HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the fires Monday came some of the same issues that have been in place in the past — homes that are built well off the beaten path. Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer calls them indefensible structures.

“We have some homes that are built anywhere from 100 yards to a half mile in with a 10-foot-wide driveway that is surrounded by cedar trees going right up to the driveway,” Beer said. “They get their home nestled in and they have it landscaped real nice.”

Beer says when you have that type of situation, it can make for extremely difficult conditions for fire crews.

“As a fire comes through here at 50 miles per hour with the wind pushing it, the conditions that these men and women face, it’s nothing that I can even describe to you,” Beer said. “ A firestorm is the best way I can describe it coming at you. There’s heat, you can’t see with the smoke and everything.”

Beer says he will not subject his firefighters to that type of dangerous situation.

“Basically we would put our people into a suicide mission. We could put them up by the house but they wouldn’t survive up there. They only got a thousand gallons of water and, with the flames that were flying up 70 feet in the air yesterday, it’s a suicide mission and we will not put our people in places that people choose to build that’s not defendable.”&nbsp;

Beer says every resident that lives in the northern part of the county should have a fire mitigation plan in place and says they will work with homeowners to put one together. Despite the two fast-moving fires, fire crews were able to save all 126 homes involved on Monday, along with 26 outbuildings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578518724823.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the fires Monday came some of the same issues that have been in place in the past — homes that are built well off the beaten path. Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer calls them indefensible structures.“We have some homes that are built anywhere from 100 yards to a half mile in with a 10-foot-wide driveway that is surrounded by cedar trees going right up to the driveway,” Beer said. “They get their home nestled in and they have it landscaped real nice.”Beer says when you have that type of situation, it can make for extremely difficult conditions for fire crews.“As a fire comes through here at 50 miles per hour with the wind pushing it, the conditions that these men and women face, it’s nothing that I can even describe to you,” Beer said. “ A firestorm is the best way I can describe it coming at you. There’s heat, you can’t see with the smoke and everything.”Beer says he will not subject his firefighters to that type of dangerous situation.“Basically we would put our people into a suicide mission. We could put them up by the house but they wouldn’t survive up there. They only got a thousand gallons of water and, with the flames that were flying up 70 feet in the air yesterday, it’s a suicide mission and we will not put our people in places that people choose to build that’s not defendable.”&nbsp;Beer says every resident that lives in the northern part of the county should have a fire mitigation plan in place and says they will work with homeowners to put one together. Despite the two fast-moving fires, fire crews were able to save all 126 homes involved on Monday, along with 26 outbuildings.

Firefighters forced to choose which homes to protect in wildfires

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — Washburn University professor Bob Beatty believes there is room 
for at least one more candidate in the Republican primary for governor 
in 2022, even though former governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt have both said they are running.

"There's 
certainly a possibility of a Trump Republican," Beatty said. "We know 
that from what's going on nationally, which would be a candidate who is 
vociferously and authentically and wildly pro-Trump in ways that Jeff 
Colyer and Derek Schmidt are just not going to be."

A name doesn't
 immediately come to Beatty's mind, though it's possible that Kris 
Kobach could take that lane, if his loss in 2018 hasn't caused too much 
damage with the party.

"There is a point in politics where, if you
 lose too many elections, you lose your credibility," Beatty said. 
"Taking a chance on one more lost election would be pretty tough for 
Kobach."

One name that won't be in the Kansas governor discussion 
is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's pursuing a higher office.

"Pompeo
 is effectively running for President," Beatty said. "Again, the specter
 of Donald Trump looms large in that, if Trump runs for President, then 
Pompeo is out on that front, but you certainly could see him effectively
 running for Vice President, as odd as that sounds."

The 
implication is that if Trump were to run again, he would likely not pick
 Mike Pence to run with him, and he's seemed to trust Pompeo in the 
past.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597324661682.jpeg" alt="Bob Beatty" />
 <figcaption>Bob Beatty</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — Washburn University professor Bob Beatty believes there is room 
for at least one more candidate in the Republican primary for governor 
in 2022, even though former governor Dr. Jeff Colyer and Attorney 
General Derek Schmidt have both said they are running."There's 
certainly a possibility of a Trump Republican," Beatty said. "We know 
that from what's going on nationally, which would be a candidate who is 
vociferously and authentically and wildly pro-Trump in ways that Jeff 
Colyer and Derek Schmidt are just not going to be."A name doesn't
 immediately come to Beatty's mind, though it's possible that Kris 
Kobach could take that lane, if his loss in 2018 hasn't caused too much 
damage with the party."There is a point in politics where, if you
 lose too many elections, you lose your credibility," Beatty said. 
"Taking a chance on one more lost election would be pretty tough for 
Kobach."One name that won't be in the Kansas governor discussion 
is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's pursuing a higher office."Pompeo
 is effectively running for President," Beatty said. "Again, the specter
 of Donald Trump looms large in that, if Trump runs for President, then 
Pompeo is out on that front, but you certainly could see him effectively
 running for Vice President, as odd as that sounds."The 
implication is that if Trump were to run again, he would likely not pick
 Mike Pence to run with him, and he's seemed to trust Pompeo in the 
past.

Professor sees room for more in Kan. GOP governor primary

HUTCHINSON— Fire crews&nbsp; battled a wildfire north of Hutchinson Sunday afternoon and evening. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. and burned about 85 acres of open land.

“Some people were burning a brush pile and the wind pushed some embers out into some tall grass and made a little run to the northeast,” According to Rural Fire District-2 Chief Bobby White. “District-2 territory is on the west side of Plum and Hutch Fire is on the east side so we did a joint so we did a joint operation.”

White says they had plenty of help from area departments.

“We ended up with multiple fire departments from mcPherson County, Reno County, Harvey County,” White said. “We had about 10 or 12 fire departments here.”

There were no injuries and no damage. White also said that there were no evacuations. Crews are staying on the scene to keep any hot spots under control. Red flag warnings are in effect for Monday with wind gusts expected to be above 50 MPH. Plum was closed throughout the afternoon and evening in the area of the fire.

RENO COUNTY —Crews were on the scene of a fire in rural Reno County Sunday afternoon, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; They asked area residents to&nbsp; avoid the area of North Plum between 82nd and 95th due to a large fire in the area. 

 Deputies blocked roads and fire units were working to get the fire under control.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616982127323.png" alt="Sunday afternoon fire in rural Reno County -photo Reno Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Sunday afternoon fire in rural Reno County -photo Reno Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— Fire crews&nbsp; battled a wildfire north of Hutchinson Sunday afternoon and evening. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. and burned about 85 acres of open land.“Some people were burning a brush pile and the wind pushed some embers out into some tall grass and made a little run to the northeast,” According to Rural Fire District-2 Chief Bobby White. “District-2 territory is on the west side of Plum and Hutch Fire is on the east side so we did a joint so we did a joint operation.”White says they had plenty of help from area departments.“We ended up with multiple fire departments from mcPherson County, Reno County, Harvey County,” White said. “We had about 10 or 12 fire departments here.”There were no injuries and no damage. White also said that there were no evacuations. Crews are staying on the scene to keep any hot spots under control. Red flag warnings are in effect for Monday with wind gusts expected to be above 50 MPH. Plum was closed throughout the afternoon and evening in the area of the fire.------------------------RENO COUNTY —Crews were on the scene of a fire in rural Reno County Sunday afternoon, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; They asked area residents to&nbsp; avoid the area of North Plum between 82nd and 95th due to a large fire in the area. Deputies blocked roads and fire units were working to get the fire under control.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Burning brush pile started rural Kansas fire

By ROD ZOOK <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>

BUHLER — With area 
schools working on virtual school programs for next year the pandemic 
has allowed many to see how students have reacted to learning at home.&nbsp;

Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman has noticed some trends over the past year.

