When we talk about the importance of a free press, what we’re really talking about is how important it is for the press to serve as a watchdog on the government. The highest responsibility of journalism is to supply the people with information about what their government is doing, so that the people can hold the government accountable, and make the best possible decisions when they vote.

But if you’re not a journalist (full disclosure: I am not), you may not give a lot of thought to how journalists get that information in the first place. Official government press releases and briefings aren’t really the place to find information about government misconduct. Obviously, leaks are a much better source when it comes to getting the real dirt. But the recent emphasis on prosecuting leakers is likely to have a major chilling effect on that source of information.

But there is a way that journalists can get their hands on FBI records, secret military policy memos, and NSA email exchanges without having to worry about their sources getting arrested or fired.

They can ask the government for them.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that requires the government to hand over its records if someone asks for them. The act applies to federal government agencies, but every state has laws that allow the public to access its government records. Anyone can request information, whether they’re a U.S. citizen or foreign national. And anything can be requested.

A government agency can, of course, deny your request if it decides that the information you’re seeking falls into an exemption category, like information that would threaten national security, or invade someone’s privacy. But if you think your FOIA request was unfairly denied, you can appeal, and if that doesn’t work, you can sue.

Nabiha Syed, assistant general counsel for BuzzFeed, is intimately familiar with this process. A large part of her job involves getting government agencies to give up information that they would rather not share — information that often ends up being crucial to BuzzFeed’s reporting. She sees the right of the public to access government information as an exciting First Amendment frontier. “For the most part, the First Amendment says, ‘This is hands off, the government’s not going to be involved, you guys figure out speech,'” Syed says. “And then you have the First Amendment right of access, which says, ‘Yes, but also, we are going to allow you to use the law as a sword to get access to judicial proceedings, to official records…to administrative proceedings.'”

Requesting — or fighting for — government records is an instrumental part of BuzzFeed’s reporting strategy. Such records have allowed the BuzzFeed News team to report on misconduct in death penalty executions, for-profit foster care scandals, and the widespread abuse of seasonal migrant workers. Just last month, BuzzFeed News obtained a secret Department of Defense report that stated that Chelsea Manning’s disclosure of Iraq-related documents would be unlikely to have any impact on U.S. operations in Iraq (directly contradicting the government’s position at Manning’s trial).

To be sure, the system is far from perfect, as many information-seekers can attest. As Jason Fagone wrote in his article “The Secret to Getting Top-Secret Secrets,” “The Freedom of Information Act, passed in 1966 to increase trust in government by encouraging transparency, has always been a pain in the ass. You write to an uncaring bureaucracy, you wait for months or years only to be denied or redacted into oblivion, and even if you do get lucky and extract some useful information, the world has already moved on to other topics.”

But when it does work, the payoffs can be enormous. As Nabiha Syed says, “How do we at least inject the information we need into the commons, into the public square, to try and heighten the conversations we’re having? At least getting the underlying facts out there, in ways that are hopefully more authoritative than anecdotal, I think would be really helpful.”

Lata Nott is executive director of the First Amendment Center of the Newseum Institute. Contact her via email at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @LataNott.

Now that we’re more than halfway through the year and looking forward to a fall routine, it’s a great time to do a quick financial checkup! Taking some time to review your financial progress from the first half of the year can help you organize and prepare for the remaining months. Here are six simple steps for a mid-year financial checkup:

1. Review your New Year’s Resolutions. Did you make any financial resolutions to kick off 2017? Now is the perfect time to look back and see how you did. If you followed through, congrats! Set some new financial milestones to continue your streak. If you didn’t do too well, think about why you weren’t able to stick to your goal—was your budget too strict? Did you have some unexpected expenses? Set new goals that will help you stay on track.

2. Knuckle down on debts. If you have multiple debts you’re paying off, decide which one you want to aggressively pay off first. Choose either the one with the higher interest rate or the smallest balance—whichever will help you stay motivated!

3. Be prepared for emergencies. Saving and paying off debt at the same time can be challenging, but it’s totally doable! Tuck away some money each month into an emergency fund. We all face unexpected expenses at times—just make sure to refill your emergency fund if you have to use it. Start with a goal to save $1,000. Then, the next step is to save up enough for 3 months of expenses for a good emergency cushion.

