In the dim light of evening from our windows in the custom-built blind, we could see thousands of tall, grayish-white birds forming groups on the far river bank about 200 yards away. Their raspy calls, somewhere between a croak and a purr, saturated the evening air and could easily be heard a couple miles away.

They continued accumulating on the bank until it was almost too dark to see them as they began moving to the safety of the shallow water and the sandbars in the river to spend the night. This was the annual marvel known as the Sandhill Crane Migration along the Platte River near Grand Island, Nebraska.
The organization called the Crane Trust was formed in 1978, resulting from a lawsuit to halt construction of the proposed Gray Rocks Dam on the Laramie River in Wyoming, a tributary of the North Platte River that flows the length of Nebraska.

Both Kansas and Nebraska are smack-dab in the middle of the Central Flyway used by millions of geese, ducks and sandhill cranes as well as the endangered whooping cranes and dozens of other migratory bird species. The Crane Trust’s mission is to protect and maintain habitat along what’s known as the Big Bend area of the Platte River, from Lexington, NE to Chapman, NE. The Crane Trust currently owns or manages over 12,000 acres along a 7 mile stretch of the river near Grand Island.

This area of the Platte River provides the perfect environment for sandhill cranes to rest, refuel and find mates as they travel from their wintering grounds in Mexico to breeding grounds as far north as Siberia. Although the whole affair is slightly later this year because of erratic and unusual March weather, upwards of 650, 000 sandhill cranes will stop along this stretch of the Platte River for a few days each March, making this easily the largest single migration in North America and rivaling the wildebeest migration in Africa.

The cranes leave Mexico in family groups and can travel more than 500 miles a day before congregating en masse along the big bend area of the Platte. Brice Krohn, President of the Crane Trust, told us that even in the midst of thousands of other cranes, the birds can actually still keep track of family members through unique sounds they make. This stretch of the Platte River is wide and shallow with myriads of sand bars, providing safety and security for the cranes for the night. Corn is king throughout this part of Nebraska, and corn left on the ground in harvested fields provides the perfect nutrition for the birds to refuel and build body mass for the rest of the flight and as they search for mates.

Both Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes join in the same migration. Adult Greater’s are about 4 feet tall, weight 7 – 11 pounds and have 6 1/2 foot wingspans; Lesser’s are slightly smaller. They are a sort of dirty grayish-white color with dark wing tips, bright red head crests and long beaks, much like our Blue Herons, and it’s nearly impossible to tell males and females apart. The females lay 2 eggs each year and family groups usually remain together for 3 years. Also like our herons, Sandhill Cranes don’t float or swim, but are wading birds.

The following morning we entered the blinds in the dark, and even though we couldn’t see the birds at all, their distinctive, raspy calls still permeated the darkness for miles around. The Platte River was high due to the recent floods, so many of the usually exposed expanses of sand were under a few inches of water. However, the rising sun revealed the few dry sandbars to be teeming with cranes standing shoulder-to-shoulder occupying every available inch of real estate; our guide estimated there were probably 20,000 within our eyesight.

As the day awoke around us, the morning show began. There were constantly cranes in the air, moving from group-to-group or moving to the shore to forage. When a bald eagle flew into view, every crane went on high alert, and the soothing, raspy calls became noticeably intense until the eagle settled high in a tree. Unmated adults put on their best moves to vie for each other’s attention and affection. They bowed and curtsied, they fluttered into the air then floated back down, they bobbed and parried, all in the name of attracting the perfect suitor and lifelong mate.

The sunrise over the bubbling waters of the Platte River became the perfect ending to our time with the cranes. Watching the Sandhill Crane migration with the personable, knowledgeable guides from the Crane Trust is an experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Contact them at www.cranetrust.org to reserve your spots for next year. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Kansas crude-oil production last year dipped to its lowest level since 2005. Kansas producers pumped 2.75 million barrels in December for a yearly total of just 34.7 million barrels, according to the latest numbers from the Kansas Geological Survey. That’s down 1.1 million barrels from last year’s total, marking the third consecutive annual decline. A stark price plunge two years ago led to production declines across the country. Kansas has been slower than some other states in resuming the large production totals reported during times of higher prices.