“It’s
 been interesting because some kids have done better,” Couchman said. 
“Either because they don’t have the distraction, they’re able to focus 
and move at their own pace.”&nbsp;

Couchma noted that some students 
actually moved through the curriculum faster and some took more time 
which was expected. Couchman says there are those that did struggle at 
times and need that in person attention.

“There are others 
obviously that this has not been ideal for them. They need more 
individualized face-to-face instruction,” Couchman said.&nbsp;

Couchman
 predicts that about 80% of the students that were in the virtual 
learning program over the past year will come back to school next year 
while about 20% may choose to learn at home.

Couchman says they have had staff keeping a very close eye on all students during the force virtual learning of the past year.

“
 We have three dedicated&nbsp; staff members just for our virtual learners 
this year. They do daily check-ins, they monitor, they Email back and 
forth, they’re calling (students),” Couchman said. “We have quite a bit 
of full court press on them. Our administrators at the high 
school...reaches out to them often...checking in on them, communicating 
with parents.”

Couchman says that communication is especially 
important for juniors and seniors as the district wants to make sure 
they are getting the credits and courses they need to graduate and be 
ready for college.

Like most districts in the area, Buhler plans to open a virtual school next year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585337703409.jpeg" alt="Cindy Couchman" />
 <figcaption>Cindy Couchman</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>BUHLER — With area 
schools working on virtual school programs for next year the pandemic 
has allowed many to see how students have reacted to learning at home.&nbsp;Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman has noticed some trends over the past year.“It’s
 been interesting because some kids have done better,” Couchman said. 
“Either because they don’t have the distraction, they’re able to focus 
and move at their own pace.”&nbsp;Couchma noted that some students 
actually moved through the curriculum faster and some took more time 
which was expected. Couchman says there are those that did struggle at 
times and need that in person attention.“There are others 
obviously that this has not been ideal for them. They need more 
individualized face-to-face instruction,” Couchman said.&nbsp;Couchman
 predicts that about 80% of the students that were in the virtual 
learning program over the past year will come back to school next year 
while about 20% may choose to learn at home.Couchman says they have had staff keeping a very close eye on all students during the force virtual learning of the past year.“
 We have three dedicated&nbsp; staff members just for our virtual learners 
this year. They do daily check-ins, they monitor, they Email back and 
forth, they’re calling (students),” Couchman said. “We have quite a bit 
of full court press on them. Our administrators at the high 
school...reaches out to them often...checking in on them, communicating 
with parents.”Couchman says that communication is especially 
important for juniors and seniors as the district wants to make sure 
they are getting the credits and courses they need to graduate and be 
ready for college.Like most districts in the area, Buhler plans to open a virtual school next year.

Buhler superintendent sees trends in virtual schooling

TOPEKA— Gas prices have stabilized for the moment, according to Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas.

"After weeks of seeing price increases at the gas pumps, in the past week or so, we've started to see some stability," Steward said. "Today's statewide price in Kansas is $2.67 a gallon. That's one cent less than we saw a week ago. The national average has held steady at $2.87 a gallon."

Kansas prices continue to be generally less expensive than most of the rest of the country.

"Kansas this week is 20 cents less than the $2.87 per gallon national average," Steward said. "That puts us at 10th cheapest in the nation. 

By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostTOPEKA— Gas prices have stabilized for the moment, according to Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas."After weeks of seeing price increases at the gas pumps, in the past week or so, we've started to see some stability," Steward said. "Today's statewide price in Kansas is $2.67 a gallon. That's one cent less than we saw a week ago. The national average has held steady at $2.87 a gallon."Kansas prices continue to be generally less expensive than most of the rest of the country."Kansas this week is 20 cents less than the $2.87 per gallon national average," Steward said. "That puts us at 10th cheapest in the nation.

Gas prices stabilizing for now, says AAA


HUTCHINSON — The Board of Reno County Commissioners voted Tuesday 2-1 to opt 
out of the governor's Executive Order 20-52 and lift the county's mask 
mandate at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. With that said, Commission Chairman Ron 
Hirst made himself clear Tuesday.

"Folks, just respect one 
another," Hirst said. "Respect another business. Follow the proper 
guidelines. You don't have to try to pull your weight one way or 
another."

Commissioner Ron Sellers joined the meeting via Zoom from Chicago and quite frankly was surprised the issue came up this week.

"I
 guess we had an agreement two weeks ago that we would probably remove 
this on the 30th of this month," Sellers said. "It seems like to me that
 was an agreement that most of the citizens of Reno County heard all of 
us say, that we would take this up again. The citizens certainly didn't 
have notice today that we were even going to discuss this."

Commissioner Daniel Friesen knows he's going out on a limb.

"No. 1, if this is the wrong decision, I'll be the first to admit that and
 take the blame for it," Friesen said. "I do think our community needs 
to be pushed a little bit on this and I think that's our job, to look at
 all of the information and say, hey, you know, this is a time we need 
to maybe move forward and let go of some of our fear. I'm willing to 
take that again and take that blame."

Dr. Scott Pauly spoke to the Board of Reno County Commissioners before they voted.

"There's
 no finite line on when to call something an emergency or not," Pauly 
said. "I would say we're in a better position as we are from a medical 
standpoint. I just ask the community for buy-in and patience and 
practice with mitigating measures if not through a mandate, on their 
own, because that will buy us time to get more people immunized and 
eventually hit some form of a tipping point to protect quote unquote, 
the herd."

The commission has noted in its order that individual 
businesses or churches or other public places can continue to require 
masks, if they so choose.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605646859037.jpeg" alt="Reno County Commission File" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Commission File</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — The Board of Reno County Commissioners voted Tuesday 2-1 to opt 
out of the governor's Executive Order 20-52 and lift the county's mask 
mandate at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. With that said, Commission Chairman Ron 
Hirst made himself clear Tuesday."Folks, just respect one 
another," Hirst said. "Respect another business. Follow the proper 
guidelines. You don't have to try to pull your weight one way or 
another."Commissioner Ron Sellers joined the meeting via Zoom from Chicago and quite frankly was surprised the issue came up this week."I
 guess we had an agreement two weeks ago that we would probably remove 
this on the 30th of this month," Sellers said. "It seems like to me that
 was an agreement that most of the citizens of Reno County heard all of 
us say, that we would take this up again. The citizens certainly didn't 
have notice today that we were even going to discuss this."Commissioner Daniel Friesen knows he's going out on a limb."No. 1, if this is the wrong decision, I'll be the first to admit that and
 take the blame for it," Friesen said. "I do think our community needs 
to be pushed a little bit on this and I think that's our job, to look at
 all of the information and say, hey, you know, this is a time we need 
to maybe move forward and let go of some of our fear. I'm willing to 
take that again and take that blame."Dr. Scott Pauly spoke to the Board of Reno County Commissioners before they voted."There's
 no finite line on when to call something an emergency or not," Pauly 
said. "I would say we're in a better position as we are from a medical 
standpoint. I just ask the community for buy-in and patience and 
practice with mitigating measures if not through a mandate, on their 
own, because that will buy us time to get more people immunized and 
eventually hit some form of a tipping point to protect quote unquote, 
the herd."The commission has noted in its order that individual 
businesses or churches or other public places can continue to require 
masks, if they so choose.

