The Kansas Corporation Commission reports just 29 new intent-to-drill notices for the month of April, including one in Ellis County. The April total is down from 37 intents from the month before, and down from 106 in April of last year. There are 200 new intents on file so far this year, compared to 334 by the end of April last year.

Kansas crude prices gained a dollar on Friday. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts this week at $10 a barrel. The monthly average for Kansas Common crude in April was just over $10 a barrel, compared to nearly $21 a barrel in March and over $54 a barrel in April of last year.

Baker Hughes reported another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count to 408 active rigs, down 53 oil rigs and four gas rigs. The count in Texas was down 30 rigs. Colorado dropped by seven rigs. Oklahoma was down five and New Mexico was down four. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a slight uptick in the Rig Count in Kansas. There are seven active rigs in Western Kansas, up four from last week; and one active rig east of Wichita, up one.&nbsp;

Operators received six new drilling permits across the State of Kansas last week, three east of Wichita, and three in western Kansas. That's 177 permits for drilling at new locations so far this year, compared to 304 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas reports just three new well-completions last week, two of them dry holes.

We could find out this week if regulators will place legal limits on oil and gas production in the top-producing state in the country. The Railroad Commission of Texas held a lengthy hearing on the matter last month, but a two-member majority voted to consult with the state attorney general and put off any decision on "proration." The board could take up the matter again in its next scheduled meeting Tuesday.

U.S. crude production dropped 23 million barrels from February of last year, according to the latest numbers available from the government. According to the new government report, Kansas production in February was just over two and a half million barrels. That's an average of 88,000 barrels per day, about the same as the month before, but down from 92,000 barrels per day in February of last year.

The government on last week said U.S. crude-oil inventories increased by nine million barrels, significantly less than expected. Stockpiles are about ten percent above the five year average. The Energy Information Administration reported another decline in weekly crude-oil production.&nbsp; U.S. output last week dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports imports of 5.3 million barrels per day, up 365,000 barrels per day over the week before. The four-week average is still nearly 20% less than last year. U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped by nearly four million barrels, but remain about ten percent above the five-year seasonal average.

The Association of American Railroads says U.S. oil-by-rail traffic as down more than 30% for the week ended April 25 compared to a year earlier. Total freight traffic dropped more than 22%.

The government reported total U.S. energy production last year exceeded consumption for the first time in 62 years. The Energy Information Administration compared production and use of oil, gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy. The Monthly Energy Review indicates we produced eight trillion BTUs of energy more than we consumed.

Commodity regulators are looking into possible insider futures trading by brokers with inside information on Russia's production negotiations with OPEC. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is scrutinizing futures trades by market participants who may have had advanced word on the Russian strategy. The investigation reportedly does not involve any Americans or Russian officials. But, sources tell Bloomberg the trading entities involved do employ people with ties to the Kremlin.

