TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Lawmakers and staff members will have a chance to see a made-for-television film to celebrate Kansas’ official song, “Home on the Range.”
The film will be shown three times at the Capitol’s auditorium Monday. The film shows how “Home on the Range” became a well-known Western anthem.
The movie’s director, Ken Spurgeon, says the film shows how a couple sued 30 entities, including NBC and Bing Crosby, in 1934 over the song.
The movie was filmed in Smith Center, El Dorado, Topeka and Wichita.
Filming also was done at the historic cabin in Smith County where the song was written by Brewster Higley in 1872.
Kansas celebrated its 156th birthday on Sunday, celebrating its entry into the Union as the 34th state on January 29, 1861. The Kansas House of Representatives will celebrate Kansas Day on Monday, January 30 and will recognize Robert Bergen, artist and creator of the 22-foot bronze Kansa warrior statue on top of the statehouse dome. In addition to the activities on the House floor, there are opportunities to view the Home on the Range documentary in the Capitol on Monday, January 30.
I note that the coloring book is a bit outdated, as it does not contain the newest state symbols, the state flying fossil, Pteranodon, and the state marine fossil, Tylosaurus Mosasaur. Hopefully that is corrected soon.
Budget
This past week the House Appropriations Committee and the budget subcommittees dug into Governor Brownbacks rescission bill for fiscal year 2017, which ends June 30. The state is currently facing a shortfall of $340 million in FY 2017, and the governor has recommended adjustments to end the fiscal year with a positive ending balance. Here are the highlights:
Freeze KPERS contributions at the reduced 2016 level, saving $86 million
Fund adjusted human services caseload estimates (changes in cost of services and additional applicants), costing an additional $147 million
$75 million due to Kansas schools was delayed in late FY 2016 into early FY 2017. The governor proposes an identical delay in payments in late FY 2017
Sell a $362 million long-term investment fund. $45 million in capital gains would immediately go into the state general fund (SGF). $317 million of principal would be considered an immediate loan to SGF and repaid at $45 million annually over seven years starting in FY 2018
Increase SGF expenditures at Osawatomie State Hospital due to decertification and loss of federal funds
Increase SGF expenditures at Larned State Hospital due to withholding of federal funds as a result of reconciliation of past cost control reports
When all the additions and deletions are accounted for, total SGF expenditures would be reduced by $24 million from the amount approved during the 2016 legislative session. Although the committee has had a hearing on the bill, it will quite likely be amended before the committee passes it out.
The appropriations committee also heard HB 2161, which would clear the way for liquidation of the long-term investment fund. Although many view this as fiscally questionable, there appears to be growing recognition that it is a move which will probably be necessary in order to avoid choices which are even less desirable.
Tax
On Monday, the Committee continued its hearing on HB 2023, which would require non-wage business income to be included for Kansas income tax purposes. After the hearing, Acting Revenue Secretary Sam Williams provided the Committee with a revised fiscal note, increasing the revenue estimates to $230.9 million in FY 18 and $181 million in FY 19. That amount of revenue will not fill the projected hole budget, and other actions will be necessary in order to achieve true structural balance between revenues and expenditures. And if any income tax bill is to provide revenue for FY 18, then it will be necessary to make the tax changes retroactive to 1/1/2017, since most income tax revenue is remitted after the fact.
On Tuesday, the Committee discussed Sales Tax Exemptions. Committee members heard from Tom Browne, Jr., Department of Revenue. He covered the 3 categories of exemptions: (1) Legal; (2) Conceptual; and (3) Public Policy. The Committee selected a handful of exemptions to further study. In my experience, the topic of tax exemptions is one which attracts plenty of attention but little action. Admittedly, the dollar amount of all sales tax exemptions is huge. But those particular exemptions which would generate significant revenue are easily justified, and their removal would be very unpopular. Imposing sales tax on goods consumed in production by business or agriculture, or on services, or on consumers utility bills would create major disruptions to the Kansas economy. My guess is that we will not go very far down that road.
Fort Riley Tour
On Friday a busload of legislators and spouses traveled west for a tour of Fort Riley. It was highly interesting, including an inside look at the hangar for Grey Eagle drones, a tour through the historic district, a briefing on Big Red One activities, a first-hand look at the extensive use of gaming and technology in troop training, and a full tour of the new hospital. While the facilities were certainly impressive, my wife Betsy and I were most impacted by the genuine pride and gratefulness expressed by everyone we met during the tour. General Pat Frank and his team are to be congratulated for their capable administration of the post and their ongoing vision for its future.