Reno County mask mandate lifted, effective Wednesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — District 34 State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen testified Monday before the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee on Senate Bill 212. The bill's intent is not to require children to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Steffen doesn't believe in that population the reward is worth the risk.

"It protects our children from a vaccine that has a morbidity and mortality profile equal to or higher than the COVID-19 virus itself, for sure in this age group of people," Steffen said.

As of the time of Steffen's testimony on Monday, none of the vaccines approved for adults in the United States have been approved for use in children.

"It's a vaccine that is experimental, a vaccine that is gene manipulative, a technique never used before," Steffen said. "It's long term dangers won't be known for decades."

Steffen wants to be sure that recommendations are policy, rather than mandates as much as possible.

"Don't get me wrong," Steffen said. "Used appropriately, vaccines are a great, great thing. As a physician, I've recommended them to many an individual. Recommend is the key. As a physician myself, I've never once mandated a treatment, nor has any of the other doctors who will show up later, like Dr. Eplee. He's never mandated a treatment plan. The CDC, FDA, NIH and World Health Organization recommend vaccinations for society. Why in the world would we allow Lee Norman to mandate anything?"

Secretary Norman spoke in opposition to the bill, mainly wanting to keep the regulation open-ended so they can adjust as more is learned about vaccines generally.

"I think it's important and we think it's important that vaccines remain in regulation in KAR 28-1-20, rather than listed in statutes, in order to support timely response to changes in ACIP recommendations," Norman said. "A new vaccine may be recommended by the ACIP, or it may be one, because of new findings, where it may be recommended to be removed. In either case, we want to act quickly."

ACIP is the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Any time a new vaccine is to be added to the mandatory list, it needs to be on the list by February to be able to be in arms by August to start school.

By NICK GOSNELLHutch Post<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3jqMYUs364?start=2034" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — District 34 State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen testified Monday before the Senate Public Health and Welfare committee on Senate Bill 212. The bill's intent is not to require children to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Steffen doesn't believe in that population the reward is worth the risk."It protects our children from a vaccine that has a morbidity and mortality profile equal to or higher than the COVID-19 virus itself, for sure in this age group of people," Steffen said.As of the time of Steffen's testimony on Monday, none of the vaccines approved for adults in the United States have been approved for use in children."It's a vaccine that is experimental, a vaccine that is gene manipulative, a technique never used before," Steffen said. "It's long term dangers won't be known for decades."Steffen wants to be sure that recommendations are policy, rather than mandates as much as possible."Don't get me wrong," Steffen said. "Used appropriately, vaccines are a great, great thing. As a physician, I've recommended them to many an individual. Recommend is the key. As a physician myself, I've never once mandated a treatment, nor has any of the other doctors who will show up later, like Dr. Eplee. He's never mandated a treatment plan. The CDC, FDA, NIH and World Health Organization recommend vaccinations for society. Why in the world would we allow Lee Norman to mandate anything?"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616423873913.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Secretary Norman spoke in opposition to the bill, mainly wanting to keep the regulation open-ended so they can adjust as more is learned about vaccines generally."I think it's important and we think it's important that vaccines remain in regulation in KAR 28-1-20, rather than listed in statutes, in order to support timely response to changes in ACIP recommendations," Norman said. "A new vaccine may be recommended by the ACIP, or it may be one, because of new findings, where it may be recommended to be removed. In either case, we want to act quickly."ACIP is the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Any time a new vaccine is to be added to the mandatory list, it needs to be on the list by February to be able to be in arms by August to start school.

🎥  Kan. legislators debate COVID vaccine for children

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Medical marijuana is likely to still be debated at the Kansas Legislature this session.

"I support medical marijuana," said Representative Jason Probst. "Kansas is one of the last few states that hasn't legalized it. I feel that we are missing out on a very good revenue stream, a voluntary tax revenue stream. It's going to come one way or another and my question has always been, is Kansas going to regulate it the way it wants to regulate it, or are we going to have to accept somebody else's default regulations."

Representative Paul Waggoner believes the debate will likely get to the floor of the House.

"I sit on House Fed and State, we're the committee that actually has the medical marijuana bill in front of us to work, which supposedly is going to happen," Waggoner said. "The devil is in the details. The notion that there's 40 plus states, I mean, there's a dozen states that basically have full on legalized marijuana. The remaining states that have a medical marijuana program, there's a lot of variation. There's some that are legitimately medical marijuana. The proposal before us in Fed and State, it doesn't actually have smoking a joint. It's all edibles, it's all other methods of delivery, as they would say. The real question is, do you have this go through any sort of regulatory process to where the actual medical aspect of it is verified, or is it just all anecdotal?"

Waggoner believes the bill will be heavily amended and so, he's not sure what the final legislation will be that is voted on. Seiwert believes that is the key.

"It all depends on what's in the bill," Seiwert said. "The question that also rises, if you legalize it for medical, I have no problem for that. The question is, if you're an employer, it's kind of like drinking and driving, if you get stopped and you have an accident and you test positive for marijuana, who is going to be liable for that? That brings up some questions that haven't been answered that I don't think anybody ever talks about."

Governor Laura Kelly initially proposed tying&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/0f14e9a6-5290-4ffe-b0b7-73392b98c0d4">medical marijuana to Medicaid expansion to help pay for it</a>. That was prior to the incentives put into the latest federal stimulus package on that issue.

By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Medical marijuana is likely to still be debated at the Kansas Legislature this session."I support medical marijuana," said Representative Jason Probst. "Kansas is one of the last few states that hasn't legalized it. I feel that we are missing out on a very good revenue stream, a voluntary tax revenue stream. It's going to come one way or another and my question has always been, is Kansas going to regulate it the way it wants to regulate it, or are we going to have to accept somebody else's default regulations."Representative Paul Waggoner believes the debate will likely get to the floor of the House."I sit on House Fed and State, we're the committee that actually has the medical marijuana bill in front of us to work, which supposedly is going to happen," Waggoner said. "The devil is in the details. The notion that there's 40 plus states, I mean, there's a dozen states that basically have full on legalized marijuana. The remaining states that have a medical marijuana program, there's a lot of variation. There's some that are legitimately medical marijuana. The proposal before us in Fed and State, it doesn't actually have smoking a joint. It's all edibles, it's all other methods of delivery, as they would say. The real question is, do you have this go through any sort of regulatory process to where the actual medical aspect of it is verified, or is it just all anecdotal?"Waggoner believes the bill will be heavily amended and so, he's not sure what the final legislation will be that is voted on. Seiwert believes that is the key."It all depends on what's in the bill," Seiwert said. "The question that also rises, if you legalize it for medical, I have no problem for that. The question is, if you're an employer, it's kind of like drinking and driving, if you get stopped and you have an accident and you test positive for marijuana, who is going to be liable for that? That brings up some questions that haven't been answered that I don't think anybody ever talks about."Governor Laura Kelly initially proposed tying&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/0f14e9a6-5290-4ffe-b0b7-73392b98c0d4">medical marijuana to Medicaid expansion to help pay for it</a>. That was prior to the incentives put into the latest federal stimulus package on that issue.

Kan. legislators expect debate on medical marijuana this session

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans for travelers in Kansas and throughout the world, there are new signs that travel dreams won’t be deferred.