The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but that sale may already have gone bust. Morgan Stanley just ruled out financing for Arctic energy development. They join Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo in ending support for drilling in the refuge. Bloomberg reports activists have shifted their focus to the flow of the huge sums of money needed to exploit the region. Lending restrictions now pose another obstacle to oil companies hunting for the next big U.S. discovery, particularly after an epic collapse in prices, declining demand tied to coronavirus and a mounting glut of crude. The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic refuge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099516454.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARThe Kansas Corporation Commission reports just 29 new intent-to-drill notices for the month of April, including one in Ellis County. The April total is down from 37 intents from the month before, and down from 106 in April of last year. There are 200 new intents on file so far this year, compared to 334 by the end of April last year.Kansas crude prices gained a dollar on Friday. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts this week at $10 a barrel. The monthly average for Kansas Common crude in April was just over $10 a barrel, compared to nearly $21 a barrel in March and over $54 a barrel in April of last year.Baker Hughes reported another big drop in its weekly Rotary Rig Count to 408 active rigs, down 53 oil rigs and four gas rigs. The count in Texas was down 30 rigs. Colorado dropped by seven rigs. Oklahoma was down five and New Mexico was down four. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports a slight uptick in the Rig Count in Kansas. There are seven active rigs in Western Kansas, up four from last week; and one active rig east of Wichita, up one.&nbsp;Operators received six new drilling permits across the State of Kansas last week, three east of Wichita, and three in western Kansas. That's 177 permits for drilling at new locations so far this year, compared to 304 at this time last year. Independent Oil &amp; Gas reports just three new well-completions last week, two of them dry holes.We could find out this week if regulators will place legal limits on oil and gas production in the top-producing state in the country. The Railroad Commission of Texas held a lengthy hearing on the matter last month, but a two-member majority voted to consult with the state attorney general and put off any decision on "proration." The board could take up the matter again in its next scheduled meeting Tuesday.U.S. crude production dropped 23 million barrels from February of last year, according to the latest numbers available from the government. According to the new government report, Kansas production in February was just over two and a half million barrels. That's an average of 88,000 barrels per day, about the same as the month before, but down from 92,000 barrels per day in February of last year.The government on last week said U.S. crude-oil inventories increased by nine million barrels, significantly less than expected. Stockpiles are about ten percent above the five year average. The Energy Information Administration reported another decline in weekly crude-oil production.&nbsp; U.S. output last week dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day from the week before. EIA reports imports of 5.3 million barrels per day, up 365,000 barrels per day over the week before. The four-week average is still nearly 20% less than last year. U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped by nearly four million barrels, but remain about ten percent above the five-year seasonal average.The Association of American Railroads says U.S. oil-by-rail traffic as down more than 30% for the week ended April 25 compared to a year earlier. Total freight traffic dropped more than 22%.The government reported total U.S. energy production last year exceeded consumption for the first time in 62 years. The Energy Information Administration compared production and use of oil, gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy. The Monthly Energy Review indicates we produced eight trillion BTUs of energy more than we consumed.Commodity regulators are looking into possible insider futures trading by brokers with inside information on Russia's production negotiations with OPEC. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is scrutinizing futures trades by market participants who may have had advanced word on the Russian strategy. The investigation reportedly does not involve any Americans or Russian officials. But, sources tell Bloomberg the trading entities involved do employ people with ties to the Kremlin.The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but that sale may already have gone bust. Morgan Stanley just ruled out financing for Arctic energy development. They join Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo in ending support for drilling in the refuge. Bloomberg reports activists have shifted their focus to the flow of the huge sums of money needed to exploit the region. Lending restrictions now pose another obstacle to oil companies hunting for the next big U.S. discovery, particularly after an epic collapse in prices, declining demand tied to coronavirus and a mounting glut of crude. The Interior Department is preparing to sell drilling rights in the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the Arctic refuge.

News from the Oil Patch: New drilling notices dip

Yes, government and us folks who hang out under the Dome had heard the group of university economists called the Consensus Revenue Estimate Group (CRE) estimate just what the state’s revenues are going to be for the next 14 months, the end of this fiscal year and the year that starts July 1.

And when those CRE estimates predict millions of dollars of revenue shortfalls they are usually due to tax cuts, but not often a change in the entire landscape of the state, businesses shutting down, Kansans ordered to stay at their homes unless they had to grocery shop or pick up prescriptions or something “essential.”

Those CRE estimates were just that – estimates.

Well, Friday at about noon the Kansas Department of Revenue released its report on just how much in taxes the state received in April – first month of the real social and economic thunderstorm caused by the coronavirus pandemic – and those economists were right with their April 20, semi-annual estimate. Chillingly right.

Nearly every tax source that the state depends on to provide the services we all want from our state, ranging from highways to law enforcement to prisons to education for our children and the relatively grown-up university students, and social services so the poor have the food and housing and health-care that we want them to have, was shaken.

That Friday shockwave showed that the state took in $574.8 million in taxes in April. Last year in April, before all the economic effects of the pandemic, Kansas took in $1.18 billion. Yes, billion. That’s $612 million less this April than last. That shook the building. It meant that the economists, who we suppose spend most of their time reading the small type in the Wall Street Journal and economic newsletters, actually had the clear view of just what Kansans staying at home, closing nonessential businesses, seeing thousands of layoffs, having their tax payments delayed, would cause.

