The National Weather Service in Goodland reported today at least five monitoring stations recorded temperatures below zero Tuesday morning.
Colby and Norton each dipped to 3 degrees below, and stations in Russell Springs, northeast of Goodland and Oberlin all saw lows below zero.
The K-State Ag Research Center also reported a new overnight record low for Hays, with a low of 1 degree recorded. Russell also dropped to a record low of 3 degrees overnight.
After a bitter cold snap, the mercury is expected to rise through the rest of the week, with a high of 45 predicted Tuesday. By the weekend, the NWS in Dodge City is expecting temperatures in the Hays area to reach into the low- to mid-60s.
MANHATTAN — Millennials get blamed for killing off sports, drinks and entire industries. Those millennials — and their Gen Z successors — have also given rise to a new word: adulting.
Aging folks from the baby boom or Generation X enjoy ridiculing today’s college students when those younger people can’t change a tire or wash their clothes without turning to Mom or Dad.
But educators say students privileged enough to go to college and who somehow avoided learning when to change their oil also grew up under a mountain of academic pressure. All that drilling for college entrance exams and robust GPAs left them book-smart — and less life-savvy.
So Kansas State University and other colleges have turned to adulting workshops. The noncredit classes aim to teach students the practical skills that don’t come up in ordinary classrooms.
Mental health advocates hope the workshops can also temper the stress caused by academic pressure and a lack of knowhow about living beyond the reach of hovering parents.
Curbing home economics
Adulting lessons used to go by another well-known name: home economics. Those classes taught cooking, sewing, budgeting and other practical skills.
But long before adulting classes took over, home economics got rebranded. To shred the house-wife-in-training sensibility, many of the classes were relabeled as “family and consumer science” in the 1990s.
“It’s not considered to be a core area, and so it’s easier to say, ‘maybe we don’t need this,’” said Duane Whitbeck, the chair of Family and Consumer Sciences at Pittsburg State University.
That emphasis on a limited number of subjects and the pressure to perform well in them has left today’s college students feeling unready for challenges not found on a Scantron test.
“I feel like I was ill-prepared for life in general,” said Ashley Fox, a K-State student.
Enter adulting
Some colleges want to fill in those missing life skills with free, noncredit workshops they often call “Adulting 101.”
K-State offers a series of workshops. The school’s lessons include car maintenance, food safety and conflict resolution for dealing with that roommate who expects you to do all the toilet scrubbing.
Student dietitians at Kansas State University lead an adulting workshop on food safety. Credit Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service
Students working with the university’s health center organized the workshops. They were interested because they felt they had few other opportunities to pick up these skills.
“We don’t have classes on how to change a tire at school,” said Frankie Skinner, a student at K-State who helped create the adulting workshops. “We lack knowledge of just basic adulting.”
Adulting 101: more than Home Economics 2.0
Educators hope even a lesson on oil changes does more than teach students about car maintenance. They’re trying to build sturdier adults in the context of what they describe as a mental health crisis.
Mental health treatment for college students went from 19% to 34%between 2007 and 2017. Students and educators point to an unprecedented amount of academic expectations leaving students exhausted and stressed.
“In high school, I felt really pressured to take a lot of college classes to succeed because there was a huge race for valedictorian and being top of the class,” said K-State student Anna Traynham. “No matter how high your GPA was … everybody was still stressed. … You had to be perfect all the time.”
While academic pressure is believed to play a big part in stressing out students, evidence suggests it’s not just high-achieving students feeling the anxiety.
Mental health advocates believe adulting classes can help in two ways: The first is simply preparing already-overwhelmed students to deal with life’s pitfalls. A flat tire is less stressful when you know where to find the tire iron.
“These basic problem-solving life skills are being brushed under the rug,” said Megan Katt, a health educator at K-State. “Instead, we’re just drilling all this academic work into their head.”
The second idea deals with another word that’s become popular on campus — resilience.
That ability to bounce back from challenges can mean the difference between working through a stressful event and spiraling into a breakdown.
And educators believe today’s students are less resilient than previous generations.
“When we’re not given the tools to solve problems, we are not able to be resilient,” said Megan Katt, who helped create the K-state’s adulting workshops.