4. Cut unnecessary expenses. When reviewing your expenses so far, if you notice a lot of unnecessary spending, it’s time to trim the fat. Can you cut back on discretionary expenses like eating out, shopping, extra travel costs? Are there some monthly bills you can reduce or live without? Why not save some of that extra cash instead?

5. Plan for holiday spending now. This may sound crazy, considering we’re still in the heat of summer, but planning ahead and saving a little extra for the holidays now will help keep you from incurring holiday debts later.

6. Don’t neglect your retirement fund. It’s never too early– or too late– to start planning for retirement. Does your employer offer a 401k plan? Take advantage of it! Many employers also match a percentage of your contributions. If a 401k isn’t an option, consider opening an individual retirement account.

If these six steps are a helpful reminder, maybe you’re ready for a more in-depth financial review. Ask for the Extension publication “How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup” at the Cottonwood Extension District- Hays Office, 785-628-9430, or find it online at www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2721.pdf. It can help you identify problems, chart progress, and provide motivation if changes are needed.

Linda K. Beech is Cottonwood District Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

I know all about common names. I have heard all the jokes, as had my father, a unique and remarkable man named Bob Smith.

Unfortunately, common names like ours are just one of many problems that will face Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in his new role as co-chair of President Trump’s Election Integrity Commission. Recall that in 2010, candidate Kobach publicly declared that he planned to remove Mr. Alfred K. Brewer from the Wichita voting rolls, because he had died. Brewer was surprised to hear this when journalists found him alive, raking leaves. The deceased was actually his father, Alfred K. Brewer Sr., who would have been 110 years old at the time.

Screening lists for suffixes like “Junior,” “Senior,” and “III” is not a foolproof procedure. For example, former President George W. Bush is not a “Junior” because he lacks one of his father’s two middle names. How about birthdays?

A few years ago, two political scientists studied Georgia’s voter rolls, only to discover numerous instances of two different people (and in a few cases, more than two) with the same matching first, middle, and last names and birthdays—including the year. Seem unlikely? Georgia has nearly five million registered voters, so even a one-in-a-million chance means there will be a few such cases—and with common names, the chances of a name and birthday match are considerably higher. If Kobach proceeds with his plans to amalgamate all states’ voting lists, it will add up to over 150 million voters. A dataset this large will generate many duplicates, and many more near-duplicates, even with no fraud at all.

The Commission’s project seems to be an extension of CrossCheck, a system Kobach developed in which several states compare election data to search for duplicates. Now he wants to take it national. Yet critics content that Kobach’s projects are really about voter caging, which refers to sending response-requested postcards to certain voters, then cancelling registrations if they do not reply. For most people, these mailers are easily confused with junk mail and discarded, never delivered by the Post Office, or put at the bottom of the to-do pile. Non-response does not mean a voter had moved or died, or that a registration is fraudulent. Also, caging is rarely done statewide, instead, it usually targets urban precincts with large minority populations. The National Voter Registration Act “motor voter” law of 1993 included a section that was supposed to sharply restrict caging, but it still happens.

Even when duplicates are truly duplicates, it probably is not voter fraud. Journalists recently discovered that President Trump’s daughter Tiffany, not to mention several members of his administration, are all registered to vote in multiple states. Once again, this is not fraud. States and counties are supposed to notify each other when a new voter registers, so that person can be removed from the rolls at the old residence. In practice, this rarely happens. State and county election offices are overwhelmed, understaffed, and underfunded. Meanwhile, voters are always moving, turning 18 and becoming eligible, or dying. What this proves is not fraud, but rather, the states’ and counties’ desperate need to update decrepit and underfunded voting offices with new staffing, procedures, and equipment.

Never fully funded, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2003 is now 14 years old, and new evidence keeps surfacing about the vulnerability of electronic voting machines to hackers. No wonder most voters prefer paper ballots.

If Trump, Kobach, and Congress are serious about protecting our elections, a fully-funded new HAVA, universal access to paper ballots, new security protocols, and better training and staffing will go a lot further than will this quixotic quest for voter fraud.

Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“A once-in-a-lifetime experience.” That phrase is often overused in our modern society, but it would apply literally to an upcoming event in Kansas: A total eclipse of the sun. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in Kansas was 99 years ago. In August, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible in northeast Kansas.

RELATED: Sternberg will host Hays eclipse viewing event.

