As Christmas draws closer, I can’t help but think of the many holiday traditions my family has generally followed over the years. Some are strange, some are widely shared, but they’re all unique markers of how we spend our time together marking the birth of Christ.

Perhaps the most fleeting tradition was when my brother and I were younger, and our parents would affix bells to our bedroom doors on Christmas Eve. It was an early-warning system for Santa to scramble back up the chimney, or at least alert my parents that someone was trying to sneak a peek into their stockings or get a glimpse of any new presents under the tree.

Another staple of Christmas was always finding the right red cedar in some forgotten corner of a pasture, where it had escaped fire just long enough to be cut down, hauled home and adorned with ornaments. In addition to adding a festive fragrance, it was always the center of attention on Christmas morning with a bounty of gifts beneath its branches.

Of course, the tree hunt itself was a tradition prone to the occasional hiccup, like the time we got stuck before finding the perfect tree. I was young enough I don’t remember all the particulars of exactly how we got stuck, I just know the winch on my father’s Toyota FJ40 wasn’t enough to break us free.

We sat there for what seem like hours as he walked to my grandparents’ house to fetch my grandfather and a tractor. He might have been gone all of 30 minutes before returning with his head a little lower. My grandfather, however, was grinning ear to ear knowing the story would become fodder around the dinner table for years to come.

Stories weren’t the only traditions around the table either. Every Christmas Eve featured shrimp cocktail for dinner, a legacy from my mother’s family. The next night, prime rib was the ritual delicacy.

I know most of these customs are shared widely, with the exception of the shrimp cocktail, and I recognize how fortunate I am to have a family with the time and resources to devote to such endeavors. As a kid, I equated Christmas with gift-giving because that’s what kids do.

Now that I’m older and have a family of my own, I’ve come to treasure not the gifts themselves, rather the time together they represent. I’ve forgotten most of the toys, clothes and other tokens I’ve received over the years, save for a smattering of sentimental gifts. While gift giving is still a central tradition, I’m more interested in seeing the reactions of others opening their gifts.

I’m also more cognizant of the work necessary for traditions to develop and flourish. Like everything else, Christmas as I know it didn’t just happen. My parents, with my mom doing the heavy lifting, spent countless hours planning, shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping and organizing to make those traditions happen.

I count these moments among the greatest gifts I’ve received. My wife and I have passed down some unchanged, mixed others from both our families and created some out of whole cloth. This year may require some tweaks to certain traditions, but it’s also a good opportunity to reflect on what’s important and evaluate if anything could be improved upon.

While we will still exchange gifts, this year has made me ever more thankful for our traditions. Even if they will be modified, it’s a reminder that presence is far more rewarding than presents. For that, I’m forever grateful for the gift of tradition.

"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/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering</figcaption>
 </figure>As Christmas draws closer, I can’t help but think of the many holiday traditions my family has generally followed over the years. Some are strange, some are widely shared, but they’re all unique markers of how we spend our time together marking the birth of Christ.Perhaps the most fleeting tradition was when my brother and I were younger, and our parents would affix bells to our bedroom doors on Christmas Eve. It was an early-warning system for Santa to scramble back up the chimney, or at least alert my parents that someone was trying to sneak a peek into their stockings or get a glimpse of any new presents under the tree.Another staple of Christmas was always finding the right red cedar in some forgotten corner of a pasture, where it had escaped fire just long enough to be cut down, hauled home and adorned with ornaments. In addition to adding a festive fragrance, it was always the center of attention on Christmas morning with a bounty of gifts beneath its branches.Of course, the tree hunt itself was a tradition prone to the occasional hiccup, like the time we got stuck before finding the perfect tree. I was young enough I don’t remember all the particulars of exactly how we got stuck, I just know the winch on my father’s Toyota FJ40 wasn’t enough to break us free.We sat there for what seem like hours as he walked to my grandparents’ house to fetch my grandfather and a tractor. He might have been gone all of 30 minutes before returning with his head a little lower. My grandfather, however, was grinning ear to ear knowing the story would become fodder around the dinner table for years to come.Stories weren’t the only traditions around the table either. Every Christmas Eve featured shrimp cocktail for dinner, a legacy from my mother’s family. The next night, prime rib was the ritual delicacy.I know most of these customs are shared widely, with the exception of the shrimp cocktail, and I recognize how fortunate I am to have a family with the time and resources to devote to such endeavors. As a kid, I equated Christmas with gift-giving because that’s what kids do.Now that I’m older and have a family of my own, I’ve come to treasure not the gifts themselves, rather the time together they represent. I’ve forgotten most of the toys, clothes and other tokens I’ve received over the years, save for a smattering of sentimental gifts. While gift giving is still a central tradition, I’m more interested in seeing the reactions of others opening their gifts.I’m also more cognizant of the work necessary for traditions to develop and flourish. Like everything else, Christmas as I know it didn’t just happen. My parents, with my mom doing the heavy lifting, spent countless hours planning, shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping and organizing to make those traditions happen.I count these moments among the greatest gifts I’ve received. My wife and I have passed down some unchanged, mixed others from both our families and created some out of whole cloth. This year may require some tweaks to certain traditions, but it’s also a good opportunity to reflect on what’s important and evaluate if anything could be improved upon.While we will still exchange gifts, this year has made me ever more thankful for our traditions. Even if they will be modified, it’s a reminder that presence is far more rewarding than presents. For that, I’m forever grateful for the gift of tradition."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: Gift of tradition

I took this picture this morning (Dec. 12) in Pfeifer. My children woke to such a pretty sight of snow on the ground. Excited, they looked through every window of our house and anxiously awaited until they could go out and play in the snow! They asked me to take a picture of our church because as my 4-year-old daughter said, “It is so pretty sprinkled with snow.” As I snapped the picture, a mourning dove flew into the frame! When my children and I looked at the picture, I told them that it was a sign. A sign of HOPE that PEACE would come again in this crazy world that has unfolded and changed our lives this past year.&nbsp; Again, I didn’t know who to contact for something like this and I don’t know if you can even use things like these but I thought in these times of such constant change and uncertainty, everyone could use a sign of HOPE! Thank you.&nbsp; Emily Billinger, Pfeifer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607957580195.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>I took this picture this morning (Dec. 12) in Pfeifer. My children woke to such a pretty sight of snow on the ground. Excited, they looked through every window of our house and anxiously awaited until they could go out and play in the snow! They asked me to take a picture of our church because as my 4-year-old daughter said, “It is so pretty sprinkled with snow.” As I snapped the picture, a mourning dove flew into the frame! When my children and I looked at the picture, I told them that it was a sign. A sign of HOPE that PEACE would come again in this crazy world that has unfolded and changed our lives this past year.&nbsp; Again, I didn’t know who to contact for something like this and I don’t know if you can even use things like these but I thought in these times of such constant change and uncertainty, everyone could use a sign of HOPE! Thank you.&nbsp; Emily Billinger, Pfeifer<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

LETTER: A picture of hope

Crude prices reached ten-month highs last week, reflecting optimism spawned by new vaccine developments, despite dramatic increases in U.S. crude stockpiles. The benchmark Nymex futures contract briefly topped $46 a barrel, while Brent crude in London was flirting with the $50 mark. Kansas Common crude at CHS reached $37 a barrel for the first time since late February. Monday's price in McPherson was down slightly to $36.75 per barrel.

With crude-oil prices at their highest price point in months, average gasoline prices are also on the rise, despite falling U.S. demand. The national average was nearly $2.16 a gallon last week, up a nickel from a month ago. At $1.94 per gallon, Kansas is among sixteen states with average pump prices below two dollars. Prices remain at $1.99 a gallon in Great Bend, for a third-straight month. Prices in Hays are cheaper but on the rise, with $1.93/gallon still available at a couple of stations. Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you about half a dollar more than a month ago, but about four dollars less than a year ago.

For the week ending December 10, there were eight active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, down one, and nine West of Wichita, which is up one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a total of 57 rigs available across Kansas, 17 of them active, compared to 107 available and 43 active rigs a year ago. Operators reached total depth this week at one well in Barton County and one in Ellis County.

Baker Hughes reported an increase of 12 oil rigs for a total rig count of 338 nationwide. Texas was up six and the count in Wyoming was up four.

Regulators in the Sunflower State granted 12 new drilling permits last week, nine of them east of Wichita and three in Western Kansas. That makes 448 new permits year-to-date. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports one newly-completed well in eastern Kansas last week and three west of Wichita. That's 765 completions so far this year statewide.

The government reports domestic crude-oil stockpiles increased over 15-million barrels last week. At over 503 million barrels, U.S. inventories are about 11 percent above the five-year average for this time of year.

The Energy Information Administration estimates U.S. crude-oil production in November was 11.2 million barrels per day, an increase of 300,000 barrels per day from September. The government said worldwide consumption was down more than six million barrels per day year-over-year, but was up two million barrels from the average for the third-quarter of 2020. EIA's weekly production tally was over 11.1 million barrels per day last week. 

U.S. crude imports increased by over a million barrels per day. The government says that over the last four weeks, imports averaged nearly 11% less than the same four-week period last year.

The United States imported more crude oil and petroleum products than it exported in May and June of this year, reversing a 15-year-long trend. After being a net exporter for seven consecutive months the US became a net importer again in May and June, according to a government report.

Oil-by-rail deliveries rose nearly 30% week over week, but remain nearly 14% behind last year's totals. The Association of American Railroads reports 11,710 rail tanker cars hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week ending December 5. 

A new Trump administration decision has cleared the way for oil and gas drilling on more than 200,000 acres of the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota. The decision to open up the previously protected badlands acreage was celebrated by North Dakota's congressional delegation, but disparaged by local conservationists. The decision has been on the table dating back to the presidency of George W. Bush. The final version substantially shrinks the amount of "roadless" land shielded from surface drilling work.

Drooping oil field activity is having a significant impact on the Oklahoma economy. State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said total collections are two percent below a year ago, with gross production taxes on oil and gas down by half. The state's oil patch has shed 20,000 jobs in the past two years. Production tax receipts have been lower year-over-year for 15 consecutive months, but have trended lower since late 2018.

The world's largest crude exporter is cutting prices to the U.S. but raising them to it's biggest customers in Asia. Saudi Aramco raised all pricing for January to Asia after OPEC and allies agreed to a gradual increase in production starting next month. The OPEC-Plus deal reduced the total production increases, from nearly two million to half a million barrels per day.

For the fourth time in a month, Saudi oil infrastructure has come under fire amid that kingdom's years-long civil war in Yemen. Authorities say a remote-controlled, bomb-laden boat slammed into a tanker sparking an explosion and fire early Monday. The incident closed the Saudi's most important shipping point. The sailors on board were safely evacuated with no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY JOHN P. TRETBARCrude prices reached ten-month highs last week, reflecting optimism spawned by new vaccine developments, despite dramatic increases in U.S. crude stockpiles. The benchmark Nymex futures contract briefly topped $46 a barrel, while Brent crude in London was flirting with the $50 mark. Kansas Common crude at CHS reached $37 a barrel for the first time since late February. Monday's price in McPherson was down slightly to $36.75 per barrel.With crude-oil prices at their highest price point in months, average gasoline prices are also on the rise, despite falling U.S. demand. The national average was nearly $2.16 a gallon last week, up a nickel from a month ago. At $1.94 per gallon, Kansas is among sixteen states with average pump prices below two dollars. Prices remain at $1.99 a gallon in Great Bend, for a third-straight month. Prices in Hays are cheaper but on the rise, with $1.93/gallon still available at a couple of stations. Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you about half a dollar more than a month ago, but about four dollars less than a year ago.For the week ending December 10, there were eight active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, down one, and nine West of Wichita, which is up one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a total of 57 rigs available across Kansas, 17 of them active, compared to 107 available and 43 active rigs a year ago. Operators reached total depth this week at one well in Barton County and one in Ellis County.Baker Hughes reported an increase of 12 oil rigs for a total rig count of 338 nationwide. Texas was up six and the count in Wyoming was up four.Regulators in the Sunflower State granted 12 new drilling permits last week, nine of them east of Wichita and three in Western Kansas. That makes 448 new permits year-to-date. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports one newly-completed well in eastern Kansas last week and three west of Wichita. That's 765 completions so far this year statewide.The government reports domestic crude-oil stockpiles increased over 15-million barrels last week. At over 503 million barrels, U.S. inventories are about 11 percent above the five-year average for this time of year.The Energy Information Administration estimates U.S. crude-oil production in November was 11.2 million barrels per day, an increase of 300,000 barrels per day from September. The government said worldwide consumption was down more than six million barrels per day year-over-year, but was up two million barrels from the average for the third-quarter of 2020. EIA's weekly production tally was over 11.1 million barrels per day last week. U.S. crude imports increased by over a million barrels per day. The government says that over the last four weeks, imports averaged nearly 11% less than the same four-week period last year.The United States imported more crude oil and petroleum products than it exported in May and June of this year, reversing a 15-year-long trend. After being a net exporter for seven consecutive months the US became a net importer again in May and June, according to a government report.Oil-by-rail deliveries rose nearly 30% week over week, but remain nearly 14% behind last year's totals. The Association of American Railroads reports 11,710 rail tanker cars hauling petroleum or petroleum products during the week ending December 5. A new Trump administration decision has cleared the way for oil and gas drilling on more than 200,000 acres of the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota. The decision to open up the previously protected badlands acreage was celebrated by North Dakota's congressional delegation, but disparaged by local conservationists. The decision has been on the table dating back to the presidency of George W. Bush. The final version substantially shrinks the amount of "roadless" land shielded from surface drilling work.Drooping oil field activity is having a significant impact on the Oklahoma economy. State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said total collections are two percent below a year ago, with gross production taxes on oil and gas down by half. The state's oil patch has shed 20,000 jobs in the past two years. Production tax receipts have been lower year-over-year for 15 consecutive months, but have trended lower since late 2018.The world's largest crude exporter is cutting prices to the U.S. but raising them to it's biggest customers in Asia. Saudi Aramco raised all pricing for January to Asia after OPEC and allies agreed to a gradual increase in production starting next month. The OPEC-Plus deal reduced the total production increases, from nearly two million to half a million barrels per day.For the fourth time in a month, Saudi oil infrastructure has come under fire amid that kingdom's years-long civil war in Yemen. Authorities say a remote-controlled, bomb-laden boat slammed into a tanker sparking an explosion and fire early Monday. The incident closed the Saudi's most important shipping point. The sailors on board were safely evacuated with no injuries.

