outlet or social media as many county Farm Bureau’s are working on virtual town halls with legislators.Because of COVID, we are not encouraging visitors to come to Topeka but if you would like to contact me, my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session. You can also follow me on Facebook at Ken for Kansas.It is my honor to be your representative.Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

RAHJES REPORT: Feb. 22

	Life is challenging for children and for families. As a parent I worried about how I would protect my children from themselves and from others. While there is not a step-by-step guide for raising resilient kids, I often tell parents they just have to do the best job they can.

	As I shared in my prior three articles, the very first thing to do is to build a relationship with your children. Spend time with them and express your affection often. Demonstrate your love for your children by setting boundaries and limits. There should be no question that they must wear their seat belts and they cannot cross the street alone. When they become teens, parents must set the limits for what hours the phone can be used and that the phone will be charged overnight in the parent’s room. Parents must be good role models and follow the law.&nbsp; Children will learn that they too must follow the law. &nbsp;

	In the book “The Good Teen”, Richard Lerner discusses the 5 “C’s” of positive development for teens. Connection was the characteristic that made so much sense to me. Being involved in your child’s life is vitally important. Know what they are doing and who their friends are. Serve as a community volunteer as a family. Working together as a family contributes to family bonding. Get involved in your community so your children know the neighbors and those in community organizations. In turn, those adults will know your kids. As parents we do have to monitor what our children are doing. It is also helpful if everyone at school, at church and those in other organizations will help keep an eye out for your kids too.&nbsp;

	Kids need guidance. They also need to experience life to learn some things on their own. We cannot protect our children from all the disappointments in life. We can teach them to think through their actions and help them through the consequences of their actions, especially if things don’t turn out on the positive end. When your child’s behavior requires discipline, make sure the punishment is appropriate for the misbehavior.&nbsp;

	Be an advocate for your child. I did not go to a coach or a teacher and question the rules and guidelines they had set. However, if my child asked me to go with them to speak to a teacher, I joined them and listened in on the conversation. There is a fine line between monitoring your children’s activities and taking over and making decisions for them.&nbsp;

	The key to raising emotionally healthy children is to make sure that they are first and foremost in your life and that they know that they are. It may require that you as a parent lay down your phone. It saddens me to see adults more interested in their phone than they are in their children. Never give up on your kids or on their happiness. Be present and be there for them. 	&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	Life is challenging for children and for families. As a parent I worried about how I would protect my children from themselves and from others. While there is not a step-by-step guide for raising resilient kids, I often tell parents they just have to do the best job they can.	As I shared in my prior three articles, the very first thing to do is to build a relationship with your children. Spend time with them and express your affection often. Demonstrate your love for your children by setting boundaries and limits. There should be no question that they must wear their seat belts and they cannot cross the street alone. When they become teens, parents must set the limits for what hours the phone can be used and that the phone will be charged overnight in the parent’s room. Parents must be good role models and follow the law.&nbsp; Children will learn that they too must follow the law. &nbsp;	In the book “The Good Teen”, Richard Lerner discusses the 5 “C’s” of positive development for teens. Connection was the characteristic that made so much sense to me. Being involved in your child’s life is vitally important. Know what they are doing and who their friends are. Serve as a community volunteer as a family. Working together as a family contributes to family bonding. Get involved in your community so your children know the neighbors and those in community organizations. In turn, those adults will know your kids. As parents we do have to monitor what our children are doing. It is also helpful if everyone at school, at church and those in other organizations will help keep an eye out for your kids too.&nbsp;	Kids need guidance. They also need to experience life to learn some things on their own. We cannot protect our children from all the disappointments in life. We can teach them to think through their actions and help them through the consequences of their actions, especially if things don’t turn out on the positive end. When your child’s behavior requires discipline, make sure the punishment is appropriate for the misbehavior.&nbsp;	Be an advocate for your child. I did not go to a coach or a teacher and question the rules and guidelines they had set. However, if my child asked me to go with them to speak to a teacher, I joined them and listened in on the conversation. There is a fine line between monitoring your children’s activities and taking over and making decisions for them.&nbsp;	The key to raising emotionally healthy children is to make sure that they are first and foremost in your life and that they know that they are. It may require that you as a parent lay down your phone. It saddens me to see adults more interested in their phone than they are in their children. Never give up on your kids or on their happiness. Be present and be there for them. 	&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Be a protector

The would-be varsity cheerleader, the tattletale and Snapchat have 
converged in a Supreme Court free speech case sure to draw the interest 
of social media-loving students, concerned parents and wary school 
administrators everywhere.

In 2017, a ninth-grade student in Schuylkill County, Pa., who failed 
to make the varsity cheerleading squad, vented her frustration in an 
F-bomb laced Snapchat post. She repeated the same curse before each of 
the words “school,” “softball,” “cheer” and “everything.”

A teammate told a coach about the post, and administrators kicked her off the junior varsity cheerleading squad.

Now, in <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l/" target="_blank">Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.</a>,
 the Supreme Court faces the question: Can school officials punish 
students for social media posts even when students post them off-campus,
 including in their own homes? The stakes are high: School 
administrators say they need to know the limits of their authority. 
Students deserve to know if schools can regulate them for social media 
posts they make off school grounds. The court could hear oral arguments 
as early as April.

The student, identified as “B.L.,” <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/b.l._-_verified_complaint_-_9-25-17.pdf" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a> through her parents, alleging a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights. A federal district court <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/memorandum_opinion_granting_summary_judgment_for_b.l._-_3_21_19_.pdf" target="_blank">ruled in her favor</a>,
 reasoning her profane snap was off-campus speech that did not cause a 
substantial disruption of school activities. The disruption of school 
functions is the key standard in student-speech cases from the Supreme 
Court’s famous 1969 decision in <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/393/503.html" target="_blank">Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District</a>.

In Tinker, several students, including siblings Mary Beth and John Tinker,
 wore black armbands to school to protest U.S. involvement in the 
Vietnam War. School officials learned of the impending black armband 
protest and quickly passed a rule banning armbands. But they continued 
to allow students to wear other symbols, such as Iron Crosses and 
political campaign buttons. In effect, school officials had targeted a 
specific symbol associated with a particular political viewpoint.

The Supreme Court in Tinker delivered a <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/2019/01/30/tinker-after-50-a-historic-ruling-still-relevant-after-all-these-years/" target="_blank">stunning victory</a>
 for student rights, declaring that neither students nor teachers “shed 
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the 
schoolhouse gate.”

The court ruled that public school officials could not punish 
students for their speech unless the officials could reasonably forecast
 that the student speech would cause a substantial disruption of school 
activities.

Mahanoy school officials relied not on Tinker but another Supreme 
Court case to argue in support of their punishing the cheerleader 
student. In the 1986 case <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/478/675.html" target="_blank">Bethel School District v. Fraser</a>,
 school officials who disciplined a student for delivering a sexually 
laced speech during a student assembly prevailed. The court ruled in 
that case that public school officials could prohibit student speech 
that was vulgar or lewd.

In the cheerleading student’s case, an appellate court said the 
Fraser rule did not apply because her speech was completely off-campus.

The appeals court ruled that Tinker doesn’t apply to her case, either
 — it applies when student speech takes place on campus, within the 
schoolhouse gates, but not when a student is posting on social media at 
home, the court said. A concurring judge separately found that the 
Tinker ruling does apply, but that school officials still lose because 
the student’s off-campus speech did not disrupt school activities.

The Mahanoy school district, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, 
emphasized the vitally important question of whether Tinker applies to 
off-campus speech.

“That question has become especially acute because social media has 
made it far easier for students’ off-campus messages to instantly reach a
 wide audience of classmates and dominate the on-campus environment,” 
the school district <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-255/151619/20200828144703420_Mahanoy%20Cert%20Petition%20-%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">wrote in its petition</a>.