Adrienne Korson is director of economic development for Doniphan County in the northeast corner of Kansas. Adrienne grew up in Indiana. While exploring colleges, she made the impulsive decision to take a road trip to Kansas. Here she found Benedictine College. “It was a perfect fit,” Adrienne said.

Adrienne graduated in economics and business management. She had gotten an internship with Doniphan County and then served as interim director of economic development. On April 1, 2016, she took the permanent position as director.

“The first thing I did was to completely redo the website,” Adrienne said. “We created enhanced business pages for businesses in Doniphan County so that they could enhance their web presence, and created links for all the towns in the county.”

One day, Adrienne got a call from a Kansas City Star reporter who asked about a future solar eclipse in the region. “It was the first I had heard of it,” Adrienne said. She did some research and got excited.

A solar eclipse takes place when the moon is in position to totally block the sun and provide a passing shadow over the earth. Such eclipses are not uncommon around the globe, but are not usually seen in Kansas.

Scientists reported that, on Aug. 21, 2017, a total eclipse of the sun would be visible in a narrow geographic band across central North America. The heart of that narrow band, where the eclipse lasts longest, is called the path of totality.

Adrienne realized that the path of totality went directly through Doniphan County. It was generating interest around the nation and beyond. In January 2017, Adrienne held a community meeting with a presentation by a Benedictine College professor who explained that this solar eclipse would be a rare and remarkable event.

“Being in the path of totality is like winning the lottery,” Adrienne said. “That was the key message from his presentation.”

The county mobilized to take advantage of this celestial opportunity. Using the motto “Eclipse in the Heartland,” a logo was developed. The Highland Community College graphics department did an online version.

Lots of events have been planned on the Sunday before and the Monday of the eclipse. Most events are held in the county seat of Troy, including a beer garden, live music and entertainment, hot dog eating contest, 5K run, and lots of vendors and food options. Organized events are also being held in Highland and Elwood, plus private viewing parties may happen in rural towns like Severance, population 94, and Leona, population 48 people. Now, that’s rural.

The eclipse lasts about three hours from start to finish, although the totally dark part is fairly brief. The partial eclipse is expected to start around 11:40 a.m. and the total eclipse at around 1:05 p.m. If the viewer is closer to the path of totality, then the total eclipse lasts longer.

“The total eclipse lasts about two minutes and 40 seconds,” Adrienne said. “We will see the eclipse for about two minutes and 38 seconds.” Viewers must wear eclipse glasses or welding helmets to prevent eye damage while viewing the sun, except during the total phase of the eclipse.

Atchison, Hiawatha and Marysville plus other northeast Kansas communities are planning watch events also. The Flint Hills Discovery Center is partnering with K-State and Highland Community College on a bus trip from Manhattan to the viewing area.

“I understand scientists from the Vatican are coming to Atchison,” Adrienne said. “This is a huge deal for our area.” For more information, see www.dpcountyks.com.

Once-in-a-lifetime. That phrase would literally apply to this northeast Kansas solar eclipse. We salute Adrienne Korson and all those involved for making a difference by building on this celestial phenomenon. It might be the experience of a lifetime.

Do you have a colleague, neighbor, or friend who is doing great work on climate and energy issues? Are you impressed with an organization or business working to advance clean energy? Do you stand in awe of someone whose work has changed Kansas for the better? Nominate them for a Climate + Energy Award!

In honor of the Climate + Energy Project’s TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY, we are launching the Climate + Energy Awards. CEP has been successful because of the many individuals and organizations across the state who believe in the power of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and community. Celebrate the good work in our state by nominating an individual or organization for one of these awards.

Climate + Energy Impact Award
A lifetime achievement award recognizing an individual whose work achieved positive, long-term, broad impacts in climate, energy, and environmental issues across the state.

Climate + Energy Project Sustainer Award
A volunteer-recognition award for an individual who has regularly engaged with CEP for at least five years.

Climate + Energy Changemaker Award
Recognition for an organization or individual whose recent (1-3 years) work has significantly advanced climate, energy, and/or environmental issues in Kansas.

Nominate those amazing Kansans today! Nominations close on August 30.

The fine print: Individuals may submit nominations for any or all of the award categories. Nominators must provide contact information for each nomination. Nominations are due on August 30. Please contact Rachel Myslivy at 785-764-2055 or [email protected] with any questions.