"In a recent survey by Destination Analysts, well over half of Americans, 60% surveyed said that they are going to be traveling for leisure in the next three months," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas.

Even though they are planning later trips, spring break still feels like too soon to most Americans, based on the March 8 survey.

"Only 14% of Americans said that they plan to travel for Spring Break," Steward said. "It's looking more like late spring, early summer is going to be that peak time where people's comfort level seems to be for getting back out on the road."

A total of 36% in a late February survey believe travel activities will return to normal in the June-August time frame, while an even greater percentage, 42%, see fall as the travel sweet spot.

By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — One year after the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans for travelers in Kansas and throughout the world, there are new signs that travel dreams won’t be deferred."In a recent survey by Destination Analysts, well over half of Americans, 60% surveyed said that they are going to be traveling for leisure in the next three months," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas.Even though they are planning later trips, spring break still feels like too soon to most Americans, based on the March 8 survey."Only 14% of Americans said that they plan to travel for Spring Break," Steward said. "It's looking more like late spring, early summer is going to be that peak time where people's comfort level seems to be for getting back out on the road."A total of 36% in a late February survey believe travel activities will return to normal in the June-August time frame, while an even greater percentage, 42%, see fall as the travel sweet spot.

Survey: Travelers will get moving later in the year

It is that time of the year again, daylight saving time is upon us 
this weekend. The one hour jump ahead is met with both positive and 
negative reactions each year. The downside is the one hour of sleep that
 you lose, especially for those who wake up early. The change leaves 
most with a form of jet lag for the first few weeks of the change over.

The
 upside is that the sun now stays up longer in the evening. That's 
beneficial for many high school and college spring sports, especially 
golf and track. It also allows more people to enjoy outdoor activities 
after work including golfing, walking, and cycling.&nbsp;

Ways to beat 
the lag from the change-over include: spending more time outdoors, 
getting exercise and slowly adjusting your sleep patterns to accommodate
 the change.

It also helps to get to bed at the same time each 
night regardless of how you feel, and practice good habits before 
bedtime like finding ways to slow down. If there were no daylight saving
 time in the central US, the sun would come up around 5:30 a.m. during 
the longest days and set around 7:30 p.m.

It is that time of the year again, daylight saving time is upon us 
this weekend. The one hour jump ahead is met with both positive and 
negative reactions each year. The downside is the one hour of sleep that
 you lose, especially for those who wake up early. The change leaves 
most with a form of jet lag for the first few weeks of the change over.The
 upside is that the sun now stays up longer in the evening. That's 
beneficial for many high school and college spring sports, especially 
golf and track. It also allows more people to enjoy outdoor activities 
after work including golfing, walking, and cycling.&nbsp;Ways to beat 
the lag from the change-over include: spending more time outdoors, 
getting exercise and slowly adjusting your sleep patterns to accommodate
 the change.It also helps to get to bed at the same time each 
night regardless of how you feel, and practice good habits before 
bedtime like finding ways to slow down. If there were no daylight saving
 time in the central US, the sun would come up around 5:30 a.m. during 
the longest days and set around 7:30 p.m.— Hutch Post

Time to spring forward Saturday night

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch
Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — 
Gas prices are still rising at least partially as a consequence from the cold snap earlier this year.

"Today,
 we're at $2.66 a gallon for the average in Kansas, which is up eight 
cents from a week ago," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That's up 
36 cents from a month ago, when we were at $2.30 a gallon."

The reason why is shutting down production at refineries isn't easy, and neither is starting it back up.

"Refinery
 utilization is extremely low," Steward said. "In fact, a week ago or 
so, it was an all-time low. We're still seeing the effects of some of 
the refinery shutdowns from the February storm and extreme cold. We're 
still looking to get a lot of those refineries back on line."

"Kansas is 14th cheapest in the U.S. as of 
today,"&nbsp;Steward said.

It remains to be seen if getting back to normal production levels has a price dropping effect at the pump going forward.

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — 
Gas prices are still rising at least partially as a consequence from the cold snap earlier this year."Today,
 we're at $2.66 a gallon for the average in Kansas, which is up eight 
cents from a week ago," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That's up 
36 cents from a month ago, when we were at $2.30 a gallon."The reason why is shutting down production at refineries isn't easy, and neither is starting it back up."Refinery
 utilization is extremely low," Steward said. "In fact, a week ago or 
so, it was an all-time low. We're still seeing the effects of some of 
the refinery shutdowns from the February storm and extreme cold. We're 
still looking to get a lot of those refineries back on line.""Kansas is 14th cheapest in the U.S. as of 
today,"&nbsp;Steward said.It remains to be seen if getting back to normal production levels has a price dropping effect at the pump going forward.

Gas prices continue to rise, AAA says

By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>


HUTCHINSON — 
Once the Kansas House returns from the turnaround break this week, 
discussions will begin on an education bill that has rolled together 
most of the major issues for K-12 into one piece of business.

"The
 bill now includes the budget or the funding for the Department of 
Education, which is all the aid to local school districts, so it's the 
funding," said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School 
Boards. "It also extends the state mill levy, which is part of the way 
schools are funded. That has to be done every two years. Then, it 
contains two new provisions dealing with private school aid, which has 
been a big topic this session. Finally, there's provisions dealing with 
remote learning. Of course, the whole issue of how schools have dealt 
with the pandemic has been a big topic."

The question that still needs to be resolved is whether putting so much legislation together gains overall votes or loses them.

"It's
 always an issue in legislative strategy, do you put a lot of things 
together in hope that parts of it are popular enough to get enough votes
 to maybe get some things not as popular, or, if you put too much in 
one, does it just sink the whole thing?," asked Tallman.

There is 
still the floor amendment process to go through in the House, plus any 
adjustments the Kansas Senate might choose to make.

"When you 
throw in the hurdle of getting what the Governor would agree to, what 
she would sign and the fact that there could be a majority of 
legislators that say, we've got to pass a budget," Tallman said. "The 
deadline may be, will a majority of legislators kind of want these other
 pieces to pass a budget, even though there might not be two-thirds 
support to do that. We could be a long way from resolving this."

The specifics on when the education budget bill might be on the floor have not been released as of Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman, Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman, Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — 
Once the Kansas House returns from the turnaround break this week, 
discussions will begin on an education bill that has rolled together 
most of the major issues for K-12 into one piece of business."The
 bill now includes the budget or the funding for the Department of 
Education, which is all the aid to local school districts, so it's the 
funding," said Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School 
Boards. "It also extends the state mill levy, which is part of the way 
schools are funded. That has to be done every two years. Then, it 
contains two new provisions dealing with private school aid, which has 
been a big topic this session. Finally, there's provisions dealing with 
remote learning. Of course, the whole issue of how schools have dealt 
with the pandemic has been a big topic."The question that still needs to be resolved is whether putting so much legislation together gains overall votes or loses them."It's
 always an issue in legislative strategy, do you put a lot of things 
together in hope that parts of it are popular enough to get enough votes
 to maybe get some things not as popular, or, if you put too much in 
one, does it just sink the whole thing?," asked Tallman.There is 
still the floor amendment process to go through in the House, plus any 
adjustments the Kansas Senate might choose to make."When you 
throw in the hurdle of getting what the Governor would agree to, what 
she would sign and the fact that there could be a majority of 
legislators that say, we've got to pass a budget," Tallman said. "The 
deadline may be, will a majority of legislators kind of want these other
 pieces to pass a budget, even though there might not be two-thirds 
support to do that. We could be a long way from resolving this."The specifics on when the education budget bill might be on the floor have not been released as of Monday.