Ellis County was the top crude oil producing county in Kansas last year with just over 2.6 million barrels. That’s the lowest total in the county in nearly twenty years. The 2018 total for Barton County was just shy of 1.7 million barrels. You have to go back to 2006 to find a lower annual total. We’ve seen steady production declines over the last several years in Russell and Stafford counties. Both counties dipped to the lowest annual total to be found in records published by the KGS dating back to 1970. Russell County operators produced just over 1.5 million barrels last year, while Stafford County added just over one million.

Baker Hughes reports a big drop in its weekly rotary rig count. The total nationwide was 1,006, which is down eight oil rigs and two seeking natural gas. The count in Texas was down one, Colorado was down four, Alaska dropped by three and California was down two rigs. Canada reported 88 active rigs, which is down 17.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported a slight dip in the rig count in Kansas. The total east of Wichita was unchanged at four. There were 24 rigs in Western Kansas that were relocating, moving in, rigging up or drilling. That’s down two for the week. Independent reported 134 stacked rigs, up three from the week before.

Operators filed 24 permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas last week, 195 so far this year. There were 12 in eastern Kansas and 12 west of Wichita.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 19 newly-completed wells for the week across the state, including one in Russell County and one in Stafford County. Out of 15 completions west of Wichita last week, five were dry holes. There were six completions in eastern Kansas.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration last week reported an increase in domestic crude oil inventories of 2.8 million barrels. At 442.3 million barrels, stockpiles are about 2% below the five year average for this time of year.

The government reported another record for U.S. crude oil production for the week. The total is approximately 12.089 million barrels per day, an increase of about five thousand barrels per day from last week’s record, and one point six million barrels per day more than last year at this time.

Imports averaged six point five million barrels per day last week, down by 392,000 barrels per day from the previous week. EIA reports that over the past four weeks, imports averaged about 6.8 million barrels per day, 11.7% less than the same four-week period last year.

A House panel in Florida gave its okay to a ban on two forms of hydraulic fracturing on Tuesday, but the bill would continue to allow a completion process known as matrix acidizing. Only New York, Vermont and Maryland have enacted total bans on fracking, which uses high-pressure liquids to create cracks in underground rock, allowing pockets of oil and gas to flow freely. Most oil and natural gas in Florida is produced in the northwest and southern parts of the state. Production peaked at 47 million barrels in 1978 but has since dropped to 2 million barrels in 2017, according to a Senate staff analysis. As of last year, there were 57 active wells in the state.

As lawmakers in Colorado contemplate new regulations on the oil and gas industry, the industry is fighting back with some impressive numbers. According to a new trade group report, in 2017 the Colorado patch and its employees paid almost $1 billion in state and local taxes, employed about 30,000 people, created about 51,000 additional jobs, and added about thirteen point five billion dollars ($13.5 billion) to Colorado’s gross domestic product.

The oil and gas industry in Texas posted more than 15-thousand new job listings last year, according to another trade group report. The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association reported crude extraction led the way with nearly four-thousand new help-wanted ads in 2018. Houston posted the most new open positions, followed by Midland and San Antonio.

Hello from Topeka!

The issue of oversized loads on Highway 383 is one that was addressed last week. At the time I am writing this column, there is no new information on routes, changes or progress of the expansion of shoulder lanes on 383. We have been working with KDOT on finding solutions and hopefully will see some resolve very soon.

This is the final week of the 2019 legislative session.

While there hasn’t been a number of bills passed by both chambers and sent to the Governor, one of the bigger ones was her veto of SB 22 which passed the House and Senate 76-42, and 24-16.