Interview With Editorial Board
On Tuesday afternoon the House leadership team of Speaker Ron Ryckman (R-Olathe), Speaker Pro Tem Scott Schwab (R-Olathe), and Majority Leader Don Hineman (R-Dighton) met with the editorial board of Topeka Capital-Journal. Our overriding message to them was that we prefer an open and inclusive legislative process as the best approach to dealing effectively with the challenges we face: https://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-01-24/kansas-house-gop-leaders-working-compromise-budget-tax-deal
Coming Up Next Week
Hearings on Concealed carry licensure amendments and exemptions from public buildings law under PFPA [Fed. & State; Wed. Feb. 1st, 9:00 a.m., Room 346-S]
Subcommittee meeting on KPERS; working after retirement, Hearing on HB2005 exempting members of the State Board of Regents plan from certain KPERS working after retirement provisions. [Financial Institutions & Pensions Subcommittee; Mon. Jan. 30th, Committee Wed. Feb. 1st, 9:00 a.m., Room 281-N]
Informational hearing on the 2016 Juvenile Justice Reform bill [Corrections & Juvenile Justice; Tues. Jan. 31, 1:30, Room 152-S]
Hearings on drug abuse treatment and repeal of third-time offenders of controlled substance special sentencing [Corrections & Juvenile Justice; Wed. Feb. 1st 1:30, Room 152-S]
Hearing on HB 2119; non-covered services for dental benefits under health insurance [Health & Human Services; Fri. Feb. 3rd 1:30, Room 546-S]
Hearing on HB2013; Write in candidates must agree in writing to be placed on general election ballot [Elections; Mon. Jan. 30th 1:30, Room 281-N]
Live Streaming
The 2016 Legislature authorized the expansion of livestreaming Committee rooms in the Statehouse. Previously, only the Old Supreme Court Room (346-S) could livestream. For the 2017 Session, Rooms 112-N, 548-S, and 582-N are now livestreaming (audio only). To listen in live, go to the Kansas Legislatures website committee tab and click on the specific committee that you are interested in following: https://kslegislature.org/li/b2017_18/committees/
Currently, Kansans can listen in live to the following Committee meetings:
112-N: House Appropriations (9 AM); House Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development (1:30 PM); and House Judiciary (3:30 PM)
346-S: House Federal and State Affairs (9 AM); Senate Judiciary (10:30 AM); K-12 Education Budget Committee (1:30); and House Taxation (3:30 PM). 346-S streams both audio and video feed.
548-S: Senate Commerce (8:30 AM); Senate Assessment and Taxation (9:30 AM); Senate Ways and Means Committee (10:30 AM); and Senate Utilities (1:30 PM)
582-N: House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications (9:00 M W); House Water and Environment (9:00 T TH); House Transportation (1:30 PM); and House Agriculture (3:30 PM)
Later in the session, perhaps late February or early March, the following rooms will be added to audio live streaming: Rooms 152-S, 218-N, 281-N, and 546-S. Financing for the livestreaming project was made possible with grants from the Information Network of Kansas (INK) Board.
Cowboy Logic
My people skills are just fine. Its my tolerance for idiots that needs work.
Quote of the day
“A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.” – Thomas Carlyle
Sermon in a sentence
Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing.” – Napoleon Hill
Beginning Monday, January 30, 2017, 23rd & Oak Street intersection will be closed and 22nd & Highland intersection will be opened to traffic. This intersection will be closed for an estimated 2 weeks.
The project is scheduled to be completed by May 1st (pending weather conditions).
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if at all possible avoid these areas.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Planning, Inspection, and Enforcement Division (785) 628-7310 or the contractor, J-Corp, at (785) 628-8101.
McPherson County sports a big wetlands complex known collectively as the McPherson Valley Wetlands. They are divided into two parts, one part a little west of McPherson and the other just a couple miles as the crow flies southeast of Inman.
Steve Gilliland
Inman’s share of these wetlands is known as the Farland Lake Marshes, and is comprised of Little Sinkhole #1, Little Sinkhole #2 and the Big Sinkhole. Known affectionately at our house as “the sinkhole,” it’s my go-to place when I find myself at the eleventh hour without a column for the week. A trip to the sinkhole never disappoints; from a chance encounter with a cruising muskrat as I sit in the truck along the water admiring God’s handiwork, to a tree overhanging the sinkhole pond so full of white egrets it looked like a tree of huge white blossoms.