That put a whole new dollars-and-cents face on the coronavirus, and its effect on the economy and the state budget that is now law that is likely to be about $1.2 billion short of what it was based on when it was passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in March. Again, before the fiscal effects of the virus had been translated into dollars and cents.

Now, it’s waiting to see just how the Legislature responds to that shockwave, which has both fiscal and political fallout for Kansas where every member of the Legislature stands for re-election this year.

The GOP-controlled Legislative Coordinating Council will meet this week to decide whether to reconvene lawmakers – with a myriad of social-distancing issues that will probably make it as uncomfortable as a bad prom date – to deal with the real dollars and cents of the budget.

And you gotta wonder how many Kansas voters are going to see the real numbers and decide if the people who don’t want to fix it now will be going back to the&nbsp; Legislature next session.

Will legislative leaders decide in the wake of those hard-dollar April revenue losses that they can’t delay until next January the fiscal problems that will lead to an unconstitutional budget deficit? Or will they decide it is still too dangerous to convene a mass of legislators from across the state? Or will voters want this budget fire controlled now, before a possible second-round of economic damage to the state if the pandemic spikes this fall?&nbsp;

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141234707.png" alt="Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report." />
 <figcaption>Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report.</figcaption>
 </figure>Friday was shocking in the Statehouse.Yes, government and us folks who hang out under the Dome had heard the group of university economists called the Consensus Revenue Estimate Group (CRE) estimate just what the state’s revenues are going to be for the next 14 months, the end of this fiscal year and the year that starts July 1.And when those CRE estimates predict millions of dollars of revenue shortfalls they are usually due to tax cuts, but not often a change in the entire landscape of the state, businesses shutting down, Kansans ordered to stay at their homes unless they had to grocery shop or pick up prescriptions or something “essential.”Those CRE estimates were just that – estimates.Well, Friday at about noon the Kansas Department of Revenue released its report on just how much in taxes the state received in April – first month of the real social and economic thunderstorm caused by the coronavirus pandemic – and those economists were right with their April 20, semi-annual estimate. Chillingly right.Nearly every tax source that the state depends on to provide the services we all want from our state, ranging from highways to law enforcement to prisons to education for our children and the relatively grown-up university students, and social services so the poor have the food and housing and health-care that we want them to have, was shaken.That Friday shockwave showed that the state took in $574.8 million in taxes in April. Last year in April, before all the economic effects of the pandemic, Kansas took in $1.18 billion. Yes, billion. That’s $612 million less this April than last. That shook the building. It meant that the economists, who we suppose spend most of their time reading the small type in the Wall Street Journal and economic newsletters, actually had the clear view of just what Kansans staying at home, closing nonessential businesses, seeing thousands of layoffs, having their tax payments delayed, would cause.That put a whole new dollars-and-cents face on the coronavirus, and its effect on the economy and the state budget that is now law that is likely to be about $1.2 billion short of what it was based on when it was passed by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in March. Again, before the fiscal effects of the virus had been translated into dollars and cents.Now, it’s waiting to see just how the Legislature responds to that shockwave, which has both fiscal and political fallout for Kansas where every member of the Legislature stands for re-election this year.The GOP-controlled Legislative Coordinating Council will meet this week to decide whether to reconvene lawmakers – with a myriad of social-distancing issues that will probably make it as uncomfortable as a bad prom date – to deal with the real dollars and cents of the budget.And you gotta wonder how many Kansas voters are going to see the real numbers and decide if the people who don’t want to fix it now will be going back to the&nbsp; Legislature next session.Will legislative leaders decide in the wake of those hard-dollar April revenue losses that they can’t delay until next January the fiscal problems that will lead to an unconstitutional budget deficit? Or will they decide it is still too dangerous to convene a mass of legislators from across the state? Or will voters want this budget fire controlled now, before a possible second-round of economic damage to the state if the pandemic spikes this fall?&nbsp;Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hawvernews.com/">www.hawvernews.com</a>

HAWVER: State's revenue estimates 'chilling'

I’m not sure what canceling the “stay-at-home” order for our state accomplished, as everyone I know has been going everywhere they darn well pleased anyway. We wear masks, try to stay the “required” 6 feet away from each other in check-out lines, don’t hug aunt Bessie if we see her in the aisle at Walmart and don’t shake the preachers hand at the gas station, but we are not barricading ourselves inside and hanging out of third-floor balconies. 