News From the Oil Patch: Kan. crude tops $37 for first time since Feb.

The First Amendment’s protections for five core freedoms don’t extend
 outside the United States, but there are all-too-many times these days 
you wish they would.

Take the blatant disregard by Chinese officials of a free press’ 
rights in support of democratic principles in Hong Kong, in the case of 
publisher Jimmy Lai, now facing trumped-up criminal charges in connection with — get this — an office-lease issue.

Lai, 71, is a self-made billionaire, rising from penniless immigrant 
to a garment industry tycoon. He’s also publisher of the newspaper Apple Daily,
 one of the few independent news outlets in the city. Lai has been 
arrested at least four times this year, as China’s communist government 
moves to dismantle Hong Kong’s special legal protections for democratic 
rights established when Britain returned the former colony to China in 
1996. A new national security law now being applied in Hong Kong 
establishes penalties including life in prison for such vague “crimes” 
as supporting foreign interference or calling for succession.

In the latest attempt to silence Lai, officials cited him for 
allegedly trying to defraud a building owner by establishing a “private”
 office in violation of a lease with Next Digital, a company Lai owns. A
 judge recently ruled that Lai must remain in jail until at least April,
 when his case may be heard.

Lai’s situation is dire and merits world concern, as well as 
immediate attention from the incoming Biden administration, even though 
Lai called for the re-election of President Donald J. Trump
 and a Lai aide was linked in November to funding of a spurious report 
about Biden’s son Hunter and fictitious business deals in China.

In August, following Lai’s third arrest, Trump called the action “a 
terrible thing” and said Lai was a “brave man” fighting on behalf of 
democracy in China and worldwide. Lai is an open admirer of what he 
calls Trump’s hardball approach to China on economic matters.

The free press and free speech principles at stake in Hong Kong — and
 the survival of its 24-year era as special zone of freedom within China
 — are larger than any pique over the Lai-Trump relationship.

Moreover, it stands as an example of repressive regimes around the 
world that increasingly threaten the basic human rights protected in the
 U.S. by the First Amendment: Religion, speech, press, assembly and 
petition.

The Biden administration should set out right from the start — in 
word and in policy — that it is an advocate for all five of those 
freedoms. Tie U.S. support, military and financial aid and trade 
agreements to a commitment by other nations to real protection or the 
swift reintroduction of those freedoms worldwide.

The U.S. has lost moral high ground globally on freedom of the press 
as a result of not just the ongoing conflict with Trump — particularly 
with his claim that journalists are “enemies of the people” — but also 
with the collapse of the economic underpinnings of traditional media 
organizations, worsened by the disruption and disinformation spread as 
“news” through social media.

In yet another blow to the goal of First Amendment freedoms being 
deployed worldwide, Freedom House, which tracks internet freedom around 
the world, notes that the coronavirus pandemic is a factor in 
accelerating a dramatic decline in free expression globally, as 
tyrannical leaders use anti-COVID-19 measures as excuses to restrict the
 flow of news and to punish or prevent protest against government 
policies.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 25 
journalists have been killed in 2020 around the world, with 64 more 
missing, and that more than 250 journalists remain jailed. Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan recently wrote that CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon has suggested Biden name a special envoy for press freedom, reporting to the Secretary of State.

A first stop for such an envoy certainly could be in Hong Kong — once
 thought as a possible beacon of democracy that would encourage more 
freedom throughout China. Lai is one of hundreds, if not thousands, 
caught up in moves by China’s leadership to extinguish that beacon.

“You can deliver freedom through the media,” Lai once said when asked
 why his newspaper took such bold stands despite the dangers.

Let’s hope media — calling new attention to his plight, combined with
 new U.S. government efforts as Biden takes office — can deliver in 
return: Freedom for Lai from jail in Hong Kong but also freedom in the 
larger sense, for nations from Turkey to Venezuela to Myanmar to Egypt 
and wherever else free expression and religious liberty are under 
attack.

Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593729871227.png" alt="Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. " />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. </figcaption>
 </figure>The First Amendment’s protections for five core freedoms don’t extend
 outside the United States, but there are all-too-many times these days 
you wish they would.Take the blatant disregard by Chinese officials of a free press’ 
rights in support of democratic principles in Hong Kong, in the case of 
publisher Jimmy Lai, now facing trumped-up criminal charges in connection with — get this — an office-lease issue.Lai, 71, is a self-made billionaire, rising from penniless immigrant 
to a garment industry tycoon. He’s also publisher of the newspaper Apple Daily,
 one of the few independent news outlets in the city. Lai has been 
arrested at least four times this year, as China’s communist government 
moves to dismantle Hong Kong’s special legal protections for democratic 
rights established when Britain returned the former colony to China in 
1996. A new national security law now being applied in Hong Kong 
establishes penalties including life in prison for such vague “crimes” 
as supporting foreign interference or calling for succession.In the latest attempt to silence Lai, officials cited him for 
allegedly trying to defraud a building owner by establishing a “private”
 office in violation of a lease with Next Digital, a company Lai owns. A
 judge recently ruled that Lai must remain in jail until at least April,
 when his case may be heard.Lai’s situation is dire and merits world concern, as well as 
immediate attention from the incoming Biden administration, even though 
Lai called for the re-election of President Donald J. Trump
 and a Lai aide was linked in November to funding of a spurious report 
about Biden’s son Hunter and fictitious business deals in China.In August, following Lai’s third arrest, Trump called the action “a 
terrible thing” and said Lai was a “brave man” fighting on behalf of 
democracy in China and worldwide. Lai is an open admirer of what he 
calls Trump’s hardball approach to China on economic matters.The free press and free speech principles at stake in Hong Kong — and
 the survival of its 24-year era as special zone of freedom within China
 — are larger than any pique over the Lai-Trump relationship.Moreover, it stands as an example of repressive regimes around the 
world that increasingly threaten the basic human rights protected in the
 U.S. by the First Amendment: Religion, speech, press, assembly and 
petition.The Biden administration should set out right from the start — in 
word and in policy — that it is an advocate for all five of those 
freedoms. Tie U.S. support, military and financial aid and trade 
agreements to a commitment by other nations to real protection or the 
swift reintroduction of those freedoms worldwide.The U.S. has lost moral high ground globally on freedom of the press 
as a result of not just the ongoing conflict with Trump — particularly 
with his claim that journalists are “enemies of the people” — but also 
with the collapse of the economic underpinnings of traditional media 
organizations, worsened by the disruption and disinformation spread as 
“news” through social media.In yet another blow to the goal of First Amendment freedoms being 
deployed worldwide, Freedom House, which tracks internet freedom around 
the world, notes that the coronavirus pandemic is a factor in 
accelerating a dramatic decline in free expression globally, as 
tyrannical leaders use anti-COVID-19 measures as excuses to restrict the
 flow of news and to punish or prevent protest against government 
policies.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that 25 
journalists have been killed in 2020 around the world, with 64 more 
missing, and that more than 250 journalists remain jailed. Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan recently wrote that CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon has suggested Biden name a special envoy for press freedom, reporting to the Secretary of State.A first stop for such an envoy certainly could be in Hong Kong — once
 thought as a possible beacon of democracy that would encourage more 
freedom throughout China. Lai is one of hundreds, if not thousands, 
caught up in moves by China’s leadership to extinguish that beacon.“You can deliver freedom through the media,” Lai once said when asked
 why his newspaper took such bold stands despite the dangers.Let’s hope media — calling new attention to his plight, combined with
 new U.S. government efforts as Biden takes office — can deliver in 
return: Freedom for Lai from jail in Hong Kong but also freedom in the 
larger sense, for nations from Turkey to Venezuela to Myanmar to Egypt 
and wherever else free expression and religious liberty are under 
attack.Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

FIRST FIVE: How about a new push for First Amendment freedoms?

In 2020, we may have to become more creative to connect with our family. Holidays are typically the one time of year that families from near and far gather for a family celebration. This normally allows families to build or rebuild relationships and create memories that last forever.

Strong families make building relationships a priority and plan for activities that help boost that relationship-building. The time spent together helps build resiliency in children. The term resilience has been used more this year than ever before. Elaine Johannes was the featured speaker last week on “Parenting Through a Pandemic” series with Kansas 4-H. Her topic was “Conversation about family resilience: Getting ready for the winter/holiday break together”. Elaine’s recorded presentation for all to listen to is posted&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansas4-h.org/">www.kansas4-h.org</a>&nbsp;under Hot Topics and Parenting through a Pandemic.&nbsp;

Following are some activities that are not expensive to do and they may just help strengthen your family. Make a plan by placing a date on the calendar for one or more of the following activities:&nbsp;

One article I read reported that “Kindness boosts resilience”. Be kind and help build resilience in your family.

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at&nbsp;<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>In 2020, we may have to become more creative to connect with our family. Holidays are typically the one time of year that families from near and far gather for a family celebration. This normally allows families to build or rebuild relationships and create memories that last forever.Strong families make building relationships a priority and plan for activities that help boost that relationship-building. The time spent together helps build resiliency in children. The term resilience has been used more this year than ever before. Elaine Johannes was the featured speaker last week on “Parenting Through a Pandemic” series with Kansas 4-H. Her topic was “Conversation about family resilience: Getting ready for the winter/holiday break together”. Elaine’s recorded presentation for all to listen to is posted&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansas4-h.org/">www.kansas4-h.org</a>&nbsp;under Hot Topics and Parenting through a Pandemic.&nbsp;Following are some activities that are not expensive to do and they may just help strengthen your family. Make a plan by placing a date on the calendar for one or more of the following activities:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Have a family game night.&nbsp; Choose a game that is fun and includes everyone in the activity.</li><li>Watch a special family movie with popcorn and other snacks to make it a special night.</li><li>Cook together!&nbsp; Baking or preparing special foods or treats are a great way to instill cooking skills in youth.&nbsp; Young children can wash vegetables, set the table or frost cookies.</li><li>Make time for each child individually to build a sense of belonging.</li><li>If you are able to gather with grandparents, have them share stories of the past to help connect their values and beliefs with today.</li><li>Share or start a family tradition</li><li>List five people that you plan to connect with. Do something special for them. Make a card and give them some encouragement. Deliver a small food package or a small gift basket. Give them a call.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>One article I read reported that “Kindness boosts resilience”. Be kind and help build resilience in your family.Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;&nbsp;She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Parenting through a pandemic

Dear Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall,

As you anticipate serving in the 117th&nbsp;Congress and beyond, I’m asking you to think hard about why you have become a U.S. Senator, one of 100 members of the world’s most powerful legislative body.

The easy answers are (a) that Kansans overwhelming elected you and (b) that you want to do your best for the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Beyond that, the question of why you are serving is a difficult, even existential one. Indeed, why, in 2021, would you want the job?&nbsp; There’s the prestige, of course, the chance to accomplish some limited goals, and the security of six-year terms.&nbsp;

But the job also includes a Pandora’s box of downsides.