SB 22 would actively prevent a tax increase on Kansans and small businesses. Without this bill, middle-income tax filers would no longer be able to itemize at the state level, triggering a higher state income tax liability for those families. In addition, Kansas companies would be subjected to additional taxes at the state level, making Kansas a more expensive state for business to operate in.

During Governor Kelly’s press conference announcing her veto, she admitted her actions would be damaging to businesses in our state and stated, “the corporations will feel it—the impact of the veto….”. If the veto is not overridden, the food sales tax rate in Kansas will continue to be one of the highest rates in the nation and will not decrease. Lastly, out-of-state businesses will keep the upper hand on Kansas brick and mortar stores due to the sales tax loophole on internet sales. In response to the “windfall” from the federal government, the provisions in this bill are commonsense and have passed in “red” states and “blue” states alike, from Texas to California. Because the bill is a Senate Bill, the Senate has the opportunity to consider the Governor’s veto first. This is the first bill Governor Kelly has vetoed. We will see if the votes are there. I supported SB 22, while recognizing the needs of the state are many, this is an ill-gotten gain by the state.

Last week, the House voted 99-25 to approve the Appropriations bill. Then on Wednesday afternoon, leadership of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committee began conference committee negotiations to work out differences in budget bills passed in each chamber.
Documents related to the conference committee are on the KLRD website.

On Monday, the House considered H. Sub. for SB 25. The bill is a combination of the Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State’s recommendations (SB 25, as introduced), the Governor’s Supplemental Appropriations for FY 19 (HB 2121), and the Governor’s Mega Appropriations for FY 20 (HB 2122) bills.

Key highlights of the bill are:

FY 19 recommendation totals $17.2 billion, with $7.1 billion from the State General Fund (SGF). Recommendations include:
• $2.2 million SGF for the KanCare Clearinghouse to address eligibility and backlog concerns; $452,516 SGF for the Family First Prevention Act, which will draw down Federal fund and $400,000 for additional child welfare positions in the Department of Children and Families. Both support efforts to improve the foster care system in Kansas.
• The bill did not follow the Governor’s recommendation on the Pooled Money Investment Board, which would have paid off the interest-free loan in its entirety. The bill accelerates the repayments to four years, rather than the six in current law. Additionally, the bill does not follow the Governor’s recommendation on the KPERS Trust Fund. The Governor had eliminated transferring $56.0 million SGF to the KPERS Trust Fund. The bill restores that planned transfer.

FY 20 recommendations total $18.2 billion, with $7.7 billion from the SGF. Recommendations include:
• State Employee Pay Increases: $22.3 million for 2.5% pay increase for state employees (excluding Judicial and Legislative Branch); $1.6 million for judges’ salary increase (phased in salary increases over 5 years); $3.4 million for non-judicial employees (phased in salary increases over 3 years)
• Social Services: $5.0 million SGF for primary health projects; $3.0 million ($1.3 million SGF) to increase Medicaid dental reimbursement rates; $13.4 million ($5.5 million SGF) to provide a 2.0% increase in the reimbursement rates for providers of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers; $6.0 million ($2.5 million SGF) to reduce wait lists for Medicaid HCBS waivers for individuals with an intellectual/developmental disability and individuals with a physical disability; $3.0 million SGF for Community Mental Health Center grants; $13.6 million ($5.6 million SGF) for 2.0% increase in the reimbursement rates for nursing facilities; $12.4 million ($5.3 million SGF) to increase the protected income level for Medicaid HCBS waiver services recipients and individuals in the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly to 150.0% of the Social Security income level.
• Other increases: $10.5 million SGF to Board of Regents for Performance Grants, Non-Tiered Course Credit, Postsecondary Tiered Technical Education State Aid, Municipal University Operating Grants, and Comprehensive Grants’; $6.4 million from the State Highway Fund, for the acceleration of delayed T-Works projects.