Perhaps outdoorsmen and women have a “leg-up” so to speak on this whole social distancing thing, as when we’re in the woods or on the lake, many of us couldn’t give a rip less if another human being even exists at the time. So whether you are a seasoned, avid outdoorsman or just someone who is so fed up with all the hype and politics of this thing you’re ready to voluntarily let the dog lick you on the lips, allow me to offer some possible “productive pandemic past-times” to help keep you out of the loony bin.&nbsp;

Plant a garden. Even if your thumbs are completely black and you’ve killed every house plant and rose bush you’ve ever owned, try again. Have someone till you up a postage-stamp sized plot somewhere in the back yard, or gather some big flower pots or 5-gallon buckets and plant a mini garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and green beans are all easy to grow in decent soil in a sunny spot if you water them a couple times a week. A friend told me she visited a local garden center just last week, and the tomato plants were nearly gone already, so don’t wait any longer to go plant shopping.&nbsp;

Go fishing. Even if you don’t know a hook from a stringer, or a bobber from a jig, borrow a fishing rod, buy a dozen nightcrawlers at the local convenience store and find some water. Places to fish are innumerable. Besides our many state parks and state fishing lakes, every city park has a pond or ponds, private ponds dot the countryside and a little detective work and some driving around will find you one who’s owner will allow you to fish, and there is always the creek or river. Take an old camp chair, find a shade tree in a deserted spot, skewer a worm on the hook beneath a bobber and cast it out. I’m ready to check myself into the hospital psych ward when I don’t catch fish, but for everyone like me there are dozens like my wife who always take a book along and can somehow enjoy the trip whether a fish is landed or not.

Go to the woods. Now, I don’t mean you have to don full camo or a gilly suit, creep into the woods unnoticed and blend yourself into the foliage so that even God almost looses you. I mean find a secluded spot in Nature and spend a couple hours in your camp chair with your camera, a good book or just watching and listening. Last night I was turkey hunting in an out-of-the-way spot near the river. Yes, I heard and saw turkeys, but the highlight of the evening was getting serenaded by a pair of barred owls somewhere nearby as their crisp, distinctive “who cooks, who cooks for you” cries echoed through the woods. Escaping the drone of daily life helps calm us and clear our minds to think clearly about our circumstances, and to see, that for the most part, they’re not that bad.

Spend time with God. We can all speak to, and converse with God as if He’s sitting right beside us, for after all, He really is. Everything we see around us came to be because of Him. He’s also the one who keeps you from floating into outer space as you sit and appreciate Nature. Thank Him for Nature, thank Him for allowing you to live in this great country, and thanks Him for your freedoms.