Tallman: Many education issues rolled into one Kan. House bill

HUTCHINSON — Quivira Wildlife Refuge says the usual spring migration of whooping cranes could begin by the end of March.&nbsp;

“We’ve
 had a lot of birds come in the last couple of weeks, back from the 
south,” Mike Oldham, Wildlife Refuge Manager for Quivira, said. “They 
got caught during this colder weather, so they hung around . . . but no 
whoopers yet.”

Oldham says that, while none of the rare birds have
 made their way to Quivira yet, it has still been a very busy stop over 
for birds this winter.

“I think we’ve held between five and seven 
thousand sandhill cranes on Quivira all winter long, which is kind of 
unheard of,'' Oldham said. “The good thing is we’re starting to see 
species coming back from the south and I would really fully suspect that
 we’re going to have whoopers coming back maybe later on this month.”

The
 population of the endangered birds continues to grow. When Oldham came 
to Quivira, the whooping crane population was around 350 birds. While no
 count was conducted due to COVID, the 2019 count showed the bird 
population had grown to 505.

Most, if not all, of the cranes' 
nesting takes place in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada during the 
summer before they make their fall migration through Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614960432889.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON — Quivira Wildlife Refuge says the usual spring migration of whooping cranes could begin by the end of March.&nbsp;“We’ve
 had a lot of birds come in the last couple of weeks, back from the 
south,” Mike Oldham, Wildlife Refuge Manager for Quivira, said. “They 
got caught during this colder weather, so they hung around . . . but no 
whoopers yet.”Oldham says that, while none of the rare birds have
 made their way to Quivira yet, it has still been a very busy stop over 
for birds this winter.“I think we’ve held between five and seven 
thousand sandhill cranes on Quivira all winter long, which is kind of 
unheard of,'' Oldham said. “The good thing is we’re starting to see 
species coming back from the south and I would really fully suspect that
 we’re going to have whoopers coming back maybe later on this month.”The
 population of the endangered birds continues to grow. When Oldham came 
to Quivira, the whooping crane population was around 350 birds. While no
 count was conducted due to COVID, the 2019 count showed the bird 
population had grown to 505.Most, if not all, of the cranes' 
nesting takes place in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada during the 
summer before they make their fall migration through Kansas.

Lots of birds at Quivira, but no whoopers yet

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair General Manager Ed Berger said Monday that the fair will go on in September and preparations continue.

"We're kind of ahead of the game," Berger said. "We had made plans, of course, for a 2020 fair and with all those plans, all we did was kind of roll them over to 2021. That's the case with the acts we've booked, a lot of those vendors who work with us, either kept their contracts, kept their deposits or are now making those deposits again."

The fair is bringing back an event from this fall in the spring to whet potential fairgoer's appetites.

"The Fair Food and Tunes event last fall was very successful," Berger said. "We have another event like that Fair Food and Tunes planned for April 10th. That's a Saturday. We'll have entertainment at Lake Talbot and we'll have all those favorite foods that you like. Pronto Pups, funnel cakes, sausage, adult beverages, all of that will be available on the 10th of April."

Many popular fairgrounds events outside of the fair are changing their dates this year.

"The Mennonite Relief Auction that we always have in April, they deferred that till July," Berger said. "They're thinking that by July why, everything will have settled down to the point that that auction can take place. That's always a big event for the community, a big event for the fairgrounds. Another example is the Chamber of Commerce had their banquet scheduled in May and they've moved that back."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594652217162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair General Manager Ed Berger said Monday that the fair will go on in September and preparations continue."We're kind of ahead of the game," Berger said. "We had made plans, of course, for a 2020 fair and with all those plans, all we did was kind of roll them over to 2021. That's the case with the acts we've booked, a lot of those vendors who work with us, either kept their contracts, kept their deposits or are now making those deposits again."The fair is bringing back an event from this fall in the spring to whet potential fairgoer's appetites."The Fair Food and Tunes event last fall was very successful," Berger said. "We have another event like that Fair Food and Tunes planned for April 10th. That's a Saturday. We'll have entertainment at Lake Talbot and we'll have all those favorite foods that you like. Pronto Pups, funnel cakes, sausage, adult beverages, all of that will be available on the 10th of April."Many popular fairgrounds events outside of the fair are changing their dates this year."The Mennonite Relief Auction that we always have in April, they deferred that till July," Berger said. "They're thinking that by July why, everything will have settled down to the point that that auction can take place. That's always a big event for the community, a big event for the fairgrounds. Another example is the Chamber of Commerce had their banquet scheduled in May and they've moved that back."

Official says Kansas State Fair will happen in 2021

Former U.S. Secretary of State and Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo has joined the American Center for Law and Justice as Senior Counsel for Global Affairs. Jay Sekulow, who was part of President Donald Trump's legal team, has been the organization's chief counsel since 1991.

In a release announcing his hire, Secretary Pompeo said of the organization, “The ACLJ today is needed now more than ever, and that’s why I am so thrilled to be a small part of this really important organization.”

Secretary Pompeo will be appearing regularly on the organization's daily radio and streaming program, Sekulow. 

Pompeo served four terms in Congress, representing Kansas’ 4th District. During his tenure, he served on the House Intelligence Committee, as well as the Energy and Commerce Committee and House Select Benghazi Committee.

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HERE</a>&nbsp;to
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HERE</a>&nbsp;to
sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614012556875.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Former U.S. Secretary of State and Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo has joined the American Center for Law and Justice as Senior Counsel for Global Affairs. Jay Sekulow, who was part of President Donald Trump's legal team, has been the organization's chief counsel since 1991.In a release announcing his hire, Secretary Pompeo said of the organization, “The ACLJ today is needed now more than ever, and that’s why I am so thrilled to be a small part of this really important organization.”Secretary Pompeo will be appearing regularly on the organization's daily radio and streaming program, Sekulow. Pompeo served four terms in Congress, representing Kansas’ 4th District. During his tenure, he served on the House Intelligence Committee, as well as the Energy and Commerce Committee and House Select Benghazi Committee.
<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK
HERE</a>&nbsp;to
download the Hutch Post mobile app. 
<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK
HERE</a>&nbsp;to
sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

Pompeo takes job with conservative legal organization

<a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>

HUTCHINSON — The parent company of Dillons Stores is
providing an incentive for its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine.&nbsp; Kroger says it will provide a one-time
payment of $100 to all associates who receive the
full&nbsp;manufacturer-recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to the new vaccine payment, the company also
announced an additional $50 million investment to thank and reward associates
across its 35-state footprint, including a $100 store credit and 1,000 fuel
points for hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy and
call center associates.&nbsp;Both rewards will be loaded to associates' loyalty
cards on Thursday, Feb. 11.

The one-time $100 vaccine payment will be offered to all
associates who receive the full&nbsp;manufacturer-recommended doses of the
COVID-19 vaccine and present appropriate proof of vaccination to their human
resources representative. Associates who cannot receive the vaccine due to
medical or religious reasons will have the option of completing an educational
health and safety course to receive the payment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584040619502.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON — The parent company of Dillons Stores is
providing an incentive for its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine.&nbsp; Kroger says it will provide a one-time
payment of $100 to all associates who receive the
full&nbsp;manufacturer-recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.In addition to the new vaccine payment, the company also
announced an additional $50 million investment to thank and reward associates
across its 35-state footprint, including a $100 store credit and 1,000 fuel
points for hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy and
call center associates.&nbsp;Both rewards will be loaded to associates' loyalty
cards on Thursday, Feb. 11.The one-time $100 vaccine payment will be offered to all
associates who receive the full&nbsp;manufacturer-recommended doses of the
COVID-19 vaccine and present appropriate proof of vaccination to their human
resources representative. Associates who cannot receive the vaccine due to
medical or religious reasons will have the option of completing an educational
health and safety course to receive the payment.