Let’s be clear, the 21st&nbsp;Century Senate is a hot mess for almost all members not named Mitch McConnell. Once reasonably labeled “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” the Senate now discourages deliberation and crushes most legislative initiatives from rank-and-file members, whether Republicans or Democrats.

Almost without exception, GOP senators have deferred to Majority Leader McConnell, who has displayed no serious interest in addressing the nation’s most pressing issues, from Covid to unemployment to climate change to income inequality.

What, then, are Republican senators to do, assuming their party maintains control in 2021?&nbsp; To be sure, all senators operate within their own policy and electoral contexts, so Jerry and Roger, you face different circumstances.

Jerry, you sit as a medium-seniority, safe-seat legislator who can hold your seat, up in 2022, for at least the next 14 years.&nbsp; You thus have the luxury of charting a path to becoming a major Senate figure in the next decade, especially if you exhibit some measured independence and initiative.

You are unlikely to become a Murkowski/Romney/Collins kind of conservative centrist. Still, you might well emulate Nancy Kassebaum, the most influential recent Kansas senator this side of Bob Dole.&nbsp; Nancy understood the depth of her popularity and understood how this freed her, on occasion, to buck Senate leaders, including Dole.&nbsp; She could stake out a position and know that if she stuck to it, several other senators might join her, as she provided an umbrella for them.&nbsp; With good personal relationships, your stock-in-trade, you might well do the same, especially if you and your colleagues restrain Mitch just a bit.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Senate offers many paths to influence, and becoming a Kassebaum-like legislator, coupled with an inevitable committee chair position, could allow you to exert real influence on major issues.

Roger, you’re yet to be sworn in, and you’re unlikely to become as popular as Jerry.&nbsp; But you’re a Republican senator from western Kansas, and that’s essentially a seat for life. This means, from day one, you can plot out what kind of senator you want to become.&nbsp;

There’s no road map, but I’d seriously recommend reading Richard Fenno’s insightful study of New Mexico’s Pete Domenici, “The Emergence of a Senate Leader.” Domenici entered the Senate as a former governor but had to learn how to become influential within that body.&nbsp;&nbsp; Roger, you have the benefit of time and electoral security, take full advantage as you serve all Kansans.

In the end. Jerry and Roger, you’ve won the privilege to serve as one of 100 in a powerful legislative body.&nbsp; Please, on behalf of all Kansans, use this position of power wisely and well.

Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574348610067.jpeg" alt="Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall,As you anticipate serving in the 117th&nbsp;Congress and beyond, I’m asking you to think hard about why you have become a U.S. Senator, one of 100 members of the world’s most powerful legislative body.The easy answers are (a) that Kansans overwhelming elected you and (b) that you want to do your best for the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;Beyond that, the question of why you are serving is a difficult, even existential one. Indeed, why, in 2021, would you want the job?&nbsp; There’s the prestige, of course, the chance to accomplish some limited goals, and the security of six-year terms.&nbsp;But the job also includes a Pandora’s box of downsides.Let’s be clear, the 21st&nbsp;Century Senate is a hot mess for almost all members not named Mitch McConnell. Once reasonably labeled “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” the Senate now discourages deliberation and crushes most legislative initiatives from rank-and-file members, whether Republicans or Democrats.Almost without exception, GOP senators have deferred to Majority Leader McConnell, who has displayed no serious interest in addressing the nation’s most pressing issues, from Covid to unemployment to climate change to income inequality.What, then, are Republican senators to do, assuming their party maintains control in 2021?&nbsp; To be sure, all senators operate within their own policy and electoral contexts, so Jerry and Roger, you face different circumstances.Jerry, you sit as a medium-seniority, safe-seat legislator who can hold your seat, up in 2022, for at least the next 14 years.&nbsp; You thus have the luxury of charting a path to becoming a major Senate figure in the next decade, especially if you exhibit some measured independence and initiative.You are unlikely to become a Murkowski/Romney/Collins kind of conservative centrist. Still, you might well emulate Nancy Kassebaum, the most influential recent Kansas senator this side of Bob Dole.&nbsp; Nancy understood the depth of her popularity and understood how this freed her, on occasion, to buck Senate leaders, including Dole.&nbsp; She could stake out a position and know that if she stuck to it, several other senators might join her, as she provided an umbrella for them.&nbsp; With good personal relationships, your stock-in-trade, you might well do the same, especially if you and your colleagues restrain Mitch just a bit.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Senate offers many paths to influence, and becoming a Kassebaum-like legislator, coupled with an inevitable committee chair position, could allow you to exert real influence on major issues.Roger, you’re yet to be sworn in, and you’re unlikely to become as popular as Jerry.&nbsp; But you’re a Republican senator from western Kansas, and that’s essentially a seat for life. This means, from day one, you can plot out what kind of senator you want to become.&nbsp;There’s no road map, but I’d seriously recommend reading Richard Fenno’s insightful study of New Mexico’s Pete Domenici, “The Emergence of a Senate Leader.” Domenici entered the Senate as a former governor but had to learn how to become influential within that body.&nbsp;&nbsp; Roger, you have the benefit of time and electoral security, take full advantage as you serve all Kansans.In the end. Jerry and Roger, you’ve won the privilege to serve as one of 100 in a powerful legislative body.&nbsp; Please, on behalf of all Kansans, use this position of power wisely and well.Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Why serve in today’s U.S. Senate?

K-State Research and Extension, along with several Extension Districts in north central KS, are bringing an ONLINE program to help producers with cattle marketing and end-of-year tax considerations. 

This program will be held on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to join this program. 

There will be two main speakers for this program. The first speaker will be Glynn Tonsor, Agriculture Economist for K-State Research and Extension. Glynn will discuss selling wintered calves, the subsequent spring, and selling calves at weaning in the fall. The second speaker will be Clay Simons, Executive Agriculture Economist for Kansas Farm Management Association. Clay will be discussing end of year tax considerations for cattle producers. 

After each session, we will be hosting a question and answer dialogue for the participants. If you are unable to join, we will record the session so you can view it later. To join the “virtual” meeting go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bit.ly/ksucattle">www.bit.ly/ksucattle</a>&nbsp;and provide us your name and email. A link will then be sent to the email that you provide to join the meeting on December 15th.

If you have any questions or need help signing up, contact any of the Extension Offices in the following Districts of Central KS, Cottonwood, Midway, Post Rock or River Valley.&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research and Extension, along with several Extension Districts in north central KS, are bringing an ONLINE program to help producers with cattle marketing and end-of-year tax considerations. This program will be held on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to join this program. There will be two main speakers for this program. The first speaker will be Glynn Tonsor, Agriculture Economist for K-State Research and Extension. Glynn will discuss selling wintered calves, the subsequent spring, and selling calves at weaning in the fall. The second speaker will be Clay Simons, Executive Agriculture Economist for Kansas Farm Management Association. Clay will be discussing end of year tax considerations for cattle producers. After each session, we will be hosting a question and answer dialogue for the participants. If you are unable to join, we will record the session so you can view it later. To join the “virtual” meeting go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bit.ly/ksucattle">www.bit.ly/ksucattle</a>&nbsp;and provide us your name and email. A link will then be sent to the email that you provide to join the meeting on December 15th. If you have any questions or need help signing up, contact any of the Extension Offices in the following Districts of Central KS, Cottonwood, Midway, Post Rock or River Valley.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

BOOR: KSU online cattle marketing program 

For Kansas frontline workers, the news is good. The COVID vaccine is here and judged to be 94 percent effective. It is critical for the Governor of Kansas to prioritize who will be first to receive the vaccine. Clearly our healthcare workers and our vulnerable nursing home residents need to be on the top of the list. However, our teachers are also on the frontline and must be included in this crucial step. The cost to our schoolchildren is clear.

Our children are the future of Kansas and must be in school. While remote learning works for a small segment of students, the majority of students are failing miserably to adapt to this online world. It is essential that the teachers are protected, which will mean the students physical and mental health and their educational wellbeing will be cared for.&nbsp; 

Having children sit at home in front of computers is clearly a problem:&nbsp; The National Institutes of Health study found that a three-hour period of uninterrupted sitting causes a 33 percent reduction in vascular function in young girls.&nbsp; Mental health related visits for children under 17 have increased from 24 percent to 31 percent. Obesity rates have risen to almost 15 percent of all children which also points to the danger of kids sitting in front of computers. The frightening statistics make it clear that It is essential that our teachers need to be protected to keep them working in the schools; thereby securing students physical, mental health, and educational wellbeing.

The State of Kansas needs to place our teachers on the frontline list to have the opportunity to get the vaccine.&nbsp; Our children and all of Kansas are counting on it.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For Kansas frontline workers, the news is good. The COVID vaccine is here and judged to be 94 percent effective. It is critical for the Governor of Kansas to prioritize who will be first to receive the vaccine. Clearly our healthcare workers and our vulnerable nursing home residents need to be on the top of the list. However, our teachers are also on the frontline and must be included in this crucial step. The cost to our schoolchildren is clear.Our children are the future of Kansas and must be in school. While remote learning works for a small segment of students, the majority of students are failing miserably to adapt to this online world. It is essential that the teachers are protected, which will mean the students physical and mental health and their educational wellbeing will be cared for.&nbsp; Having children sit at home in front of computers is clearly a problem:&nbsp; The National Institutes of Health study found that a three-hour period of uninterrupted sitting causes a 33 percent reduction in vascular function in young girls.&nbsp; Mental health related visits for children under 17 have increased from 24 percent to 31 percent. Obesity rates have risen to almost 15 percent of all children which also points to the danger of kids sitting in front of computers. The frightening statistics make it clear that It is essential that our teachers need to be protected to keep them working in the schools; thereby securing students physical, mental health, and educational wellbeing.The State of Kansas needs to place our teachers on the frontline list to have the opportunity to get the vaccine.&nbsp; Our children and all of Kansas are counting on it.State Rep. Barb Wasinger, 111th District, R-Hays

LETTER: Give teachers priority for COVID-19 vaccinations

The directions to a desolate farmstead northwest of Syracuse led me through mile-after-mile of huge open crop fields and immense rocky pastures where the only green plant life seemed to be seas of thriving Yuca. Occasionally, buildings appeared on the horizon several miles away only to disappear behind the next hill. If I wasn’t in the middle of nowhere, it was certainly just over the next rise.

I traveled here to spend a couple days with a friend, John Borror and to help him on his western KS trapline. There in cattle country, ranchers rely on trapping to help control coyotes and other predators that prey of young spring calves. I finally spotted the grain bins he told me to look for and drove back a long dusty lane to find his trailer set up in front a big hay shed. He converted a long horse trailer into living quarters in the front and storage for freezers and trapping supplies in the rear.&nbsp;

John has trapped around his home in southeastern KS since he was a kid. When he married and started a family, his responsibility as a husband and a dad, plus a full-time job forced a lot of his trapping to be done in the dark, either before or after work. In 2010, with his 4 girls long-since on their own, and retired from his job, John began pursuing a dream of running long, extensive trap lines in other states. The first was in Arizona, then New Mexico and Texas and this was his third-year trapping around Syracuse, KS.&nbsp;

Each morning was a new adventure as we wound our way from trap site to trap site. Traps near the barely-flowing Arkansas River yielded mostly bobcats and an occasional coyote that travel the weedy field edges and tractor paths lined with dead tamaracks as they hunt for rabbits and other small game. Farther from the river, traps placed along crop land where field edges meet weedy cover or CRP, and in field corners that are natural “funnel” areas from one type of habitat to another, catch traveling coyotes, swift foxes and badgers. In the immense, sprawling, rocky rolling tracts of land known in that country as pastures, traps set at gateways, along cattle trails and in corners also catch coyotes, swift foxes and badgers. All these trap sites also attract occasional skunks that live in borrowed burrows, and raccoons that live who-knows-where since trees out there are as scarce as rain. At last estimate, John has trapping permission on nearly 40, 000 acres of land around the Syracuse area. One wonders how that amount of land could be trapped, but a 1,000-acre pasture might only have suitable sites for ten or a dozen traps, mostly at gateways and around edges.&nbsp;

At the end of each day, animals are skinned and the pelts layered carefully in a big freezer until he can finish them later. Numerous other parts of the animal are used also; various glands are harvested for making predator trapping bait, skulls of all animals except coyotes are kept to be cleaned and sold to colleges for studies and to collectors, entire bobcat carcasses are frozen, also to be used in making predator bait and bobcat paws are kept for sale to jewelry makers who use the claws.

John figures he has harvested well over one thousand animals on his extensive out-of-state and western KS trap lines. The most exciting was a mountain lion caught in Arizona that was released back into the wild with the help of Arizona wildlife officers. John has also put together a collection of more than 350 antique traps that can be seen at the Wilson County Old Iron Club in Fredonia, KS.