The non-profit Climate + Energy Project, based in Hutchinson, seeks to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in America’s Heartland through the ambitious deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy, in policy and practice.

My dermatologist recently shared with me a list of five ways to die on a golf course. The five ways include hit by a golf ball, run over by a golf cart, whacked by a golf club, struck by lightning and forgot your hat.

While none of these possibilities is pleasant to contemplate, the threat of skin cancer is real and should be considered carefully.

Every year one million new cases of skin cancer are detected, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. One out of five people in this country develops skin cancer during his/her lifetime.

Americans love vacations with their families – many of these trips include trips to the beach or outdoor amusement parks. Many others work for long hours in the sun during the summer months – farmers, ranchers, construction workers and amusement park attendants.

If you spend several hours in the sun, protect yourself. Avoid the midday sun if possible. Cover up. Always wear a hat. Work in the shade whenever possible. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. One person dies every hour from this disease in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Fortunately, melanoma can be completely cured if it’s caught early enough. Dermatologists advise us to examine our skin regularly.

If you find a blemish larger than a pencil eraser, multi-colored, asymmetrical or irregular at the edges, you may have melanoma and should see your dermatologist.

While we should protect ourselves from potential skin cancer, we should be every bit as aware of this danger for our children. Overexposure to sunlight during childhood will affect children for the rest of their lives.

Studies show that damage from the sun to a child’s skin can actually increase the odds that he or she will develop skin cancer as an adult.

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates 80 percent of a person’s total lifetime sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years.

Protect your children. Cover them up. Teach them to wear long-sleeved cotton shirts that breathe. Make sure they wear head protection at all times. Make wearing sunscreen part of the ritual for gearing up for the sun.

While skin cancer can kill you, it’s much more likely to disfigure you. Each year, thousands of Americans lose chunks of their skin to this disease. Some people lose their nose; others may lose their ears, while others may get off with only the loss of an eyebrow.

Examine your skin regularly, at least once a week. Look for warning signs.

If you find anything bleeding, crusting or not healing, see your dermatologist immediately. And if you want more information on how to identify skin cancer visit www.aad.org.

It’s all right to enjoy the sun and spend time outside. Remember these common-sense suggestions, have fun, and like everything else in life – enjoy the sun in moderation.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. 

Some may believe that “freedom of speech” means that anyone can say anything they please and expect others to listen. But speech has consequences, and we have every right to walk away from speakers who blab emotional nonsense. And a newspaper editor has every right to not publish rants that show little homework.

I was taught to communicate with dignity when I was recruited as a college freshman, pulled out of a beginning speech class and inserted into an advanced debate course—they needed one more student to fill the paired teams.

I returned from the first tournament with a low score. And my teacher gently coached me. We do not call the opponents “they.” Always address the substance of the question. Never attack the person. Never question the motives of the opposition. …And so on.

With each debate, I listened carefully and I never had to be told twice. And at the end of the semester, my partner and I took first place in the tournament.

That speech and debate teacher was Dr. Otis J. Aggertt. The lessons he taught us were about being respectful, being decent and compassionate human beings when we spoke and wrote. He helped us to understand that it was not enough to know what we meant when we spoke. What was most important was what the listener understood when they heard us. And if the listener did not understand what we meant, it was our burden as the speaker to re-word and speak again to be correctly understood.

This science of communication is important in everyday life as well. We have all seen two people arguing past each other, neither understanding the other person. They might actually agree, but their communication is poor because they do not speak accurately or stop to consider what the other person understands.
Indeed, this is the key skill of a teacher: precise and full communication. The teacher who explains a concept to a class may then find that some do not understand. But if they merely repeat the same explanation again, word for word—well, they are a lousy teacher.

Much later in life, I discovered that Professor Aggertt had actually codified a “Hippocratic Oath for Speakers” that paralleled Hippocrates’ oath for doctors. I already knew these principles because he had taught his speech students well. But in an era when much media violates the tenants of honest communication, I will reprint the last portion of this oath:

“…I will remember at all times the inherent dignity of humans, for that is more important than any other concern;

And I will strive when speaking publicly to be adequately informed, for I have no right to disseminate ignorance;

To think straight, for I have no right to promote confusion;

To be fully honest both in letter and spirit, and to be socially responsible;

As I bear in mind the welfare of those who may be affected by my speaking.”