Mental health advocates say there are merits to both adulting and workshops specifically aimed at building resiliency.
But Laura Horne, chief program officer at the mental advocacy organization Active Minds, warns that these are just short-term solutions. Addressing the college mental health crisis takes changing the culture of campus so that more staff and students feel comfortable talking about mental health issues.
“It’s a long game,” Horne said. “This is really difficult work to do, but it is … worth doing.”
Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveBisaha or email him at [email protected]. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.
Shelley Owens of Topeka, right, attended a protest of the Kansas foster care system Saturday, saying her three grandchildren were arbitrarily taken from her. She said the agency has traumatized the children and her family. EVERT NELSON / TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Parents of kids who are in the Kansas foster care system described it Saturday as chaotic, deceptive and traumatizing to children.
About two dozen people rallied on the steps of the statehouse in Topeka, calling on lawmakers to bring more accountability to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, an agency long under fire for losing kids and housing them in offices.
Shelley Owens of Topeka came to the protest hoping to find help for her three grandchildren, who were taken from her and her husband recently without warning. The children, ages 1, 2 and 10, were placed in Kansas City, Kansas, but Owens said she rarely sees them because of DCF’s “miscommunication, abuse of power and lies.”
“It’s been traumatic,” Owens said. “They said they’d help us but they have lied to us from the beginning.”
The protest was organized by parents after a series of stories by KCUR and the Topeka Capital-Journal brought to light the dramatic increase in children added to the state foster care system after former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback reduced aid for poverty programs.
About two dozen people turned out to the Kansas statehouse on Saturday to protest the state’s foster care system. CREDIT EVERT NELSON / TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Asked for comment about the protest, DCF spokesman Mike Deines said the agency “continues to focus on our efforts to strengthen the system and work with our partners to develop effective supports for youth and families.”
Kansas faces a lawsuit filed by Kansas Appleseed, Children Rights and the National Center for Youth Law alleging civil rights violations. The state’s 7,500 foster children are often moved anywhere from 30 to 100 times, forcing them to “couch surf” or to stay unsupervised in “kid’s zones” in contractors’ offices, said Christina Ostmeyer of Kansas Appleseed.
“Bad things happen to these kids while they are in the state’s custody,” she said. “We are ripping childhood from these children who are in our state’s custody.”
Protesters said they will next meet inside the statehouse in January when lawmakers are in session. They also called on Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, to make systematic changes to the foster care system, reminding her that she had said it was one of her top priorities.
Last month’s joint investigation found that the volume of children in the Kansas foster care system swelled from 5,214 in fiscal year 2011 when Brownback took office, to 7,484 in July, a 43.5% increase. The rate of runaways surged as the growing number of kids in foster care overwhelmed child placement contractors. The joint investigation also revealed that at least 13 girls had run away from foster care and got trapped in sex trafficking.
Parents on Saturday recounted long stories of problems with DCF and its two private foster care providers, KVC Kansas and St. Francis Community Services. Heidi Beal, a Butler County woman who said she advocates for families who have lost custody of their children, said the system doesn’t need more money.
“What they need to do is stop throwing a broad net and pulling children into the system who do not need to be in the system,” she said.
Women involved in agriculture are invited to “Surviving to Thriving: Care for Yourself to Care for the Farm – Women in Ag Workshop,” scheduled for Monday, Dec. 9., at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays, 1232 240th Ave.
Registration and supper begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Will Stutterheim with Fort Hays State University’s Kelly Center will talk about his experiences with the farm crisis and mental health. Kaley Conner with High Plains Mental Health will give some tips on nurturing your mental health, and Berny Unruh with Cottonwood Extension will discuss healthy eating for the busy farm family. Meagan Cramer with Kansas Farm Bureau will finish out the evening sharing some organizational tips on bullet journaling: organizing your brain.
RSVP by Dec. 4 to the Ellis County Conservation District at (785) 628-3081, Ext. 3. A $5 fee for the meal can be payable in advance to the Conservation District at 2715 Canterbury, or at the event. If you do not RSVP, a meal cannot be guaranteed.