When I asked him why he travels all those miles to trap, he replied “From my years of trapping at home, I know each year where I will set each trap, and it gets repetitive, more like a job, so I like to see and trap new places.” When I left John a week ago, he had caught 70 coyotes, 9 badgers, 8 raccoons, 6 swift foxes, 6 skunks and a porcupine. Wild fur is a self-sustaining crop that will yield these same number of animals each year, forever, if properly managed…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>The directions to a desolate farmstead northwest of Syracuse led me through mile-after-mile of huge open crop fields and immense rocky pastures where the only green plant life seemed to be seas of thriving Yuca. Occasionally, buildings appeared on the horizon several miles away only to disappear behind the next hill. If I wasn’t in the middle of nowhere, it was certainly just over the next rise.I traveled here to spend a couple days with a friend, John Borror and to help him on his western KS trapline. There in cattle country, ranchers rely on trapping to help control coyotes and other predators that prey of young spring calves. I finally spotted the grain bins he told me to look for and drove back a long dusty lane to find his trailer set up in front a big hay shed. He converted a long horse trailer into living quarters in the front and storage for freezers and trapping supplies in the rear.&nbsp;John has trapped around his home in southeastern KS since he was a kid. When he married and started a family, his responsibility as a husband and a dad, plus a full-time job forced a lot of his trapping to be done in the dark, either before or after work. In 2010, with his 4 girls long-since on their own, and retired from his job, John began pursuing a dream of running long, extensive trap lines in other states. The first was in Arizona, then New Mexico and Texas and this was his third-year trapping around Syracuse, KS.&nbsp;Each morning was a new adventure as we wound our way from trap site to trap site. Traps near the barely-flowing Arkansas River yielded mostly bobcats and an occasional coyote that travel the weedy field edges and tractor paths lined with dead tamaracks as they hunt for rabbits and other small game. Farther from the river, traps placed along crop land where field edges meet weedy cover or CRP, and in field corners that are natural “funnel” areas from one type of habitat to another, catch traveling coyotes, swift foxes and badgers. In the immense, sprawling, rocky rolling tracts of land known in that country as pastures, traps set at gateways, along cattle trails and in corners also catch coyotes, swift foxes and badgers. All these trap sites also attract occasional skunks that live in borrowed burrows, and raccoons that live who-knows-where since trees out there are as scarce as rain. At last estimate, John has trapping permission on nearly 40, 000 acres of land around the Syracuse area. One wonders how that amount of land could be trapped, but a 1,000-acre pasture might only have suitable sites for ten or a dozen traps, mostly at gateways and around edges.&nbsp;At the end of each day, animals are skinned and the pelts layered carefully in a big freezer until he can finish them later. Numerous other parts of the animal are used also; various glands are harvested for making predator trapping bait, skulls of all animals except coyotes are kept to be cleaned and sold to colleges for studies and to collectors, entire bobcat carcasses are frozen, also to be used in making predator bait and bobcat paws are kept for sale to jewelry makers who use the claws.John figures he has harvested well over one thousand animals on his extensive out-of-state and western KS trap lines. The most exciting was a mountain lion caught in Arizona that was released back into the wild with the help of Arizona wildlife officers. John has also put together a collection of more than 350 antique traps that can be seen at the Wilson County Old Iron Club in Fredonia, KS.When I asked him why he travels all those miles to trap, he replied “From my years of trapping at home, I know each year where I will set each trap, and it gets repetitive, more like a job, so I like to see and trap new places.” When I left John a week ago, he had caught 70 coyotes, 9 badgers, 8 raccoons, 6 swift foxes, 6 skunks and a porcupine. Wild fur is a self-sustaining crop that will yield these same number of animals each year, forever, if properly managed…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Trapping the Wild West

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about all of the efforts that my family went through for holiday visits.&nbsp; My grandparents lived hundreds of miles away, but every year we made a grand effort to go to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with them.&nbsp; It was a great effort on the part of my parents.&nbsp; There were times when we fought blizzards; when we were too busy, making the miles seemed difficult; and then as we grew older and schedules proved more difficult, we still powered through. When I got married, we added my in-laws to the visit schedule, but continued the tradition.

I’d like to talk to you a little bit about what’s going on right now.&nbsp; I wonder what my parents and grandparents would think about the visitation recommendations that are existing because of COVID-19.

I have to think about what my parents and grandparents had been through in their lives.&nbsp; My grandparents were married about the time of The Depression; my great grandmother lived with, and was cared for, by my grandparents for over 30 years; they went through World War II during which my grandmother’s brother was captured and spent the duration of the war in a Japanese prison camp; my grandfather was bed ridden for a year when he broke his neck in a train accident; they went through raising two hemophiliac children, one who died in a playground accident at the age of 8 and the other one who died years later, but still in his early 50s; they persevered. &nbsp;

My parents went through a divorce; they went through some tough financial times; there were multiple moves and different jobs; but in the end, they persevered.

My parents and grandparents are all deceased, but I “guess” that I believe that they would have incredible perspective about the visitation restrictions.&nbsp; I’m sure that my parents would be very concerned about giving my grandparents COVID-19, and my grandparents would be concerned about our health equally as well.&nbsp; I feel like that this one year they would say, “it is worth the effort” not to spend time together as a group. &nbsp;

I’m speculating.&nbsp; I don’t know how they feel.&nbsp; But, I know that they loved each other so much that they would do anything for each other. &nbsp;

If you find that you’re faced with a difficult decision with whom to spend Christmas or other holidays, just make your decision out of love.&nbsp; I don’t have the right or wrong answer. As long as we’re motivated out of the love and respect that we have for our families and desire to not only see them, but to keep them safe, we’ll make the best decisions we can.

What did I do this Thanksgiving?&nbsp; This year, we did not spend time with my sister and her family out of concern, but we did have our children and our grandchildren together.&nbsp; It was a small group, but we sent a lot of love to other family members through texts and phone calls.&nbsp; I feel that next year will be much different and we’ll appreciate even more the opportunity to spend the time together. &nbsp;

During our Thanksgiving meal this year, and I know this coming Christmas, I will recall an incident that occurred at our church several years ago (let me quote from that prior article that I wrote), “As I was looking out the east window of our church, through stain glass, with the sun streaming in, we sang a song ‘People, Look to the East’.&nbsp; Just as we finished that last line of the song, the dark shadow of several birds flew by the windows heading to the north.&nbsp; I felt like it was my grandparents, my parents, and my wife’s parents, flying free, but letting me know they were still with us.”

Though we cannot be together in person, we can still be with family members, both past and present, in spirit.

My sincere heartfelt wish for all of you is that you make it through this pandemic; that you give it the opportunity to bring you closer to your family; and that you see it as a time to become a more caring person with great perspective.

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578498921842.png" alt="Randy Clinkscales" />
 <figcaption>Randy Clinkscales</figcaption>
 </figure>A couple of years ago, I wrote an article about all of the efforts that my family went through for holiday visits.&nbsp; My grandparents lived hundreds of miles away, but every year we made a grand effort to go to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with them.&nbsp; It was a great effort on the part of my parents.&nbsp; There were times when we fought blizzards; when we were too busy, making the miles seemed difficult; and then as we grew older and schedules proved more difficult, we still powered through. When I got married, we added my in-laws to the visit schedule, but continued the tradition.I’d like to talk to you a little bit about what’s going on right now.&nbsp; I wonder what my parents and grandparents would think about the visitation recommendations that are existing because of COVID-19.I have to think about what my parents and grandparents had been through in their lives.&nbsp; My grandparents were married about the time of The Depression; my great grandmother lived with, and was cared for, by my grandparents for over 30 years; they went through World War II during which my grandmother’s brother was captured and spent the duration of the war in a Japanese prison camp; my grandfather was bed ridden for a year when he broke his neck in a train accident; they went through raising two hemophiliac children, one who died in a playground accident at the age of 8 and the other one who died years later, but still in his early 50s; they persevered. &nbsp;My parents went through a divorce; they went through some tough financial times; there were multiple moves and different jobs; but in the end, they persevered.My parents and grandparents are all deceased, but I “guess” that I believe that they would have incredible perspective about the visitation restrictions.&nbsp; I’m sure that my parents would be very concerned about giving my grandparents COVID-19, and my grandparents would be concerned about our health equally as well.&nbsp; I feel like that this one year they would say, “it is worth the effort” not to spend time together as a group. &nbsp;I’m speculating.&nbsp; I don’t know how they feel.&nbsp; But, I know that they loved each other so much that they would do anything for each other. &nbsp;If you find that you’re faced with a difficult decision with whom to spend Christmas or other holidays, just make your decision out of love.&nbsp; I don’t have the right or wrong answer. As long as we’re motivated out of the love and respect that we have for our families and desire to not only see them, but to keep them safe, we’ll make the best decisions we can.What did I do this Thanksgiving?&nbsp; This year, we did not spend time with my sister and her family out of concern, but we did have our children and our grandchildren together.&nbsp; It was a small group, but we sent a lot of love to other family members through texts and phone calls.&nbsp; I feel that next year will be much different and we’ll appreciate even more the opportunity to spend the time together. &nbsp;During our Thanksgiving meal this year, and I know this coming Christmas, I will recall an incident that occurred at our church several years ago (let me quote from that prior article that I wrote), “As I was looking out the east window of our church, through stain glass, with the sun streaming in, we sang a song ‘People, Look to the East’.&nbsp; Just as we finished that last line of the song, the dark shadow of several birds flew by the windows heading to the north.&nbsp; I felt like it was my grandparents, my parents, and my wife’s parents, flying free, but letting me know they were still with us.”Though we cannot be together in person, we can still be with family members, both past and present, in spirit.My sincere heartfelt wish for all of you is that you make it through this pandemic; that you give it the opportunity to bring you closer to your family; and that you see it as a time to become a more caring person with great perspective.Merry Christmas.Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

CLINKSCALES: Christmas — it’s worth the effort

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher

This year, this week, we start our 103rd year at Kansas Farm Bureau having just finished our business session at our 102nd annual meeting. One hundred and three is a big number and a lot of years. Dare I say no year has been quite like the one we just finished up. Note that I did not say it was our hardest year. It was not even our first pandemic at Kansas Farm Bureau, but it was a year a lot of us would like to move past and put in the rearview mirror.

Yes, there have been harder years in the ag community. Years of more extreme drought, heat, rain or pests. I am sure we have seen years with worse markets and more trying times. Maybe not, bad years and good years are so personal to each of us. If you were touched by COVID-19, 2020 may very well have been your worst year ever, and if that is the case, my heart goes out to you.

My point is 2020 was not a good year, and I am sure that most of us hope that 2021 will be a much better one. The one thing I do know is those of us in agriculture have learned to deal with adversity and keep moving forward. We know how to absorb the blow of a bad year and pick ourselves up and keep, keeping on. That is what we do, that is who we are and that is why agriculture is the backbone of the United States.

What will 2021 look like? Who knows? I have seen long-range forecasts, but I do not put much faith in them. As far as the pandemic goes, we have no idea, even the experts are split on what the next 12 months will look like. But I do know this. We will plant the next crop this spring, we will help new lambs, calves, pigs, goats, chickens and horses come into this world. We will persevere with the faith of a farmer and rancher because that is what we do.

We will go to the field and to the pasture with the same optimism that our parents and grandparents carried with them, even through the toughest of times. I also know Kansas Farm Bureau will be right there alongside us making sure our voices are heard in Washington D.C. and Topeka. That voice is one each of us have a note in, coming up from the grassroots and making sure those of us who feed the world are heard.

No, I had no idea what was ahead of us at this time last year, but we made it through it, and I have no idea what is ahead of us in 2021. We will change and adapt just like we have for the previous 102 years, and we can all be proud knowing that we are part of an organization leading the way when it comes to ensuring our farms and ranches survive and thrive no matter what the year brings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="brunkow crop" />
 <figcaption>brunkow crop</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher This year, this week, we start our 103rd year at Kansas Farm Bureau having just finished our business session at our 102nd annual meeting. One hundred and three is a big number and a lot of years. Dare I say no year has been quite like the one we just finished up. Note that I did not say it was our hardest year. It was not even our first pandemic at Kansas Farm Bureau, but it was a year a lot of us would like to move past and put in the rearview mirror.Yes, there have been harder years in the ag community. Years of more extreme drought, heat, rain or pests. I am sure we have seen years with worse markets and more trying times. Maybe not, bad years and good years are so personal to each of us. If you were touched by COVID-19, 2020 may very well have been your worst year ever, and if that is the case, my heart goes out to you.My point is 2020 was not a good year, and I am sure that most of us hope that 2021 will be a much better one. The one thing I do know is those of us in agriculture have learned to deal with adversity and keep moving forward. We know how to absorb the blow of a bad year and pick ourselves up and keep, keeping on. That is what we do, that is who we are and that is why agriculture is the backbone of the United States.What will 2021 look like? Who knows? I have seen long-range forecasts, but I do not put much faith in them. As far as the pandemic goes, we have no idea, even the experts are split on what the next 12 months will look like. But I do know this. We will plant the next crop this spring, we will help new lambs, calves, pigs, goats, chickens and horses come into this world. We will persevere with the faith of a farmer and rancher because that is what we do.We will go to the field and to the pasture with the same optimism that our parents and grandparents carried with them, even through the toughest of times. I also know Kansas Farm Bureau will be right there alongside us making sure our voices are heard in Washington D.C. and Topeka. That voice is one each of us have a note in, coming up from the grassroots and making sure those of us who feed the world are heard.No, I had no idea what was ahead of us at this time last year, but we made it through it, and I have no idea what is ahead of us in 2021. We will change and adapt just like we have for the previous 102 years, and we can all be proud knowing that we are part of an organization leading the way when it comes to ensuring our farms and ranches survive and thrive no matter what the year brings."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: Moving forward

Fall is a good time to control weedy brome species, such as downy brome, Japanese brome and Cheat. This article will discuss some identifying characteristics of downy brome, as well as control measures.

Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) is native to the Mediterranean area and was introduced to New York and Pennsylvania during the late 1800’s. It can be found throughout Kansas in upland settings, often in over-grazed pastures. Downy brome is a winter annual grass that typically emerges in the fall, but can also emerge in early spring (Figure 1). It produces seeds in late spring and is typically the first of the common weedy bromes to flower in spring.&nbsp;

Key identifying features of downy brome and other weedy brome species are shown in Table 1. Seedling leaves have a clockwise twist and are covered with soft hairs. The closed sheath is also covered with soft hairs. The ligule is a fringed membrane. Mature plants can reach up to 2 feet tall with leaves up to 5 inches long. Mature leaves also have long short hairs on both surfaces. Downy brome produces an extensive root system that reaches up to 4 feet deep and is very efficient at withdrawing water from the soil.

The inflorescence or seed head is in an open, droopy, loose branching clusters of seed heads about 7 inches long. Each spikelet contains 4-8 seeds. Spikelets are tipped with an awn approximately 0.75 inches long. The awns facilitate seed dispersal by attaching to animals’ coats and may cause injury to the mouths and eyes of grazing animals.

There is some evidence that once established in a native area, downy brome cannot be dislodged. However, it is possible to control downy brome in winter annual crops such as wheat or canola. Control in wheat is critical, as data suggest that downy brome infestations of approximately 9 plants per square foot can reduce wheat yields 20 to 40%.

Few herbicides labeled for winter wheat will provide excellent control of downy brome and cheat grass. However, fall applications of herbicides such as Olympus, Outrider, or PowerFlex generally provide greater suppression than spring applications. Acceptable control of downy brome and cheat can be achieved by planting Clearfield or CoAxium varieties and applying Beyond or Aggressor herbicides, respectively.

Controlling downy brome in rotational crops is an excellent integrated management strategy. For example, grass weeds are more easily controlled in roundup ready winter canola or with fall or early spring applications of glyphosate before planting a summer crop.

Information provided by Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Specialist.

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours please leave a voice-mail for a return call.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607374280839.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Fall is a good time to control weedy brome species, such as downy brome, Japanese brome and Cheat. This article will discuss some identifying characteristics of downy brome, as well as control measures.Ecology of downy bromeDowny brome (Bromus tectorum) is native to the Mediterranean area and was introduced to New York and Pennsylvania during the late 1800’s. It can be found throughout Kansas in upland settings, often in over-grazed pastures. Downy brome is a winter annual grass that typically emerges in the fall, but can also emerge in early spring (Figure 1). It produces seeds in late spring and is typically the first of the common weedy bromes to flower in spring.&nbsp;IdentificationKey identifying features of downy brome and other weedy brome species are shown in Table 1. Seedling leaves have a clockwise twist and are covered with soft hairs. The closed sheath is also covered with soft hairs. The ligule is a fringed membrane. Mature plants can reach up to 2 feet tall with leaves up to 5 inches long. Mature leaves also have long short hairs on both surfaces. Downy brome produces an extensive root system that reaches up to 4 feet deep and is very efficient at withdrawing water from the soil.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607373624342.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The inflorescence or seed head is in an open, droopy, loose branching clusters of seed heads about 7 inches long. Each spikelet contains 4-8 seeds. Spikelets are tipped with an awn approximately 0.75 inches long. The awns facilitate seed dispersal by attaching to animals’ coats and may cause injury to the mouths and eyes of grazing animals.ManagementThere is some evidence that once established in a native area, downy brome cannot be dislodged. However, it is possible to control downy brome in winter annual crops such as wheat or canola. Control in wheat is critical, as data suggest that downy brome infestations of approximately 9 plants per square foot can reduce wheat yields 20 to 40%.Few herbicides labeled for winter wheat will provide excellent control of downy brome and cheat grass. However, fall applications of herbicides such as Olympus, Outrider, or PowerFlex generally provide greater suppression than spring applications. Acceptable control of downy brome and cheat can be achieved by planting Clearfield or CoAxium varieties and applying Beyond or Aggressor herbicides, respectively.Controlling downy brome in rotational crops is an excellent integrated management strategy. For example, grass weeds are more easily controlled in roundup ready winter canola or with fall or early spring applications of glyphosate before planting a summer crop.Information provided by Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Specialist.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430, if after hours please leave a voice-mail for a return call.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>

CAMPBELL: Battling downy brome

Is an air fryer the best thing for your family? There is not an easy answer to that question. Each year there seems to be a new kitchen appliance on the market and a decision has to be made about the value of that gadget for you or for the family. The participants in the five “Healthier Options with an Air Fryer” presentations over the last month shared their experiences but still had many questions.

Before purchasing an air fryer, it would be helpful to understand how the appliance works and the features that are available with the different brands and models. Air fryers cook food by circulating extremely hot air around the food. In some models the unit contains a basket to hold food, an electric heating element and a fan to circulate the hot air. There are other models that resemble a toaster oven or a small tabletop oven but there is still a fan to circulate hot air.&nbsp;

During our class, the first topic of discussion was to list the advantages and the disadvantages of this small appliance. The first item on the benefit list is they can provide a healthier alternative to conventional frying because they use little or no oil during the cooking process. They also are easy to clean and most are easy to operate. Using this small appliance will eliminate having to heat up the big oven especially in the summer. In most cases, the food does cook faster.&nbsp;

However, those who owned or had used the air fryer also voiced concerns. For those with small kitchens and not much countertop space, it is necessary to move the small appliance to the pantry or to another space to store it when not in use. For those with large families, it might be necessary to prepare two or more batches of the food if the appliance is not large enough. The biggest complaint from our audience was that the booklet that comes with the appliance lacked complete instructions for how to use it and there were very few recipes included.&nbsp;

&nbsp;One lesson learned was that if you have a convection oven or a toaster oven with the convection feature then you already have an “air fryer”. With a convection oven it is usually thought that the food is “baked”, but really it operates the same as the air fryer appliance. Another reminder is that with any new item in the kitchen, it will take time to learn the tricks but with practice it will become easier. &nbsp;

If you were unable to attend the Healthy Cooking with an Air Fryer presentations but would like the information and recipes from the class, please contact me at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a> or call the Extension Office at 785-628-9430 and we would be glad to share the information with you.&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>Is an air fryer the best thing for your family? There is not an easy answer to that question. Each year there seems to be a new kitchen appliance on the market and a decision has to be made about the value of that gadget for you or for the family. The participants in the five “Healthier Options with an Air Fryer” presentations over the last month shared their experiences but still had many questions.Before purchasing an air fryer, it would be helpful to understand how the appliance works and the features that are available with the different brands and models. Air fryers cook food by circulating extremely hot air around the food. In some models the unit contains a basket to hold food, an electric heating element and a fan to circulate the hot air. There are other models that resemble a toaster oven or a small tabletop oven but there is still a fan to circulate hot air.&nbsp;During our class, the first topic of discussion was to list the advantages and the disadvantages of this small appliance. The first item on the benefit list is they can provide a healthier alternative to conventional frying because they use little or no oil during the cooking process. They also are easy to clean and most are easy to operate. Using this small appliance will eliminate having to heat up the big oven especially in the summer. In most cases, the food does cook faster.&nbsp;However, those who owned or had used the air fryer also voiced concerns. For those with small kitchens and not much countertop space, it is necessary to move the small appliance to the pantry or to another space to store it when not in use. For those with large families, it might be necessary to prepare two or more batches of the food if the appliance is not large enough. The biggest complaint from our audience was that the booklet that comes with the appliance lacked complete instructions for how to use it and there were very few recipes included.&nbsp;&nbsp;One lesson learned was that if you have a convection oven or a toaster oven with the convection feature then you already have an “air fryer”. With a convection oven it is usually thought that the food is “baked”, but really it operates the same as the air fryer appliance. Another reminder is that with any new item in the kitchen, it will take time to learn the tricks but with practice it will become easier. &nbsp;If you were unable to attend the Healthy Cooking with an Air Fryer presentations but would like the information and recipes from the class, please contact me at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a> or call the Extension Office at 785-628-9430 and we would be glad to share the information with you.&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: Tell me more about air fryers

If selecting a cut Christmas tree, watch for these signs that the tree is too far gone.&nbsp; &nbsp; 

• Needles are a dull, grayish-green color • Needles fail to ooze pitch when broken apart and squeezed • Needles feel stiff and brittle • Needles pull easily off tree

Once you have your tree home, recut the trunk about one inch above the original cut. This will open up clogged, water-conducting tissues. Immediately place the trunk in warm water. Locate the tree in as cool a spot as possible. Avoid areas near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and heat ducts as the heat will result in excess water loss. Make sure the reservoir stays filled. If the reservoir loses enough water that the bottom of the trunk is exposed, the trunk will need to be recut.

Adding aspirins, copper pennies, soda pop, sugar and bleach to the water reservoir have not been shown to prolong the life of a tree.​If you choose a living Christmas tree, be sure to dig the planting hole before the ground freezes. &nbsp;Mulch the hole and backfill soil to keep them from freezing. Live trees should not be kept inside for more than three days. Longer periods may cause them to lose dormancy resulting in severe injury when planted outside. 

You may wish to tag the tree at the nursery and then pick it up a couple days before Christmas. After Christmas, move the tree to an unheated garage for several days to acclimatize it to outside temperatures. After planting, water well and leave some mulch in place to prevent the soil water from freezing and becoming unavailable for plant uptake. 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>If selecting a cut Christmas tree, watch for these signs that the tree is too far gone.&nbsp; &nbsp; • Needles are a dull, grayish-green color • Needles fail to ooze pitch when broken apart and squeezed • Needles feel stiff and brittle • Needles pull easily off treeOnce you have your tree home, recut the trunk about one inch above the original cut. This will open up clogged, water-conducting tissues. Immediately place the trunk in warm water. Locate the tree in as cool a spot as possible. Avoid areas near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and heat ducts as the heat will result in excess water loss. Make sure the reservoir stays filled. If the reservoir loses enough water that the bottom of the trunk is exposed, the trunk will need to be recut. Adding aspirins, copper pennies, soda pop, sugar and bleach to the water reservoir have not been shown to prolong the life of a tree.​If you choose a living Christmas tree, be sure to dig the planting hole before the ground freezes. &nbsp;Mulch the hole and backfill soil to keep them from freezing. Live trees should not be kept inside for more than three days. Longer periods may cause them to lose dormancy resulting in severe injury when planted outside. You may wish to tag the tree at the nursery and then pick it up a couple days before Christmas. After Christmas, move the tree to an unheated garage for several days to acclimatize it to outside temperatures. After planting, water well and leave some mulch in place to prevent the soil water from freezing and becoming unavailable for plant uptake. 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: When a Christmas tree is too far gone

“Whatever happened to the moderate Republicans of Kansas?” That’s a question I was asked this past week, and it’s not a new one. Similar questions have been asked all across America, as we have seen supporters of both parties — but especially on the Republican side over the course of Donald Trump’s presidency — become unified and defiant in a way they haven’t been in many decades. Here in Kansas, that shift away from moderation poses special complications.

Most students of politics in Kansas have long seen the parties as fairly crude instruments — organizations that roughly reflected the preferences of diverse voters, but which could also be carefully managed. The primary managers, in strongly Republican Kansas, were those moderate voters who faithfully supported the GOP, but also often rewarded those who dissented from any strict ideological line, thus keeping Kansas’s majority party somewhat flexible.

Ed Flentje, a long-time Wichita State University professor who wrote columns like this one for years, regularly presented this as the great virtue of Kansas politics: that the state’s Republican majority was divided enough that many of its representatives could move either left or right as the times warranted, thus allowing the party to adapt, innovate, and pursue good government policies, even progressive ones on occasion, without threatening its political stability.

