HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police and Reno County Sheriff Chaplain Richard Haley has been selected as a Chaplain by the International Conference of Police Chaplains to go to Israel February 20-28, 2024.&nbsp;

The purpose of this trip will be to assist the Israeli National Police with meeting with families in Israel affected by the October 7 attack.

Chaplain Haley will be visiting Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers and will be helping the families displaced due to the loss of their homes, he will also be helping the farmers along the Gaza border with home reconstruction and grief counseling. Chaplain Haley will be staying with families who lost their loved ones and helping them with counseling.

Chaplain Haley is Jewish through his mother and his grandfather was a Rabbi. Chaplain Haley has many relatives in Israel.&nbsp;

The cost of the trip is $4,000.&nbsp; Chaplain Haley is seeking assistance with the funding. Elliott Mortuary has given the first $500 for this trip. Chaplain Haley needs the money by next week.

If anyone would like to help with the cost for the trip, the Chaplain Program has an account with the First National Bank in Hutchinson.

Chaplain Haley has been a Reno County Police/Sherriff Chaplain for the past 3 years.

If you'd like more information, Chaplain Haley can be reached at 620-200-6020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705072193734.jpeg" alt="Chaplain Richard Haley-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Chaplain Richard Haley-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Chaplain Richard HaleyHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police and Reno County Sheriff Chaplain Richard Haley has been selected as a Chaplain by the International Conference of Police Chaplains to go to Israel February 20-28, 2024.&nbsp;The purpose of this trip will be to assist the Israeli National Police with meeting with families in Israel affected by the October 7 attack.Chaplain Haley will be visiting Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers and will be helping the families displaced due to the loss of their homes, he will also be helping the farmers along the Gaza border with home reconstruction and grief counseling. Chaplain Haley will be staying with families who lost their loved ones and helping them with counseling.Chaplain Haley is Jewish through his mother and his grandfather was a Rabbi. Chaplain Haley has many relatives in Israel.&nbsp;The cost of the trip is $4,000.&nbsp; Chaplain Haley is seeking assistance with the funding. Elliott Mortuary has given the first $500 for this trip. Chaplain Haley needs the money by next week.If anyone would like to help with the cost for the trip, the Chaplain Program has an account with the First National Bank in Hutchinson.Chaplain Haley has been a Reno County Police/Sherriff Chaplain for the past 3 years.If you'd like more information, Chaplain Haley can be reached at 620-200-6020.

Kansas police chaplain selected to serve in Israel

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured in Mexico is going to prison for a double-murder in Kansas. This week, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 37-year-old Kyle Young to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In October, Young plead guilty to the murder of&nbsp;22-year-old Alicia Roman and 27-year-old George Kirksey, according to the district attorney's office.

In the early morning of January 2, 2020, police responded to a shooting call at the Hotel at WaterWalk in the 700 block of South Main, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of Roman and Kirksey with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Wheeler.

The investigation revealed that Roman and Kirksey were inside of the hotel room when a suspect identified as Young entered the room and fired multiple shots, striking them and then he ran from the scene.

Investigators learned of Young's involvement and six months later located him in Mexico and made an arrest, according to Wheeler.

According to court documents Young was upset that his former girlfriend had moved on and found someone else. Young will be eligible for parole consideration after he serves 100-years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593795027094.png" alt="Young-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured in Mexico is going to prison for a double-murder in Kansas. This week, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 37-year-old Kyle Young to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In October, Young plead guilty to the murder of&nbsp;22-year-old Alicia Roman and 27-year-old George Kirksey, according to the district attorney's office.In the early morning of January 2, 2020, police responded to a shooting call at the Hotel at WaterWalk in the 700 block of South Main, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of Roman and Kirksey with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Wheeler.The investigation revealed that Roman and Kirksey were inside of the hotel room when a suspect identified as Young entered the room and fired multiple shots, striking them and then he ran from the scene.Investigators learned of Young's involvement and six months later located him in Mexico and made an arrest, according to Wheeler.According to court documents Young was upset that his former girlfriend had moved on and found someone else. Young will be eligible for parole consideration after he serves 100-years.

Man captured in Mexico killed ex-girlfriend at Kansas hotel

NEW YORK (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission reluctantly approved the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin Wednesday, saying it is still deeply skeptical about cryptocurrencies and that the SEC “did not approve or endorse bitcoin” in its decision.

The SEC said it is finishing the approval of 10 exchange-traded funds for bitcoin even though it only faced a deadline for one application. The agency said this action would give the market enough competition and provide a “level playing field” for the new entrants.

An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold, junk bonds or bitcoins, without having to buy the things themselves. Cryptocurrency advocates hope the development thrusts the once niche and nerdy corner of the internet even further into the financial mainstream.

The regulatory greenlight has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grayscale-sec-bitcoin-etf-cryptocurrencies-d8a9bb4fb476527e803aed3dd19dc303" target="_blank">anticipated for several months</a>&nbsp;and the price of bitcoin has jumped about 70% since October.

In a twist perhaps appropriate for the unpredictable crypto industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-bitcoin-gary-gensler-etf-hacked-b037c80938c564cad36f91beb888290e" target="_blank">a fake tweet from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s account</a>&nbsp;on X Tuesday stated that trading of bitcoin ETFs had been approved but the agency had not issued any approval.

Here are some things to know about bitcoin ETFs.

WHY ALL THE EXCITEMENT OVER A BITCOIN ETF?

An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold or junk bonds, without having to buy the things themselves. Unlike traditional mutual funds, ETFs trade like stocks, which means they can be bought and sold throughout the day.

Since the inception of bitcoin, anyone wanting to own one would have to buy it. That in turn would mean either having to learn what a cold wallet is or having to open an account at a crypto trading platform like Coinbase or Binance.

A spot bitcoin ETF could open the door to many new investors who don’t want to take such extra steps.

The price of bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-surge-40k-spot-etfs-16a5678dad7a112e1292bc651cc9fe78" target="_blank">has already soared</a>&nbsp;in anticipation of the SEC’s approval, with bitcoin trading at $45,890 Wednesday, up from around $27,000 in mid-October. The price had sunk as low as $16,000 in November of 2022 following the bankruptcy of the crypto exchange FTX.

The Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has already been trading since 2021, but it holds futures related to bitcoin, not the cryptocurrency itself.

The new bitcoin ETF will perform like the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which allows anyone to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5fc385b4da15f42483c198faaba83c82" target="_blank">invest in gold</a>&nbsp;without having to find someplace to store a bar or having to protect it. It’s the same reason some people invest in the SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), which lets investors simply buy one thing instead of the more than 1,000 low-quality bonds that make up the index.

The SEC said it is finishing approval of the applications for 10 bitcoin ETFs.

Longtime crypto fans might object. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin were created in part due to mistrust of the traditional financial system. Wall Street would become an intermediary between investors and cryptocurrency in the case of ETFs.

ETFs also charge fees, though they tend to be relatively low compared with the overall financial industry. These fees are shown through what’s called the expense ratio, which indicates how much of a fund’s assets the ETF will take each year to cover its costs.

WHEN IS IT BETTER TO HOLD ACTUAL BITCOIN?

An ETF will not put actual cryptocurrency into investors’ accounts, meaning that they cannot use it. Also, an ETF would not provide investors with the same anonymity that crypto does, one of the big draws for many crypto investors.

The biggest concern for an investor in one of these ETFs is the notorious volatility in the price of bitcoin.

Despite failing to catch on as a replacement for fiat, or paper, currencies, bitcoin soared near $68,000 in November of 2021. A year later it fell below $20,000 as investors in general shunned riskier assets and a series of company blowups and scandals shook faith in the crypto industry.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission reluctantly approved the first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin Wednesday, saying it is still deeply skeptical about cryptocurrencies and that the SEC “did not approve or endorse bitcoin” in its decision.The SEC said it is finishing the approval of 10 exchange-traded funds for bitcoin even though it only faced a deadline for one application. The agency said this action would give the market enough competition and provide a “level playing field” for the new entrants.An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold, junk bonds or bitcoins, without having to buy the things themselves. Cryptocurrency advocates hope the development thrusts the once niche and nerdy corner of the internet even further into the financial mainstream.The regulatory greenlight has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grayscale-sec-bitcoin-etf-cryptocurrencies-d8a9bb4fb476527e803aed3dd19dc303" target="_blank">anticipated for several months</a>&nbsp;and the price of bitcoin has jumped about 70% since October.In a twist perhaps appropriate for the unpredictable crypto industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-bitcoin-gary-gensler-etf-hacked-b037c80938c564cad36f91beb888290e" target="_blank">a fake tweet from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s account</a>&nbsp;on X Tuesday stated that trading of bitcoin ETFs had been approved but the agency had not issued any approval.Here are some things to know about bitcoin ETFs.<h2>WHY ALL THE EXCITEMENT OVER A BITCOIN ETF?</h2>An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is an easy way to invest in something or a group of things, like gold or junk bonds, without having to buy the things themselves. Unlike traditional mutual funds, ETFs trade like stocks, which means they can be bought and sold throughout the day.Since the inception of bitcoin, anyone wanting to own one would have to buy it. That in turn would mean either having to learn what a cold wallet is or having to open an account at a crypto trading platform like Coinbase or Binance.A spot bitcoin ETF could open the door to many new investors who don’t want to take such extra steps.The price of bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-surge-40k-spot-etfs-16a5678dad7a112e1292bc651cc9fe78" target="_blank">has already soared</a>&nbsp;in anticipation of the SEC’s approval, with bitcoin trading at $45,890 Wednesday, up from around $27,000 in mid-October. The price had sunk as low as $16,000 in November of 2022 following the bankruptcy of the crypto exchange FTX.<h2>HOW WOULD THE ETF WORK?</h2>The Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) has already been trading since 2021, but it holds futures related to bitcoin, not the cryptocurrency itself.The new bitcoin ETF will perform like the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), which allows anyone to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5fc385b4da15f42483c198faaba83c82" target="_blank">invest in gold</a>&nbsp;without having to find someplace to store a bar or having to protect it. It’s the same reason some people invest in the SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), which lets investors simply buy one thing instead of the more than 1,000 low-quality bonds that make up the index.<h2>HOW MANY BITCOIN ETFS COULD THERE BE?</h2>The SEC said it is finishing approval of the applications for 10 bitcoin ETFs.<h2>WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF AN ETF?</h2>Longtime crypto fans might object. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin were created in part due to mistrust of the traditional financial system. Wall Street would become an intermediary between investors and cryptocurrency in the case of ETFs.ETFs also charge fees, though they tend to be relatively low compared with the overall financial industry. These fees are shown through what’s called the expense ratio, which indicates how much of a fund’s assets the ETF will take each year to cover its costs.<h2>WHEN IS IT BETTER TO HOLD ACTUAL BITCOIN?</h2>An ETF will not put actual cryptocurrency into investors’ accounts, meaning that they cannot use it. Also, an ETF would not provide investors with the same anonymity that crypto does, one of the big draws for many crypto investors.<h2>WHAT CONCERNS SHOULD INVESTORS HAVE?</h2>The biggest concern for an investor in one of these ETFs is the notorious volatility in the price of bitcoin.Despite failing to catch on as a replacement for fiat, or paper, currencies, bitcoin soared near $68,000 in November of 2021. A year later it fell below $20,000 as investors in general shunned riskier assets and a series of company blowups and scandals shook faith in the crypto industry.