School administrators, students, parents, teachers and others don’t 
know how far the arm of school authority extends off campus. At the very
 least, public school officials must show a clear connection between the
 off-campus post and events that take place at school.

The court’s decision should provide much-needed guidance in an <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3650306" target="_blank">unsettled area</a>
 of student-speech law. Free-speech advocates hope the decision will, 
like the Tinker decision more than 50 years ago, respect students and 
their free-speech rights. Students are the future of the country and 
need to learn in an environment that protects their constitutional 
freedoms.

David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First 
Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University who publishes widely
 on First Amendment topics. He is the author of several First Amendment 
books, including “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguinrandomhouse.com%2Fbooks%2F209103%2Flet-the-students-speak-by-david-hudson%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C2685cd6ced894f04dd7c08d8ceab2bbc%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486582661751731%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0&amp;sdata=uHRw4fHnLNk9oFwbGjg9ckXMTppaXa0jcwqN1HPgwmk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Let The Students Speak!: A History of the Fight for Freedom of Expression in American Schools</a>” (2011). He is also the author of a 12-lecture audio course on the First Amendment titled, “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audible.com%2Fpd%2FFreedom-of-Speech-Audiobook%2FB07KWDRZ5Z&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C174b7887b2b646d45e7d08d8ceaddfa2%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486593458613959%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=dNR6vBtIwJZjR5U7TFot4X7J0o7dT67xpUSgGUTb1RY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Freedom of Speech: Understanding the First Amendment,</a>” Now You Know Media (2018).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613679776461.jpeg" alt="David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University." />
 <figcaption>David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University.</figcaption>
 </figure>The would-be varsity cheerleader, the tattletale and Snapchat have 
converged in a Supreme Court free speech case sure to draw the interest 
of social media-loving students, concerned parents and wary school 
administrators everywhere.In 2017, a ninth-grade student in Schuylkill County, Pa., who failed 
to make the varsity cheerleading squad, vented her frustration in an 
F-bomb laced Snapchat post. She repeated the same curse before each of 
the words “school,” “softball,” “cheer” and “everything.”A teammate told a coach about the post, and administrators kicked her off the junior varsity cheerleading squad.Now, in <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l/" target="_blank">Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.</a>,
 the Supreme Court faces the question: Can school officials punish 
students for social media posts even when students post them off-campus,
 including in their own homes? The stakes are high: School 
administrators say they need to know the limits of their authority. 
Students deserve to know if schools can regulate them for social media 
posts they make off school grounds. The court could hear oral arguments 
as early as April.The student, identified as “B.L.,” <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/b.l._-_verified_complaint_-_9-25-17.pdf" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a> through her parents, alleging a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights. A federal district court <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/memorandum_opinion_granting_summary_judgment_for_b.l._-_3_21_19_.pdf" target="_blank">ruled in her favor</a>,
 reasoning her profane snap was off-campus speech that did not cause a 
substantial disruption of school activities. The disruption of school 
functions is the key standard in student-speech cases from the Supreme 
Court’s famous 1969 decision in <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/393/503.html" target="_blank">Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District</a>.In Tinker, several students, including siblings Mary Beth and John Tinker,
 wore black armbands to school to protest U.S. involvement in the 
Vietnam War. School officials learned of the impending black armband 
protest and quickly passed a rule banning armbands. But they continued 
to allow students to wear other symbols, such as Iron Crosses and 
political campaign buttons. In effect, school officials had targeted a 
specific symbol associated with a particular political viewpoint.The Supreme Court in Tinker delivered a <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/2019/01/30/tinker-after-50-a-historic-ruling-still-relevant-after-all-these-years/" target="_blank">stunning victory</a>
 for student rights, declaring that neither students nor teachers “shed 
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the 
schoolhouse gate.”The court ruled that public school officials could not punish 
students for their speech unless the officials could reasonably forecast
 that the student speech would cause a substantial disruption of school 
activities.Mahanoy school officials relied not on Tinker but another Supreme 
Court case to argue in support of their punishing the cheerleader 
student. In the 1986 case <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/478/675.html" target="_blank">Bethel School District v. Fraser</a>,
 school officials who disciplined a student for delivering a sexually 
laced speech during a student assembly prevailed. The court ruled in 
that case that public school officials could prohibit student speech 
that was vulgar or lewd.In the cheerleading student’s case, an appellate court said the 
Fraser rule did not apply because her speech was completely off-campus.The appeals court ruled that Tinker doesn’t apply to her case, either
 — it applies when student speech takes place on campus, within the 
schoolhouse gates, but not when a student is posting on social media at 
home, the court said. A concurring judge separately found that the 
Tinker ruling does apply, but that school officials still lose because 
the student’s off-campus speech did not disrupt school activities.The Mahanoy school district, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, 
emphasized the vitally important question of whether Tinker applies to 
off-campus speech.“That question has become especially acute because social media has 
made it far easier for students’ off-campus messages to instantly reach a
 wide audience of classmates and dominate the on-campus environment,” 
the school district <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-255/151619/20200828144703420_Mahanoy%20Cert%20Petition%20-%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">wrote in its petition</a>.School administrators, students, parents, teachers and others don’t 
know how far the arm of school authority extends off campus. At the very
 least, public school officials must show a clear connection between the
 off-campus post and events that take place at school.The court’s decision should provide much-needed guidance in an <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3650306" target="_blank">unsettled area</a>
 of student-speech law. Free-speech advocates hope the decision will, 
like the Tinker decision more than 50 years ago, respect students and 
their free-speech rights. Students are the future of the country and 
need to learn in an environment that protects their constitutional 
freedoms.David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First 
Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University who publishes widely
 on First Amendment topics. He is the author of several First Amendment 
books, including “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguinrandomhouse.com%2Fbooks%2F209103%2Flet-the-students-speak-by-david-hudson%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C2685cd6ced894f04dd7c08d8ceab2bbc%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486582661751731%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0&amp;sdata=uHRw4fHnLNk9oFwbGjg9ckXMTppaXa0jcwqN1HPgwmk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Let The Students Speak!: A History of the Fight for Freedom of Expression in American Schools</a>” (2011). He is also the author of a 12-lecture audio course on the First Amendment titled, “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audible.com%2Fpd%2FFreedom-of-Speech-Audiobook%2FB07KWDRZ5Z&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C174b7887b2b646d45e7d08d8ceaddfa2%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486593458613959%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=dNR6vBtIwJZjR5U7TFot4X7J0o7dT67xpUSgGUTb1RY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Freedom of Speech: Understanding the First Amendment,</a>” Now You Know Media (2018).

FIRST FIVE: Snapchat rant tests students’ free speech rights

While it still seems early in the year to me, I must admit the days are going by in a hurry.&nbsp; Of course each day brings us one day closer to spring, which means warmer weather and longer bike rides.&nbsp; Those of you who come to my educational programs or read my columns know that I am passionate about topics related to health and wellness.&nbsp; Today I want to talk about another type of health — that is financial health.&nbsp;

If ever there was a year to drive home how important saving for emergencies is, the past year wins the prize. The sudden loss of income linked to COVID-19 caught people off guard. Businesses closed or reduced operations, leading to job losses or smaller paychecks for many in our communities.

The last week in February is designated as Kansas Saves week.&nbsp; This coincides with a national campaign America Saves.&nbsp; This is a great time to think about goals and consider setting, or renewing, a savings goal. &nbsp; &nbsp;

A fact sheet titled, “Spend Some, Save Some, Share Some: Family Budgeting” has good information to help you get started. Elizabeth Kiss, our Extension Specialist in the area of Financial Management, and author of the fact sheet, shares advice in key areas of your spending plan. She recommends spending no more than 25 percent of your income on housing and save a least 10 percent of each paycheck. It is also wise to put aside at least three months living expenses in a rainy-day fund. If possible consider contributing 10 percent of your income to your faith-based community or some other cause.