This year the house split the K-12 education bill in to two sections, one dealing with policy and one dealing with funding. In the end, the house did not take up the funding bill, but did pass a policy bill 63-61. As negotiations are underway, the Senate position on funding is there discussion point. It is what the Governor recommended and if adopted and signed, it is hoped the lawsuits will end. If a compromise bill passes, it will also be argued before the Kansas Supreme Court as the legislatures answer to meet the constitutionality of school finance law in Kansas.

HB 2274 would require a physician to verbally inform a woman, who is seeking a medication abortion, that she may be able to reverse the intended effects of the abortion before the medication regimen is complete. The bill specifically applies to medication abortions induced via mifepristone (also known as RU-486), which is followed by a second pill named misoprostol. The first pill is taken in the presence of a physician and the second is taken at home. Under this bill, the physician must inform the woman 24 hours before the abortion takes place of the possibility of reversing the intended effects of the abortion, before the second pill is taken. In addition, the facility where the first pill is administered must post a sign with the same details.

HB 2274 would provide pregnant women considering an abortion additional choices if they have commenced RU-486 treatment. This pro-life and pro-woman legislation will present opportunities for pregnant women considering an abortion to change their minds and carry their babies to birth. With a veto-proof majority, the House approved of HB 2274.

Conceal Carry Permit and License Reciprocity: HB 2326

This would amend current statute to recognize out-of-state conceal carry permits and licenses, resolving several reciprocity issues. Individuals with these permits and licenses would be required to act in accordance with all Kansas laws while carrying a concealed firearm in the state. Similar legislation was introduced by Attorney General Derek Schmidt during the 2017-2018 biennium.

House Republicans amended the bill to allow Kansans ages 18-20 to conceal carry with a permit—under current law, they cannot conceal carry whatsoever. HB 2326 would allow law abiding Kansans to seek out firearm safety training, should they wish to protect themselves. 18-20-year-olds in Kansas are current able to open carry firearms, and this bill extends the ability for them to express their Second Amendment rights.

Democrats offered amendments that would have damaged the Second Amendment rights of every Kansan. One would have limited the amount of ammunition in any magazine to ten rounds. Another would have exempted college campuses from the Personal and Family Protection Act, effectively banning concealed firearms from colleges and universities. A third would have banned concealed firearms from campuses unless an individual held a conceal carry permit. A fourth would have required expanded background checks for firearm sales, and the final amendment would have granted the state the authority to remove firearms from specific individuals (Red Flag legislation).

All of these amendments were either ruled non-germane to the bill or were defeated.

We are scheduled to be back in Topeka for the start of the veto session on May 1st. I will be out and about the district and state of Kansas for the month of April, I hope to see many of you. If I can be of assistance or if you have questions or concerns please reach out: email is: [email protected] and you can always try my cell number is (785) 302-8416.

It is my honor to serve you in the Kansas House of Representatives.

Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), is the 110th state representative and chairman of the Higher Education Budget Committee. House District 110 includes Norton and Phillips counties as well as portions of Ellis, Graham, and Rooks counties.

State legislatures nationwide are entertaining an assortment of proposals to require all students to take courses in financial literacy or computer literacy or coding. But in every instance, they fail to ask the most basic question: how can you require a course unless you have an adequate supply of teachers who can teach that course?

Over a decade ago, New York state passed a mandate for all students, beginning in grade 6, to learn a second language and demonstrate communicative proficiency in a language beyond English in order to receive a high school diploma. The rationale was correct, as it remains correct today. The legislation funded new positions to be created and curricula to be developed. It failed completely.

In the March 2, 2011 issue of Education Week, Ann de Bernard described the problem. “The single greatest obstacle to implementing these lofty goals was the inability to locate and hire qualified teachers to help children develop second-language proficiency. There weren’t any.”