In the introduction to a recent collection of his newspaper writings, Flentje remains confident that the patterns he often defended still hold. Though the “Brownback Revolution” took the Kansas Republican party, and thus the state, in an immoderately right-ward direction for a time, he sees that as a historical aberration, and believes the moderate Republican faction--who were essential to Governor Laura Kelly’s election in 2018--will continue to provide balance.

He may be right. But given that the 2020 election delivered a Republican majority to the Kansas House pretty much the same as the one which existed when Sam Brownback was first elected governor a decade ago, and that similarly defiant, un-moderate, Trump-centric campaigns led to Republican wins in Congress and state legislatures across the nation, perhaps it is the election of Kelly that will someday be seen as an aberration from the new, 21st-century style of party politics.

What is that style? It is, most of all, a nationalized one. Regional variations that once characterized American politics are dying out. Flentje and others long presumed that state parties were capable of local adaptation, but that is becoming difficult. Instead, in a centralizing world of instantaneous communication, party leaders and funders are quick to rally around ideological slights and crusades, whether real or perceived--and apparently many voters, fearful of being represented by their ideological opponents (or so their news feeds depict them), follow along.

Of course, 2020 was just one election. Who knows how the Republican party will evolve once Trump, whose constant Twitter declarations overwhelmed potential intra-party factions, is out of the White House? Still, we may need to start assuming that nationalized, polarized, and deeply divided parties are all we have for turning voter preferences into successful public policies.

That isn’t necessarily impossible; parliamentary democracies, with their “loyal opposition” and “shadow governments,” do it all the time. But in Republican-heavy Kansas, where deal-making moderates were so central to the whole idea of good government, nothing may be more important than figuring out how to legislate when moderate voters no longer elect to send a sufficient number of dissenters and adapters to Topeka to enable it to work as it once did.

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>“Whatever happened to the moderate Republicans of Kansas?” That’s a question I was asked this past week, and it’s not a new one. Similar questions have been asked all across America, as we have seen supporters of both parties — but especially on the Republican side over the course of Donald Trump’s presidency — become unified and defiant in a way they haven’t been in many decades. Here in Kansas, that shift away from moderation poses special complications.Most students of politics in Kansas have long seen the parties as fairly crude instruments — organizations that roughly reflected the preferences of diverse voters, but which could also be carefully managed. The primary managers, in strongly Republican Kansas, were those moderate voters who faithfully supported the GOP, but also often rewarded those who dissented from any strict ideological line, thus keeping Kansas’s majority party somewhat flexible.Ed Flentje, a long-time Wichita State University professor who wrote columns like this one for years, regularly presented this as the great virtue of Kansas politics: that the state’s Republican majority was divided enough that many of its representatives could move either left or right as the times warranted, thus allowing the party to adapt, innovate, and pursue good government policies, even progressive ones on occasion, without threatening its political stability.In the introduction to a recent collection of his newspaper writings, Flentje remains confident that the patterns he often defended still hold. Though the “Brownback Revolution” took the Kansas Republican party, and thus the state, in an immoderately right-ward direction for a time, he sees that as a historical aberration, and believes the moderate Republican faction--who were essential to Governor Laura Kelly’s election in 2018--will continue to provide balance.He may be right. But given that the 2020 election delivered a Republican majority to the Kansas House pretty much the same as the one which existed when Sam Brownback was first elected governor a decade ago, and that similarly defiant, un-moderate, Trump-centric campaigns led to Republican wins in Congress and state legislatures across the nation, perhaps it is the election of Kelly that will someday be seen as an aberration from the new, 21st-century style of party politics.What is that style? It is, most of all, a nationalized one. Regional variations that once characterized American politics are dying out. Flentje and others long presumed that state parties were capable of local adaptation, but that is becoming difficult. Instead, in a centralizing world of instantaneous communication, party leaders and funders are quick to rally around ideological slights and crusades, whether real or perceived--and apparently many voters, fearful of being represented by their ideological opponents (or so their news feeds depict them), follow along.Of course, 2020 was just one election. Who knows how the Republican party will evolve once Trump, whose constant Twitter declarations overwhelmed potential intra-party factions, is out of the White House? Still, we may need to start assuming that nationalized, polarized, and deeply divided parties are all we have for turning voter preferences into successful public policies.That isn’t necessarily impossible; parliamentary democracies, with their “loyal opposition” and “shadow governments,” do it all the time. But in Republican-heavy Kansas, where deal-making moderates were so central to the whole idea of good government, nothing may be more important than figuring out how to legislate when moderate voters no longer elect to send a sufficient number of dissenters and adapters to Topeka to enable it to work as it once did.Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Can state function without Moderate Republicans?

It doesn’t seem possible that it has been three years since our Cottonwood Extension District formed, joining the K-State Research &amp; Extension operations for Barton and Ellis Counties. As our team of seven agents and two support staff work hard to bring research based, non-biased information to lifelong learners in our area, I am excited report some of the successes of 2020.

I hope you have had an opportunity to utilize our services in the past year. 2020 provided many challenges for families, but some neat learning opportunities were created by those challenges. As virtual meetings and educational programs became the norm, participants, young and old, adapted to the world of technology.&nbsp;

Perhaps your family is involved in 4-H or an after-school program. If so, we have two experienced agents, Michelle Beran and Susan Schlichting, leading the youth development program in the Cottonwood District. If you visit the Kansas 4-H web site you will find links to the Clover classroom with project challenges in photography, pollinators and communication, with more to come in 2021. &nbsp;

Our District Agriculture and Natural Resource agents. Alicia Boor and Stacy Campbell, have specialized to focus on livestock programming and crops respectively. Both Alicia and Stacy have produced teaching videos related to hot topics that are posted on our Cottonwood District Face book page.

Master gardeners in Ellis and Barton Counties receive guidance from our District Horticulture Agent, Lauren Fick. Lauren has worked hard to provide a fresh new look on our web sites’ horticulture page. She also prides herself in answering yard, garden and tree questions in a timely manner.&nbsp;

And finally, Berny Unruh and I are committed to bringing Extension educational programming related to nutrition, health and wellness, food safety, family resource management, aging issues, and family life in general. The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy workshop that focuses on strength, balance and flexibility, reached 70 individuals district wide in 2020. More workshops are scheduled for 2021.

I would be remiss not to mention our two experienced office professionals. Brenda Walton, in the Great Bend office, takes the lead with the finances for the district while Theresa Meis, in the Hays office, focuses on communicating our efforts through newsletters and our web site. Both Brenda and Theresa handle a multitude of other duties that keep our offices running smoothly.&nbsp;

It is great news that K-State Research and Extension has answers to many of life’s questions, typically at no or low cost. Unlike what you might find through a Google search, the answers we provide are research based and non-biased. I hope you will take a look at our Cottonwood web site and like our Cottonwood Facebook page. We hope to see you at some of our upcoming programs.&nbsp;

While our Cottonwood Executive Board remains the same for next year, it is not too early to consider stepping up and running for a position during 2021. There will be two positions on the ballot in both Barton and Ellis Counties next year. If you have questions about what serving on our board would entail, feel free to give me a call.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. 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/2020/6/1593016082485.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>It doesn’t seem possible that it has been three years since our Cottonwood Extension District formed, joining the K-State Research &amp; Extension operations for Barton and Ellis Counties. As our team of seven agents and two support staff work hard to bring research based, non-biased information to lifelong learners in our area, I am excited report some of the successes of 2020.I hope you have had an opportunity to utilize our services in the past year. 2020 provided many challenges for families, but some neat learning opportunities were created by those challenges. As virtual meetings and educational programs became the norm, participants, young and old, adapted to the world of technology.&nbsp;Perhaps your family is involved in 4-H or an after-school program. If so, we have two experienced agents, Michelle Beran and Susan Schlichting, leading the youth development program in the Cottonwood District. If you visit the Kansas 4-H web site you will find links to the Clover classroom with project challenges in photography, pollinators and communication, with more to come in 2021. &nbsp;Our District Agriculture and Natural Resource agents. Alicia Boor and Stacy Campbell, have specialized to focus on livestock programming and crops respectively. Both Alicia and Stacy have produced teaching videos related to hot topics that are posted on our Cottonwood District Face book page.Master gardeners in Ellis and Barton Counties receive guidance from our District Horticulture Agent, Lauren Fick. Lauren has worked hard to provide a fresh new look on our web sites’ horticulture page. She also prides herself in answering yard, garden and tree questions in a timely manner.&nbsp;And finally, Berny Unruh and I are committed to bringing Extension educational programming related to nutrition, health and wellness, food safety, family resource management, aging issues, and family life in general. The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy workshop that focuses on strength, balance and flexibility, reached 70 individuals district wide in 2020. More workshops are scheduled for 2021.I would be remiss not to mention our two experienced office professionals. Brenda Walton, in the Great Bend office, takes the lead with the finances for the district while Theresa Meis, in the Hays office, focuses on communicating our efforts through newsletters and our web site. Both Brenda and Theresa handle a multitude of other duties that keep our offices running smoothly.&nbsp;It is great news that K-State Research and Extension has answers to many of life’s questions, typically at no or low cost. Unlike what you might find through a Google search, the answers we provide are research based and non-biased. I hope you will take a look at our Cottonwood web site and like our Cottonwood Facebook page. We hope to see you at some of our upcoming programs.&nbsp;While our Cottonwood Executive Board remains the same for next year, it is not too early to consider stepping up and running for a position during 2021. There will be two positions on the ballot in both Barton and Ellis Counties next year. If you have questions about what serving on our board would entail, feel free to give me a call.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Cottonwood Extension District making an impact

By TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project

The practice of Religious Freedom, like most other spheres of human 
activity, has been radically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently more than <a href="https://abc11.com/united-house-of-prayer-for-all-people-charlotte-covid-19-church/8128891/" target="_blank">200 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths were linked to a church</a>
 in Charlotte, N.C., which held large gatherings over a week in early 
October reportedly without enforcing proper coronavirus safety 
precautions.

This is not the first time such an outbreak has been identified. 
Other significant COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced to religious 
services, including <a href="https://people.com/health/49-cases-of-coronavirus-so-far-linked-to-small-church-event-in-maine/" target="_blank">one at a Maine church</a> and <a href="https://people.com/health/40-members-alabama-church-get-coronavirus-after-revival/" target="_blank">another in Alabama</a>.
 This is the first time, however, that linkage was disclosed after a 
Supreme Court decision last week that turned back new COVID-19 
restrictions on places of worship in New York state.

In last week’s decision, just moments before midnight on Thanksgiving Eve, the Supreme Court — including newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett
 — considered a challenge by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to 
pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings. The 5-4 decision blocked 
orders imposed by New York state that sharply limited the number of 
attendees at religious services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unsigned opinion asserted that the orders violated the Free 
Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because they “single out houses 
of worship for especially harsh treatment.” Hardware stores, 
acupuncturists and liquor stores were among establishments immune from 
similar restrictions.

As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country, many 
of us are being asked to follow stricter guidelines, including travel 
restrictions, banning of contact sports and wearing a mask.

Should these same guidelines be placed on religious organizations? Will the decision in the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. v. Cuomo</a> change the course on religion cases, now that conservative Barrett has replaced the late liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Does the decision give free rein to religious organizations to ignore government regulations of all kinds?

Tracking the issue in a series of orders and legal rulings in Kentucky gives us much to examine. On Nov. 18, Gov. Andy Beshear
 issued a temporary school-related restraining order and unveiled new 
restrictions that, if approved, could apply until mid-December for 
restaurants, bars, gyms, offices, indoor gatherings, weddings and 
funerals.

An executive order was then signed by Beshear requiring all schools 
to halt in-person classes starting Nov. 23, allowing elementary schools 
to reopen after Dec. 7 if their county is not in the state’s “red zone,”
 with middle and high schools unable to reopen until after Jan. 4.

Two days later, Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s 
office joined a lawsuit filed by Danville Christian Academy, which took 
issue with the orders applying to private, religious schools in 
Kentucky. The lawsuit sought a temporary restraining order.

<a href="https://www.wkyt.com/2020/11/26/judge-rules-kentuckys-religious-schools-can-have-in-person-classes/" target="_blank">U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove</a>
 ruled that religious and private schools were exempt because the order 
“infringes on their constitutional rights.” However, the U.S Court of 
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2020/11/29/kentucky-coronavirus-appeals-court-ruling-religious-schools/6436082002/" target="_blank">struck down that temporary restraining order</a>,
 saying the Beshear order is broadly applicable and does not 
discriminate against a certain group. They also say they are “not in a 
position to second-guess the governor’s determination regarding the 
health and safety of the commonwealth at this point in time.”