The beaver dam
The muskrat lodge – the white plastic pole is a 4 foot long paint roller handle I put there as a reference as to how big this thing is.
Across the road to the west of Sinkhole #1 is another sinkhole of a couple acres that is privately owned. I’ve trapped beavers there for a few years, but since it all dried up during the drought 3 years ago, it has been beaver-free, much to my chagrin. The past summer and fall of 2016 brought us good rains and the sinkholes and the marshes are all full, but I noticed last fall that a few acres of farm land just above the privately owned sinkhole pond were under several inches of water. I discovered fresh beaver sign there but couldn’t figure out why the farm land was under water. It drains into the sinkhole pond, but the drain pipe in the pond was under water not allowing the cropland to drain, and both ponds were swollen with water.
Across the road to the east is a deep drainage ditch that connects the small sinkholes and drains them both a mile to the east into the Big Sinkhole. I walked back there last Sunday afternoon, and as I topped the dike along the drainage ditch, I looked to the east and there was merely a small stream of water flowing through the drainage ditch as it was supposed to do; odd I thought since everything it was supposed to drain was flooded. I spun around and looked toward the small ponds behind me and was face-to-face with an immense beaver dam, ultimately responsible for the flooded field. Although that dam creates deep waterways for the beavers travel and offers ducks nearly unlimited hidden resting places among the flooded timber and grassy marsh ponds, it will have to be torn out this spring to allow the cropland above it to properly drain. Hopefully I can catch a few beaver before that has to happen.
On both sides of the drainage ditch as it flows to the east are big marshes lined and dotted with cattails and grass that are meccas for waterfowl of all varieties on years like this when they’re full of water. My walk to the dike took me past a couple small marshes that are for the most part too near the road and too small for much waterfowl activity. Something in the cattails caught my eye, and on closer inspection I found a muskrat “hut” bigger than I’ve ever seen.
Muskrats live in 2 types of structures, huts in a pond like this one or dens dig into the bank. Bank dens are the most prevalent and I grew up in Ohio trapping muskrats from bank dens in creeks. In swamps or ponds, however muskrats occasionally build huts resembling small versions of beaver lodges. Made from layer-upon-layer of cattails and mud they have entrances under water and a big open cavern inside which is the living quarters. A long walk along the top of the dike just yesterday revealed numerous huts like that one in other marsh ponds. Because muskrats are normally scarce around us, I’ve not set a muskrat trap since living in Kansas, but this year that’s about to change.
Perhaps my best “sinkhole encounter” of all time occurred just yesterday as I drove the dirt road separating Little Sinkhole #1 from the privately owned pond. As my pickup crept slowly along, two big birds in the top of a tall tree caught my eye. Two stately bald eagles keenly scrutinized me from their perch high atop the tallest tree along the pond.
Back when I first began writing this column, I was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of technology, and the same goes for learning to use my nifty smart phone’s camera in place of the Fuji camera that used to my constant companion. I’ve learned that most pictures I need are close-ups and the phone takes those quite nicely, so the camera stays at home. Boy did I wish I’d had it yesterday! I got pictures of the eagles but regretted not having the amazing zoom of my Fuji. Yes “the sinkhole” is my go-to spot whether or not I need a story, and a trip there never disappoints. So find your sinkhole place and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Pfeifer, Kansas – Bernadette “Bernie” Dome, age 83, died Sunday, January 29, 2017, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.
She was born January 7, 1934, on the farm East of Lorretto, Kansas, to Simplicus “Sim” and Sophia (Herman) Stremel. She married Floris Dome on May 27, 1952, in Lorretto, Kansas.
She was a homemaker, a farmer’s wife, a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers. Bernadette grew up in Lorretto, Kansas and graduated from the Sacred Heart Academy for girls in Wichita, Kansas. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking and baking.
Survivors include her husband, Floris Dome, of the home; five sons, Florian L. Dome, Pfeifer, KS; Darrell Dome, Abilene, KS; Marion Dome and wife, Susan, Olathe, KS; Stuart Dome and wife, Tammy, Victoria, KS; Stan Dome, Hays, KS; one daughter, Brenda Dome-Luff and husband, Clyde Luff, Wichita, KS; two sisters, Edna Temaat, Hutchinson, KS; Sister Cecelia Ann Stremel, Great Bend, KS; three grandchildren, Andrea Hoffman(Brenton), Ashley Dome, Bryan Dome; and one great grandchild, Rhett Hoffman.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Jim Stremel and one brother-in-law, Tony Temaat.