This workshop is sponsored by Ellis County Farm Bureau, Ellis County Conservation District, Farm Service Agency, High Plains Mental Health, Cottonwood Extension and NRCS.
Betty Louise Schneider, 92, passed away November 9th at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley. Betty was born on April 29th, 1927 to Earl and Florence Messinger, of rural Abilene. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1945 and upon graduation she went to Washington, D.C. and worked as a secretary for the Dept. of the Marines.
She married Jack Schneider, of Abilene, KS, on July 28th, 1946 upon his arrival home from Naval military service in the South Pacific. Most of their 60 years of marriage was spent in Luray, KS. Betty worked along-side her husband in their farming and a swine production operation. She was known for her passion to create a beautiful landscape around their home. Betty was widowed in 2007. In 2017, following her 90th birthday, Betty moved to Oakley, KS to live closer to family.
She is survived by sons, David Schneider (Harriet), of DeWitt NE, Martin Schneider (Marcia), of Abilene, KS, daughter Becky Dorman (Chris), of Oakley, KS; 9 grandchildren, Julie Pell (Terry,) of Lincoln, NE, Sara Meier (Kevin) of Roca, NE, Dr. Rachel Stearnes (Dave) of Omaha, NE, Dr. Nate Schneider of Omaha, NE, Laura Wiksten (Ryan) of Andover, KS, Michael Schneider (Jennifer) of Wamego, KS, Melissa Jones (Cory) of Paris, TX, Erica Burnett (Paul) of Tulsa, OK and Matt Dorman (Rachael) of Lucas, KS; twenty six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband and two sisters, Marion Dolton, of Abilene, KS and Jean McArthur, of Salina, KS.
Betty requested cremation. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30th at 2 PM at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 320 N. Cedar, Abilene, KS and Private Inurnment will follow at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Osborne, KS or Logan County Hospital, Oakley, KS, sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
SHERMAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 5 p.m. Monday in Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Freightliner semi driven by Craig K. Busse, 38, Bird City, was northbound on County Road 28 one mile east and 13 miles north of Edson.
The driver lost control of the semi as he was attempting to maneuver a curve to the right and overturned. EMS transported Busse to the hospital in Goodland. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Barbara Jean Nolte, 76, passed away Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born July 31, 1943, in Great Bend, the daughter of Armin F. and Isabelle (Karst) Deutsch. She was united in marriage to Roy Nolte on November 21, 1965, in Hoisington.
Barbara was a lifetime resident of Hoisington and Susank area. She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church and the LWML. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include husband Roy of the home; son Gary Nolte and wife Christina of Wamego; two daughters Christy Henry and husband Kris of Gardner and Cindy Wilborn and husband Brian of Hoisington; mother Isabelle Deutsch Dumler of Hoisington; brother Mel Deutsch and wife Diana of Lawrence; sister Jolene Hindman and husband Paul of Claflin; eight grandchildren Hannah (Colton) Lagerman, Madison, Nolan Wilborn, Tyler and Marly Henry, Charlie, Isabelle, and Jack Nolte, She was preceded in death by her father Armin Deutsch and brother Ronald Deutsch.
Visitation will be Wednesday, November 13, 2019 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm with family present 6-7 pm with prayer service at 7:00 pm, at Nicholson-Rick Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:30 am Thursday November 14, 2019, at Concordia Lutheran Church with Rev Gary Wolf officiating. Burial will follow at St John Lutheran Cemetery in Susank.
Memorials have been established with Concordia Lutheran Church or The Lutheran Hour, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Po Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.
TOPEKA— A Kansas felon involved in a chase and fatal crash November 7 in Topeka is out of the hospital and in jail facing a murder charge.
Brandon Jordan, 48, was booked Sunday and is being held on a $500,000 bond in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, interference with law enforcement, obstruction, failure to yield at a stop sign, flee or attempt to elude. He is also being held on charges of forgery and a probation violation, according to online records.
Jordan was driving a 2003 Acura TL linked to a bad-check cashing case and caused a deadly crash while trying to get away from a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.
The chase westbound on Holly Lane in Topeka lasted only a couple seconds, according to the KHP.
Jordan ran a stop sign and crashed into a 2016 Ford Explorer driven by Dennis E. Affolter, 69, Topeka. EMS transported Affolter to Stormont Vail where he died.