Cameron, tweeting after the Court of Appeals’ decision, called it 
“frightening that the governor believes he can suspend religious 
liberty.”

Cameron continued, “We’re disappointed with the Sixth Circuit’s 
ruling allowing the governor to close religious schools, but we’re 
already hard at work to take this matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 
governor is not above the law and we urge him to drop this ill-conceived
 appeal and to halt his attacks on religious freedom.”

One thing seems to be certain, whether it is New York, Kentucky or 
North Carolina — the U.S. Supreme Court will be busy sorting out all of 
these matters as COVID-19 cases continue to rise during the holiday 
season.

When the Supreme Court faced similar pandemic cases before Ginsburg 
died, the court ruled in favor of restrictions. Given Barrett’s 
background and testimony at her confirmation hearings, it’s clear she 
will be a protector of religious causes — perhaps tilting the scales 
long-term in such cases. But at what cost?

Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, 
Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the 
Religious Freedom Center. His email address is: <a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596246031094.jpeg" alt="Freedom Forum Georgia 3Rs.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Freedom Forum Georgia 3Rs.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By TREY DANIEL Georgia Rights, Responsibility, Respect Project The practice of Religious Freedom, like most other spheres of human 
activity, has been radically affected by the coronavirus pandemic.Recently more than <a href="https://abc11.com/united-house-of-prayer-for-all-people-charlotte-covid-19-church/8128891/" target="_blank">200 COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths were linked to a church</a>
 in Charlotte, N.C., which held large gatherings over a week in early 
October reportedly without enforcing proper coronavirus safety 
precautions.This is not the first time such an outbreak has been identified. 
Other significant COVID-19 outbreaks have been traced to religious 
services, including <a href="https://people.com/health/49-cases-of-coronavirus-so-far-linked-to-small-church-event-in-maine/" target="_blank">one at a Maine church</a> and <a href="https://people.com/health/40-members-alabama-church-get-coronavirus-after-revival/" target="_blank">another in Alabama</a>.
 This is the first time, however, that linkage was disclosed after a 
Supreme Court decision last week that turned back new COVID-19 
restrictions on places of worship in New York state.In last week’s decision, just moments before midnight on Thanksgiving Eve, the Supreme Court — including newly confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett
 — considered a challenge by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to 
pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings. The 5-4 decision blocked 
orders imposed by New York state that sharply limited the number of 
attendees at religious services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The unsigned opinion asserted that the orders violated the Free 
Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because they “single out houses 
of worship for especially harsh treatment.” Hardware stores, 
acupuncturists and liquor stores were among establishments immune from 
similar restrictions.As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the country, many 
of us are being asked to follow stricter guidelines, including travel 
restrictions, banning of contact sports and wearing a mask.Should these same guidelines be placed on religious organizations? Will the decision in the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20a87_4g15.pdf" target="_blank">Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. v. Cuomo</a> change the course on religion cases, now that conservative Barrett has replaced the late liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Does the decision give free rein to religious organizations to ignore government regulations of all kinds?Tracking the issue in a series of orders and legal rulings in Kentucky gives us much to examine. On Nov. 18, Gov. Andy Beshear
 issued a temporary school-related restraining order and unveiled new 
restrictions that, if approved, could apply until mid-December for 
restaurants, bars, gyms, offices, indoor gatherings, weddings and 
funerals.An executive order was then signed by Beshear requiring all schools 
to halt in-person classes starting Nov. 23, allowing elementary schools 
to reopen after Dec. 7 if their county is not in the state’s “red zone,”
 with middle and high schools unable to reopen until after Jan. 4.Two days later, Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s 
office joined a lawsuit filed by Danville Christian Academy, which took 
issue with the orders applying to private, religious schools in 
Kentucky. The lawsuit sought a temporary restraining order.<a href="https://www.wkyt.com/2020/11/26/judge-rules-kentuckys-religious-schools-can-have-in-person-classes/" target="_blank">U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove</a>
 ruled that religious and private schools were exempt because the order 
“infringes on their constitutional rights.” However, the U.S Court of 
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2020/11/29/kentucky-coronavirus-appeals-court-ruling-religious-schools/6436082002/" target="_blank">struck down that temporary restraining order</a>,
 saying the Beshear order is broadly applicable and does not 
discriminate against a certain group. They also say they are “not in a 
position to second-guess the governor’s determination regarding the 
health and safety of the commonwealth at this point in time.”Cameron, tweeting after the Court of Appeals’ decision, called it 
“frightening that the governor believes he can suspend religious 
liberty.”Cameron continued, “We’re disappointed with the Sixth Circuit’s 
ruling allowing the governor to close religious schools, but we’re 
already hard at work to take this matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 
governor is not above the law and we urge him to drop this ill-conceived
 appeal and to halt his attacks on religious freedom.”One thing seems to be certain, whether it is New York, Kentucky or 
North Carolina — the U.S. Supreme Court will be busy sorting out all of 
these matters as COVID-19 cases continue to rise during the holiday 
season.When the Supreme Court faced similar pandemic cases before Ginsburg 
died, the court ruled in favor of restrictions. Given Barrett’s 
background and testimony at her confirmation hearings, it’s clear she 
will be a protector of religious causes — perhaps tilting the scales 
long-term in such cases. But at what cost?Trey Daniel is the education manager of the Georgia Rights, 
Responsibility, Respect Project, an education initiative of the 
Religious Freedom Center. His email address is: <a href="mailto:tdaniel@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">tdaniel@freedomforum.org.</a>

FIRST FIVE: Religious freedom in the age of a global pandemic

In my letter to the editor I will make my case that at this point in time the Democrat Party is the worst political party ever in American history.&nbsp; The corruption is massive and unprecedented.&nbsp; To begin with let's look at our current national election where our president and even some congressional candidates are yet to be determined.&nbsp; The election was supposed to be determined over a week ago.&nbsp; Seventy some million Trump voters believe the election is being stolen by Democrats, and their minions.&nbsp; The means to steal this year's election were put into motion years ago.&nbsp; Four very important things took place.&nbsp; 1) Democrats have always pushed for open borders with the hope illegals would vote and help steal elections.&nbsp; 2) Dems have pushed and pushed to eliminate photo IDs or any kind of verification when voting. 3) Dems have filed hundreds of lawsuits over the years forcing states to change election voting laws that makes it easier to commit voter fraud. And, 4) the millions of mail in ballots sent out months ago to every warm body in America (even cold ones) was a scheme to encourage voter fraud and steal the the election through cheating and chaos.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dems, with the help of 95% of America's media, claim there is no evidence of voter fraud.&nbsp; The voter fraud is all over the place and will come out after Republican lawsuits that are all within the law and our constitution.&nbsp; Mark my words, the fraud is massive. especially as it relates to election software.&nbsp; A prominent no nonsense female lawyer by the name of Sydney Powell said it's like bursting out of a fire hose and she can prove the fraud.&nbsp; To further prove my point about corruption, let's look at the three years and 35 million taxpayer monies spent by Dems to destroy a Trump presidency. Top dogs like Barack Hussein Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary and multiple FBI personnel&nbsp; could end up paying a big price, even possible prison time.&nbsp; The claim Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election was a complete falsehood in that there was never ever any evidence. The attempted coup was corruption at its worst. In fact, it was treason and there's overwhelming evidence to prove the attempted coup by the people just mentioned. Never before in our history has an outgoing president tried to overthrow an incoming president's right to the White House. That's what many banana republics and third world countries do quite often.&nbsp; It boggles the mind that corrupt Joe Biden could even be the Democrat's presidential candidate. What is all of this going to look like as history is written and recorded? As if the false Trump/Russia collusion story wasn't enough to stop the corruption. the House of Representatives controlled by Democrats conjured up a false reason to impeach Trump. After weeks of ludicrous left wing testimony, it all ended up to be a hoax, and another black eye for the party.&nbsp; Democrats Pelosi, Nadler and Schiff told one lie after another during the process.&nbsp; Part of the reason for the impeachment was to protect Vice President Biden, who under Obama, was put in charge of our relations with Ukraine.&nbsp; Biden was caught on TV for God and all of us to see and hear him say that "SOB" Ukraine official investigating my son Hunter's energy company gets fired or the country does not get a billion in foreign aid of U.S. taxpayer monies. Instead Dems tried to implicate Trump over some words he had with Ukraine's new president, none of which amounted to anything regarding impeachment. Hunter Biden was raking in millions for being on the Ukraine Burisma board of directors with absolutely no experience.&nbsp; The energy company, of course, was expecting something from VP Biden in return by putting his son on the board.&nbsp; Just one reason Biden Sr. is known as "quid pro Joe."&nbsp; Yup, massive corruption of "you line my pockets and I will line yours with U.S. taxpayer dollars." "Quid pro Joe" denies he knows anything about the his son and brother's businesses overseas.&nbsp; That's an outright lie. There's overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The point about Biden I am trying to make is that the Democrat Party may have chosen a candidate for president as the most corrupt politician in American history.&nbsp; That furthers my argument that we act like a third world country with the worst political party ever.&nbsp; Based on what I presented thus far in the way of facts (not opinion) does any open minded sane person think it is beyond reason for Democrats not to try stealing elections if they could?&nbsp; It all begs the question "how in the world does a political party and individuals within it get away with virtually anything and everything?"&nbsp; How in the world and in the Good Lord's name can this be happening in a country known for being the most democratic and Christian on planet earth?&nbsp; We may have to strike the word Christian. Now we know, with massive corruption in the last four years and previous eight, why our president Barack Hussein said "we are no longer a Christian nation." Speaking of religion, I would suggest many give considerable thought about what to say to powers above when it's time to leave planet earth.&nbsp; And, as a Christian myself, I'm as serious as one can be about this issue.&nbsp; These "united states" of America have been corrupted to the core. That is evident as one looks at the treatment Democrats get versus Republicans.&nbsp; I'm appalled at the unequal justice.&nbsp; Nobody's paying a price for the massive corruption unless you consider the criminal behavior our president has had to put up with for four years.&nbsp; It's a miracle Donald J. Trump still stands! Not only does Trump daily have to withstand the onslaught of a political party and their media, there are many other forces out to destroy him like Democrat billionaire donors, Big Tech, big banks, academia, and what is called the "deep state" and "establishment."&nbsp; Ninety five percent of media is in the tank for Joe Biden as president and spends 100% of its time attacking Trump.&nbsp; If Biden wins the presidency he can thank our corrupt media which succeeded in getting over half of Biden voters to literally hate Donald J. Trump, and even his family.&nbsp; &nbsp;If 73 some million who voted for Trump just love the man, why such pathological hate from Democrats?&nbsp; When millions upon millions choose our president on the basis of Biden being likeable and Trump not, we have become a third world country.&nbsp; America's media decides who our president will be and not you and I as voters. Our founders are turning over in their graves! In the tank for Biden polls were so far off, all pollsters should forever be a thing of the past.&nbsp;&nbsp; Media is the enemy of the people. It hid Biden in a basement never ever going to him to explain his corruption.&nbsp; There were a dozen questions every voter needed to know about Biden's radical agendas and platform should he become president, but in the tank Biden journalists acted as if they didn't even care.&nbsp; Nor did media ever report on the incredible Trump accomplishments that in four years exceeded Biden's 47 years as a politician living on the taxpayer's dime. Media isn't even a friend to its own Democrat base. Who among us wants to be indoctrinated and brainwashed? Who among us wants to be fed negative and false information from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed?&nbsp; Who among us wants to be kept in the dark about what is really going on in the realm of American politics and government? Who among us wants a new president that might face impeachment the minute he takes office? Let's face it readers, common sense alone leads most of us Americans to believe Biden could not possibly become our president without voter fraud.&nbsp; He didn't even campaign much for the job. He hid out in his basement to avoid his notorious gaffes and many signs of old age cognitive impairment.&nbsp; He is a corrupt politician and except for media his chances to win should be logically and mathematically impossible.&nbsp;&nbsp; Who in their right mind wants Biden's radical agendas like socialism, open borders, higher taxes, elimination&nbsp; of gas and oil, defunding the police, or putting in place a scheme that would prevent a Republican from ever occupying&nbsp; the White House again or Republicans controlling congress?&nbsp; And, let's not forget unrestricted barbaric abortions like partial birth abortions, even killing a baby that survives an abortion. I don't think most Americans want our most sacred document known as the Constitution completely changed or eliminated altogether.&nbsp; Communist China and good old Russia would love for all of that to happen.&nbsp; There is every indication that should Biden win he would shortly thereafter turn over the most powerful political office in the world to his running mate Kamala Harris. She has been dubbed the most far left liberal voting senator in congress. It's all a scheme to get a minority and female, not directly chosen by voters, into the White House nefariously. On the other hand, we have a president Trump setting historical records all over the place and having many rallies clearly showing millions of Americans just love the man. Common sense alone speaks volumes when we look at the big picture! Some reputable people are claiming Trump not only won the election, but won in a landslide.&nbsp; Only time will tell whether we are truly a democratic republic, or a third world country.&nbsp;