Services are 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Pfeifer, Kansas. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Pfeifer, Kansas.
A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, and from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Pfeifer, Kansas.
Memorial to Holy Cross Charities, Inc. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].
The Hays Eagles Baseball Board of Directors would like to inform all Hays High and TMP High School baseball players and parents about deadlines for the upcoming summer legion baseball season.
Hays Eagles baseball is looking for all young men interested in playing JR or SR Legion Baseball this coming summer.
To sign up, complete registration form. Registration form can be found on Facebook at Hays Eagles Baseball or by emailing [email protected].
The deadline to get the $50 discount is Feb. 15. If paid in full by then, the cost is $400. Payments are accepted, with the first half due March 1 and the rest due April 1.
Tryouts will be after the high school baseball season, and final rosters will be completed after tryouts.
The number of teams will depend on the number of players that have successfully registered by deadlines and successfully completed tryouts.
“Hays Eagle Baseball is proud to be a part of our community and once again host the Annual Wild West Fest
Baseball Tournament,” the group said in a news release. “We strive to provide a positive opportunity for young men to represent our community with pride, while showing the upmost respect for the game of baseball on and off the field.
For more information, contact Jon Armstrong, Hays Eagle President, at[email protected]
JOHNSON COUNTY, MO – A Kansas man was involved in a fatal pedestrian accident just before 10p.m. on Sunday in Johnson County Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Aaron D. Collins, 19, Ottawa, was eastbound on U.S. 50 just west of PCA Road.
The vehicle hit a pedestrian Demetrius A. Hayden, 23, in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Sweeney,
Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home.
The accident remains under investigation. No additional details were available early Monday.
Chancellor Gray-Little -photo University of Kansas
Dozens of U.S. colleges are opposing President Donald Trump’s sweeping travel ban, which has left some students and professors stranded abroad.
Leaders at universities in Kansas responded on Sunday.
University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little’s statement read “Last Friday’s executive order suspending immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen has raised concerns for many members of the University of Kansas community. I share these concerns, and I want to assure you we are coordinating with our international programs staff, immigration experts, and peer universities to fully understand the implications of the new federal policies. We have also directly contacted our international students at KU to offer guidance and resources.
This state and nation were settled by immigrants, and immigrants continue to make immeasurable contributions to our society. Moreover, I want to reiterate that accessibility, diversity of thought, and the free and open exchange of ideas remain core values of the University of Kansas. That will never change, and we will continue our work to advance these values. And we will continue to let scholars around the world know this: No matter your country of origin, the color of your skin, your religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation or political leaning – you belong at the University of Kansas, and we value the contributions you make to our community. Read the full comment from Bernadette Gray-Little-KU here.
Kansas State University statement read in part “An initial count indicates Kansas State University has 63 students and three scholars from those countries. There are likely additional students, faculty and staff who hold green cards and might also be affected.
“K-State deeply values the contributions of our international family members and regrets the disruption this situation is causing in their lives,” said Richard Myers, KSU President. “As a public research university with global connections, we are concerned about the detrimental effects of this policy on those pursuing academic studies and research. Our immediate task is to explore ways to be supportive of the students and families impacted.” The full statement from KSU is here.
PEORIA, Ind. (AP) — Landry Shamet had 19 points and six assists, and Wichita State rolled to a 64-49 victory over Bradley on Sunday for its fourth straight double-digit win.
Conner Frankamp added 15 points and Markis McDuffie had nine points and 14 rebounds for Wichita State (19-4, 9-1 Missouri Valley), which remains a game back of conference-leader Illinois State. Shamet and Frankamp each made three 3-pointers.
Darrell Brown scored 18 points to lead Bradley (8-15, 3-7), which shot just 34 percent (19 of 56) and has lost its fifth straight.
Bradley led 29-24 early in the second half before the Shockers pulled away with a 27-9 run and led 51-38 with 7:40 to play. Shamet scored eight points, Frankamp added seven and Rashard Kelly chipped in five of his seven points, including a pair of dunks, during the stretch.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — For the second straight week, people searching for a missing Missouri woman have found a man’s body.
Relatives of Jessica Runions found the man’s body Saturday. Kansas City police say the discovery is being investigated as a suspicious death, but no details have been released.
The Kansas City Star reports that Runions’ relatives have been searching for the 21-year-old woman nearly every week since she went missing in early September.