Spending time outdoors, whether in your backyard, in the woods, or on the lake is a great way to clear your mind, and trust me, if your mind is like mine, its clears pretty quickly cause’ there’s not much there to start with. Anyway, Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>I’m not sure what canceling the “stay-at-home” order for our state accomplished, as everyone I know has been going everywhere they darn well pleased anyway. We wear masks, try to stay the “required” 6 feet away from each other in check-out lines, don’t hug aunt Bessie if we see her in the aisle at Walmart and don’t shake the preachers hand at the gas station, but we are not barricading ourselves inside and hanging out of third-floor balconies. Perhaps outdoorsmen and women have a “leg-up” so to speak on this whole social distancing thing, as when we’re in the woods or on the lake, many of us couldn’t give a rip less if another human being even exists at the time. So whether you are a seasoned, avid outdoorsman or just someone who is so fed up with all the hype and politics of this thing you’re ready to voluntarily let the dog lick you on the lips, allow me to offer some possible “productive pandemic past-times” to help keep you out of the loony bin.&nbsp;Plant a garden. Even if your thumbs are completely black and you’ve killed every house plant and rose bush you’ve ever owned, try again. Have someone till you up a postage-stamp sized plot somewhere in the back yard, or gather some big flower pots or 5-gallon buckets and plant a mini garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and green beans are all easy to grow in decent soil in a sunny spot if you water them a couple times a week. A friend told me she visited a local garden center just last week, and the tomato plants were nearly gone already, so don’t wait any longer to go plant shopping.&nbsp;Go fishing. Even if you don’t know a hook from a stringer, or a bobber from a jig, borrow a fishing rod, buy a dozen nightcrawlers at the local convenience store and find some water. Places to fish are innumerable. Besides our many state parks and state fishing lakes, every city park has a pond or ponds, private ponds dot the countryside and a little detective work and some driving around will find you one who’s owner will allow you to fish, and there is always the creek or river. Take an old camp chair, find a shade tree in a deserted spot, skewer a worm on the hook beneath a bobber and cast it out. I’m ready to check myself into the hospital psych ward when I don’t catch fish, but for everyone like me there are dozens like my wife who always take a book along and can somehow enjoy the trip whether a fish is landed or not.Go to the woods. Now, I don’t mean you have to don full camo or a gilly suit, creep into the woods unnoticed and blend yourself into the foliage so that even God almost looses you. I mean find a secluded spot in Nature and spend a couple hours in your camp chair with your camera, a good book or just watching and listening. Last night I was turkey hunting in an out-of-the-way spot near the river. Yes, I heard and saw turkeys, but the highlight of the evening was getting serenaded by a pair of barred owls somewhere nearby as their crisp, distinctive “who cooks, who cooks for you” cries echoed through the woods. Escaping the drone of daily life helps calm us and clear our minds to think clearly about our circumstances, and to see, that for the most part, they’re not that bad.Spend time with God. We can all speak to, and converse with God as if He’s sitting right beside us, for after all, He really is. Everything we see around us came to be because of Him. He’s also the one who keeps you from floating into outer space as you sit and appreciate Nature. Thank Him for Nature, thank Him for allowing you to live in this great country, and thanks Him for your freedoms.Spending time outdoors, whether in your backyard, in the woods, or on the lake is a great way to clear your mind, and trust me, if your mind is like mine, its clears pretty quickly cause’ there’s not much there to start with. Anyway, Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email@stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Productive pandemic past-times

Among U.S. governors, Kansas’ Laura Kelly and her advisors rank among the clearest and most decisive in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, governors face limitations. Residents—and viruses--often cross state lines, and Kansas shares its most-populated border with Missouri, whose governor was far slower to respond and now seeks to lift stay at home orders prematurely. Also most law enforcement is handled by the local, not state governments. This makes mayors key allies, leaders, and decison makers in times of crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Around here, some mayors have shown strong leadership while others have struggled.

Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla won national recognition for her response. De la Isla assembled a rapid-response team that meets every morning to assess the latest developments, including one member whose entire focus is to combat false rumors, which mostly spread online. These include one baseless allegation that she was about to place the city under martial law. De la Isla’s task force also monitors supplies of medical equipment, state and national developments, and the latest figures on how the virus is impacting Topekans.

De la Isla also reached a campaign truce with likely opponent Steve Watkins, who currently occupies the congressional seat she will seek this fall. These two shifted the politiking to their campaign staffs, so they can better-focus their own time on the pandemic response.

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas is not a Kansan, but his influence is having a dramatic effect here. When Missouri and Kansas governors took wildly different approaches, Lucas took on a task that would be impossible in normal times. The Mayor&nbsp;and his allies&nbsp;convinced all counties in the KC metropolitan area, on both sides of the state line, to agree to a coordinated plan for stay-at-home directives. This includes Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Douglas counties in Kansas-- all population centers. Lucas is also coordinating his efforts with St. Louis-area officials in Missouri. Essentially, he is doing what his own state’s governor would not. Like de la Isla, Lucas has experienced homelessness, and both have expressed specific concerns for how the pandemic affects that vulnerable population. All of this is remarkable for a metropolitan area that was, until recently, notorious for foolhardy “border war” policies, using tax incentives to lure businesses to move back and forth across the state line without creating any new jobs.