 SEC OKs first exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin

By WILL BAUER <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-12-22/u-s-trade-deficit-agriculture-exports-imports-record-high">Harvest Public Media&nbsp;</a>

The United States has imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported — putting the sector on pace to run a record deficit. A look at what’s behind the numbers.

For the third time in five years, agricultural trade in the United States will be at a deficit — when a country imports more than it exports.

As of November, the U.S. imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported in 2023, which would set a record for biggest deficit in a calendar year in nearly a century if the trend continues through the last month of the year.

For some farmers, this year’s big deficit is a sign that trade has taken a hit and other countries may be out trading the U.S. However, some economists argue there are logical explanations behind what has created such an eye-popping deficit — including rising imports, a strong American dollar and basic supply and demand.

“Trade deficits aren’t something we should be inherently worried about,” said Bill Ridley, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who studies international trade.

Over the last five years,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/foreign-agricultural-trade-of-the-united-states-fatus/u-s-agricultural-trade-data-update/" target="_blank">agricultural exports</a>&nbsp;have climbed from $141 billion in 2019 to nearly $196 billion in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In both 2020 and 2021, agricultural trade was at a surplus, or the opposite of a deficit, where exports exceed imports.

In the 2023 calendar year, the U.S. has reported exporting $143 billion and importing $163 billion. At this time last year, the country had exported about $18 billion more.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/foreign-agricultural-trade-of-the-united-states-fatus/u-s-agricultural-trade-data-update/" target="_blank">Data for the remainder of the year</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to be published Jan. 11.

“The U.S. is very much still the breadbasket to the world,” said Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative, the government agency responsible for promoting trade. “We're growing things and successfully exporting them around the globe. So there's certainly a lot more to it than what might meet the eye initially.”

To the farmers who grow some of the most profitable exports — soybeans, corn and wheat — the deficit is concerning and something many watch closely.

Chris Otten, a fourth generation grower who owns roughly 1,400 acres in southwest Illinois, said farmers would like to see the deficit turn into a surplus.

“That’d be ideal for us,” Otten said. “I don’t know if that’ll ever happen, but that is ideal for us to get back to where we’re exporting as much as we possibly can.”

During a year like this, when export totals have also dropped, farmers are naturally prepared to weather the current economic conditions, Otten said. However, the politics of trade are frustrating to him.

Examples include when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/06/china-agriculture-us-economy.html" target="_blank">China pulled out of buying</a>&nbsp;U.S. agricultural products in 2019 or how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-gm-corn-trade-dispute-5b3127bff468f48592d1bbe80e1b1fac" target="_blank">Mexico announced this year it intends to ban genetically modified corn</a>. The political nature of those disputes cost farmers, he said.

“I contend our food source shouldn't be a political game,” Otten said.

In his eyes, one remedy would be striking trade deals with other countries around the world to establish more avenues to sell American products.

For Otten and other farmers, checking a small box — called the commodity checkoff program — is a good place to start. Those provide small funds to certain commodity groups that could help advocate for expanded trade opportunities.

To Ridley, the Illinois professor, analyzing all agricultural trade markets in one lump can be misleading. While all share similarities, looking at individual commodities paints a more accurate picture, he said.

For example, exports of soybeans, the most profitable commodity, have been robust this year, Ridley said. Through October, Americans exported $21.38 billion worth of soybeans this year. In 2022, a record year, that figure stood at $23.81 billion during the same time frame.

Corn exports also remain high. This year, $11.1 billion worth of corn has been sold and shipped abroad, according to USDA data. At the same time last year, the U.S. exported $16.5 billion.

Economists have a variety of answers as to why agricultural imports will far outpace exports in 2023. Simply put, Ridley said, it boils down to one thing: more imports.

“It seems to be purely and almost entirely a story about imports rising,” Ridley said. “And, of course, the more you import, holding your exports mostly constant, that's going to shrink your trade surplus or create a trade deficit.”

Through November, the U.S. had imported $163 billion worth of agricultural products. That figure stood at $166 billion at the same time in 2022.

The strength of the American dollar also plays a factor with the deficit, said Tanner Ehmke, an economist with CoBank, one of the biggest lenders to rural America.

"A strong dollar makes our exports non-competitive overseas, and it makes imports more competitive,” Ehmke said. “Our stronger dollar gives us more purchasing power. Therefore, we can afford to bring in more imports.”

Also, Americans are now using some products domestically that they used to export, Ehmke said. Namely,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/101223-us-shifts-to-net-soybean-oil-importer-on-biofuel-boom-foreign-agricultural-service#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20FAS%2C%20increased,out%20of%20global%20export%20market." target="_blank">renewable diesel demand</a>&nbsp;has grown so much that the U.S. is keeping vast amounts of soybean oil home. To compensate for this, Americans are now importing more canola oil, largely from Canada, to fill that demand.

As the U.S. exports trickled downward,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-corn-soy-exporters-continue-battling-huge-brazilian-supplies-2023-10-06/" target="_blank">Brazil</a>&nbsp;continues to have record years. They’re becoming especially competitive with American farmers when it comes to corn, soybeans, cotton and rice, Ehmke said.

Russia is yet another country that’s had a record crop in 2023. Pair that with the value of their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2023/1010" target="_blank">currency collapsing</a>, the agriculture exports from Russia are ample and cheap, Ehmke said.

“There's a lot of events that are coalescing here,” Ehmke said.

Not only are economic dynamics changing abroad, they are also changing domestically, said Tait Berg, a southern Minnesota farmer who also works at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“The U.S. consumer, we want a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we can’t grow that year round here,” Berg said.

Through October, the U.S. imported $79 billion worth of fruits and vegetables. At the same time in 2022, that figure stood at nearly $76 billion.

In Berg’s eyes, this is the global market meeting its demand. The market responded similarly in 2020 when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2020/04/15/flour-yeast-sales-rise-people-bake-bread-quarantine/" target="_blank">demand for flour grew like crazy</a>. Many people baked more while they worked from home.

“Hopefully, we're growing global trade, and that's kind of part of the deal,” Berg said. “That's what we want.”

Economists expect that agriculture trade may eventually swing in the other direction and could be in surplus again. If and exactly when are harder questions to answer.

During the next fiscal year, USDA forecasters anticipate the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=108031" target="_blank">deficit could widen</a>. Exports are projected to total $169.5 billion. Imports will tally $200 billion — leaving the deficit standing around $30.5 billion.

For farmers, they say they will wait to see what happens. As always, they’ll need to be financially prepared for whatever weather they get or whatever the markets dictate.

“These forecasts and projections always change,” Berg said. “And that’s just something that we’re all a part of as producers. We need to keep our ducks in a row.”