The idea of a budget often conjures up ideas of sacrifice or doing without. It doesn’t have to be that way. A budget, also called a spending plan, is a guide for how you will use your money over a specific period of time to meet your goals. Of course, to be most useful, it needs to be as realistic as possible. Events of the past year may have influenced your spending plan and created the need to adjust your plan.

When it comes to saving, you will need to determine what works best for your household. Many people have found that having a certain amount transferred automatically from each paycheck into a savings or investment account is the most effective way to save. Having clear goals for what you are saving for will help keep you motivated and you will be surprised at how quickly you can reach your goal.&nbsp;

Feel free to stop by my office, give me a call, or send an e-mail if you would like to receive the fact sheet, “Spend Some, Save Some, Share Some: Family Budgeting.”&nbsp;

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp; You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>While it still seems early in the year to me, I must admit the days are going by in a hurry.&nbsp; Of course each day brings us one day closer to spring, which means warmer weather and longer bike rides.&nbsp; Those of you who come to my educational programs or read my columns know that I am passionate about topics related to health and wellness.&nbsp; Today I want to talk about another type of health — that is financial health.&nbsp;If ever there was a year to drive home how important saving for emergencies is, the past year wins the prize. The sudden loss of income linked to COVID-19 caught people off guard. Businesses closed or reduced operations, leading to job losses or smaller paychecks for many in our communities.The last week in February is designated as Kansas Saves week.&nbsp; This coincides with a national campaign America Saves.&nbsp; This is a great time to think about goals and consider setting, or renewing, a savings goal. &nbsp; &nbsp;A fact sheet titled, “Spend Some, Save Some, Share Some: Family Budgeting” has good information to help you get started. Elizabeth Kiss, our Extension Specialist in the area of Financial Management, and author of the fact sheet, shares advice in key areas of your spending plan. She recommends spending no more than 25 percent of your income on housing and save a least 10 percent of each paycheck. It is also wise to put aside at least three months living expenses in a rainy-day fund. If possible consider contributing 10 percent of your income to your faith-based community or some other cause.The idea of a budget often conjures up ideas of sacrifice or doing without. It doesn’t have to be that way. A budget, also called a spending plan, is a guide for how you will use your money over a specific period of time to meet your goals. Of course, to be most useful, it needs to be as realistic as possible. Events of the past year may have influenced your spending plan and created the need to adjust your plan.When it comes to saving, you will need to determine what works best for your household. Many people have found that having a certain amount transferred automatically from each paycheck into a savings or investment account is the most effective way to save. Having clear goals for what you are saving for will help keep you motivated and you will be surprised at how quickly you can reach your goal.&nbsp;Feel free to stop by my office, give me a call, or send an e-mail if you would like to receive the fact sheet, “Spend Some, Save Some, Share Some: Family Budgeting.”&nbsp;Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp; You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Celebrate Kansas Saves Week

Democrat House impeachment managers clearly showed two things:&nbsp; 1) it's all political having nothing to do with right vs. wrong or the Constitution.&nbsp; &nbsp;2) they have pure unadulterated hate for Trump!.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;As a cradle to grave Christian, I need to pray for Democrats since my beliefs are that hatred toward a person leads straight to hell. Small wonder it is Trump that gets the Christian vote and not Democrats. There was lots of hypocrisy in the Dem presentations.&nbsp; It's wrong for Trump to use the word "fight" but common day rhetoric for Dems&nbsp; as a very lengthy clip demonstrated.&nbsp; Dems have used that word hundreds of times in the past to rile up their base. Another hypocrisy is that Trump voters should be censored or go to jail by claiming the election was stolen. Video clips showed everybody and their uncle on the Dem side screamed bloody murder about Trump stealing the election of 2016. Oh my god, then there's the coup that Trump colluded with Russia to win his election - followed by a multi million dollar three year investigation that proved nothing. Perhaps the most blatant hypocrisy was painting the Capital riot as the worst in American history and, of course, caused by Trump.&nbsp; None of the House managers or Dems in the Senate or Nancy Pelosi or President Biden condemned months of riots by terrorists across America by looting businesses, burning buildings, injuring police, even killing some.&nbsp; Even some Dems openly supported the riots. Trump was afforded no due process when the impeachment was in the House - an unprecedented and unconstitutional procedure. Every procedure used in a court of law was trampled on.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've written the following past three letters to the editor.&nbsp; &nbsp;One was on America as a third world country, then one claiming Dems can do anything with no accountability, and a third that there is no equality of justice as Dems have one standard and Reps another.&nbsp; The impeachment proved all of my points.&nbsp; The desperation of House managers, as their case fell apart, was despicable and immoral. They started making things up, doctored, fabricated, and created out of context clips.&nbsp; Last time I checked that's not a road to life hereafter either.&nbsp; The fact that the Capitol riot was planned weeks, maybe months, ahead of time should have been a red flag for Democrats.&nbsp; The rioters invaded the Capital before Trump even spoke at the rally so how did Trump incite the riot with his words?&nbsp; Why no capital security, a responsibility of Democrat leadership in congress?&nbsp; That is a huge question, yet to be answered.&nbsp;&nbsp; Justice was served with a Trump acquittal, but ethics, morality, and constitutionality took a back seat like never before in American history impeachment proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Democrat House impeachment managers clearly showed two things:&nbsp; 1) it's all political having nothing to do with right vs. wrong or the Constitution.&nbsp; &nbsp;2) they have pure unadulterated hate for Trump!.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;As a cradle to grave Christian, I need to pray for Democrats since my beliefs are that hatred toward a person leads straight to hell. Small wonder it is Trump that gets the Christian vote and not Democrats. There was lots of hypocrisy in the Dem presentations.&nbsp; It's wrong for Trump to use the word "fight" but common day rhetoric for Dems&nbsp; as a very lengthy clip demonstrated.&nbsp; Dems have used that word hundreds of times in the past to rile up their base. Another hypocrisy is that Trump voters should be censored or go to jail by claiming the election was stolen. Video clips showed everybody and their uncle on the Dem side screamed bloody murder about Trump stealing the election of 2016. Oh my god, then there's the coup that Trump colluded with Russia to win his election - followed by a multi million dollar three year investigation that proved nothing. Perhaps the most blatant hypocrisy was painting the Capital riot as the worst in American history and, of course, caused by Trump.&nbsp; None of the House managers or Dems in the Senate or Nancy Pelosi or President Biden condemned months of riots by terrorists across America by looting businesses, burning buildings, injuring police, even killing some.&nbsp; Even some Dems openly supported the riots. Trump was afforded no due process when the impeachment was in the House - an unprecedented and unconstitutional procedure. Every procedure used in a court of law was trampled on.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've written the following past three letters to the editor.&nbsp; &nbsp;One was on America as a third world country, then one claiming Dems can do anything with no accountability, and a third that there is no equality of justice as Dems have one standard and Reps another.&nbsp; The impeachment proved all of my points.&nbsp; The desperation of House managers, as their case fell apart, was despicable and immoral. They started making things up, doctored, fabricated, and created out of context clips.&nbsp; Last time I checked that's not a road to life hereafter either.&nbsp; The fact that the Capitol riot was planned weeks, maybe months, ahead of time should have been a red flag for Democrats.&nbsp; The rioters invaded the Capital before Trump even spoke at the rally so how did Trump incite the riot with his words?&nbsp; Why no capital security, a responsibility of Democrat leadership in congress?&nbsp; That is a huge question, yet to be answered.&nbsp;&nbsp; Justice was served with a Trump acquittal, but ethics, morality, and constitutionality took a back seat like never before in American history impeachment proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;Les Knoll, Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

LETTER: My takeaawy from Trumps impeachment

Rural Hospital Innovation Grant Fund

<a>When Governor Laura Kelly introduced her budget to the Legislature in early January, she indicated that she would have two Executive Reorganization orders (ERO).&nbsp; An ERO is a reorganization of departments or agencies made by the Governor that must be approved or disapproved by the legislature.&nbsp; The Governor did have two EROs last legislative session, both of which were disapproved by House of Representatives.</a>

ERO 47 renames the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and combines it with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).&nbsp; The new state agency would be the Department of Human Services (DHS).&nbsp; This ERO is very similar to the ERO that was submitted to the Legislature last year, although, in last year’s ERO it also included the aspects of juvenile justice.&nbsp; However, this year the Governor did not include combining juvenile justice into DHS.