Dillons employees offered incentive to get vaccine

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Earlier this week, Kansas First District Congressman Republican Tracey Mann introduced his first pieces of legislation as a member of Congress.

"They're the More Accountability is Necessary Now Acts, or the MANN Acts," Congressman Mann said Wednesday. "We're doing that to promote accountability and transparency with the Executive Orders being made by the executive branch. The first 10 days of the Biden Administration, they issued 25 Executive Orders. For perspective, if you add up the first ten days of the last seven Presidents, that's less than what President Biden has done so far."

Mann is looking to get more notice on policy positions that specifically concern his district.

"Before an Executive Order is issued on the areas that most effect the Big First, 30 days would have to pass," Mann said. "Basically, they'd have to notify Congress that an Executive Order would be issued and also the American public and then they go into effect in 30 days."

The six areas where Mann is asking for notice are agriculture, food, and the livelihood of American farmers, ranchers, and producers, energy, america’s natural resources and the environment, pro-life provisions including the Hyde Amendment and the Right to Life, The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Immigration into the United States.

"Six months after the Executive Order and annually thereafter, there would be a reporting on what were the impacts of the Executive Order, so it would be both advance notice ahead of time and then also reporting after the fact."

Mann wants to be sure that any major policy shifts the administration wants to do at least need to go through the Congressional process

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612382532552.png" alt="Kansas First District Rep. Tracey Mann leaves his office to submit his first piece of legislation as a member of Congress" />
 <figcaption>Kansas First District Rep. Tracey Mann leaves his office to submit his first piece of legislation as a member of Congress</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Earlier this week, Kansas First District Congressman Republican Tracey Mann introduced his first pieces of legislation as a member of Congress."They're the More Accountability is Necessary Now Acts, or the MANN Acts," Congressman Mann said Wednesday. "We're doing that to promote accountability and transparency with the Executive Orders being made by the executive branch. The first 10 days of the Biden Administration, they issued 25 Executive Orders. For perspective, if you add up the first ten days of the last seven Presidents, that's less than what President Biden has done so far."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Joe Biden was sworn into office 14 days ago, and has circumvented Congress and the legislative process with #42 Executive Actions. This is not how America should be governed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KS01?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KS01</a> <a href="https://t.co/WSy3G1QdiR">pic.twitter.com/WSy3G1QdiR</a>&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1356719313898643456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Mann is looking to get more notice on policy positions that specifically concern his district."Before an Executive Order is issued on the areas that most effect the Big First, 30 days would have to pass," Mann said. "Basically, they'd have to notify Congress that an Executive Order would be issued and also the American public and then they go into effect in 30 days."The six areas where Mann is asking for notice are agriculture, food, and the livelihood of American farmers, ranchers, and producers, energy, america’s natural resources and the environment, pro-life provisions including the Hyde Amendment and the Right to Life, The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Immigration into the United States."Six months after the Executive Order and annually thereafter, there would be a reporting on what were the impacts of the Executive Order, so it would be both advance notice ahead of time and then also reporting after the fact."Mann wants to be sure that any major policy shifts the administration wants to do at least need to go through the Congressional process

Kan. 1st District Rep. introduces first pieces of federal legislation


HUTCHINSON — A Midwest economic expert has concerns about an early policy goal
 of the Biden administration, to increase the federal minimum wage to 
$15 an hour.

"An increase in the minimum wage would certainly 
contribute to inflationary pressures," said Creighton University 
economist Ernie Goss. "There would be some job losses. There would also 
be some, if not job losses, certainly be a cut in the hours worked for 
current employees. In my judgment, this is particularly negative for our
 teenage workers. We'd like to see those young men and women get a leg 
up, or at least a first step on the economic ladder."

Goss is also concerned about how much more debt this would put the country in.

"This
 would probably mean the deficit for fiscal 2021 would be somewhere in 
the range of $3 to $4 trillion," Goss said. "That's putting us in the 
position where you are, in my judgment, going to see higher inflationary
 pressures."

The question is whether or not it would be outside 
the boundaries of what the Federal Reserve considers normal or 
acceptable. That remains to be seen, depending on what the final 
coronavirus relief deal ends up with. The Fed has said it will stick 
with the current low interest rates for some time going forward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595014550898.jpeg" alt="Ernie Goss" />
 <figcaption>Ernie Goss</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch
Post</a>
HUTCHINSON — A Midwest economic expert has concerns about an early policy goal
 of the Biden administration, to increase the federal minimum wage to 
$15 an hour."An increase in the minimum wage would certainly 
contribute to inflationary pressures," said Creighton University 
economist Ernie Goss. "There would be some job losses. There would also 
be some, if not job losses, certainly be a cut in the hours worked for 
current employees. In my judgment, this is particularly negative for our
 teenage workers. We'd like to see those young men and women get a leg 
up, or at least a first step on the economic ladder."Goss is also concerned about how much more debt this would put the country in."This
 would probably mean the deficit for fiscal 2021 would be somewhere in 
the range of $3 to $4 trillion," Goss said. "That's putting us in the 
position where you are, in my judgment, going to see higher inflationary
 pressures."The question is whether or not it would be outside 
the boundaries of what the Federal Reserve considers normal or 
acceptable. That remains to be seen, depending on what the final 
coronavirus relief deal ends up with. The Fed has said it will stick 
with the current low interest rates for some time going forward.

Economist: Inflation concern if $15 minimum wage in virus aid deal

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen noted Wednesday that there are systemic issues within the Kansas Department of Labor that are causing struggles for many Kansans. He heard about that this week i<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTJh-_uRCiM">n the Senate Commerce committee.</a>

"What we heard, just one after the other, was the degree of fraud going on within the Department of Labor," Steffen said. "It's literally bringing that department down. It's literally, clearly, it's ground it to a complete stop. That was the overwhelmingly incredible news of the day. This fraud is literally draining a $300 million unemployment insurance pool to nothing."

Everybody likely knows somebody who has been a victim of this fraud.

"We were told Tuesday that they are getting like 2,300 fradulent claims a day," Steffen said. "This is originating overseas. A lot of these claims get labeled as fraudulent, but end up getting paid."

Since the funds are from taxes on employers in the state, every employer has a vested interest in seeing that this stops.

"Employers pay this in," Steffen said. "We were told very clear that they are going to want that money back. That's an issue in and of itself."