<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/will-bauer" target="_blank">Will Bauer</a>&nbsp;is St. Louis Public Radio's Metro East reporter. This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/174d4ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x1000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbc%2F5c%2F663ac7304703990f28ae32e5cda2%2F12222023-tr-harvestagexports-7.png" alt="Jason Imel, a deck hand with Cargill, Inc., blows excess soybeans off the top of a river barge and closes the barge’s loading lids on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.’s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this year’s deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last year’s $2 billion deficit.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Jason Imel, a deck hand with Cargill, Inc., blows excess soybeans off the top of a river barge and closes the barge’s loading lids on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.’s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this year’s deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last year’s $2 billion deficit.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure> By WILL BAUER <a href="https://www.kcur.org/2023-12-22/u-s-trade-deficit-agriculture-exports-imports-record-high">Harvest Public Media&nbsp;</a><h2>The United States has imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported — putting the sector on pace to run a record deficit. A look at what’s behind the numbers.</h2>For the third time in five years, agricultural trade in the United States will be at a deficit — when a country imports more than it exports.As of November, the U.S. imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported in 2023, which would set a record for biggest deficit in a calendar year in nearly a century if the trend continues through the last month of the year.For some farmers, this year’s big deficit is a sign that trade has taken a hit and other countries may be out trading the U.S. However, some economists argue there are logical explanations behind what has created such an eye-popping deficit — including rising imports, a strong American dollar and basic supply and demand.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9941387/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F0c%2F18a64ece4859bac70abff5f8de71%2F12222023-tr-harvestagexports-2.JPG" alt="A river barge is loaded with soybeans on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.'s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. While major commodity crop exports such as corn and soybeans remain high, U.S. imports far outpaced exports in 2023.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A river barge is loaded with soybeans on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.'s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. While major commodity crop exports such as corn and soybeans remain high, U.S. imports far outpaced exports in 2023.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Trade deficits aren’t something we should be inherently worried about,” said Bill Ridley, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who studies international trade.Over the last five years,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/foreign-agricultural-trade-of-the-united-states-fatus/u-s-agricultural-trade-data-update/" target="_blank">agricultural exports</a>&nbsp;have climbed from $141 billion in 2019 to nearly $196 billion in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In both 2020 and 2021, agricultural trade was at a surplus, or the opposite of a deficit, where exports exceed imports.In the 2023 calendar year, the U.S. has reported exporting $143 billion and importing $163 billion. At this time last year, the country had exported about $18 billion more.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/foreign-agricultural-trade-of-the-united-states-fatus/u-s-agricultural-trade-data-update/" target="_blank">Data for the remainder of the year</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to be published Jan. 11.“The U.S. is very much still the breadbasket to the world,” said Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator for the U.S. Trade Representative, the government agency responsible for promoting trade. “We're growing things and successfully exporting them around the globe. So there's certainly a lot more to it than what might meet the eye initially.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704846572125.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>To the farmers who grow some of the most profitable exports — soybeans, corn and wheat — the deficit is concerning and something many watch closely.Chris Otten, a fourth generation grower who owns roughly 1,400 acres in southwest Illinois, said farmers would like to see the deficit turn into a surplus.“That’d be ideal for us,” Otten said. “I don’t know if that’ll ever happen, but that is ideal for us to get back to where we’re exporting as much as we possibly can.”During a year like this, when export totals have also dropped, farmers are naturally prepared to weather the current economic conditions, Otten said. However, the politics of trade are frustrating to him.Examples include when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/06/china-agriculture-us-economy.html" target="_blank">China pulled out of buying</a>&nbsp;U.S. agricultural products in 2019 or how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-gm-corn-trade-dispute-5b3127bff468f48592d1bbe80e1b1fac" target="_blank">Mexico announced this year it intends to ban genetically modified corn</a>. The political nature of those disputes cost farmers, he said.“I contend our food source shouldn't be a political game,” Otten said.In his eyes, one remedy would be striking trade deals with other countries around the world to establish more avenues to sell American products.For Otten and other farmers, checking a small box — called the commodity checkoff program — is a good place to start. Those provide small funds to certain commodity groups that could help advocate for expanded trade opportunities.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ee8fae9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x1000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fec%2F0b%2F414dd9554f5bb498bd80377634c7%2F12182023-tr-harvestagexports-14.JPG" alt="&nbsp;Chris Otten checks the moisture levels of his corn crop, stored in bins while they wait to be sold, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at his farm outside St. Libory, Illinois. Otten said he's concerned about the ag trade deficit and hopes the Biden administration is focused on finding new trade partners.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/Lance Lillibridge" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Chris Otten checks the moisture levels of his corn crop, stored in bins while they wait to be sold, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at his farm outside St. Libory, Illinois. Otten said he's concerned about the ag trade deficit and hopes the Biden administration is focused on finding new trade partners.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/Lance Lillibridge</figcaption>
 </figure>To Ridley, the Illinois professor, analyzing all agricultural trade markets in one lump can be misleading. While all share similarities, looking at individual commodities paints a more accurate picture, he said.For example, exports of soybeans, the most profitable commodity, have been robust this year, Ridley said. Through October, Americans exported $21.38 billion worth of soybeans this year. In 2022, a record year, that figure stood at $23.81 billion during the same time frame.Corn exports also remain high. This year, $11.1 billion worth of corn has been sold and shipped abroad, according to USDA data. At the same time last year, the U.S. exported $16.5 billion.The causes of the deficitEconomists have a variety of answers as to why agricultural imports will far outpace exports in 2023. Simply put, Ridley said, it boils down to one thing: more imports.“It seems to be purely and almost entirely a story about imports rising,” Ridley said. “And, of course, the more you import, holding your exports mostly constant, that's going to shrink your trade surplus or create a trade deficit.”Through November, the U.S. had imported $163 billion worth of agricultural products. That figure stood at $166 billion at the same time in 2022.The strength of the American dollar also plays a factor with the deficit, said Tanner Ehmke, an economist with CoBank, one of the biggest lenders to rural America.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d06e6b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x1000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2Fc4%2F15b2b9954a06a9d31cbc33531ae0%2F12222023-tr-harvestagexports-1.JPG" alt="&nbsp;Corn is dropped out of a transport truck and into a collection pit on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 at Cargill, Inc.’s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. The U.S. exported $11.1 billion worth of corn through November, according to USDA data, compared with $16.5 billion at the same point in 2022.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Corn is dropped out of a transport truck and into a collection pit on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 at Cargill, Inc.’s facility in East St. Louis, Illinois. The U.S. exported $11.1 billion worth of corn through November, according to USDA data, compared with $16.5 billion at the same point in 2022.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>"A strong dollar makes our exports non-competitive overseas, and it makes imports more competitive,” Ehmke said. “Our stronger dollar gives us more purchasing power. Therefore, we can afford to bring in more imports.”Also, Americans are now using some products domestically that they used to export, Ehmke said. Namely,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/101223-us-shifts-to-net-soybean-oil-importer-on-biofuel-boom-foreign-agricultural-service#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20FAS%2C%20increased,out%20of%20global%20export%20market." target="_blank">renewable diesel demand</a>&nbsp;has grown so much that the U.S. is keeping vast amounts of soybean oil home. To compensate for this, Americans are now importing more canola oil, largely from Canada, to fill that demand.As the U.S. exports trickled downward,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-corn-soy-exporters-continue-battling-huge-brazilian-supplies-2023-10-06/" target="_blank">Brazil</a>&nbsp;continues to have record years. They’re becoming especially competitive with American farmers when it comes to corn, soybeans, cotton and rice, Ehmke said.Russia is yet another country that’s had a record crop in 2023. Pair that with the value of their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2023/1010" target="_blank">currency collapsing</a>, the agriculture exports from Russia are ample and cheap, Ehmke said.“There's a lot of events that are coalescing here,” Ehmke said.Not only are economic dynamics changing abroad, they are also changing domestically, said Tait Berg, a southern Minnesota farmer who also works at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.“The U.S. consumer, we want a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we can’t grow that year round here,” Berg said.Through October, the U.S. imported $79 billion worth of fruits and vegetables. At the same time in 2022, that figure stood at nearly $76 billion.<figure>
 <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9c73ab7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x1000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2Ff9%2F88b7c94c410fab69af86a46b32c5%2F12182023-tr-harvestagexports-3.JPG" alt="Chris Otten holds some of his harvested corn crop at his farm outside St. Libory, Illinois.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Chris Otten holds some of his harvested corn crop at his farm outside St. Libory, Illinois.&nbsp;Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>In Berg’s eyes, this is the global market meeting its demand. The market responded similarly in 2020 when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2020/04/15/flour-yeast-sales-rise-people-bake-bread-quarantine/" target="_blank">demand for flour grew like crazy</a>. Many people baked more while they worked from home.“Hopefully, we're growing global trade, and that's kind of part of the deal,” Berg said. “That's what we want.”Economists expect that agriculture trade may eventually swing in the other direction and could be in surplus again. If and exactly when are harder questions to answer.During the next fiscal year, USDA forecasters anticipate the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=108031" target="_blank">deficit could widen</a>. Exports are projected to total $169.5 billion. Imports will tally $200 billion — leaving the deficit standing around $30.5 billion.For farmers, they say they will wait to see what happens. As always, they’ll need to be financially prepared for whatever weather they get or whatever the markets dictate.“These forecasts and projections always change,” Berg said. “And that’s just something that we’re all a part of as producers. We need to keep our ducks in a row.”<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/will-bauer" target="_blank">Will Bauer</a>&nbsp;is St. Louis Public Radio's Metro East reporter. This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

U.S. agricultural trade deficit could reach record highs for 2023. Is there cause for concern?

&nbsp;Agustin Garcia died Sunday January 7, 2024, at his home in Garden City, Kansas. He was born October 8, 1935, in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, the son of Dionisio and Juana (Quezada) Garcia. He married Mildred Nabors on March 17 in El Paso, TX and has been with him for 48 years . She survives.

Mr. Garcia was a very hard-working individual. He learned his work ethic at the tender age of 5 when his own father died, and he had to step in and start working on the family farm to help feed his siblings. He later immigrated to the United States and started as a migrant field worker, later he got his CDL and began his career as a truck driver. He worked many years at Brookover Feed Yards though retiring from there, he went to work for Pappas Concrete up until full retirement. His hobbies included gardening, singing and whistling music. He enjoyed when family gathered at his home. He will be remembered for being an astonishing friend, husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa. He was a man that would help any person in need!

In addition to his Wife-Mildred Garcia, he is survived by his Children Dionisio (Dino) Garcia of Pierceville, KS, Maria Juana Garcia of Garden City, KS, Jose Ernesto Garcia Mendiola of Garden City, KS, Ma. Isabel Garcia Mendiola, Leticia Garcia Mendiola, Guillermo Garcia Mendiola, Lucila Garcia Mendiola, Soledad Garcia Mendiola, Ma. Rosalia Garcia Mendiola, Ma. Remedios Garcia Mendiola, Juan Gabriel Garcia Mendiola, Francisco Javier Garcia Mendiola all of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, Tammy Espinoza of Scott City, KS, Eva Williams of Grand Junction, CO, Raymond Crone and Albert Crone of Dodge City, KS. 34 Grandchildren, 42 Great Grandchildren, Numerous Nieces and Nephews and many close Friends.