The Social Services Budget Committee had hearings on the ERO and then made the recommendation to the Appropriations Committee to once again disapprove the merger of the two agencies.&nbsp; The Appropriations Committee accepted the recommendation from the budget committee and now it awaits debate on the House floor.

There is a second ERO which would transfer Tourism from the Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism to the Department of Commerce.&nbsp; This ERO was heard in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and their recommendation is to have&nbsp;it approved by the House.

Earlier this week, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which Kansas is part of, asked electric utilities to implement controlled and temporary emergency electricity reductions due to the extremely frigid temperatures we were experiencing.&nbsp; 

Across the state of Kansas, there were scheduled and planned rolling blackouts to prevent a larger uncontrolled and extended power outage.&nbsp; In some parts of the state, some utility companies began turning off electricity to blocks of their customers for approximately 30-60 minutes.&nbsp; Once the power was restored, then other outages rotated to other areas of the utility’s service area.&nbsp; They conducted these rolling blackouts throughout Monday afternoon and evening.&nbsp; After the blackouts, the strain on the power grid subsided and maintained and the SPP stated that there would not be any need for anymore scheduled rolling blackouts.

<a></a><a>On Wednesday, February 17, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on eleven bills, passing all of those bills to the Kansas State Senate.</a>

One of those bills that we debated and voted on is House Bill 2187, which would enact the first-time Home Buyer Act and would establish changes to the Kansas adjusted gross income of an individual for contributions to a first-time home buyer savings account.&nbsp; This will also allow for an individual to open first-time home buyer savings accounts to save for the purchase or construction of a home in the state of Kansas.&nbsp; This bill passed out of the House with a vote of 119-3.

On Thursday, we held debate on five additional bills.&nbsp; One of those bills was House Bill 2125 which would allow a copy of a will to be filed and admitted to probate.&nbsp; The bill also states the allowance of a will or copy of a will can be filed within six months after the death of the testator to be admitted to probate at any time. Current law was also amended to reflect that a copy of a decedent’s will may be filed with the district court in the county where the decedent last resided.&nbsp; This bill passed out of the House on Thursday with a vote of 118-3.&nbsp; I voted “yes.”

Anytime 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&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov" target="_blank">troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov</a>.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/s/pdf/district_maps/district_map_h_109.pdf">109th Kansas House District</a>&nbsp;state representative and chairman of the Appropriations Committee.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577788173848.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>February 19, 2021Rural Hospital Innovation Grant Fund<a>When Governor Laura Kelly introduced her budget to the Legislature in early January, she indicated that she would have two Executive Reorganization orders (ERO).&nbsp; An ERO is a reorganization of departments or agencies made by the Governor that must be approved or disapproved by the legislature.&nbsp; The Governor did have two EROs last legislative session, both of which were disapproved by House of Representatives.</a>ERO 47 renames the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and combines it with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).&nbsp; The new state agency would be the Department of Human Services (DHS).&nbsp; This ERO is very similar to the ERO that was submitted to the Legislature last year, although, in last year’s ERO it also included the aspects of juvenile justice.&nbsp; However, this year the Governor did not include combining juvenile justice into DHS.The Social Services Budget Committee had hearings on the ERO and then made the recommendation to the Appropriations Committee to once again disapprove the merger of the two agencies.&nbsp; The Appropriations Committee accepted the recommendation from the budget committee and now it awaits debate on the House floor.There is a second ERO which would transfer Tourism from the Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism to the Department of Commerce.&nbsp; This ERO was heard in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and their recommendation is to have&nbsp;it approved by the House.Power GridEarlier this week, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which Kansas is part of, asked electric utilities to implement controlled and temporary emergency electricity reductions due to the extremely frigid temperatures we were experiencing.&nbsp; Across the state of Kansas, there were scheduled and planned rolling blackouts to prevent a larger uncontrolled and extended power outage.&nbsp; In some parts of the state, some utility companies began turning off electricity to blocks of their customers for approximately 30-60 minutes.&nbsp; Once the power was restored, then other outages rotated to other areas of the utility’s service area.&nbsp; They conducted these rolling blackouts throughout Monday afternoon and evening.&nbsp; After the blackouts, the strain on the power grid subsided and maintained and the SPP stated that there would not be any need for anymore scheduled rolling blackouts.Bills Passed the House<a></a><a>On Wednesday, February 17, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on eleven bills, passing all of those bills to the Kansas State Senate.</a>One of those bills that we debated and voted on is House Bill 2187, which would enact the first-time Home Buyer Act and would establish changes to the Kansas adjusted gross income of an individual for contributions to a first-time home buyer savings account.&nbsp; This will also allow for an individual to open first-time home buyer savings accounts to save for the purchase or construction of a home in the state of Kansas.&nbsp; This bill passed out of the House with a vote of 119-3.On Thursday, we held debate on five additional bills.&nbsp; One of those bills was House Bill 2125 which would allow a copy of a will to be filed and admitted to probate.&nbsp; The bill also states the allowance of a will or copy of a will can be filed within six months after the death of the testator to be admitted to probate at any time. Current law was also amended to reflect that a copy of a decedent’s will may be filed with the district court in the county where the decedent last resided.&nbsp; This bill passed out of the House on Thursday with a vote of 118-3.&nbsp; I voted “yes.”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&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a>.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov" target="_blank">troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov</a>.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/s/pdf/district_maps/district_map_h_109.pdf">109th Kansas House District</a>&nbsp;state representative and chairman of the Appropriations Committee.&nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, Feb. 19

Despite elections and trials and pandemics, some things don’t seem to ever change. The national government pushes around state governments, with mixed amounts of success, and state governments push around city governments, usually with near-total success. It’s consistent.

In the former case, the Republican party deserves credit (or blame) for limiting the success of the national government–which has far more financial resources than any state, as well as the Constitution’s supremacy clause on its side–when it comes to claims of authority.&nbsp;

For over a half-century, the modern GOP has mostly embraced a reading of American federalism focused on the power of states and state legislatures, and they’ve supported that reading with money and votes. The result has been an intrenchment of politically effective state-level “veto points,” where the states have been able to slow or stop policies pursued by nationally elected leaders, sometimes even wresting federal policy power away for the states entirely.

In the latter case, however, the Democratic party has been far less effective in articulating an argument for defending the governing power of municipalities. Indeed, much of the time the Democratic party, often obsessively focused on the White House, fails to even take seriously city governments, counting on the support of urban votes but rarely organizing on their behalf. Mostly they insist that if just the right people can be elected nationally, then financial support for cities–who are obliged to actually run many federally-mandated programs--will be plentiful.

That’s important, surely. Much of the $350 billion which President Biden’s relief plan has earmarked for states and cities will assist municipalities dealing with huge revenue shortfalls. And yet, such promises of aid are of limited use when cities themselves are hamstrung by state governments in their efforts to democratically respond to and serve their own local citizens.