Unfortunately, things have not gone so well for Wichita’s Mayor Brandon Whipple. Whipple has handled the nuts and bolts of the pandemic fine, for example discussing it with constituents on his monthly KPTS call-in show, and following the lead of the city’s public health director in issuing directives. Yet he faces almost-constant criticism. Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall disrupted one of Whipple’s call-in shows with a partisan rant, despite the fact that Wichita is not even in the district Marshall represents. Whipple has also faced strong opposition from Sedgwick County officials and one&nbsp;particularly vocal&nbsp;city council member. The attacks are unfair, but the newly-elected mayor still needs to be the bigger person, refusing to take the bait of his opponents, who are still bitter over his upset victory and his affiliation with the Democratic Party.

Like nature, power abhors a vacuum. When Missouri’s governor dawdled, and Kansas’ legislature sought to undermine Governor Kelly’s emergency powers, mayors like de la Isla and Lucas stepped into the breach. Whipple faces unfair criticism, but he would still be well-advised to put personal disputes aside and follow these other mayors’ examples.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579108824567.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>Among U.S. governors, Kansas’ Laura Kelly and her advisors rank among the clearest and most decisive in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, governors face limitations. Residents—and viruses--often cross state lines, and Kansas shares its most-populated border with Missouri, whose governor was far slower to respond and now seeks to lift stay at home orders prematurely. Also most law enforcement is handled by the local, not state governments. This makes mayors key allies, leaders, and decison makers in times of crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Around here, some mayors have shown strong leadership while others have struggled.Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla won national recognition for her response. De la Isla assembled a rapid-response team that meets every morning to assess the latest developments, including one member whose entire focus is to combat false rumors, which mostly spread online. These include one baseless allegation that she was about to place the city under martial law. De la Isla’s task force also monitors supplies of medical equipment, state and national developments, and the latest figures on how the virus is impacting Topekans.De la Isla also reached a campaign truce with likely opponent Steve Watkins, who currently occupies the congressional seat she will seek this fall. These two shifted the politiking to their campaign staffs, so they can better-focus their own time on the pandemic response.Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas is not a Kansan, but his influence is having a dramatic effect here. When Missouri and Kansas governors took wildly different approaches, Lucas took on a task that would be impossible in normal times. The Mayor&nbsp;and his allies&nbsp;convinced all counties in the KC metropolitan area, on both sides of the state line, to agree to a coordinated plan for stay-at-home directives. This includes Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Douglas counties in Kansas-- all population centers. Lucas is also coordinating his efforts with St. Louis-area officials in Missouri. Essentially, he is doing what his own state’s governor would not. Like de la Isla, Lucas has experienced homelessness, and both have expressed specific concerns for how the pandemic affects that vulnerable population. All of this is remarkable for a metropolitan area that was, until recently, notorious for foolhardy “border war” policies, using tax incentives to lure businesses to move back and forth across the state line without creating any new jobs.Unfortunately, things have not gone so well for Wichita’s Mayor Brandon Whipple. Whipple has handled the nuts and bolts of the pandemic fine, for example discussing it with constituents on his monthly KPTS call-in show, and following the lead of the city’s public health director in issuing directives. Yet he faces almost-constant criticism. Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Roger Marshall disrupted one of Whipple’s call-in shows with a partisan rant, despite the fact that Wichita is not even in the district Marshall represents. Whipple has also faced strong opposition from Sedgwick County officials and one&nbsp;particularly vocal&nbsp;city council member. The attacks are unfair, but the newly-elected mayor still needs to be the bigger person, refusing to take the bait of his opponents, who are still bitter over his upset victory and his affiliation with the Democratic Party.Like nature, power abhors a vacuum. When Missouri’s governor dawdled, and Kansas’ legislature sought to undermine Governor Kelly’s emergency powers, mayors like de la Isla and Lucas stepped into the breach. Whipple faces unfair criticism, but he would still be well-advised to put personal disputes aside and follow these other mayors’ examples.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Mayors, the other first responders

Before I get to all the details I know you're looking for in order to begin our trek back to a "new normal", I want to say a quick thanks to KVC for featuring me in their Legislator Spotlight in
<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=0458e27fdc&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">
their March enewsletter</a>.


We have all been concerned by the COVID clusters at our regional meat packing plants, the families of all who work there, and the surrounding communities at increased risk. The Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment continues to closely monitor the virus
 trends here and is working closely with the plants to slow the spread.