Visitation will be held 11:00 am -8:00 pm Thursday January 11, 2024, and a 10:30 am Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 12, 2024, both at Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Agustin Garcia Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th Street, Garden City, KS 67846&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704913643413.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Agustin Garcia died Sunday January 7, 2024, at his home in Garden City, Kansas. He was born October 8, 1935, in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, the son of Dionisio and Juana (Quezada) Garcia. He married Mildred Nabors on March 17 in El Paso, TX and has been with him for 48 years . She survives.Mr. Garcia was a very hard-working individual. He learned his work ethic at the tender age of 5 when his own father died, and he had to step in and start working on the family farm to help feed his siblings. He later immigrated to the United States and started as a migrant field worker, later he got his CDL and began his career as a truck driver. He worked many years at Brookover Feed Yards though retiring from there, he went to work for Pappas Concrete up until full retirement. His hobbies included gardening, singing and whistling music. He enjoyed when family gathered at his home. He will be remembered for being an astonishing friend, husband, father, grandpa, and great grandpa. He was a man that would help any person in need!In addition to his Wife-Mildred Garcia, he is survived by his Children Dionisio (Dino) Garcia of Pierceville, KS, Maria Juana Garcia of Garden City, KS, Jose Ernesto Garcia Mendiola of Garden City, KS, Ma. Isabel Garcia Mendiola, Leticia Garcia Mendiola, Guillermo Garcia Mendiola, Lucila Garcia Mendiola, Soledad Garcia Mendiola, Ma. Rosalia Garcia Mendiola, Ma. Remedios Garcia Mendiola, Juan Gabriel Garcia Mendiola, Francisco Javier Garcia Mendiola all of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, Tammy Espinoza of Scott City, KS, Eva Williams of Grand Junction, CO, Raymond Crone and Albert Crone of Dodge City, KS. 34 Grandchildren, 42 Great Grandchildren, Numerous Nieces and Nephews and many close Friends.Visitation will be held 11:00 am -8:00 pm Thursday January 11, 2024, and a 10:30 am Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 12, 2024, both at Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the Agustin Garcia Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N 7th Street, Garden City, KS 67846&nbsp;&nbsp;

Agustin Garcia

Patty Irene (Veach) Cheatum, 94, passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina, Kansas. &nbsp;She was born October 25, 1929 in Rolla, Kansas, the daughter of Linnie R. Veach and Marie (Floyd) Veach.

When Patty was 6 years old, the family moved to Stanton County. &nbsp;At the age of 10, the family moved to Syracuse, Kansas, where she attended Syracuse High School and graduated in 1947. &nbsp;Patty went on to further her education attending Fort Hays Kansas State Colleges and obtained an emergency teaching certificate. &nbsp;She used her knowledge from college as a teacher for 3 years in rural country schools.

On January 30, 1949, Patty married Richard “Dick” Eldon Cheatum in Syracuse. &nbsp;To this union three children were born: Rick, Jamie and Jody. &nbsp;Patty spent much of her time as a housewife and mother taking care of her children. &nbsp;When the children were older, Patty worked at various places including part-time bookkeeper at Hilltop Lanes, bookkeeper at First National Bank, Gould Implement and R &amp; H Implement as a bookkeeper and a customer service representative at People’s Natural Gas, from which she retired in 1995. &nbsp;In 2017, she moved to High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin, Kansas, due to her health. &nbsp;In 2021, she moved to Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina and resided there until her passing.

Patty was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse. &nbsp;She was an avid bowler and attended multiple state and national bowling events. &nbsp;Most of all, Patty enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends.

Patty is preceded in death by her parents, Linnie R. and Marie (Floyd) Veach; her husband Richard “Dick” Cheatum; sisters Wanita Keyes, Claudine Cheatum, Reba McGonagle and brothers Dale Veach and Ken Veach.

Patty is survived by sons, Rick (Debra) Cheatum of Pocatello, ID; Jamie (Glenda) Cheatum of Salina, KS; daughter Jody Cheatum of Manhattan, KS; grandchildren Nicole Cheatum of Boise, ID; Gretchen Holopirek of Larned, KS; Travis (Maria) Cheatum of El Paso, TX; Sabrina (Jason) Fink of Salina, KS; Cory (Lindsey) Wilson of Merritt Island, FL; Gary (Sierra) Wilson of Lenexa, KS; Rochelle (Philip) Newman of Prairie Village, KS; great grandchildren Autumn, Jace and Kenzi Holopirek of Larned, KS; Taylyr Webb of Norfolk VA; Kylee (Tad) Holm of Hawaii; Lane Cheatum of Atwood, KS; Jackson Cheatum of Leoti, KS; Dallas and Diego Cheatum of El Paso, TX; Morgan and Logan Fink of Salina, KS; Amelia and Charles Wilson of Merritt Island, FL; Graham and Maxwell, Wilson of Lenexa, KS; Mabel and Margaret Newman of Prairie Village, KS; and great-great grandchild TJ Holm of Hawaii and numerous family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM (MST) at the First United Methodist Church in Syracuse, KS. &nbsp;Interment will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery, Syracuse. &nbsp;Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 PM (MST) at Fellers Funeral Home LLC in Syracuse, KS.

Memorial contributions may be payable to Hamilton County Library and may be sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home LLC, PO Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704913101389.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Patty Irene (Veach) Cheatum, 94, passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina, Kansas. &nbsp;She was born October 25, 1929 in Rolla, Kansas, the daughter of Linnie R. Veach and Marie (Floyd) Veach.When Patty was 6 years old, the family moved to Stanton County. &nbsp;At the age of 10, the family moved to Syracuse, Kansas, where she attended Syracuse High School and graduated in 1947. &nbsp;Patty went on to further her education attending Fort Hays Kansas State Colleges and obtained an emergency teaching certificate. &nbsp;She used her knowledge from college as a teacher for 3 years in rural country schools.On January 30, 1949, Patty married Richard “Dick” Eldon Cheatum in Syracuse. &nbsp;To this union three children were born: Rick, Jamie and Jody. &nbsp;Patty spent much of her time as a housewife and mother taking care of her children. &nbsp;When the children were older, Patty worked at various places including part-time bookkeeper at Hilltop Lanes, bookkeeper at First National Bank, Gould Implement and R &amp; H Implement as a bookkeeper and a customer service representative at People’s Natural Gas, from which she retired in 1995. &nbsp;In 2017, she moved to High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin, Kansas, due to her health. &nbsp;In 2021, she moved to Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina and resided there until her passing.Patty was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Syracuse. &nbsp;She was an avid bowler and attended multiple state and national bowling events. &nbsp;Most of all, Patty enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, and friends.Patty is preceded in death by her parents, Linnie R. and Marie (Floyd) Veach; her husband Richard “Dick” Cheatum; sisters Wanita Keyes, Claudine Cheatum, Reba McGonagle and brothers Dale Veach and Ken Veach.Patty is survived by sons, Rick (Debra) Cheatum of Pocatello, ID; Jamie (Glenda) Cheatum of Salina, KS; daughter Jody Cheatum of Manhattan, KS; grandchildren Nicole Cheatum of Boise, ID; Gretchen Holopirek of Larned, KS; Travis (Maria) Cheatum of El Paso, TX; Sabrina (Jason) Fink of Salina, KS; Cory (Lindsey) Wilson of Merritt Island, FL; Gary (Sierra) Wilson of Lenexa, KS; Rochelle (Philip) Newman of Prairie Village, KS; great grandchildren Autumn, Jace and Kenzi Holopirek of Larned, KS; Taylyr Webb of Norfolk VA; Kylee (Tad) Holm of Hawaii; Lane Cheatum of Atwood, KS; Jackson Cheatum of Leoti, KS; Dallas and Diego Cheatum of El Paso, TX; Morgan and Logan Fink of Salina, KS; Amelia and Charles Wilson of Merritt Island, FL; Graham and Maxwell, Wilson of Lenexa, KS; Mabel and Margaret Newman of Prairie Village, KS; and great-great grandchild TJ Holm of Hawaii and numerous family and friends.Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM (MST) at the First United Methodist Church in Syracuse, KS. &nbsp;Interment will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery, Syracuse. &nbsp;Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 PM (MST) at Fellers Funeral Home LLC in Syracuse, KS.Memorial contributions may be payable to Hamilton County Library and may be sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home LLC, PO Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100.

Patty Irene (Veach) Cheatum

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Lawmakers argue over the necessity of passing geopolitical resolution on Monday

TOPEKA — Putting aside taxes, looming drought and other policy issues, Kansas lawmakers voted to affirm state support of Israel in their first legislative action of the session.

Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, who carried the motion on the Senate floor Monday, referenced the anti-semitic shootings of 2014, in which three people were killed outside a Jewish community center in Overland Park, along with spikes in anti-semitic hate crimes in recent months to justify the move.&nbsp;

Warren argued the state Legislature needs to defend Israel and all of the actions taken by Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.&nbsp;

“That incident rocked the Jewish community in our area. … We must remember that Israel is America’s predominant ally in the Middle East. It is the only true democracy in the Middle East,” Warren said. “Israel has always stood with us and our allies, and we must stand with them. Israel has an unequivocal right to defend itself. We must state that boldly and clearly and never waver. Everything that has occurred in Gaza is the result of Hamas leadership.”

During the October attack, militants located in the Palestinian territory of Gaza launched a multi-pronged attack on Israeli cities, killing an estimated 1,200 people.&nbsp;

The attack started the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has led to thousands of casualties in the Gaza Strip. Some support for Israel has begun to wane as the its siege of the area led to a humanitarian crisis. A quarter of the Gaza population is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">reported to be starving</a>, without adequate resources.&nbsp;

Some Kansas lawmakers expressed frustration with the speedy debate and passage of the resolution, which did not appear on either chamber’s agenda. The first day of session typically is reserved for ceremonial procedures, such as taking group photos.&nbsp;

However, on Monday, lawmakers chose to introduce and then advance the resolution for a final vote in less than an hour, declaring a state of emergency to get around procedural rules.

“Our legislative process is broken,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “Senate Republican leadership is once again putting the needs of special interests ahead of everyday Kansas citizens by pushing through a roll call vote on the very first day of the 2024 legislative session.”&nbsp;

Senate lawmakers passed the resolution 34-6.&nbsp;

In the House, several lawmakers tried to amend the resolution’s language.&nbsp;Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, said the resolution did not give a “complete picture” of the situation. Xu condemned the actions of Oct. 7, but said in the months since the attack, the situation has become nuanced.&nbsp;

“I don’t think what this body needs to or should do is give, in perpetuity, complete absolution to the government of Israel for everything that has happened since then,” Xu said.&nbsp;

Another amendment by Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, called for an end to the Gaza blockade, the occupation of the West Bank, and for the U.S. government to work toward a “just and lasting peace.”&nbsp;

The amendments did not gain traction, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/SR1729/">unchanged resolution</a>&nbsp;passed 106-14 in the House.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Warren, along with Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson issued a joint statement following the passage.&nbsp;

“People were listening to us today and the Senate stood united with one, clear, unequivocal voice,” the statement read. “We stood firm in support of our ally Israel and in condemnation of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and made it clear that antisemitism has no place in society in any form. From this stand, we must never waver.”