Whether you are talking with a friend, teaching students, or are a government official addressing the public, it is a speaker’s responsibility to weigh words carefully so there is no misunderstanding.
This is why we have seen great communicators, such as President Reagan and President Obama, pause and hesitate as they carefully select the precise words to use so there would be no misunderstanding among listeners. They were not being “politically correct”—choosing “proper” words that appeal to political groups. They were being responsible. –Doing their homework so that they knew what they were talking about. –Carefully selecting words that would be correctly understood. –Being accurate. –Avoiding ambiguity.
There is a freedom of speech, but there is no freedom from consequences.

If a speaker disseminates ignorance, promotes confusion, is dishonest and disregards human dignity, we have the full freedom to walk away, and leave them alone to talk to themselves.

By JOHN P. TRETBAR

New numbers from Topeka last week show a dip in oil production in Kansas in April. The Kansas Geological Survey reports Kansas operators produced 2.97 million barrels of crude oil in April, down about 100,000 barrels from the March production total of 3.07 million barrels.

So far this year, through April, we’ve pulled just over 11.9 million barrels of crude from the ground statewide. Barton County produced 137,000 barrels in April, for a total through April of 560,000 barrels. Ellis County’s total was 856,000 barrels, after producing 210,000 barrels in April. Russell County produced 134,000 barrels for a total of 527,000 through April. Stafford County produced 86 thousand barrels, for a total through April of 346,000 barrels.

Baker Hughes reports 958 active rigs nationwide, an increase of two oil and six gas rigs. Canada has 220 active rigs this week, up 14. Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 13 active rigs in eastern Kansas, down one, and 23 west of Wichita, also down one. In Barton County they’re prepping to spud at one site and moving in completions tools at two more. Ellis County producers are moving in rotary tools at one site, and moving in completion tools at another.

Two years ago at this time, operators had filed 1,410 new drilling permits across Kansas. Then prices plunged, and last year by the end of July there were only 521 new permits. We’re doing slightly better this year at 799 permits year to date. There were 17 permits filed last week for drilling at new locations, five east of Wichita, and 12 in western Kansas including one in Barton County and one in Ellis County.

Independent Oil and Gas reported just one new well completion across Kansas last week, a wildcat play that produced a dry hole in Logan County. Producers have completed 741 wells so far this year. That’s better than last year’s 655, but well below the 2,655 well completions by the time in 2015.

The Bureau of Land Management is moving ahead with efforts to rescind an Obama-era rule regulating hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands. In its formal notice, the Interior Department said the Bureau is proposing to rescind the 2015 rule because they believe it is unnecessarily duplicative of state and tribal regulations, and imposes reporting requirements it called “burdensome,” and other costs on the oil and gas industry, which the bureau labeled “unjustified.”

Fuel exports from the United States are on track to hit another record this year. Last year, we sent a net 2.5 million barrels of petroleum products to foreign markets. Reuters reports that shale producers here have provided refiners with abundant and cheap domestic crude, giving them the raw material they need to produce internationally competitive fuel. Last year, the U.S. became the world’s top net exporter of fuel, a fundamental shift from the traditional U.S. role as a top importer and consumer.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian said delays in Senate confirmation have left the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission without a quorum. The state’s top energy regulator says the commission cannot approve or deny pipelines, and that, he says, is holding up jobs. Billions of dollars in new infrastructure are on the drawing board to tap growing production in West Texas and elsewhere. According to reporting by Houston Public Media, there are more than 40 pipeline plans that lack FERC approval, with some waiting for two years or more. Christian wrote to the state’s two senators telling them it’s “crucial” two nominees get confirmed before the August recess.

The Houston Chronicle is documenting a recurring problem in boom times. Drillers of all sizes have poured billions of dollars into the Permian Basin this year, rebuilding operations after a two-year bust. But for all the economic benefits of the industry’s high-paying jobs, the oil rush also is bankrolling an expanding market for illegal drugs. The spikes in drug seizures by the Texas Department of Public Safety are shown in the newspaper’s graphic to correlate directly with increases in the rig count in west Texas.