Across the country, states routinely threaten city governments when they attempt to reform their police departments (which those cities pay for), or encourage denser construction practices (along streets which those cities have to maintain), or act in other ways that the often Republican majorities in their state governments don’t care for. Here in Kansas, such examples are common.

In the Kansas state senate, a bill is being debated that would profoundly limit cities’ ability to explore sustainable energy alternatives to natural gas. It may not go anywhere–but it wouldn’t be surprising if it did. In 2014, the Kansas government passed a law undermining the ability of municipal governments to set local gun control ordinances. In 2015, the state sued the city of Wichita to stop from them following through on a minor local marijuana decriminalization referendum. And while in 101 Kansas counties voters can choose their own election officials, in the four largest counties in the state–with cities like Kansas City, Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita--the state government insists on making those appointments themselves.

You see this in state agencies as well, with the Kansas Board of Regents imposing standardized expectations upon Kansas’s universities and sequestering parts of their budgets, depriving them of the ability to respond to the difficulties they face in ways that will serve local students best.

It would be wonderful if defending the power of cities to serve the 75% of the Kansas population which live in them were a more important part of the state Democratic party’s play book, or the national one’s for that matter. But in the meantime, please: at least don’t get in the way of the funds which cities need to keep doing the things they been tasked to do.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite elections and trials and pandemics, some things don’t seem to ever change. The national government pushes around state governments, with mixed amounts of success, and state governments push around city governments, usually with near-total success. It’s consistent.In the former case, the Republican party deserves credit (or blame) for limiting the success of the national government–which has far more financial resources than any state, as well as the Constitution’s supremacy clause on its side–when it comes to claims of authority.&nbsp;For over a half-century, the modern GOP has mostly embraced a reading of American federalism focused on the power of states and state legislatures, and they’ve supported that reading with money and votes. The result has been an intrenchment of politically effective state-level “veto points,” where the states have been able to slow or stop policies pursued by nationally elected leaders, sometimes even wresting federal policy power away for the states entirely.In the latter case, however, the Democratic party has been far less effective in articulating an argument for defending the governing power of municipalities. Indeed, much of the time the Democratic party, often obsessively focused on the White House, fails to even take seriously city governments, counting on the support of urban votes but rarely organizing on their behalf. Mostly they insist that if just the right people can be elected nationally, then financial support for cities–who are obliged to actually run many federally-mandated programs--will be plentiful.That’s important, surely. Much of the $350 billion which President Biden’s relief plan has earmarked for states and cities will assist municipalities dealing with huge revenue shortfalls. And yet, such promises of aid are of limited use when cities themselves are hamstrung by state governments in their efforts to democratically respond to and serve their own local citizens.Across the country, states routinely threaten city governments when they attempt to reform their police departments (which those cities pay for), or encourage denser construction practices (along streets which those cities have to maintain), or act in other ways that the often Republican majorities in their state governments don’t care for. Here in Kansas, such examples are common.In the Kansas state senate, a bill is being debated that would profoundly limit cities’ ability to explore sustainable energy alternatives to natural gas. It may not go anywhere–but it wouldn’t be surprising if it did. In 2014, the Kansas government passed a law undermining the ability of municipal governments to set local gun control ordinances. In 2015, the state sued the city of Wichita to stop from them following through on a minor local marijuana decriminalization referendum. And while in 101 Kansas counties voters can choose their own election officials, in the four largest counties in the state–with cities like Kansas City, Overland Park, Topeka, and Wichita--the state government insists on making those appointments themselves.You see this in state agencies as well, with the Kansas Board of Regents imposing standardized expectations upon Kansas’s universities and sequestering parts of their budgets, depriving them of the ability to respond to the difficulties they face in ways that will serve local students best.It would be wonderful if defending the power of cities to serve the 75% of the Kansas population which live in them were a more important part of the state Democratic party’s play book, or the national one’s for that matter. But in the meantime, please: at least don’t get in the way of the funds which cities need to keep doing the things they been tasked to do.Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Why is it so easy to push cities around?

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Are you interested in keeping up with the latest weed management information? If so, you’ll want to add the “War Against Weeds” podcast to your weed management toolbox. This podcast is a brand new outreach effort from Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Science Specialist, Mandy Bish, Extension Weed Scientist at the University of Missouri, and Joe Ikely, Extension Weed Scientist at North Dakota State.

All podcast episodes will be posted at <a href="https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/">https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/</a> and will also be freely available on Spotify, a digital streaming service. Additional ways to access the podcast will be available in the future. The first full-length episode was available the week of Jan. 18 and is titled “Silver Bullets are for Werewolves."

Future episodes will feature a variety of guests from private industry, extension and research with expertise in many of aspects of weed science as they discuss key topics like integrated weed management, herbicide resistance, and others.

“We are looking forward to sharing our conversations about current issues in weed management”, says Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Specialist.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613668718790.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictAre you interested in keeping up with the latest weed management information? If so, you’ll want to add the “War Against Weeds” podcast to your weed management toolbox. This podcast is a brand new outreach effort from Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Science Specialist, Mandy Bish, Extension Weed Scientist at the University of Missouri, and Joe Ikely, Extension Weed Scientist at North Dakota State.All podcast episodes will be posted at <a href="https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/">https://waragainstweeds.libsyn.com/</a> and will also be freely available on Spotify, a digital streaming service. Additional ways to access the podcast will be available in the future. The first full-length episode was available the week of Jan. 18 and is titled “Silver Bullets are for Werewolves." Future episodes will feature a variety of guests from private industry, extension and research with expertise in many of aspects of weed science as they discuss key topics like integrated weed management, herbicide resistance, and others.“We are looking forward to sharing our conversations about current issues in weed management”, says Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Specialist.&nbsp;

CAMPBELL: Extension launches a new podcast on battling weeds

Gardeners are eager to get out and do something in the landscape this time of year. One chore that can be taken care of now is pruning certain shrubs. Often, gardeners approach pruning with trepidation, but it is not as difficult as it may seem. Remember, not all shrubs need to be pruned (i.e., witch hazel), and certain shrubs, which will be identified later, should not be pruned this time of year. Shrubs are pruned to maintain or reduce the size, rejuvenate growth, or to remove diseased, dead, or damaged branches. Deciduous shrubs are those that lose their leaves each winter. Evergreen shrubs maintain foliage all year and include yews and junipers. Deciduous shrubs are placed into three groups:&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that flower in the spring on wood produced last year.&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that flower later in the year on current seasons’ growth; and&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that may produce flowers, but those flowers are of little ornamental value.