Steffen would like to hear more from the executive branch on how they plan to address the fraud as the session goes forward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611763405510.png" alt="State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen (back) during Tuesday's Commerce Committee Hearing" />
 <figcaption>State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen (back) during Tuesday's Commerce Committee Hearing</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; State Senator Dr. Mark Steffen noted Wednesday that there are systemic issues within the Kansas Department of Labor that are causing struggles for many Kansans. He heard about that this week i<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTJh-_uRCiM">n the Senate Commerce committee.</a><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FTJh-_uRCiM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"What we heard, just one after the other, was the degree of fraud going on within the Department of Labor," Steffen said. "It's literally bringing that department down. It's literally, clearly, it's ground it to a complete stop. That was the overwhelmingly incredible news of the day. This fraud is literally draining a $300 million unemployment insurance pool to nothing."Everybody likely knows somebody who has been a victim of this fraud."We were told Tuesday that they are getting like 2,300 fradulent claims a day," Steffen said. "This is originating overseas. A lot of these claims get labeled as fraudulent, but end up getting paid."Since the funds are from taxes on employers in the state, every employer has a vested interest in seeing that this stops."Employers pay this in," Steffen said. "We were told very clear that they are going to want that money back. That's an issue in and of itself."Steffen would like to hear more from the executive branch on how they plan to address the fraud as the session goes forward.

🎥  Senator on unemployment fraud at Kan. Dept. of Labor


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that they will start accepting returns for the 2020 tax year next month.

"This year, we had to push the date back to February 12," said spokesperson Michael Devine. "That's the date we're going to start processing tax returns. The law was passed in December on the 27th that changed how we do some things and it required additional programming and testing of our system. In order to make sure that we get it right on our end, we pushed the date back to give our folks more time. A lot of these changes had to do with the Recovery Rebate Credit that you'll file on your 2020 return to claim it if you didn't get the economic impact payment, but you can still file if you've got all your documents."

However, there is no hurry to file this year. The deadline is normal, but the processing window is smaller.

"We aren't even going to start processing returns until February 12," Devine said. "Make sure you have all of the documents. Do that return one time. If you do think you made a mistake and you have to file an amended return, wait until your first tax return is processed. If you file that amended return, you're going to have two 1040s in the system at the same time. It's going to look to our system like tax fraud, both of them are going to bounce out of the system and any refund that you were expecting is going to be delayed until we work it out."

Also, as has been the case in previous years, those with certain tax credits they are eligible for will have their returns delayed a little while.

"That includes the Earned Income Tax Credit," Devine said. "Last year, about 174,000 in Kansas got over $400 million in benefits. By law, those refunds, the entire refund has to be held until February 15. If you get everything and you file before we start processing returns, as soon as those come through, it will probably be the 15th and then that money will go out."

If you have questions about your return, or how to file for free, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">go to irs.gov</a>.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611593538336.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that they will start accepting returns for the 2020 tax year next month."This year, we had to push the date back to February 12," said spokesperson Michael Devine. "That's the date we're going to start processing tax returns. The law was passed in December on the 27th that changed how we do some things and it required additional programming and testing of our system. In order to make sure that we get it right on our end, we pushed the date back to give our folks more time. A lot of these changes had to do with the Recovery Rebate Credit that you'll file on your 2020 return to claim it if you didn't get the economic impact payment, but you can still file if you've got all your documents."However, there is no hurry to file this year. The deadline is normal, but the processing window is smaller."We aren't even going to start processing returns until February 12," Devine said. "Make sure you have all of the documents. Do that return one time. If you do think you made a mistake and you have to file an amended return, wait until your first tax return is processed. If you file that amended return, you're going to have two 1040s in the system at the same time. It's going to look to our system like tax fraud, both of them are going to bounce out of the system and any refund that you were expecting is going to be delayed until we work it out."Also, as has been the case in previous years, those with certain tax credits they are eligible for will have their returns delayed a little while."That includes the Earned Income Tax Credit," Devine said. "Last year, about 174,000 in Kansas got over $400 million in benefits. By law, those refunds, the entire refund has to be held until February 15. If you get everything and you file before we start processing returns, as soon as those come through, it will probably be the 15th and then that money will go out."If you have questions about your return, or how to file for free, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/">go to irs.gov</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

IRS: Tax returns to be accepted beginning Feb. 12, EITC refunds still delayed

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The price of gas is going up and the rise is likely to continue.

"Since the beginning of the year, gas prices have been on the rise," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That continues over the past week. Today's Kansas average is $2.18 a gallon, which is up four cents from a week ago and an increase of 18 cents in the past month."

Close to home, gas is still relatively low compared to some other areas.

"Reno County and Hutchinson, both areas are a little lower than the state average coming it at $2.14 or $2.15," Steward said. "The Kansas average is eight cents less than we were a year ago."

Though it remains to be seen how long the pandemic will continue to have an effect on the market, in a typical year, you could expect prices to rise later in the year.

"In a normal year, winter is a low demand time," Steward said. "As temperatures rise in the spring and summer and more people get out on the road, not only for work, but for vacations, demand increases."

Also, Saudi Arabia has told OPEC it will be reducing production beginning in February, so supplies should tighten some, as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611247120315.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The price of gas is going up and the rise is likely to continue."Since the beginning of the year, gas prices have been on the rise," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "That continues over the past week. Today's Kansas average is $2.18 a gallon, which is up four cents from a week ago and an increase of 18 cents in the past month."Close to home, gas is still relatively low compared to some other areas."Reno County and Hutchinson, both areas are a little lower than the state average coming it at $2.14 or $2.15," Steward said. "The Kansas average is eight cents less than we were a year ago."Though it remains to be seen how long the pandemic will continue to have an effect on the market, in a typical year, you could expect prices to rise later in the year."In a normal year, winter is a low demand time," Steward said. "As temperatures rise in the spring and summer and more people get out on the road, not only for work, but for vacations, demand increases."Also, Saudi Arabia has told OPEC it will be reducing production beginning in February, so supplies should tighten some, as well.

AAA: Gas prices still going up across Kansas 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Rex Buchanan, retired from the Kansas Geological Survey noted that several things all came together to allow for the gas explosions in the city of Hutchinson on January 17 and 18, 2001.

"I looked at some of those old maps of Hutch in that process," Buchanan said. "Maps of where those old drill holes were that people knew about. That didn't count the ones they didn't know about. It was...everybody will use that Swiss cheese analogy and that was really true, there were holes all over the place that allowed that gas to do what it did."

According to a paper published in 2003, the Geological Survey said on the morning of January 17, 2001, a gas explosion occurred in downtown Hutchinson, Kansas. Later that day, gas geysers began erupting 2 miles to the east along the eastern edge of Hutchinson. The following day, a gas explosion at a trailer park near the geysers in eastern Hutchinson led to the death of two people.

"Initially there was an awful lot of confusion about exactly what the cause of that was," Buchanan said. "It really took, sort of an improbable series of events and circumstances for that to come together and occur, but over time it was pretty clear what those circumstances were."

The outgassing in the city began two days after a major gas leak in a natural gas storage well, S-1, at the Yaggy gas-storage facility seven miles northwest of Hutchinson.

"When those were reopened, one of the well bores was damaged in some drilling and when that gas was under pressure, it went out through that damaged spot, found a rock unit it could move through, went out through the city of Hutch and, unfortunately, found some old well bores, mostly from salt mining or other activity days and moved up those and created the situation that you saw 20 years ago."

In response to the explosions, 57 vent wells and five observation wells were drilled in the city of Hutchinson and westward towards the Yaggy storage facility.

Three HutchCC Fire Science instructors were on the department during the explosions. Former McPherson Fire Chief Jeff Deal was Fire Training Captain on the Hutchinson Fire Department in January of 2001.

"We were sitting in the training office at 18 East B Street, Chief Patterson and I, and we heard the explosion," Deal said. "Pictures on the wall rattled. He and I looked at each other and we said, something's going on. We both got up and jumped in our vehicles and just headed out even before the tones went off. You could see a column of smoke just northwest of us."