Voters in Spokane, Washington will decide in November whether the city should fine railroad operators for certain coal and crude oil rail shipments through its downtown core. The Spokane City Council voted Monday night to put the citizens’ initiative to voters rather than passing it. The city sees up to 19 oil trains a week. If approved by voters, the measure would make rail shipments of uncovered coal or highly flammable crude oil a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $261 per rail car.

Chevron Corp. agreed to pay a $1 million fine and to make about $20 million worth of safety improvements at a refinery in Richmond, California, settling a long-running dispute with regulators over penalties levied following a 2012 fire. The company agreed to go beyond state safety requirements. They agreed to replace all carbon-steel piping used to transport corrosive liquids with chrome-alloy piping, which is more corrosion-resistant. They also agreed to set up some innovative new procedures to monitor equipment and alert operators when piping should be replaced. The fire in 2012, which triggered a widespread shelter-in-place order, injured three Chevron employees and caused hundreds of residents to complain of respiratory problems.

As a dutiful lieutenant governor, Jeff Colyer has been a strong supporter of the policies and whims of Gov. Sam Brownback.

And now the question is, with Brownback likely off to serve President Donald Trump as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, just what a new governor wants to accomplish in the 2018 legislative session—and how that plays out politically for statewide office-seekers and members of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Practically, Brownback is gone. A former U.S. senator, he’s going to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the post, and Colyer becomes governor through the rite of succession.

No, Colyer hasn’t said whether he wants to stand for election to a full term as governor. Might, might not, probably will, but only Colyer knows for sure yet. There is already a primary election brewing for the GOP nomination for governor next year, and few are thinking that conservative Secretary of State Kris Kobach will demur to the guy who may need a couple months as the governor to decide whether he likes the job enough to want it for a full four-year term.

You’ll notice that last week no candidates for the GOP nomination have folded their campaigns.

And…Colyer will become governor with most of next year’s budget already appropriated, part of Brownback’s biennial budget program that makes the last year of that cycle basically tuning up what’s been appropriated. Oh, that last year of the two-year budget cycle that Colyer will have to fix shows about a $90 million shortfall, so he’s going to have to either think up some new revenue source or cut that amount from the upcoming fiscal year budget.

Now…that in itself will probably tell Statehouse insiders how popular Colyer will be. Last session, recall, with the state facing a $200 million-plus shortfall, Brownback essentially told the Legislature “just fix it.”  Brownback didn’t make any budget cuts that would have his fingerprints on them, instead apparently went to lunch, forcing the newly elected Legislature to make its own cuts that will splash back on legislators at next year’s elections, when they have to look good for constituents. Notable? Had Brownback made the unpopular budget cuts there would have been no political damage for him because he couldn’t run for reelection to a third (whew) term, anyway.

Oh, and there just might be a White House-style shakeup in Colyer’s cabinet. Some key Brownback supporters have already quit (Commerce Secretary Antonio Soave and Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Borchers) before Brownback’s nomination for the federal job, and this is the time of the season when current cabinet secretaries start thinking about what to do in the future.  Holding onto those cabinet secretaries is good, they know how to run things, if they are running things the way Colyer wants…

Yes, at least for those folks who spend their time in the Statehouse, or who depend on what happens here, there are going to be some changes coming up, some subtle, some maybe not, but the real angst the next month or two will be waiting to find out just what they’ll be.

Oh, and Democrats? They have lost the most powerful weapon that they can use to elect more House members and a new governor…Brownback. Even though he wouldn’t have been on the ballot next year anyway, the “Brownback supporter” bullet point likely comes off Democrats’ campaign materials about their opponents, and depending on how Colyer works with Democrats in the upcoming legislative session, the personality issue fades.

It’s going to be just a change in business cards for Colyer, but one with significant governmental and political consequence.

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

I try hard to color within the lines, not to run with scissors and overall just to keep my mouth shut. But sometimes I find myself posing the questions that everyone else wonders but is afraid to ask. Questions like “How do they get Teflon to stick to the skillets when they make them?” Or “Were there really flies and mosquitoes on the Ark, and if so, why?” and “Why do states feel the need to have state symbols like state bird, state tree, etc?”

Any Kansan worth their Wheaties knows that the Kansas state flower is the Sunflower, and the Kansas state bird is the Western Meadow Lark. Most Kansans know that the Kansas state tree is the Cottonwood and many probably know that the state animal is the American Buffalo (Bison.) But how many of you knew that we also have a state insect, a state reptile, and yes, even a state amphibian, plus two state fossils?