Republican leadership in the House also sent out a statement on the vote, emphasizing “Kansas’ support and cooperation with the State of Israel.”&nbsp;

“House Republicans stand steadfast in solidarity with the State of Israel and the Jewish people&nbsp;and offer our continued prayers for safety, peace, and healing for our strongest Middle Eastern ally as they defend their freedom and democratic way of life,” the statement read.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704895095851.png" alt=" Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, called for changes to a resolution about the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, called for changes to a resolution about the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Lawmakers argue over the necessity of passing geopolitical resolution on Monday</h2>TOPEKA — Putting aside taxes, looming drought and other policy issues, Kansas lawmakers voted to affirm state support of Israel in their first legislative action of the session.Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, who carried the motion on the Senate floor Monday, referenced the anti-semitic shootings of 2014, in which three people were killed outside a Jewish community center in Overland Park, along with spikes in anti-semitic hate crimes in recent months to justify the move.&nbsp;Warren argued the state Legislature needs to defend Israel and all of the actions taken by Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.&nbsp;“That incident rocked the Jewish community in our area. … We must remember that Israel is America’s predominant ally in the Middle East. It is the only true democracy in the Middle East,” Warren said. “Israel has always stood with us and our allies, and we must stand with them. Israel has an unequivocal right to defend itself. We must state that boldly and clearly and never waver. Everything that has occurred in Gaza is the result of Hamas leadership.”During the October attack, militants located in the Palestinian territory of Gaza launched a multi-pronged attack on Israeli cities, killing an estimated 1,200 people.&nbsp;The attack started the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has led to thousands of casualties in the Gaza Strip. Some support for Israel has begun to wane as the its siege of the area led to a humanitarian crisis. A quarter of the Gaza population is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">reported to be starving</a>, without adequate resources.&nbsp;Some Kansas lawmakers expressed frustration with the speedy debate and passage of the resolution, which did not appear on either chamber’s agenda. The first day of session typically is reserved for ceremonial procedures, such as taking group photos.&nbsp;However, on Monday, lawmakers chose to introduce and then advance the resolution for a final vote in less than an hour, declaring a state of emergency to get around procedural rules.“Our legislative process is broken,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “Senate Republican leadership is once again putting the needs of special interests ahead of everyday Kansas citizens by pushing through a roll call vote on the very first day of the 2024 legislative session.”&nbsp;Senate lawmakers passed the resolution 34-6.&nbsp;In the House, several lawmakers tried to amend the resolution’s language.&nbsp;Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, said the resolution did not give a “complete picture” of the situation. Xu condemned the actions of Oct. 7, but said in the months since the attack, the situation has become nuanced.&nbsp;“I don’t think what this body needs to or should do is give, in perpetuity, complete absolution to the government of Israel for everything that has happened since then,” Xu said.&nbsp;Another amendment by Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, called for an end to the Gaza blockade, the occupation of the West Bank, and for the U.S. government to work toward a “just and lasting peace.”&nbsp;The amendments did not gain traction, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/SR1729/">unchanged resolution</a>&nbsp;passed 106-14 in the House.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Warren, along with Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson issued a joint statement following the passage.&nbsp;“People were listening to us today and the Senate stood united with one, clear, unequivocal voice,” the statement read. “We stood firm in support of our ally Israel and in condemnation of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and made it clear that antisemitism has no place in society in any form. From this stand, we must never waver.”Republican leadership in the House also sent out a statement on the vote, emphasizing “Kansas’ support and cooperation with the State of Israel.”&nbsp;“House Republicans stand steadfast in solidarity with the State of Israel and the Jewish people&nbsp;and offer our continued prayers for safety, peace, and healing for our strongest Middle Eastern ally as they defend their freedom and democratic way of life,” the statement read.

Kan. lawmakers kick off session with geopolitical debate, call for ‘unwavering’ support of Israel

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — Jim Harbaugh raised the championship trophy as gold and white confetti sprayed over his team and “We Are the Champions” blared.

Nine years after he took over at Michigan, Harbaugh delivered on the lofty expectations he brought with him to his beloved alma mater.

Blake Corum ran for 134 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Harbaugh and the top-ranked Wolverines — undeterred by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-big-ten-settlement-sign-stealing-3b840ce9d0f8f5ca79363d20a749ac45">suspensions and a sign-stealing case</a>&nbsp;that shadowed the program — completed a three-year surge to a national title by beating No. 2 Washington 34-13 Monday night in the College Football Playoff.

“We’re innocent and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent. And I’d like to point that out,” Harbaugh said when asked about off-field issues, jumping in to answer a question posed to his players. “And these guys are innocent. And overcome that? It wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent.

“(The season) went exactly how we wanted it to go. It went exactly how we wanted it to go.”

The Wolverines (15-0) sealed their first national title since 1997 when Corum, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, blasted in from the 1-yard line with 3:37 left to put Michigan up by 21 and set off another rousing rendition of “The Victors” from the band.

After a third consecutive playoff appearance, Harbaugh won the championship so many expected when he took over a struggling powerhouse in 2015 — despite missing six regular-season games this season while serving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-michigan-ncaa-suspension-628d4d798d5aaece620dde564d4ffb55">two suspensions.</a>

“That man, he's the reason we're here today,” Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said of his coach.

And Harbaugh did it with a team his old coach, Bo Schembechler, would have adored. The Wolverines ran for 303 yards against Washington (14-1), and their rugged defense held Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ prolific passing game to just one touchdown while intercepting the Heisman Trophy runner-up twice.

“There are more than 100 Michigan men who are on this team,” Harbaugh said. “What they’ve done is amazing. They will forever be known as national champions.”

Penix’s remarkable six-year college career ended with maybe his worst performance of the season. Usually unfazed by pressure, Penix was not nearly as precise against a Michigan defense that took away his signature deep throws.

“That was a spectacular game by our defense,” Harbaugh said.

The Indiana transfer who came back from two knee surgeries and two shoulder injuries was roughed up by the Wolverines, limping at times, stepped on another time.

Asked how he was feeling, Penix said, still undaunted: “Better than I was three years ago."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-penix-cfp-b716c321bd81196651daeff1cadce99c">Penix finished 27 for 51 for 255 yards and a touchdown</a>&nbsp;as the Huskies had their 21-game winning streak snapped.

“They've given me everything they possible can,” coach Kalen DeBoer said of a group of players who went 4-8 just two seasons ago and 25-3 since he took over in 2022.

McCarthy had a modest game, throwing for 140 yards and running for 31. But it was enough for him to improve to 27-1 as a starter for the Wolverines.

Michigan gave Washington a taste of life in the Big Ten, where the Pac-12 champions are heading next season, and the Huskies were up for the grind for a while.

Two long touchdown runs by Donovan Edwards and 229 yards rushing in the first quarter put the Wolverines up 17-3 early in the second and conjured up memories of last year's historic Georgia blowout of TCU.

Washington stabilized and didn’t allow the Wolverines another point in the first half. After the Huskies stopped Michigan on a fourth-and-2 from the UW 38 with 4:46 left in the second quarter, Penix went to work.

He found Jalen McMillan on a fourth-and-goal with 42 seconds left for a 3-yard touchdown. After being on the verge of getting buried by the Wolverines, the Huskies fans sang along to “Who Let the Dogs Out,” happily down only 17-10 at half.

Will Johnson’s interception of Penix on the first play of the second half gave Michigan another opportunity to open up a two-touchdown lead, but the Huskies forced a field goal by James Turner to make it 20-10.

“Today was a complete, complete team effort,” Corum said.

Michigan nursed a touchdown lead until halfway through the fourth quarter, when it put together a 71-yard drive, capped by Corum's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1744566618670121056">tackle-breaking 12-yard touchdown</a>&nbsp;that finally gave the Wolverines some room with a 27-13 lead and 7:09 left.

Corum, the engine of the ground-and-pound offense and heart and soul of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-michigan-cfp-championship-057a300fc250e20e18eead4b076a80f9">team loaded with fourth-, fifth- and even sixth-year players,</a>&nbsp;missed the CFP last year with a knee injury. He was named offensive player of the final national title game in before the College Football Playoff expands from four teams to 12 next season.

"Michigan, this is for you,” Corum told the Wolverines fans.

Michigan seemed to be steaming toward a third consecutive Big Ten championship when in October it was revealed the NCAA was investigating the program for potentially breaking rules that prohibit in-person scouting of opponents and using video equipment to attempt to decode opponents’ play signals.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-big-ten-sign-stealing-7b8bf1c599791b8d695d0d7b2676d4f8">The scandal turned Connor Stalions,</a>&nbsp;the low-level Michigan recruiting staffer accused of orchestrating the scheme, into a household name and threatened to derail the Wolverines’ season.

The NCAA process will linger well into 2024 and it is unknown what penalties Michigan could face. The Big Ten, though, decided to act quickly and punished Michigan by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-ban-michigan-sign-stealing-2b8c5413d953414d88e9b65579cfcf44">suspending Harbaugh</a>&nbsp;for the final three games of the regular season, including matchups with Penn State and rival Ohio State.

With offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore taking Harbaugh’s place, it became Michigan vs. Everybody and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-state-michigan-score-harbaugh-20131d4e3ac7662c51362bc72059c54a">nobody could stop the Wolverines</a>.

Harbaugh returned for the postseason, completed the mission and got to celebrate with his 84-year-old father, Jack — himself a former college football coach — as he accepted the trophy.

Michigan became the first college football program to record 1,000 victories when it beat Maryland in November and won its third national title in January.

“Who has it better than us?” Jack Harbaugh asked the fans during the trophy ceremony. They replied with a boisterous: “Nobody!”