Mike McCandless was the driver on one of the first responding engines to the explosion.

"By the time we got around the corner to Decor, there was brick scattered throughout the street and people were running from the building, getting in their cars and leaving," McCandless said. "There was a big column of smoke and fire at the back of the building. We pulled up, set our ladder up and started throwing water on it."

It took awhile before firefighters knew that the gas was not coming from a gas line.

"We got a hold of the utilities company and said shut all the gas off," Deal said. "You could tell by the back of the building that this was a pressure fed fire. We said, we've broken a gas line, shut all the gas down. I remember them shutting all the gas down and one of my superiors yelled at me and said, go get with those guys. They're telling me the gas is shut off. How come this thing isn't getting any smaller? I went and personally met with a couple of the utility guys in the alley behind the Decor building and said, what is going on? They said, we've shut everything off in like a two block area and I said, shut it off wider then, because it ain't working. After they went out another level, we realized. This isn't local gas. We don't have any control over whatever this is."

Because of the lack of other fire activity in the city at the time, at least initially, Hutchinson firefighters didn't ask for a lot of outside help.

"I was on a reserve apparatus," said Jason Holland, who had actually worked the night before, but came back in to help. "We have reserve engines. I stayed at the fire station. We shut off all medical responses and then we protected the rest of the city with four firefighters and one fire truck while everyone else was down at the explosion."

As the fire stretched into its second day, the department called on help from outside.

"I don't know who made the call, but we actually brought in HCC Fire Science students who came and manned some of our stationary monitors, our stationary hand lines that don't move, spraying water," Deal said. "We just had them come sit on the hand lines so that we could get some of our guys out of the cold and get them to rehab."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610803169745.jpeg" alt="January 2001 Photo from Hutchinson Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>January 2001 Photo from Hutchinson Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Rex Buchanan, retired from the Kansas Geological Survey noted that several things all came together to allow for the gas explosions in the city of Hutchinson on January 17 and 18, 2001."I looked at some of those old maps of Hutch in that process," Buchanan said. "Maps of where those old drill holes were that people knew about. That didn't count the ones they didn't know about. It was...everybody will use that Swiss cheese analogy and that was really true, there were holes all over the place that allowed that gas to do what it did."According to a paper published in 2003, the Geological Survey said on the morning of January 17, 2001, a gas explosion occurred in downtown Hutchinson, Kansas. Later that day, gas geysers began erupting 2 miles to the east along the eastern edge of Hutchinson. The following day, a gas explosion at a trailer park near the geysers in eastern Hutchinson led to the death of two people."Initially there was an awful lot of confusion about exactly what the cause of that was," Buchanan said. "It really took, sort of an improbable series of events and circumstances for that to come together and occur, but over time it was pretty clear what those circumstances were."The outgassing in the city began two days after a major gas leak in a natural gas storage well, S-1, at the Yaggy gas-storage facility seven miles northwest of Hutchinson."When those were reopened, one of the well bores was damaged in some drilling and when that gas was under pressure, it went out through that damaged spot, found a rock unit it could move through, went out through the city of Hutch and, unfortunately, found some old well bores, mostly from salt mining or other activity days and moved up those and created the situation that you saw 20 years ago."In response to the explosions, 57 vent wells and five observation wells were drilled in the city of Hutchinson and westward towards the Yaggy storage facility.Three HutchCC Fire Science instructors were on the department during the explosions. Former McPherson Fire Chief Jeff Deal was Fire Training Captain on the Hutchinson Fire Department in January of 2001.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610803143730.jpeg" alt="Photo from Kansas Geological Survey Powerpoint Presentation" />
 <figcaption>Photo from Kansas Geological Survey Powerpoint Presentation</figcaption>
 </figure>"We were sitting in the training office at 18 East B Street, Chief Patterson and I, and we heard the explosion," Deal said. "Pictures on the wall rattled. He and I looked at each other and we said, something's going on. We both got up and jumped in our vehicles and just headed out even before the tones went off. You could see a column of smoke just northwest of us."Mike McCandless was the driver on one of the first responding engines to the explosion."By the time we got around the corner to Decor, there was brick scattered throughout the street and people were running from the building, getting in their cars and leaving," McCandless said. "There was a big column of smoke and fire at the back of the building. We pulled up, set our ladder up and started throwing water on it."It took awhile before firefighters knew that the gas was not coming from a gas line."We got a hold of the utilities company and said shut all the gas off," Deal said. "You could tell by the back of the building that this was a pressure fed fire. We said, we've broken a gas line, shut all the gas down. I remember them shutting all the gas down and one of my superiors yelled at me and said, go get with those guys. They're telling me the gas is shut off. How come this thing isn't getting any smaller? I went and personally met with a couple of the utility guys in the alley behind the Decor building and said, what is going on? They said, we've shut everything off in like a two block area and I said, shut it off wider then, because it ain't working. After they went out another level, we realized. This isn't local gas. We don't have any control over whatever this is."Because of the lack of other fire activity in the city at the time, at least initially, Hutchinson firefighters didn't ask for a lot of outside help."I was on a reserve apparatus," said Jason Holland, who had actually worked the night before, but came back in to help. "We have reserve engines. I stayed at the fire station. We shut off all medical responses and then we protected the rest of the city with four firefighters and one fire truck while everyone else was down at the explosion."As the fire stretched into its second day, the department called on help from outside."I don't know who made the call, but we actually brought in HCC Fire Science students who came and manned some of our stationary monitors, our stationary hand lines that don't move, spraying water," Deal said. "We just had them come sit on the hand lines so that we could get some of our guys out of the cold and get them to rehab."Part of the reason the second explosion happened at the trailer home of John and Mary Hahn in the Big Chief Mobile Home Park, is because the gas that was coming up out of the ground was not odorized."Those people couldn't smell it at all," McCandless said. "They didn't know it was there until the trailer blew up."It is presumed that an attempt to cook is what ignited the gas."They skirt these trailers," Deal said. "They put this skirting around the trailers in order to insulate them and that's what trapped the gas. If it had been an unskirted trailer, it may have just dissipated."The Hahns both died from their injuries. Getting rid of the gas so similar incidents couldn't happen changed the landscape of the city for months.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610803186041.jpeg" alt="Vent Well photo Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption>Vent Well photo Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>"If you flew over Hutchinson, you would see us look like the top of a birthday cake," Holland said. "We had flares, six, eight, ten flares."Those flares were important because you can't smell the gas, and you could only sometimes see where it was seeping."The way you fix this problem is you burn it off," Deal said. "Consume it. Any place that they found gas that was seeping up, like they said, they would drill a hole, they would actually concentrate that gas and then they would put a flare on it. If you go by the refinery in McPherson, you will see flares at the top of stacks, they're doing the same thing."An archived article from April of that year from the Oil and Gas Journal noted nine flares still active at the writing of that piece."It was scary," Holland said. "It really was a scary situation, because you never knew. You have to look back in history in Hutchinson. When they did the salt mining, they would go and put in brine wells. You would go and you would have all these abandoned pipes stuck in the ground, three, four hundred, five hundred feet deep. It's just an open hole for that gas to find, like a chimney and, boom, whatever is sitting on top of it, if it's an ignition source, look out."According to a report from the Kansas Gas Service, after the gas flow from the vent wells subsided, the KGS coordinated two NASA flights over Hutchinson and Reno County to make sure no gas leaks had gone undetected.