Sometime in the mid-1970s, Jeff Woods, a 7th grader attending Edgewood Elementary in Coffeyville, evidentially decided we as a state were incomplete without a state insect, and suggested we give the honeybee that distinction. Called “white man’s flies” by the Indians, honeybees are thought to have been brought from Europe by the pilgrims and soon inhabited the entire United States. I have to admit that if we felt the need to have a state insect, we could NOT have done better than the honeybee, because life as we know it might not exist without them. The state legislature has the final say in such important matters, and in 1976 the honeybee became the Kansas state insect.

In the mid-1980’s to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Kansas’s statehood, Larry Miller’s 6th grade class in Caldwell decided we also needed a state reptile and nominated the Ornate Box turtle for the job. The Ornate Box turtle is a dry land turtle which probably makes it the most visibly abundant turtle in Kansas. It’s found from the prairies in the west to the forests in the east. I have absolutely no idea what a state reptile has to do with celebrating our 125th anniversary as a state, but on April 14, 1986, Governor Carlin signed a bill designating the Ornate Box turtle as the Kansas state reptile.

In the spring of 1993, Alice Potts 2nd grade class at Wichita’s OK Elementary School was studying animals with backbones, which somehow triggered them as a class to begin a campaign to make the Barred Tiger Salamander our state amphibian. When Alice’s class contacted their legislators they were told it was too late to get a bill into the current legislative session and the project would have to wait a year. In the meantime, their zeal proved infectious and by the following school year the entire school plus parents was involved.

A trip to the statehouse by Alice and a handful of students got Senate Bill 494 written and passed in the Senate. However, the bill ran into a little trouble in the House; it seems some Representatives felt there were more important legislative matters (go figure!) Never fear though as Senator Mike Harris came to the rescue and attached the salamander bill to another to insure its passage (now what’s that called…oh yea; Pork!) On April 13, 1994 Governor Joan Finney signed the bill designating the Barred Tiger Salamander the Kansas state amphibian.

In 2014, Gov. Brownback signed a bill designating Tylosaurus, a giant marine predator, and Pteranodon, a giant, flying, cliff dweller as co-state fossils. Amazingly, Kansas geological deposits have provided the most complete skeletal remains of both of these critters ever to be found.

In honor of the process that salvaged the salamander bill, maybe the Kansas Wildlife and Parks should capture one and name him or her Porky. Or maybe the process of attaching legislative bills to other bills should now be known as “salamandering.” Anyway, please excuse my cynicism and my disregard for pomp and ceremony. I guess if even one person is made to feel better about our state by having these symbols, then so-be-it. And maybe this will get more people Exploring Kansas Outdoors looking for Barred Tiger Salamanders and Pteranodon fossils!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Growing vegetables and flowers on the high plains of Western Kansas requires eternal hope much like a child’s expectant, devoted belief in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Because we trust, we will harvest succulent, homegrown vegetables and fruits. Each spring gardeners across this region sift through garden magazines and seed catalogues or visit local garden shops with a gambler’s hope that this will be the year.

Eleven years after moving to our limestone hilltop, payday arrived. Yes, Virginia, that garden will produce a bonanza harvest.

Due to a combination of timely rains and chicken poop, we had a dream tomato harvest–this despite hail that totaled our roof and left tender tomato plants shattered and broken. Despite the setback, vines began producing at the end of July, only a bit later than they might have without Mother Nature’s challenges. Produce was an understatement. The plants burgeoned with softball-sized fruits that tasted like captured sunbeams and covered chins and necks with flavorful juice.

That led to a dilemma. We had a small, raise-bed plot due to our topsoil- challenged circumstances. Based on past plantings, I’d left plenty of room between seedlings so they could stretch, grow, and still leave space to harvest ripe tomatoes.

That year’s timely, ample rains and the perfect addition of cured chicken droppings inspired legendary vine growth. The intertwining plants were over three and half high by three and a half feet wide. That’s a minimal estimation since it’s hard to tell how tall the plants might be if they weren’t weighed down by humongous orbs. I couldn’t get through that green jungle without playing a contortionist game.

My visiting mother explored the maze and discovered scores of ready- to-pick tomatoes. Other than the fun of digging hills of potatoes, I don’t think there’s much my mom likes better than finding every ripe tomato on eight very crowded, over-grown plants. She turned into a tomato General Patton as she stood outside the fenced garden and directed the placement of my feet and hands so I could pluck every mature fruit she’d spied.