Shrubs that flower in the spring should not be pruned until immediately after flowering. &nbsp;Though pruning earlier will not harm the health of the plant, the flowering display will be reduced. Examples of these types of plants include forsythia, lilac, and mock orange. Shrubs that bloom on current seasons’ growth or that do not produce ornamental flowers are best pruned in late winter to early spring. Examples include Rose-of-Sharon, pyracantha, Bumald spirea, and Japanese spirea. Pruning during the spring allows wounds to heal quickly without threat from insects or disease. There is no need to treat pruning cuts with paints or sealers. In fact, some of these products may slow healing. There are three basic methods used in pruning shrubs: thinning, heading back, and rejuvenating. Thinning is used to thin out branches from a shrub that is too dense. It is accomplished by removing most of the inward growing twigs by cutting them back to a larger branch. On multi-stemmed shrubs, the oldest canes may be removed entirely. Heading back is done by removing the end of a branch by cutting it back to a bud and is used for either reducing height or keeping a shrub compact. Branches are not cut back to a uniform height because this results in a "witches-broom" effect.​Rejuvenation is the most severe type of pruning and may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large, with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes. All stems are cut back to 3- to 5-inch stubs. This is not recommended for all shrubs but does work well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, Russian almond, little leaf mock orange, shrub roses, and flowering quince. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Gardeners are eager to get out and do something in the landscape this time of year. One chore that can be taken care of now is pruning certain shrubs. Often, gardeners approach pruning with trepidation, but it is not as difficult as it may seem. Remember, not all shrubs need to be pruned (i.e., witch hazel), and certain shrubs, which will be identified later, should not be pruned this time of year. Shrubs are pruned to maintain or reduce the size, rejuvenate growth, or to remove diseased, dead, or damaged branches. Deciduous shrubs are those that lose their leaves each winter. Evergreen shrubs maintain foliage all year and include yews and junipers. Deciduous shrubs are placed into three groups:&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that flower in the spring on wood produced last year.&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that flower later in the year on current seasons’ growth; and&nbsp; &nbsp; - Those that may produce flowers, but those flowers are of little ornamental value.Shrubs that flower in the spring should not be pruned until immediately after flowering. &nbsp;Though pruning earlier will not harm the health of the plant, the flowering display will be reduced. Examples of these types of plants include forsythia, lilac, and mock orange. Shrubs that bloom on current seasons’ growth or that do not produce ornamental flowers are best pruned in late winter to early spring. Examples include Rose-of-Sharon, pyracantha, Bumald spirea, and Japanese spirea. Pruning during the spring allows wounds to heal quickly without threat from insects or disease. There is no need to treat pruning cuts with paints or sealers. In fact, some of these products may slow healing. There are three basic methods used in pruning shrubs: thinning, heading back, and rejuvenating. Thinning is used to thin out branches from a shrub that is too dense. It is accomplished by removing most of the inward growing twigs by cutting them back to a larger branch. On multi-stemmed shrubs, the oldest canes may be removed entirely. Heading back is done by removing the end of a branch by cutting it back to a bud and is used for either reducing height or keeping a shrub compact. Branches are not cut back to a uniform height because this results in a "witches-broom" effect.​Rejuvenation is the most severe type of pruning and may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large, with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes. All stems are cut back to 3- to 5-inch stubs. This is not recommended for all shrubs but does work well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, Russian almond, little leaf mock orange, shrub roses, and flowering quince. Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions, she can be contacted by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lfick@k-state.edu">lfick@k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Pruning deciduous shrubs

It has been nearly 40 years since we have been experiencing this prolonged of a cold snap, the last few winters have been cold but temperatures near zero or below for several days. I appreciate you reading this column and responding back to it. I do ask that when you call my office please leave a phone number to contact you. It is tough to have a conversation when we cannot dialogue about your concern. We have several ways to communicate and I like to talk rather than email or text.

The House is pushing for an overhaul of the Kansas Department of Labor and the state’s unemployment system. Last week, the House Commerce Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2196, which is intended to immediately address the short-term problems at KDOL, but also guarantee the long-term stability of the state’s unemployment trust fund. The bill contains three main components:

•Oversight &amp; IT Modernization. HB 2196 creates oversight to ensure IT system upgrades are implemented at KDOL. The bill also requires the department to implement over 30 features and components in their upgraded IT infrastructure to ensure security and convenience for Kansas workers.

•Fraud Immunity. The bill provides protections so that Kansas businesses are not left to pay the price for fraudulent claims paid out by the department over the past year. Prior the pandemic, the unemployment trust fund was stable with over $1.2 billion in reserves. Today, less than $200 million sits in the fund’s reserves with an unknown chunk of those dollars being paid out in fraudulent claims that were not authorized by employers. Employers should not bear the burden of replenishing funds that were lost due to fraud.

• Rate Table Adjustments. Because the trust fund is exclusively paid for by employers, employers would be required to pay exorbitant amounts in taxes to refill the trust fund due to the non-fraudulent claims paid out through this pandemic. While employers understand taxes will have to be paid to restore the health of the trust fund, there are structural limitations in the rate tables that – if not addressed - would leave employers to disproportionally pay back the fund. HB 2196 seeks to remedy that, establishing parity for businesses by proposing new rate tables that will spread the restoration of the trust fund more evenly across the employer community.

These bills should not be partisan and we are at a time when all of us as elected officials need to pass these bills and the Governor sign them as we work together as one Kansas.

Late last week, the House advanced Senate Bill 15, sending it to the Governor for consideration. This legislation would create the Kansas Economic Recovery Loan Deposit Program as a new resource for local businesses that may have been impacted economically by the pandemic.

The loan program, based on similar programs that have proven successful in other states, will make $60 million in state idle funds available – through our local financial institutions – in the form of low-interest loans. Kansas small businesses, farmers and ranchers are eligible for the loans, which may be up to

$250,000 with up to a 10-year term. The bill requires annual reporting on the outcome of the loan program so the Legislature can provide ongoing oversight.

A similar bill passed the House last May but was vetoed by Governor Kelly. It is a good bill for our rural communities. The Legislature remains hopeful the Governor will reconsider last year’s veto and make this financing available to Kansans.

My committee assignments this year: Chairperson of Committee on Agriculture, Member of Higher Education Budget and Member Committee on Appropriations.

Recently, I appeared on The Kansas Legislature show on Smoky Hills Public Television and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/608e35f3-38e8-416d-955d-5801a84b1b48">Forward Ever podcast with Gary Shorman from Eagle</a>. You can find those links on the internet.

Because of COVID, we are not encouraging visitors to come to Topeka but if you would like to contact me my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session. You can also follow me on Facebook @kenforkansas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581437228209.jpeg" alt="Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist." />
 <figcaption>Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist.</figcaption>
 </figure>02-16-21Hello from Topeka! It has been nearly 40 years since we have been experiencing this prolonged of a cold snap, the last few winters have been cold but temperatures near zero or below for several days. I appreciate you reading this column and responding back to it. I do ask that when you call my office please leave a phone number to contact you. It is tough to have a conversation when we cannot dialogue about your concern. We have several ways to communicate and I like to talk rather than email or text.The House is pushing for an overhaul of the Kansas Department of Labor and the state’s unemployment system. Last week, the House Commerce Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2196, which is intended to immediately address the short-term problems at KDOL, but also guarantee the long-term stability of the state’s unemployment trust fund. The bill contains three main components:•Oversight &amp; IT Modernization. HB 2196 creates oversight to ensure IT system upgrades are implemented at KDOL. The bill also requires the department to implement over 30 features and components in their upgraded IT infrastructure to ensure security and convenience for Kansas workers.•Fraud Immunity. The bill provides protections so that Kansas businesses are not left to pay the price for fraudulent claims paid out by the department over the past year. Prior the pandemic, the unemployment trust fund was stable with over $1.2 billion in reserves. Today, less than $200 million sits in the fund’s reserves with an unknown chunk of those dollars being paid out in fraudulent claims that were not authorized by employers. Employers should not bear the burden of replenishing funds that were lost due to fraud.• Rate Table Adjustments. Because the trust fund is exclusively paid for by employers, employers would be required to pay exorbitant amounts in taxes to refill the trust fund due to the non-fraudulent claims paid out through this pandemic. While employers understand taxes will have to be paid to restore the health of the trust fund, there are structural limitations in the rate tables that – if not addressed - would leave employers to disproportionally pay back the fund. HB 2196 seeks to remedy that, establishing parity for businesses by proposing new rate tables that will spread the restoration of the trust fund more evenly across the employer community.These bills should not be partisan and we are at a time when all of us as elected officials need to pass these bills and the Governor sign them as we work together as one Kansas.Late last week, the House advanced Senate Bill 15, sending it to the Governor for consideration. This legislation would create the Kansas Economic Recovery Loan Deposit Program as a new resource for local businesses that may have been impacted economically by the pandemic.The loan program, based on similar programs that have proven successful in other states, will make $60 million in state idle funds available – through our local financial institutions – in the form of low-interest loans. Kansas small businesses, farmers and ranchers are eligible for the loans, which may be up to$250,000 with up to a 10-year term. The bill requires annual reporting on the outcome of the loan program so the Legislature can provide ongoing oversight.A similar bill passed the House last May but was vetoed by Governor Kelly. It is a good bill for our rural communities. The Legislature remains hopeful the Governor will reconsider last year’s veto and make this financing available to Kansans.My committee assignments this year: Chairperson of Committee on Agriculture, Member of Higher Education Budget and Member Committee on Appropriations.Recently, I appeared on The Kansas Legislature show on Smoky Hills Public Television and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/608e35f3-38e8-416d-955d-5801a84b1b48">Forward Ever podcast with Gary Shorman from Eagle</a>. You can find those links on the internet.Because of COVID, we are not encouraging visitors to come to Topeka but if you would like to contact me my office is still located in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296- 7463 and email is: ken.rahjes@house.ks.gov and you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416. When you call or write you might hear from Terry Bernatis, my assistant during the session. You can also follow me on Facebook @kenforkansasIt is my honor to be your representative.Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, is the Kansas state representative of the 110th Dist. House District 110 includes:&nbsp; Norton and Phillips Counties Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen;&nbsp;Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part),&nbsp;Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part) Graham County: City: Hill City;&nbsp;Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part) Rooks County: Cities: Damar, Palco, Plainville,&nbsp;Stockton, Woodston and Zurich