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LES KNOLLIn my letter to the editor I will make my case that at this point in time the Democrat Party is the worst political party ever in American history.&nbsp; The corruption is massive and unprecedented.&nbsp; To begin with let's look at our current national election where our president and even some congressional candidates are yet to be determined.&nbsp; The election was supposed to be determined over a week ago.&nbsp; Seventy some million Trump voters believe the election is being stolen by Democrats, and their minions.&nbsp; The means to steal this year's election were put into motion years ago.&nbsp; Four very important things took place.&nbsp; 1) Democrats have always pushed for open borders with the hope illegals would vote and help steal elections.&nbsp; 2) Dems have pushed and pushed to eliminate photo IDs or any kind of verification when voting. 3) Dems have filed hundreds of lawsuits over the years forcing states to change election voting laws that makes it easier to commit voter fraud. And, 4) the millions of mail in ballots sent out months ago to every warm body in America (even cold ones) was a scheme to encourage voter fraud and steal the the election through cheating and chaos.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dems, with the help of 95% of America's media, claim there is no evidence of voter fraud.&nbsp; The voter fraud is all over the place and will come out after Republican lawsuits that are all within the law and our constitution.&nbsp; Mark my words, the fraud is massive. especially as it relates to election software.&nbsp; A prominent no nonsense female lawyer by the name of Sydney Powell said it's like bursting out of a fire hose and she can prove the fraud.&nbsp; To further prove my point about corruption, let's look at the three years and 35 million taxpayer monies spent by Dems to destroy a Trump presidency. Top dogs like Barack Hussein Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary and multiple FBI personnel&nbsp; could end up paying a big price, even possible prison time.&nbsp; The claim Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election was a complete falsehood in that there was never ever any evidence. The attempted coup was corruption at its worst. In fact, it was treason and there's overwhelming evidence to prove the attempted coup by the people just mentioned. Never before in our history has an outgoing president tried to overthrow an incoming president's right to the White House. That's what many banana republics and third world countries do quite often.&nbsp; It boggles the mind that corrupt Joe Biden could even be the Democrat's presidential candidate. What is all of this going to look like as history is written and recorded? As if the false Trump/Russia collusion story wasn't enough to stop the corruption. the House of Representatives controlled by Democrats conjured up a false reason to impeach Trump. After weeks of ludicrous left wing testimony, it all ended up to be a hoax, and another black eye for the party.&nbsp; Democrats Pelosi, Nadler and Schiff told one lie after another during the process.&nbsp; Part of the reason for the impeachment was to protect Vice President Biden, who under Obama, was put in charge of our relations with Ukraine.&nbsp; Biden was caught on TV for God and all of us to see and hear him say that "SOB" Ukraine official investigating my son Hunter's energy company gets fired or the country does not get a billion in foreign aid of U.S. taxpayer monies. Instead Dems tried to implicate Trump over some words he had with Ukraine's new president, none of which amounted to anything regarding impeachment. Hunter Biden was raking in millions for being on the Ukraine Burisma board of directors with absolutely no experience.&nbsp; The energy company, of course, was expecting something from VP Biden in return by putting his son on the board.&nbsp; Just one reason Biden Sr. is known as "quid pro Joe."&nbsp; Yup, massive corruption of "you line my pockets and I will line yours with U.S. taxpayer dollars." "Quid pro Joe" denies he knows anything about the his son and brother's businesses overseas.&nbsp; That's an outright lie. There's overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The point about Biden I am trying to make is that the Democrat Party may have chosen a candidate for president as the most corrupt politician in American history.&nbsp; That furthers my argument that we act like a third world country with the worst political party ever.&nbsp; Based on what I presented thus far in the way of facts (not opinion) does any open minded sane person think it is beyond reason for Democrats not to try stealing elections if they could?&nbsp; It all begs the question "how in the world does a political party and individuals within it get away with virtually anything and everything?"&nbsp; How in the world and in the Good Lord's name can this be happening in a country known for being the most democratic and Christian on planet earth?&nbsp; We may have to strike the word Christian. Now we know, with massive corruption in the last four years and previous eight, why our president Barack Hussein said "we are no longer a Christian nation." Speaking of religion, I would suggest many give considerable thought about what to say to powers above when it's time to leave planet earth.&nbsp; And, as a Christian myself, I'm as serious as one can be about this issue.&nbsp; These "united states" of America have been corrupted to the core. That is evident as one looks at the treatment Democrats get versus Republicans.&nbsp; I'm appalled at the unequal justice.&nbsp; Nobody's paying a price for the massive corruption unless you consider the criminal behavior our president has had to put up with for four years.&nbsp; It's a miracle Donald J. Trump still stands! Not only does Trump daily have to withstand the onslaught of a political party and their media, there are many other forces out to destroy him like Democrat billionaire donors, Big Tech, big banks, academia, and what is called the "deep state" and "establishment."&nbsp; Ninety five percent of media is in the tank for Joe Biden as president and spends 100% of its time attacking Trump.&nbsp; If Biden wins the presidency he can thank our corrupt media which succeeded in getting over half of Biden voters to literally hate Donald J. Trump, and even his family.&nbsp; &nbsp;If 73 some million who voted for Trump just love the man, why such pathological hate from Democrats?&nbsp; When millions upon millions choose our president on the basis of Biden being likeable and Trump not, we have become a third world country.&nbsp; America's media decides who our president will be and not you and I as voters. Our founders are turning over in their graves! In the tank for Biden polls were so far off, all pollsters should forever be a thing of the past.&nbsp;&nbsp; Media is the enemy of the people. It hid Biden in a basement never ever going to him to explain his corruption.&nbsp; There were a dozen questions every voter needed to know about Biden's radical agendas and platform should he become president, but in the tank Biden journalists acted as if they didn't even care.&nbsp; Nor did media ever report on the incredible Trump accomplishments that in four years exceeded Biden's 47 years as a politician living on the taxpayer's dime. Media isn't even a friend to its own Democrat base. Who among us wants to be indoctrinated and brainwashed? Who among us wants to be fed negative and false information from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed?&nbsp; Who among us wants to be kept in the dark about what is really going on in the realm of American politics and government? Who among us wants a new president that might face impeachment the minute he takes office? Let's face it readers, common sense alone leads most of us Americans to believe Biden could not possibly become our president without voter fraud.&nbsp; He didn't even campaign much for the job. He hid out in his basement to avoid his notorious gaffes and many signs of old age cognitive impairment.&nbsp; He is a corrupt politician and except for media his chances to win should be logically and mathematically impossible.&nbsp;&nbsp; Who in their right mind wants Biden's radical agendas like socialism, open borders, higher taxes, elimination&nbsp; of gas and oil, defunding the police, or putting in place a scheme that would prevent a Republican from ever occupying&nbsp; the White House again or Republicans controlling congress?&nbsp; And, let's not forget unrestricted barbaric abortions like partial birth abortions, even killing a baby that survives an abortion. I don't think most Americans want our most sacred document known as the Constitution completely changed or eliminated altogether.&nbsp; Communist China and good old Russia would love for all of that to happen.&nbsp; There is every indication that should Biden win he would shortly thereafter turn over the most powerful political office in the world to his running mate Kamala Harris. She has been dubbed the most far left liberal voting senator in congress. It's all a scheme to get a minority and female, not directly chosen by voters, into the White House nefariously. On the other hand, we have a president Trump setting historical records all over the place and having many rallies clearly showing millions of Americans just love the man. Common sense alone speaks volumes when we look at the big picture! Some reputable people are claiming Trump not only won the election, but won in a landslide.&nbsp; Only time will tell whether we are truly a democratic republic, or a third world country.&nbsp;Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

LETTER: Have we become a third-world country?

Even though we approach this holiday season amidst the pandemic, I am constantly reminded of the power of always being joyful and thankful in all circumstances. Or, as Viktor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Inspired by Viktor Frankl, and frankly, so many colleagues and community members, I would like to offer just a few observations of the blessings that have continued to propel Fort Hays State University forward this year.

Our “in-the-trench” outreach efforts from our faculty and staff care teams kept students enrolled. The contributions of countless caring hearts stocked our Tiger food pantry and supplemented the student emergency fund. All across campus, I continue to see an ethic of care that is distinctively FHSU.

All areas of campus have had to adjust operations to open and operate the campus in as safe and effective a manner as possible. From our facilities staff to our students, faculty and emergency team, we have worked collectively to mitigate the risk of transmission of the coronavirus in the classroom. Our own campus proactive steps – including social distancing, hand hygiene, use of face coverings, monitoring our personal health and making the thoughtful decision to stay home if we feel unwell –have been embraced. We have also carefully monitored our capacity to isolate and quarantine on-campus students. As a result, our campus remains open.

Our online graduate education programs saw enrollment growth with an increase of 90 students this fall. Online graduate education has increased nine of the last 10 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Even though we approach this holiday season amidst the pandemic, I am constantly reminded of the power of always being joyful and thankful in all circumstances. Or, as Viktor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”Inspired by Viktor Frankl, and frankly, so many colleagues and community members, I would like to offer just a few observations of the blessings that have continued to propel Fort Hays State University forward this year.Our “in-the-trench” outreach efforts from our faculty and staff care teams kept students enrolled. The contributions of countless caring hearts stocked our Tiger food pantry and supplemented the student emergency fund. All across campus, I continue to see an ethic of care that is distinctively FHSU.All areas of campus have had to adjust operations to open and operate the campus in as safe and effective a manner as possible. From our facilities staff to our students, faculty and emergency team, we have worked collectively to mitigate the risk of transmission of the coronavirus in the classroom. Our own campus proactive steps – including social distancing, hand hygiene, use of face coverings, monitoring our personal health and making the thoughtful decision to stay home if we feel unwell –have been embraced. We have also carefully monitored our capacity to isolate and quarantine on-campus students. As a result, our campus remains open.Our online graduate education programs saw enrollment growth with an increase of 90 students this fall. Online graduate education has increased nine of the last 10 years.The Kelly Center provided a record-breaking 4,084 personal counseling sessions last year, in addition to services in the following areas: alcohol and drug counseling services, student accessibility issues through learning disability testing and accommodations and academic counseling and peer tutoring. This year, they are on schedule to set a new record of wrap-around support services. A grant is expanding the Kelly Center’s reach to assist students enrolled in online classes and Zoom sessions.I am deeply appreciative of our Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies staff, who continue to support both faculty and students with cutting-edge, engaging learning technologies. They have been working tirelessly, supporting Tigers throughout the United States and across the world – including making sure that students in China could access all of their class materials through their cell phones and creating tutorial videos in Mandarin to ensure students’ success.The Higher Learning Commission approved a new master’s degree in athletic training. This is essential, as the industry standard now requires a master’s degree for entry-level professionals. We also launched online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in social work. Both programs exceeded their first-year enrollment goals this fall, as did our expanding computer science program.We have teams of colleagues working on new cybersecurity initiatives and studying future possibilities of how artificial intelligence can help drive student success.COVID couldn’t stop students and parents from seeing the value of our Academy of Mathematics and Science. This early entry college program offers an unparalleled academic experience for gifted and talented high school students from our own backyard and to students from all over the world. We welcomed a new class of 37 juniors this year.Every day I watch our new Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success, powered by philanthropy, come to life. The center, scheduled for completion by fall 2021, is a one-stop shop for student success. From academic and career support to student health and counseling, the three-story building attached to the Memorial Union will feature student services for mind, body and soul.The Journey Campaign, our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date, is on schedule to exceed our goal of $100 million by Homecoming 2021. Each and every gift means an education, a strong university, a bright future, lives changed and dreams made real for students. Incredible!Our Tiger Auction for athletics was converted to a virtual event, and our fans did not let us down. Our philanthropists continued to fuel the success of our teams. Scholarships were honored, while coaches concentrated on meaningful practice sessions as well as structure and routine for the student-athletes. November arrived with the optimism of our student-athletes being able to return to play.Despite the strains the pandemic placed on our community, an enduring point of pride remains the strong town-and-gown relationship we enjoy in Hays, America. Fort Hays State is blessed by a long legacy of strong leaders and a community that rallies its support around the university in many ways. Through it all, our caretaking of the present – while planning for the future – thrived.The work we do matters. Like a pebble tossed in a pond, our impact ripples across families, communities and the world. Alphonse Karr said, “we can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorns have roses.” Amid an unprecedented year, I choose to rejoice – and remain forever grateful for the opportunity to work with my talented colleagues at this extraordinary university.

Opinion