While
 some states are opening their beaches, Kansas is readying to open our businesses. Thursday evening, Governor Laura Kelly addressed the state to detail the plan to begin phasing out of this crisis. From a practical perspective, there are three key points:&nbsp;



During the press conference, Governor Kelly noted the CDC recently doubled the list of symptoms of the disease. Furthermore, researchers estimate 20-50% of infected people have no symptoms but can still spread the virus.&nbsp;


<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Reopen-Kansas-Exec-Summary-043020.1.pdf">
Ad Astra: A Plan for Reopening KANSAS</a>

While we are conducting a “soft rollout” of reopening, what will happen in August and November is a complete unknown. Some counties are sending applications to all voters to request a ballot mailed to their house. However, all counties will not do this, so
 in order to ensure your voice is heard in this year’s elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=c327cc0bf4&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">click
 here</a>&nbsp;to request a ballot be mailed to your home for the August and November elections.&nbsp;

Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=27f188ad0f&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">Kansas
 Hero Relief Program</a>&nbsp;for information on funds to help parents with essential jobs pay for childcare during this time. Funds are also available for daycare providers as they work to sterilize their facilities.

Finally, the state aggregated all the information from across state departments related to COVID-19 into one handy website:&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=3de4295e40&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">COVID.ks.gov</a>

Please contact me if I can be of service to you.

Rep. Leonard Mastroni, R-La Crosse House District 117

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 <figcaption>Rep. Leonard Mastroni (R-La Crosse, 117th District</figcaption>
 </figure>Before I get to all the details I know you're looking for in order to begin our trek back to a "new normal", I want to say a quick thanks to KVC for featuring me in their Legislator Spotlight in
<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=0458e27fdc&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">
their March enewsletter</a>.
We have all been concerned by the COVID clusters at our regional meat packing plants, the families of all who work there, and the surrounding communities at increased risk. The Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment continues to closely monitor the virus
 trends here and is working closely with the plants to slow the spread. 
Thursday Press ConferenceWhile
 some states are opening their beaches, Kansas is readying to open our businesses. Thursday evening, Governor Laura Kelly addressed the state to detail the plan to begin phasing out of this crisis. From a practical perspective, there are three key points:&nbsp;
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 <li>The stay-at-home order will expire at 11:59 am on Sunday, May 3.</li><li>The disaster declaration will be extended to allow the state to continue to receive federal assistance.&nbsp;</li><li>A 6-week 4-phase process will begin to open parts of our economy back to a post-COVID “new normal”. The process is not set in stone and our virus trends will be closely monitored to see if tweaks in the plan are required.&nbsp;</li>
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During the press conference, Governor Kelly noted the CDC recently doubled the list of symptoms of the disease. Furthermore, researchers estimate 20-50% of infected people have no symptoms but can still spread the virus.&nbsp;
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 <li>This echoes what we are seeing at the Lansing Prison, where 75% of confirmed cases were asymptomatic.</li>
 </ol><a href="https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Reopen-Kansas-Exec-Summary-043020.1.pdf">
Ad Astra: A Plan for Reopening KANSAS</a><figure>
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 </figure>Pandemic PollingWhile we are conducting a “soft rollout” of reopening, what will happen in August and November is a complete unknown. Some counties are sending applications to all voters to request a ballot mailed to their house. However, all counties will not do this, so
 in order to ensure your voice is heard in this year’s elections,&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=c327cc0bf4&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">click
 here</a>&nbsp;to request a ballot be mailed to your home for the August and November elections.&nbsp;
Childcare Assistance
Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=27f188ad0f&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">Kansas
 Hero Relief Program</a>&nbsp;for information on funds to help parents with essential jobs pay for childcare during this time. Funds are also available for daycare providers as they work to sterilize their facilities.
COVID-19 in Kansas: UpdateFinally, the state aggregated all the information from across state departments related to COVID-19 into one handy website:&nbsp;<a href="https://mastroniforkansas.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab2fe5a9ea89a7e91e3814ca&amp;id=3de4295e40&amp;e=1a4b154c7e" target="_blank">COVID.ks.gov</a>Please contact me if I can be of service to you. Stay home and stay safe,
Rep. Leonard Mastroni, R-La Crosse House District 117

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