Last week, they found a man’s decomposing body in a creek bed. He was later identified as a 21-year-old man also from Raytown reported missing in November. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Runions was last seen leaving a gathering of friends in south Kansas City. Her burned vehicle was found two days later in a nearby wooded area.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A large crowd has gathered at Kansas City International Airport to protest President Donald Trump’s suspension of refugee entry into the U.S.
The Kansas City Star reports that hundreds of people rallied at the airport on Sunday, with many chanting: “Say it loud, say it clear: Refugees are welcome here!”
Airport officials said they were aware of the protest but didn’t issue any further statement.
The President issued a statement on the executive order.
Trump’s executive order temporarily bars citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. The order has sparked protests around the country.
PRATT – Most anglers will keep good fishing spots close to their vests, but unfortunately for them, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism doesn’t. The 2017 Kansas Fishing Forecast is now available online, just in time for anglers to begin planning fishing trips for this spring. At ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Fishing-Forecast, anglers can discover where the best fishing will be for all sport fish, taking all the mystery out of deciding where to fish.
The forecast is a compilation of data district fisheries biologists gather throughout the year. Biologists sample fish populations using a variety of methods, including electroshocking, trap nets, and gill nets. Fish are measured and weighed before being released, and the data is compared to that from previous years’ sampling. Creel surveys may also be conducted to find out from anglers what they are catching and what they prefer to catch.
Once sampling data is entered, it is assembled into a format that anglers can use to determine where the best fishing will be for the species they enjoy fishing for. For example, if you like to catch big crappie and lot of them, you should visit John Redmond Reservoir this spring. The 9,400-acre reservoir near Burlington is tops in its category for white crappie. And it’s not only No. 1 in the Density Rating for crappie longer than 8 inches, it’s also near the top for numbers of crappie 10 inches long or longer, which is the Preferred Rating. However, John Redmond really stands above all other reservoirs in the Lunker Rating, which refers to crappie longer than 12 inches, considered trophy-class, or lunkers, to most anglers.
Because sampling methods differ, depending on the size of the water body, the forecast is separated into three groups – ponds (less than 10 acres), lakes (less than 10-1,200 acres) and reservoirs (larger than 1,200 acres).
The forecast rankings are based on numbers of fish within length categories caught per sampling effort, which could be “per hour of electroshocking” or per “gill or trap net set.” Each species has a different set of length categories. For largemouth bass, the Density Rating is based on the number of fish per sampling effort that measured longer than 12 inches. The Preferred Rating for largemouths is the number of fish longer than 15 inches, and the Lunker Rating for largemouths is the number of fish longer than 20 inches. Incidentally, the No. 1 reservoir for largemouths this year is Sebelius Reservoir. And while Sebelius ranks first in the Density Rating, it is second behind La Cygne Reservoir for Preferred Rating. And La Cygne is by far the No. 1 in the Lunker Rating.
The forecast also includes Biggest Fish, Biologist’s and Three-year Average ratings. The weight of the biggest fish sampled is included just to give anglers confidence that big fish are present and the Biologist’s Rating of excellent (E), good (G) or poor (P) allows for human input. Occasionally, the Biologist’s Rating may not agree with the numbers and this can happen when environmental conditions impact the sampling results. The Three-year Average Rating lets anglers see trends.
This year, the online forecast will include a new category: The “Whatever’s Biting” ranking will consider waters that provide good fishing for a variety of species. It is the brainchild of biologists who noted that when creel survey clerks ask anglers what they are fishing for, many answer “whatever’s biting.” Most anglers just want to catch fish, and they don’t care whether they are crappie, catfish or “whatever.” For ponds, the “Whatever’s Biting” rating considers numbers for largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. For Lakes, the rating is based on largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill and crappie. And for Reservoirs, the ratings consider largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, white bass and wipers. The new category will be available soon on the website, but here’s a sneak preview: the No. 1 “Whatever’s Biting” reservoir is Clinton; No. 1 for Lakes is Pleasanton West Lake; and for Ponds, No. 1 is Severy City Lake.
While you’re online, check out the 2017 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary to see all fishing regulations, as well as special length and creel limits. The 2017 Kansas Fishing Atlas, which includes maps showing all public fishing locations, as well as private waters enrolled in the F.I.S.H. program. And it won’t be long until the Weekly Fishing Reports will receive regular updates. Let www.ksoutdoors.com help you catch fish this spring.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. North northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