Jordan has 19 previous convictions that include forgery, burglary, theft, obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Well, we gotta wonder, besides getting that prom date you hoped for, what is better than having $510 million more to spend in the upcoming legislative session than you thought you’d have when you left Topeka last summer?
Hmmm…not sure…
The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, as we predicted last week, boosted the state revenue estimate. And now that the state’s budget experts and three university economists have released their estimate—it is $510 million in increased tax revenues for the remainder of this fiscal year and next—we’ll see how good this gets.
Already, we know that about $65 million of that new, or, rather, predicted new money is already spent even before the Legislature convenes. That’s the estimate of how much more the state is going to have to spend this year and next on social services for the state’s poor to provide the services that they get now. That estimate just came in a day before the revenue estimate. Think welfare, foster care, and health care for the state’s poor. Not flashy, not anything that’s going to be a big campaign issue, but a necessary state expenditure from that $510 million.
So, we’re at about $445 million in new spendable cash for the governor and legislators to scrap over.
The unsexy way to use that money? Rebuild the staffing shortages in state agencies that provide Kansans services. Pump more into K-12 education and produce a more valuable workforce for the state. Keep some balance in the State General Fund in case something unexpected happens.
But will that happen? That’s where the fight starts.
Remember, last year Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a massive tax-cut bill the Legislature sent her that would have fit into that $445 million with a little room to stretch. Remember? Of course, we didn’t know how much money would be available when she vetoed the bill. Republican legislative leaders essentially said don’t worry, it’ll work out. Well, it did, but we just didn’t know that last year.
So, this upcoming session?
There are several balls in the air. Kelly wants stable finances while she’s in the driver’s seat. Who wants to be captain of a sinking ship—especially because in just three years, she may want to be re-elected?
For the Legislature? That’s where it gets interesting.
Republicans in both chambers basically want sizable tax cuts to help them get re-elected and have lobbyists buy them drinks and meals for the next two years (House) and four years (Senate). They’ll leave it to Kelly to figure out how to keep the state running in the years leading to her re-election.
Besides the tax cuts/fiscal stabilization scrap, it’s also a chance to load up a tax-cut bill that Kelly might feel she has to veto. Who, even Democrats, wants to vote to sustain a veto of a tax-cut bill in an election year?
Oh, and that GOP tax-cut bill can be made very attractive to Democrats. Think a two percent cut in the sales tax on food. Biggest cut ever considered on a Democrat- and maybe even some Republican-hated tax that the state can, with its new revenue estimate, probably afford.
See the squeeze here? It’s Republicans finding a lever that puts an election-year veto-proof vest on big tax cuts. It might force Democrats to hold their noses and vote for de-coupling of state income tax deductions from the federal standard deduction, worth about $60 million to the more prosperous and likely Republican Kansas income tax filers.
The Consensus Revenue Estimate has handed Republicans a political baseball bat. Had the estimate shown no increase in revenues, or just a small increase, the upcoming legislative session would be dull.
It’s starting to sound like a prom date now, isn’t it…?
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
INDIANAPOLIS – The Fort Hays State men’s cross country team will compete in the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships after earning an at-large bid, announced Monday (Nov. 11) by the NCAA. The Tigers will compete against 33 other schools for a national title on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Sacramento, Calif. The 10-kilometer championship race is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. CT (11:15 a.m. PT) from the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.
It is the Tigers’ fifth trip to the national meet since joining the NCAA in 1991, and their first appearance since 2002. Fort Hays State was one of five teams from the Central Region selected after finishing fourth at the regional championships over the weekend.
In Fort Hays State’s four previous trips to the national meet, the Tigers have placed 13th in 1994, 10th in 1997, 21st in 2001 and 10th in 2002.
Fort Hays State last sent a team to the national meet in 2016 when the women’s team qualified for the third time in team history.
The men were last represented in the National Championships in 2015 when Corey Keehn qualified as an individual for the third time in his career. Keehn earned All-America honors as a senior in 2015 after a 13th-place finish.
The National Weather Service in Goodland reported today at least five monitoring stations recorded temperatures below zero Tuesday morning.