RAHJES REPORT: Feb. 16

Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $49.75 per barrel after jumping nearly two dollars on Friday. Prices in McPherson are up nearly $3 from a week ago, and are six dollars higher than at the first of the month.&nbsp; Nymex crude futures on Monday were trading over $60 for the first time since early January. WTI prices have advanced 25 percent so far this year. The benchmark contract was up 66 cents in afternoon trading Monday to $60.13 per barrel. London Brent was up 78 cents at $63.21 per barrel. Of the 195 drilling rigs in Kansas this week, 138 are inactive and cold stacked, an increase of three rigs in that category over the week before. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says there are nine active rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one for the week. The count east of Wichita is unchanged at seven active rigs.&nbsp; Drillers reached total depth on a well in Ellis County and an operator is about to spud a new well on a lease in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports 397 active drilling rigs nationwide, an increase of seven oil rigs in its weekly Rotary Rig Count.&nbsp; The count in Texas was up four rigs. Canada was up five at 176 active rigs. Regulators approved five new drilling permits last week. That's 90 so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 10 newly completed wells across Kansas, 73 so far this year. There were four new completions in eastern Kansas, and six west of Wichita, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County. The government said domestic crude-oil inventories rose 6.6 million barrels last week to 469 million. That's about two percent above the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reported an uptick in U.S. crude production last week. Production jumped nearly 100,000 barrels per day on the week to just over 11 million barrels per day. Output remains remain nearly two million barrels per day behind the record-setting pace of a year ago. when U.S. operators pumped just shy of 13 million barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration reported imports of 5.9 million barrels per day for the week ending February 5. That's down 700,000 barrels per day from the week before. The four-week average for crude imports remains 12% below the same four-week period a year ago. In a monthly report, the Energy Information Administration reported worldwide oil prices in January were $5 per barrel higher than the month before, $9 per barrel lower than a year earlier. EIA said consumption worldwide was down 2.8 million barrels per day from a year earlier. Democratic politicians in a slew of oil-dependent states are now forced to reckon with a clash of progressive ideals: Their support for President Biden’s plan to fight global warming could damage the fossil-fuel economy that has been a huge source of revenue for schools in New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, coastal hurricane remediation, and other government programs. That was upwards of $1.8 billion total last year. Biden last month paused new leases on federal lands, and could soon deliver on a campaign promise for a permanent ban.&nbsp; OPEC confirmed what we've been telling you, that the world's major benchmark prices have increased roughly ten percent month over month. The cartel credits the rise on improving market fundamentals, including the prospect of shrinking global oil stockpiles and tighter supplies. Oil-by-rail shipments are up for the week ending February 6th, but still trail the totals from the same week last year. The Association of American Railroads reports 11,453 tanker cars moving petroleum and petroleum products last week, up from 11,291 the week before. Industry sources say the cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline will likely result in a spike in oil-by-rail deliveries, but just how big a spike is still up in the air. Analysts say the price spread will remain the biggest driver of Canadian heavy crude shipments. The wobbly fate of the Dakota Access Pipeline is propping up oil prices in North Dakota, as operators there rein in output and charge higher premiums. The pipeline is the main artery running crude oil out of the region. Reuters reports Bakken prices have surged to their highest levels in about six months. A court hearing scheduled last week was postponed until April by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is working on a new review of the impact of the line’s passage under a key source of water for indigenous communities in the Dakotas.&nbsp; It's not political or ethnic differences blocking oil exports in Libya; it's unpaid salaries. Bloomberg reports a tanker had to leave a Libyan export terminal without any oil after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard stopped them from loading. Security guards are on strike for unpaid salaries. This is the second tanker blocked from loading this year. Last year Libya ended a decade-long civil war, and was able to ramp up oil production from zero to more than a million barrels per day. But they've been unable to keep that up due to the strikes, leaky pipelines, and the lack of maintenance funding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARKansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $49.75 per barrel after jumping nearly two dollars on Friday. Prices in McPherson are up nearly $3 from a week ago, and are six dollars higher than at the first of the month.&nbsp; Nymex crude futures on Monday were trading over $60 for the first time since early January. WTI prices have advanced 25 percent so far this year. The benchmark contract was up 66 cents in afternoon trading Monday to $60.13 per barrel. London Brent was up 78 cents at $63.21 per barrel. Of the 195 drilling rigs in Kansas this week, 138 are inactive and cold stacked, an increase of three rigs in that category over the week before. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service says there are nine active rigs in Western Kansas, which is up one for the week. The count east of Wichita is unchanged at seven active rigs.&nbsp; Drillers reached total depth on a well in Ellis County and an operator is about to spud a new well on a lease in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports 397 active drilling rigs nationwide, an increase of seven oil rigs in its weekly Rotary Rig Count.&nbsp; The count in Texas was up four rigs. Canada was up five at 176 active rigs. Regulators approved five new drilling permits last week. That's 90 so far this year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 10 newly completed wells across Kansas, 73 so far this year. There were four new completions in eastern Kansas, and six west of Wichita, including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County. The government said domestic crude-oil inventories rose 6.6 million barrels last week to 469 million. That's about two percent above the five-year average for this time of year. EIA reported an uptick in U.S. crude production last week. Production jumped nearly 100,000 barrels per day on the week to just over 11 million barrels per day. Output remains remain nearly two million barrels per day behind the record-setting pace of a year ago. when U.S. operators pumped just shy of 13 million barrels per day. The Energy Information Administration reported imports of 5.9 million barrels per day for the week ending February 5. That's down 700,000 barrels per day from the week before. The four-week average for crude imports remains 12% below the same four-week period a year ago. In a monthly report, the Energy Information Administration reported worldwide oil prices in January were $5 per barrel higher than the month before, $9 per barrel lower than a year earlier. EIA said consumption worldwide was down 2.8 million barrels per day from a year earlier. Democratic politicians in a slew of oil-dependent states are now forced to reckon with a clash of progressive ideals: Their support for President Biden’s plan to fight global warming could damage the fossil-fuel economy that has been a huge source of revenue for schools in New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, coastal hurricane remediation, and other government programs. That was upwards of $1.8 billion total last year. Biden last month paused new leases on federal lands, and could soon deliver on a campaign promise for a permanent ban.&nbsp; OPEC confirmed what we've been telling you, that the world's major benchmark prices have increased roughly ten percent month over month. The cartel credits the rise on improving market fundamentals, including the prospect of shrinking global oil stockpiles and tighter supplies. Oil-by-rail shipments are up for the week ending February 6th, but still trail the totals from the same week last year. The Association of American Railroads reports 11,453 tanker cars moving petroleum and petroleum products last week, up from 11,291 the week before. Industry sources say the cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline will likely result in a spike in oil-by-rail deliveries, but just how big a spike is still up in the air. Analysts say the price spread will remain the biggest driver of Canadian heavy crude shipments. The wobbly fate of the Dakota Access Pipeline is propping up oil prices in North Dakota, as operators there rein in output and charge higher premiums. The pipeline is the main artery running crude oil out of the region. Reuters reports Bakken prices have surged to their highest levels in about six months. A court hearing scheduled last week was postponed until April by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is working on a new review of the impact of the line’s passage under a key source of water for indigenous communities in the Dakotas.&nbsp; It's not political or ethnic differences blocking oil exports in Libya; it's unpaid salaries. Bloomberg reports a tanker had to leave a Libyan export terminal without any oil after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard stopped them from loading. Security guards are on strike for unpaid salaries. This is the second tanker blocked from loading this year. Last year Libya ended a decade-long civil war, and was able to ramp up oil production from zero to more than a million barrels per day. But they've been unable to keep that up due to the strikes, leaky pipelines, and the lack of maintenance funding.