Now the question is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-deboer-contract-9777bcff49966191799445b3beff5ddf">whether Harbaugh has coached the team he once quarterbacked for the last time,</a>&nbsp;with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-washington-cfp-championship-ba2da71bcd86b7e05d5fd2d16b63e108">NFL seemingly beckoning again.</a>

Harbaugh said it felt good to no longer be the only coach in the family without a national championship. His father won a Division I-AA title with Western Kentucky and brother John won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens by beating Jim's San Francisco 49ers 11 years ago.

"I can now sit at the big person’s table in the family,” Harbaugh said.

"I just want to enjoy this,” he said. “I hope you give me that. Can I have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704801729404.jpeg" alt="Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the trophy after their win in the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game against Washington Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)" />
 <figcaption>Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the trophy after their win in the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game against Washington Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football WriterHOUSTON (AP) — Jim Harbaugh raised the championship trophy as gold and white confetti sprayed over his team and “We Are the Champions” blared.Nine years after he took over at Michigan, Harbaugh delivered on the lofty expectations he brought with him to his beloved alma mater.Blake Corum ran for 134 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Harbaugh and the top-ranked Wolverines — undeterred by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-big-ten-settlement-sign-stealing-3b840ce9d0f8f5ca79363d20a749ac45">suspensions and a sign-stealing case</a>&nbsp;that shadowed the program — completed a three-year surge to a national title by beating No. 2 Washington 34-13 Monday night in the College Football Playoff.“We’re innocent and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent. And I’d like to point that out,” Harbaugh said when asked about off-field issues, jumping in to answer a question posed to his players. “And these guys are innocent. And overcome that? It wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent.“(The season) went exactly how we wanted it to go. It went exactly how we wanted it to go.”The Wolverines (15-0) sealed their first national title since 1997 when Corum, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, blasted in from the 1-yard line with 3:37 left to put Michigan up by 21 and set off another rousing rendition of “The Victors” from the band.After a third consecutive playoff appearance, Harbaugh won the championship so many expected when he took over a struggling powerhouse in 2015 — despite missing six regular-season games this season while serving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-michigan-ncaa-suspension-628d4d798d5aaece620dde564d4ffb55">two suspensions.</a>“That man, he's the reason we're here today,” Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said of his coach.And Harbaugh did it with a team his old coach, Bo Schembechler, would have adored. The Wolverines ran for 303 yards against Washington (14-1), and their rugged defense held Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ prolific passing game to just one touchdown while intercepting the Heisman Trophy runner-up twice.“There are more than 100 Michigan men who are on this team,” Harbaugh said. “What they’ve done is amazing. They will forever be known as national champions.”Penix’s remarkable six-year college career ended with maybe his worst performance of the season. Usually unfazed by pressure, Penix was not nearly as precise against a Michigan defense that took away his signature deep throws.“That was a spectacular game by our defense,” Harbaugh said.The Indiana transfer who came back from two knee surgeries and two shoulder injuries was roughed up by the Wolverines, limping at times, stepped on another time.Asked how he was feeling, Penix said, still undaunted: “Better than I was three years ago."<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-penix-cfp-b716c321bd81196651daeff1cadce99c">Penix finished 27 for 51 for 255 yards and a touchdown</a>&nbsp;as the Huskies had their 21-game winning streak snapped.“They've given me everything they possible can,” coach Kalen DeBoer said of a group of players who went 4-8 just two seasons ago and 25-3 since he took over in 2022.McCarthy had a modest game, throwing for 140 yards and running for 31. But it was enough for him to improve to 27-1 as a starter for the Wolverines.Michigan gave Washington a taste of life in the Big Ten, where the Pac-12 champions are heading next season, and the Huskies were up for the grind for a while.Two long touchdown runs by Donovan Edwards and 229 yards rushing in the first quarter put the Wolverines up 17-3 early in the second and conjured up memories of last year's historic Georgia blowout of TCU.Washington stabilized and didn’t allow the Wolverines another point in the first half. After the Huskies stopped Michigan on a fourth-and-2 from the UW 38 with 4:46 left in the second quarter, Penix went to work.He found Jalen McMillan on a fourth-and-goal with 42 seconds left for a 3-yard touchdown. After being on the verge of getting buried by the Wolverines, the Huskies fans sang along to “Who Let the Dogs Out,” happily down only 17-10 at half.Will Johnson’s interception of Penix on the first play of the second half gave Michigan another opportunity to open up a two-touchdown lead, but the Huskies forced a field goal by James Turner to make it 20-10.“Today was a complete, complete team effort,” Corum said.Michigan nursed a touchdown lead until halfway through the fourth quarter, when it put together a 71-yard drive, capped by Corum's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/UMichFootball/status/1744566618670121056">tackle-breaking 12-yard touchdown</a>&nbsp;that finally gave the Wolverines some room with a 27-13 lead and 7:09 left.Corum, the engine of the ground-and-pound offense and heart and soul of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-michigan-cfp-championship-057a300fc250e20e18eead4b076a80f9">team loaded with fourth-, fifth- and even sixth-year players,</a>&nbsp;missed the CFP last year with a knee injury. He was named offensive player of the final national title game in before the College Football Playoff expands from four teams to 12 next season."Michigan, this is for you,” Corum told the Wolverines fans.Michigan seemed to be steaming toward a third consecutive Big Ten championship when in October it was revealed the NCAA was investigating the program for potentially breaking rules that prohibit in-person scouting of opponents and using video equipment to attempt to decode opponents’ play signals.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-big-ten-sign-stealing-7b8bf1c599791b8d695d0d7b2676d4f8">The scandal turned Connor Stalions,</a>&nbsp;the low-level Michigan recruiting staffer accused of orchestrating the scheme, into a household name and threatened to derail the Wolverines’ season.The NCAA process will linger well into 2024 and it is unknown what penalties Michigan could face. The Big Ten, though, decided to act quickly and punished Michigan by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-ban-michigan-sign-stealing-2b8c5413d953414d88e9b65579cfcf44">suspending Harbaugh</a>&nbsp;for the final three games of the regular season, including matchups with Penn State and rival Ohio State.With offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore taking Harbaugh’s place, it became Michigan vs. Everybody and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-state-michigan-score-harbaugh-20131d4e3ac7662c51362bc72059c54a">nobody could stop the Wolverines</a>.Harbaugh returned for the postseason, completed the mission and got to celebrate with his 84-year-old father, Jack — himself a former college football coach — as he accepted the trophy.Michigan became the first college football program to record 1,000 victories when it beat Maryland in November and won its third national title in January.“Who has it better than us?” Jack Harbaugh asked the fans during the trophy ceremony. They replied with a boisterous: “Nobody!”Now the question is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harbaugh-deboer-contract-9777bcff49966191799445b3beff5ddf">whether Harbaugh has coached the team he once quarterbacked for the last time,</a>&nbsp;with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-washington-cfp-championship-ba2da71bcd86b7e05d5fd2d16b63e108">NFL seemingly beckoning again.</a>Harbaugh said it felt good to no longer be the only coach in the family without a national championship. His father won a Division I-AA title with Western Kentucky and brother John won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens by beating Jim's San Francisco 49ers 11 years ago."I can now sit at the big person’s table in the family,” Harbaugh said.As for what's next?"I just want to enjoy this,” he said. “I hope you give me that. Can I have that? Does it always have to be what’s next, what’s the future?”

🏈 Jim Harbaugh delivers national title; Corum scores 2 TDs; Michigan overpowers Washington

Betty Joy (Zweifel) Pruter, 87, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at her home.

Betty was born June 26, 1936 on the family farm near Waldo, Kansas. She was one of four children born to Robert and Bernice (Clow) Zweifel. She grew up in the Waldo area and graduated from Waldo High School. She then attended Ft. Hays State University and graduated with a degree in Education.

Betty was united in marriage to Orville Leon Pruter on June 5, 1955 in Amherst, Kansas. This union was blessed with six children; Dale, Susie, Gale, Daryl, Doug and Kevin. They made their home in the Natoma area. Orville preceded her in death on October 30, 2020.

Betty was a Teacher and a devoted farmer’s wife. She taught at four country schools before teaching at Zurich School District. Later she worked at Natoma Unified school district from which she retired. She was a member of the Amherst Methodist Church, then attended the Plainville Church of the Nazarene and was church treasurer for many years, and for the last few years attended the New Life Church of Natoma. She was a County Commissioner for eight years. Was a past President of the Kansas Teachers Union and a member of the KNEA, Kansas area in agency member. She was a community minded individual that loved helping people out. In her spare time she enjoyed oil painting and spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Betty’s surviving family include her four sons; Gale Pruter (Teresa) of Osborne, Kansas, Daryl Pruter (Lise) of Neodesha, Kansas, Doug Pruter (Dina) of Natoma, Kansas and Kevin Pruter (France) of Blue Springs, Missouri; brother, Robert Zweifel, Jr. (Kathy) of Waldo, Kansas; sisters, Barbara Tyree (Jim) of Wilson, Kansas and Peggy Martin (Doug) of Nixa, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren, fourteen greatgrandchildren and five on the way.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orville; son, Dale Pruter; and daughter, Susan LaJoy.

Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the New Life Church of Natoma. Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery. The family will be present to greet friends, the morning of the service, from 10:00 AM to Service time. A Memorial has been established with the New Life Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Betty Joy (Zweifel) Pruter, 87, of Natoma, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at her home.Betty was born June 26, 1936 on the family farm near Waldo, Kansas. She was one of four children born to Robert and Bernice (Clow) Zweifel. She grew up in the Waldo area and graduated from Waldo High School. She then attended Ft. Hays State University and graduated with a degree in Education.Betty was united in marriage to Orville Leon Pruter on June 5, 1955 in Amherst, Kansas. This union was blessed with six children; Dale, Susie, Gale, Daryl, Doug and Kevin. They made their home in the Natoma area. Orville preceded her in death on October 30, 2020.Betty was a Teacher and a devoted farmer’s wife. She taught at four country schools before teaching at Zurich School District. Later she worked at Natoma Unified school district from which she retired. She was a member of the Amherst Methodist Church, then attended the Plainville Church of the Nazarene and was church treasurer for many years, and for the last few years attended the New Life Church of Natoma. She was a County Commissioner for eight years. Was a past President of the Kansas Teachers Union and a member of the KNEA, Kansas area in agency member. She was a community minded individual that loved helping people out. In her spare time she enjoyed oil painting and spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren.Betty’s surviving family include her four sons; Gale Pruter (Teresa) of Osborne, Kansas, Daryl Pruter (Lise) of Neodesha, Kansas, Doug Pruter (Dina) of Natoma, Kansas and Kevin Pruter (France) of Blue Springs, Missouri; brother, Robert Zweifel, Jr. (Kathy) of Waldo, Kansas; sisters, Barbara Tyree (Jim) of Wilson, Kansas and Peggy Martin (Doug) of Nixa, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren, fourteen greatgrandchildren and five on the way.Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orville; son, Dale Pruter; and daughter, Susan LaJoy.Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the New Life Church of Natoma. Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery. The family will be present to greet friends, the morning of the service, from 10:00 AM to Service time. A Memorial has been established with the New Life Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Betty Joy (Zweifel) Pruter

Business lobbying organization’s political roadmap conflicts with governor’s plans

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber released a legislative policy agenda Thursday endorsing a proposed single rate state income tax, opposing expansion of Medicaid health coverage to 150,000 low-income Kansans and supporting investment of state tax dollars in private K-12 education.

These issues are poised to receive plenty of attention during the 2024 legislative session convening Monday, but it’s not clear the business lobbying organization and conservative Republican allies can push through the tax reform vetoed last year by Gov. Laura Kelly.

Nor is it known whether the Democratic governor could complete a six-year campaign as governor to broaden Medicaid eligibility to the working poor. Or, whether enough members of the House and Senate were willing to advance the cause of school choice by shifting hundreds of millions of dollars in public school funding to finance vouchers for private school students.

Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber, said the projected $2.5 billion cash surplus in the state treasury was sufficient to implement tax reductions. The 2023 version of the 5.15% single-rate approach would slice as much as $330 million annually from state revenue. It would deliver a $250 per month benefit to Kansans earning $250,000 per year, but $8 per month for people making $75,000 annually.

“Lots of states, including blue states, are moving — some rushing — to a single-rate tax,” Cobb said. “It’s partly keeping Kansas competitive. And, it is a tax reduction for everyone.”

Eric Stafford, vice president of government affairs for the influential business lobbying organization, said Kansas would be “very, very competitive” with neighboring states if it dropped the single-rate personal income tax closer to 4%. He said Kansas had the highest individual income tax rate in the region.

Under Kansas law, the state income tax obligation of a single person or a married individual filing separately or as head of a household would be 3.1% on the first $15,000 of taxable income, 5.25% on the next $15,000 and at 5.7% on all income above $30,000.

In an interview, Kelly compared the push for a massive personal income tax cut to the law signed in 2012 by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback that aggressively diminished state income tax collections. His approach led to years of extreme budget problems and eventually to a substantial increase in the state’s sales tax. The Brownback agenda, which centered on gradually eliminating the state income tax in Kansas, was repealed by bipartisan action in 2017 over his objections.

Kelly ran successful campaigns for governor in 2018 and 2022 that relentlessly pointed to financial lessons learned from the Brownback-style income tax cuts. The former state senator from Topeka urged Republican legislators not to repeat that taxation misstep.

“Flat tax will ultimately have the same impact as Brownback’s tax experiment. Just won’t be quite as abrupt and quite as deep, but over time it would have the same impact,” Kelly said.

The Kansas Chamber, which operates a political action committee to influence elections, released its 2024 agenda during a news conference in Topeka. The document touched on taxes, workforce development, legal and regulatory reform, energy policy, education, government efficiency and health care.

Cobb said the Kansas Chamber would join House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, to block the governor’s call for expansion of Medicaid.

Kelly conducted a statewide tour last fall to promote expansion and vowed to include her sixth plan for expansion in next week’s State of the State speech.&nbsp;Forty states and the four states surrounding Kansas have expanded Medicaid eligibility under a federal law in which the U.S. government pays 90% of expansion costs and states cover 10%.

“There is a cost. It’s not free,” Cobb said. “I think we’ve made the better fiscal argument. You look at the cost overruns that in some states have been astronomical.”

Stafford said approximately half of 150,000 people who would benefit from Medicaid expansion in Kansas had some form of private health insurance. It would be imprudent to remove those Kansans from the private marketplace in favor of a government program, he said.

In a twist, Kelly has sought to win over GOP lawmakers in 2024 by including a work requirement for individuals who would benefit from Medicaid expansion. A work mandate has been among the GOP’s frequent demands in terms of Medicaid reform.

“I&nbsp;think&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;got&nbsp;an&nbsp;honest&nbsp;shot&nbsp;at&nbsp;it,” the governor said. “Most&nbsp;people&nbsp;who&nbsp;are&nbsp;eligible&nbsp;for&nbsp;Medicaid&nbsp;expansion,&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;73% or 75%&nbsp;of&nbsp;them,&nbsp;are&nbsp;working.&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;rather&nbsp;propose&nbsp;this,&nbsp;even&nbsp;though&nbsp;I’ve&nbsp;never&nbsp;been&nbsp;a&nbsp;fan&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;work&nbsp;requirements,&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;rather&nbsp;do&nbsp;this&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;Medicaid&nbsp;expansion&nbsp;out.”

The Kansas Chamber said it would lobby on behalf of legislation that would earmark state tax dollars to private schools or homeschools. In the 2023 legislative session, there were insufficient votes to advance a bill that would have provided $5,000 to state support to every private school student in Kansas.

Critics said it was unfair to strip public schools of state aid. They argued transfer of cash would primarily benefit existing parochial or homeschooled students, not draw at-risk children to those alternatives. And, skeptics said, private schools weren’t held accountable in terms of student achievement. Also, they said the Kansas Constitution mandated the state deliver a suitable education to public school students — not students who choose to enroll in private schools.

“We’re all of the above, whether it’s public school, homeschool, private school,” Cobb said. “Some of the educational attainments, looking at test scores, seem to be dropping. Kansas isn’t alone. That’s across the country. Declining math and reading scores is not a good thing. I think 20% of Kansas high school graduates are considered prepared for academic higher education.”

In October, the Kansas Department of Education reported Kansas state assessment results for math were the highest since 2017. The 2023 math assessment indicated 10% of all students assessed scored at Level 4, which was an increase from 8.6% in 2022. Overall, more students in Kansas scored at proficient levels in math and English in 2023 than they did last year, state officials said.

Kelly said she would veto school voucher legislation as she had in the past. She asserted Democrats were solidly opposed to additional school choice funding and rural Republicans had their own doubts about the value of private school vouchers. In urban areas where Kansas’ private schools congregate, she said, there was no evidence those schools would be dedicated to welcoming at-risk students.