“More to the left, down a few more inches, don’t step too hard with your right foot, stretch, can’t you see it, oh look, there’s a great big one on the other side of that plant, watch out, you’re bending that branch, oh can you get all four of those and pass them to me….”

I decided I was playing garden “Twister.” My limbs knotted so I barely kept my balance. However, in the real Hasbro game, you don’t have to worry about destroying producing tomato plants. The worst you can do is bruise a fellow player or black an eye.

By the time I followed all Mom’s directions, we’d filled a five-gallon bucket two days in a row. Taking our harvested trophies into the house, we rinsed, blanched, peeled, and quartered them until I had six large freezer bags of ready-to-turn-into-salsa frozen tomatoes. I had to recover from that spine-twisting garden game before I could lift the jar-filled canner from the hot stove.

Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.

I celebrated a birthday this week. It was another of those milestones which cause us to pause and reflect on growing older.

The good news is that life does not have to diminish with age. In fact, research with 100-year-olds shows how the acceptance of aging can be positive, joyful, and exciting. They demonstrate that aging brings new experiences, knowledge, wisdom, and a greater ability to engineer a positive approach to the aging process. Many centenarians contribute their longevity to the following keys to embracing aging:

1. Positive Attitude- A positive attitude affects overall happiness, health, and well-being. A positive attitude can also help you better manage life’s transitions and challenges.

2. Eating Smart and Healthy- Eating a well-balanced diet can help prevent illness and chronic disease. It can also provide you with more energy so you can be alert and a better decision-maker.

3. Physical Activity- Regular exercise is associated with decreased death and disability from diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. It is also associated with positive psychological benefits. The most important thing to remember about exercise is to do it. Make exercise a habit.

4. Brain Activity- A healthy brain is crucial to survival, growth, and everyday successes. Similar to the rest of the body, the brain needs exercise and maintenance to optimize and protect its current and future health.

5. Social Activity- Engaged people are often healthier, happier, less depressed, and demonstrate enhanced brain vitality. Social activity also inspires a positive attitude, enhances self-esteem, connects you to family and peers, and reduces the risk of illnesses and disease.

6. Tuning-in to the Times- Staying in tune to the times throughout life promotes lifelong learning, which increases knowledge, problem-solving skills, and decision-making. Staying on top of the latest technology and keeping up with the news also enhances brain stimulation and helps broaden social opportunities and networks.

7. Safety- Practicing safety is important because it helps keep you out of harm’s way. From locking doors to learning how to prevent falls, it is important to be safe in the various realms of life including home, transportation, health, recreation, and emergency preparedness.

8. Know Your Health Numbers- Certain health numbers can save and extend your life. These numbers are associated with cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. A lifestyle including regular visits to a health-care provider, proper nutrition, and physical activity improves these numbers and contributes to healthy aging throughout the lifespan.

9. Stress Management- Appropriate stress is healthy and useful, but when stress overwhelms you, it can become distress, causing anxiety, tension, irritability, and a number of health problems. Learning what causes stress and how to manage it in positive ways helps you cope and live a more balanced, healthy life.

10. Financial Affairs- Good financial management is important whether you earn minimum wage or are a millionaire. The first step to healthy financial management is balancing income with expenses. With a money management and spending plan in place, you are more likely to meet your financial goals.

11. Sleep- Sleep has a major impact on overall health and quality of life, including the way you look, feel, and perform on a daily basis. Bodies need sleep to repair muscles, consolidate memories, and regulate hormones and appetite. When you sleep well, you wake up feeling refreshed and alert for daily activities

12. Taking Time for You- Taking time for yourself makes you a better family member, friend, co-worker, caregiver, or leader. Even if it is just for 10 minutes a day, a time out is good for your mind, body, and soul.

Since there is no magic potion to stop the aging process, it is important to take care of your body, mind, and spirit throughout your whole life. These 12 keys, and attention to healthy behaviors, encourage optimal aging throughout the life span.

More information is available in a series of twelve new publications from K-State Research and Extension. Contact the local Extension Office for the “Keys to Embracing Aging” series or find them at www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu.

Linda K. Beech is Cottonwood District Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.