News From the Oil Patch: Crude price rally continues

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Some people are hunting for ways to diversify the rural economy. Today we’ll meet a Kansas entrepreneur who uses hunting itself to create additional opportunities on his farm.&nbsp;

Leon and Nancy Winfrey are founders and owners of Flying W Outfitters at Plains, Kansas. Leon grew up at Plains, attended Dodge City Community College, married Nancy, and came back to farm with his dad. “The section where we live was homesteaded by my great-grandparents in ’01,” he said. That’s 1901.&nbsp;

During the tough farm economy of the 1980s, Leon looked for ways to supplement the family’s farm income such as offering pheasant hunting.&nbsp;

“People would come and hunt, stay with us and become friends,” Leon said. In those days, paying to hunt was less typical. “Now, it’s customary to pay for an outfitter for hunting and a guide to fish,” he said.&nbsp;

In 1989, Leon obtained the necessary licenses to set up a controlled shooting area where guests could come and hunt birds. He called his business Flying W Pheasant Ranch. As the business grew, it was renamed Flying W Outfitters.&nbsp;

Leon continues to raise crops and cattle and has found ways to make hunting a complementary business. “We farm for our pheasants,” Leon said. “When we harvest a field, we’ll leave a strip of corn. We let weeds grow around our ponds.” This creates habitat where pheasants can grow and flourish.&nbsp;

“When I was a kid, we used chemicals which were a lot stronger than the ones we have now, but there were more pheasants than ever,” Leon said. “What has changed is that there is less habitat for pheasants to live.” No-till farming, for example, conserves moisture but leaves no weeds for habitat, according to Leon.&nbsp;

Leon strives to maintain natural habitat for the birds and then continually restocks his fields with pheasants during the season. “We replace 10% more than are taken out,” he said.&nbsp;

Flying W Outfitters offers a hunting package with everything included. “We provide lodging, guides and dogs,” Leon said. “The birds are cleaned and packaged. My wife provides great meals (for the hunters).” As the website states, “Once you’ve set your hunting dates, all you need to do is show up with your&nbsp;gun, ammo, and shooting eye.&nbsp;We take care of the rest!”&nbsp;

Such full-service convenience is a major plus. “We will have three or four hundred pheasant hunters during the year,” Leon said. “We’ve had hunters here from almost every state, from Hawaii to Connecticut.” Deer hunting is also an option. In addition, Flying W offers a fully equipped hunting lodge for visitors to stay in Plains.&nbsp;

“The big companies know that their people can come hunt with us, and they will be well-fed and everything will be taken care of,” Leon said.&nbsp;

“We’re a very faith-based family,” Leon said. “This is not ours; this is what the Good Lord gave us to care for.”&nbsp;

“We started this when our kids were little,” he said. Now their oldest son Dustin is heavily involved with the operation. “His boys being teenagers and pre-teens are a huge asset to the operation,” Leon said. “Son Weston and daughter Teddi are in agribusiness, and always available when we need help.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613570523727.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentSome people are hunting for ways to diversify the rural economy. Today we’ll meet a Kansas entrepreneur who uses hunting itself to create additional opportunities on his farm.&nbsp;Leon and Nancy Winfrey are founders and owners of Flying W Outfitters at Plains, Kansas. Leon grew up at Plains, attended Dodge City Community College, married Nancy, and came back to farm with his dad. “The section where we live was homesteaded by my great-grandparents in ’01,” he said. That’s 1901.&nbsp;During the tough farm economy of the 1980s, Leon looked for ways to supplement the family’s farm income such as offering pheasant hunting.&nbsp;“People would come and hunt, stay with us and become friends,” Leon said. In those days, paying to hunt was less typical. “Now, it’s customary to pay for an outfitter for hunting and a guide to fish,” he said.&nbsp;In 1989, Leon obtained the necessary licenses to set up a controlled shooting area where guests could come and hunt birds. He called his business Flying W Pheasant Ranch. As the business grew, it was renamed Flying W Outfitters.&nbsp;Leon continues to raise crops and cattle and has found ways to make hunting a complementary business. “We farm for our pheasants,” Leon said. “When we harvest a field, we’ll leave a strip of corn. We let weeds grow around our ponds.” This creates habitat where pheasants can grow and flourish.&nbsp;“When I was a kid, we used chemicals which were a lot stronger than the ones we have now, but there were more pheasants than ever,” Leon said. “What has changed is that there is less habitat for pheasants to live.” No-till farming, for example, conserves moisture but leaves no weeds for habitat, according to Leon.&nbsp;Leon strives to maintain natural habitat for the birds and then continually restocks his fields with pheasants during the season. “We replace 10% more than are taken out,” he said.&nbsp;Flying W Outfitters offers a hunting package with everything included. “We provide lodging, guides and dogs,” Leon said. “The birds are cleaned and packaged. My wife provides great meals (for the hunters).” As the website states, “Once you’ve set your hunting dates, all you need to do is show up with your&nbsp;gun, ammo, and shooting eye.&nbsp;We take care of the rest!”&nbsp;Such full-service convenience is a major plus. “We will have three or four hundred pheasant hunters during the year,” Leon said. “We’ve had hunters here from almost every state, from Hawaii to Connecticut.” Deer hunting is also an option. In addition, Flying W offers a fully equipped hunting lodge for visitors to stay in Plains.&nbsp;“The big companies know that their people can come hunt with us, and they will be well-fed and everything will be taken care of,” Leon said.&nbsp;“We’re a very faith-based family,” Leon said. “This is not ours; this is what the Good Lord gave us to care for.”&nbsp;“We started this when our kids were little,” he said. Now their oldest son Dustin is heavily involved with the operation. “His boys being teenagers and pre-teens are a huge asset to the operation,” Leon said. “Son Weston and daughter Teddi are in agribusiness, and always available when we need help.”&nbsp;Repeat customers are evidence of the business’ success. “We’ve had hunters who have hunted with us for 28 years,” Leon said. “I remember going through the fields with little kids walking behind us, and now those kids are grown, and their kids are out walking behind us. We’ve raised another generation.”&nbsp;This is good to see in a rural community like Plains, population 1,146 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huntflyingw.com/">huntflyingw.com</a>.&nbsp;We commend Leon and Nancy Winfrey for making a difference with an entrepreneurial idea, good stewardship of natural resources, and great customer service. Some people hunt for ways to diversify the economy, and some people diversify the economy through hunting.&nbsp;And there’s more. Leon launched another entrepreneurial project from his farm. We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Opinion