“Rural&nbsp;school&nbsp;districts&nbsp;really&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;want&nbsp;this.&nbsp;They&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;have&nbsp;any&nbsp;private&nbsp;schools,” Kelly said. “I&nbsp;think&nbsp;there’s&nbsp;been&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;more&nbsp;evidence&nbsp;coming&nbsp;from&nbsp;states&nbsp;that&nbsp;have&nbsp;done&nbsp;vouchers,&nbsp;that&nbsp;these&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;impacting&nbsp;those&nbsp;at-risk&nbsp;kids.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704491116037.png" alt=" Kansas Chamber executives Alan Cobb, left, and Eric Stafford outlined Thursday elements of the business lobbying organization’s priorities for the 2024 legislative session that opens Monday. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Chamber executives Alan Cobb, left, and Eric Stafford outlined Thursday elements of the business lobbying organization’s priorities for the 2024 legislative session that opens Monday. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Business lobbying organization’s political roadmap conflicts with governor’s plans</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber released a legislative policy agenda Thursday endorsing a proposed single rate state income tax, opposing expansion of Medicaid health coverage to 150,000 low-income Kansans and supporting investment of state tax dollars in private K-12 education.These issues are poised to receive plenty of attention during the 2024 legislative session convening Monday, but it’s not clear the business lobbying organization and conservative Republican allies can push through the tax reform vetoed last year by Gov. Laura Kelly.Nor is it known whether the Democratic governor could complete a six-year campaign as governor to broaden Medicaid eligibility to the working poor. Or, whether enough members of the House and Senate were willing to advance the cause of school choice by shifting hundreds of millions of dollars in public school funding to finance vouchers for private school students.Alan Cobb, president and CEO of the Kansas Chamber, said the projected $2.5 billion cash surplus in the state treasury was sufficient to implement tax reductions. The 2023 version of the 5.15% single-rate approach would slice as much as $330 million annually from state revenue. It would deliver a $250 per month benefit to Kansans earning $250,000 per year, but $8 per month for people making $75,000 annually.“Lots of states, including blue states, are moving — some rushing — to a single-rate tax,” Cobb said. “It’s partly keeping Kansas competitive. And, it is a tax reduction for everyone.”Eric Stafford, vice president of government affairs for the influential business lobbying organization, said Kansas would be “very, very competitive” with neighboring states if it dropped the single-rate personal income tax closer to 4%. He said Kansas had the highest individual income tax rate in the region.Under Kansas law, the state income tax obligation of a single person or a married individual filing separately or as head of a household would be 3.1% on the first $15,000 of taxable income, 5.25% on the next $15,000 and at 5.7% on all income above $30,000.In an interview, Kelly compared the push for a massive personal income tax cut to the law signed in 2012 by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback that aggressively diminished state income tax collections. His approach led to years of extreme budget problems and eventually to a substantial increase in the state’s sales tax. The Brownback agenda, which centered on gradually eliminating the state income tax in Kansas, was repealed by bipartisan action in 2017 over his objections.Kelly ran successful campaigns for governor in 2018 and 2022 that relentlessly pointed to financial lessons learned from the Brownback-style income tax cuts. The former state senator from Topeka urged Republican legislators not to repeat that taxation misstep.“Flat tax will ultimately have the same impact as Brownback’s tax experiment. Just won’t be quite as abrupt and quite as deep, but over time it would have the same impact,” Kelly said.<h2>Health care: Medicaid</h2>The Kansas Chamber, which operates a political action committee to influence elections, released its 2024 agenda during a news conference in Topeka. The document touched on taxes, workforce development, legal and regulatory reform, energy policy, education, government efficiency and health care.Cobb said the Kansas Chamber would join House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, to block the governor’s call for expansion of Medicaid.Kelly conducted a statewide tour last fall to promote expansion and vowed to include her sixth plan for expansion in next week’s State of the State speech.&nbsp;Forty states and the four states surrounding Kansas have expanded Medicaid eligibility under a federal law in which the U.S. government pays 90% of expansion costs and states cover 10%.“There is a cost. It’s not free,” Cobb said. “I think we’ve made the better fiscal argument. You look at the cost overruns that in some states have been astronomical.”Stafford said approximately half of 150,000 people who would benefit from Medicaid expansion in Kansas had some form of private health insurance. It would be imprudent to remove those Kansans from the private marketplace in favor of a government program, he said.In a twist, Kelly has sought to win over GOP lawmakers in 2024 by including a work requirement for individuals who would benefit from Medicaid expansion. A work mandate has been among the GOP’s frequent demands in terms of Medicaid reform.“I&nbsp;think&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;got&nbsp;an&nbsp;honest&nbsp;shot&nbsp;at&nbsp;it,” the governor said. “Most&nbsp;people&nbsp;who&nbsp;are&nbsp;eligible&nbsp;for&nbsp;Medicaid&nbsp;expansion,&nbsp;I&nbsp;think&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;73% or 75%&nbsp;of&nbsp;them,&nbsp;are&nbsp;working.&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;rather&nbsp;propose&nbsp;this,&nbsp;even&nbsp;though&nbsp;I’ve&nbsp;never&nbsp;been&nbsp;a&nbsp;fan&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;work&nbsp;requirements,&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;rather&nbsp;do&nbsp;this&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;Medicaid&nbsp;expansion&nbsp;out.”<h2>School choice: Vouchers</h2>The Kansas Chamber said it would lobby on behalf of legislation that would earmark state tax dollars to private schools or homeschools. In the 2023 legislative session, there were insufficient votes to advance a bill that would have provided $5,000 to state support to every private school student in Kansas.Critics said it was unfair to strip public schools of state aid. They argued transfer of cash would primarily benefit existing parochial or homeschooled students, not draw at-risk children to those alternatives. And, skeptics said, private schools weren’t held accountable in terms of student achievement. Also, they said the Kansas Constitution mandated the state deliver a suitable education to public school students — not students who choose to enroll in private schools.“We’re all of the above, whether it’s public school, homeschool, private school,” Cobb said. “Some of the educational attainments, looking at test scores, seem to be dropping. Kansas isn’t alone. That’s across the country. Declining math and reading scores is not a good thing. I think 20% of Kansas high school graduates are considered prepared for academic higher education.”In October, the Kansas Department of Education reported Kansas state assessment results for math were the highest since 2017. The 2023 math assessment indicated 10% of all students assessed scored at Level 4, which was an increase from 8.6% in 2022. Overall, more students in Kansas scored at proficient levels in math and English in 2023 than they did last year, state officials said.Kelly said she would veto school voucher legislation as she had in the past. She asserted Democrats were solidly opposed to additional school choice funding and rural Republicans had their own doubts about the value of private school vouchers. In urban areas where Kansas’ private schools congregate, she said, there was no evidence those schools would be dedicated to welcoming at-risk students.“Rural&nbsp;school&nbsp;districts&nbsp;really&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;want&nbsp;this.&nbsp;They&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;have&nbsp;any&nbsp;private&nbsp;schools,” Kelly said. “I&nbsp;think&nbsp;there’s&nbsp;been&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;more&nbsp;evidence&nbsp;coming&nbsp;from&nbsp;states&nbsp;that&nbsp;have&nbsp;done&nbsp;vouchers,&nbsp;that&nbsp;these&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;impacting&nbsp;those&nbsp;at-risk&nbsp;kids.”

Kansas Chamber puts shoulder behind 2024 income tax, health care, education reforms

BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER&nbsp;AND&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

GOP legislators question merit of a task force mandated by statute

TOPEKA — Rep. Kristey Williams and Sen. Renee Erickson agreed there was little value in convening a task force to study the state’s shortfall in funding public school special education programs because the financial issues were too complex and the only remedy suggested by education advocacy groups was too simplistic.

The lawmakers said it would be folly to hold hearings of the Special Education and Related Services Task Force with legislators, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to gather testimony and shape recommendations on a fix for the 2024 Legislature.

The goal of the task force, required by a bill approved by the 2023 Legislature, was to figure out how best to comply with an older statute mandating that state funding cover 92% of the extra cost of providing services to K-12 special education students statewide. Currently, state aid was sufficient to address 69% of school districts’ excess special education costs. The balance must be made up by local school districts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704491538276.png" alt=" Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, belatedly called the first meeting of a state task force required by law to consider solutions to the state's underfunding of special education programs in K-12 public schools. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, belatedly called the first meeting of a state task force required by law to consider solutions to the state's underfunding of special education programs in K-12 public schools. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER&nbsp;AND&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>GOP legislators question merit of a task force mandated by statute</h2>TOPEKA — Rep. Kristey Williams and Sen. Renee Erickson agreed there was little value in convening a task force to study the state’s shortfall in funding public school special education programs because the financial issues were too complex and the only remedy suggested by education advocacy groups was too simplistic.The lawmakers said it would be folly to hold hearings of the Special Education and Related Services Task Force with legislators, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to gather testimony and shape recommendations on a fix for the 2024 Legislature.The goal of the task force, required by a bill approved by the 2023 Legislature, was to figure out how best to comply with an older statute mandating that state funding cover 92% of the extra cost of providing services to K-12 special education students statewide. Currently, state aid was sufficient to address 69% of school districts’ excess special education costs. The balance must be made up by local school districts.“There is no way a funding task force could begin to crack that code,” said Williams, an Augusta Republican.Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said the Kansas State Board of Education and an assortment of public education organizations had offered one remedy to the 92% dilemma — appropriation of nearly $200 million annually to close the gap.“We do not need a special education task force meeting to consider their position,” she said. “We have their input, which is just more money. We don’t need a task force to convene to discuss that part.”On Friday afternoon, however, Williams and Erickson were expected to sit down with others on the task force for their first and, perhaps, only meeting. The gathering might not have occurred had a six-person majority of task force members not invoked parliamentary procedure in November to force Williams’ hand. She relented and set the meeting for three days prior to start of the 2024 session.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704491498246.png" alt=" Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said a task force on special education didn’t need to meet because public school advocates were only interested in expanding state appropriations to districts rather than explore reform of the state financing formula. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, said a task force on special education didn’t need to meet because public school advocates were only interested in expanding state appropriations to districts rather than explore reform of the state financing formula. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Task force rebellion</h2>Interim legislative meetings typically take place in summer and fall to give committee members time to write reports pulling together expert testimony and outlining reform proposals for review by lawmakers during the next legislative session.Williams, who was placed in charge of the task force pending the members’ election of a chair, said a mere two hours would be dedicated to oral testimony of subject-matter experts and for task force deliberations. She said written testimony would be accepted by the task force comprised of five members of the House or Senate — four Republicans, one Democrat — and six people not in the Legislature.The list of 13 given a chance to speak for five minutes each to the task force included people with the Kansas Association of School Boards, Kansas National Education Association, Kansas PTA, Game On for Kansas Schools as well as the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Policy Institute. School administrators and a teacher will be give a turn at the microphone, but its not clear the task force could comprehensively take input, consider options and prepare recommendations for legislators in 120 minutes.The first order of business must be to select a chairperson of the task force. Legislators, lobbyists and educators said that step became a flash point several months ago when it appeared Williams lacked votes among task force peers to retain the position of task force chair. In response, special education advocates said, Williams stonewalled and publicly expressed skepticism the task force was worthwhile.In an interview in October, Louisburg GOP Sen. Molly Baumgardner, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, dismissed that theory. She said the delay wasn’t inspired by Williams’ unwillingness to give up narrative control of the task force.“Anytime you’re trying to schedule when we’re not in session, it is a real juggling match to get folks together,” said Baumgardner, who is on the special education task force. “You’re trying to satisfy a variety of different schedules so that the largest number of folks can be there and participate and we’ve had some problems with interim meetings, just scheduling times.”A majority of the task force made multiple requests of Williams to move ahead with the task force’s work before deploying a procedural maneuver to compel the meeting. Williams set the meeting for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday in Room 112-North of the Capitol.<h2>‘Not … going away’</h2>Kansas spends more than $500 million annually in federal, state and local funding on special education services in public schools, but hasn’t complied with the 92% requirement since 2011. However, the statute didn’t include enforcement mechanisms to compel the Legislature to meet the obligation.The idea of convening a task force was viewed as an alternative to the 2023 Legislature dealing with a situation in which districts had to pull money from the general education budget to fill the special education gap. Instead of allocating $182 million to meet the statewide shortfall in the 2023-2024 school year, the Legislature agreed to increase appropriations for special education by $7.6 million for the year.Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, endorsed a plan to add $72 million in 2024 to initiate a five-year plan to surge special education aid to 92%. The state Board of Education preferred a four-year strategy that would infuse $82 million annually to reach that threshold.Williams and other legislators rejected the phased concepts and endorsed appointment of a task force on special education. She also urged the Legislature to complete a rewrite of the state’s special education funding blueprint by 2027.Rep. Adam Thomas, an Olathe Republican on the task force, said he was convinced the Legislature had to rework the state’s special education formula to correct inconsistencies in distribution of money to districts.“The formula itself is confusing. There’s some flaws in statute,” he said. “Obviously, we know after all these conversations about special ed, it’s not something that’s going to go away.”