For several years, New York struggled to find teachers. Teachers who only spoke English could require students to just read from books in a foreign language; that did not begin to work. You needed teachers fluent in that foreign language. But hiring any person who could speak the language did not work either. Teaching a second language is a teaching skill, and the bilingual person on the street did not automatically have that skill. Nor did New York have enough professors qualified to produce teachers who could develop foreign-language proficiency in students. After a few years of failing to gear up to foreign language teaching, the mandate was abandoned as futile.

But over a decade earlier, another country implemented a nationwide second-language mandate and has today succeeded where the United States failed.

Ascending to power after their disastrous Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiao-ping moved China from communes to a market economy. Russian had previously been the official second-language-to-learn. Now, due to its predominant usage in world trade and science, English would be their new required second language, to be taught from elementary school upward. An English test was also added to the all-important school leaving exam, the gao kao, that determined if and where China’s next generations of students would go to university to study. That focused every student in China on getting the best education in English possible. But where would China get their English teachers?

Since 1993, every year I have flown to China, there have been U.S. college graduates on the plane going to China or returning from China where they have spent a year or more teaching English in China’s high schools and colleges. China likewise has sent English-fluent Chinese students to the United States, several hundred thousand each year over this last decade, to study in all fields. Most now return to take up positions in China’s industries, government, and education system. Come with me on my annual trips to Chinese universities and you can get around quite well on their university campuses speaking just English, because all of their university students and young professors speak English.

English extends down to elementary school. “Number One” urban schools now have excellent Chinese teachers of English. Their rural elementary schools lag behind. Among a population of 1.4 billion, there are more Chinese who speak English in China than there are people in the United States with just over 330 million people. But it took China three decades to build up their educational capacity.

That is where American state legislatures go astray. We want results tomorrow. Educational changes take generations in time. Our average American school curriculum is now the weakest among developed countries. Exchange students come here to find they are several grades ahead of U.S. students. Our students travel overseas and find themselves behind their foreign classmates. Many states have boosted high school science requirements from two years to three, but our students’ science achievement is not increasing because we lack enough qualified science teachers to support our prior weak curriculum.

If we immediately—today—boosted our curriculum in science and foreign language up to developed world status, it would take us 20 to 30 years to train enough teachers to begin producing science literate and world fluent graduates. Instead, we will just buy their future inventions and they can speak English.

John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

Crabgrass preventers are another name for pre-emergence herbicides 
that prevent crabgrass seeds from developing into mature plants. Many 
people have a somewhat foggy idea of how they work and assume they kill 
the weed seed.

Such is not the case. They do not kill the seed or even 
keep the seed from germinating but rather kill the young plant after it 
germinates.  Therefore, they do not prevent germination but prevent 
emergence.

Crabgrass preventers are just that – preventers. With few 
exceptions they have no effect on existing crabgrass plants, so they 
must be applied before germination. Additionally, preventers do not last 
forever once applied to the soil.  Microorganisms and natural processes 
begin to gradually break them down soon after they are applied. If some 
products are applied too early, they may have lost much of their 
strength by the time they are needed. Most crabgrass preventers are 
fairly ineffective after about 60 days, but there is considerable 
variation among products. (Dimension and Barricade last longer. See below.)

For most of Kansas, crabgrass typically begins to germinate around 
May 1 or a little later. April 15 is normally a good target date for 
applying preventer because it gives active ingredients time to evenly 
disperse in the soil before crabgrass germination starts.  Even better, 
base timing on the bloom of ornamental plants. The Eastern Redbud tree 
is a good choice for this purpose. When the trees in your area approach 
full bloom, apply crabgrass preventer. A follow-up application will be 
needed about 8 weeks later unless you are using Dimension or Barricade. 
Products that do require a follow-up application include pendimethalin 
(Scotts Halts) and Team (Hi-Yield Crabgrass Control).

Dimension and Barricade are the only two products that give 
season-long control of crabgrass from a single application. In fact, 
they can be applied much earlier than April 15 and still have sufficient 
residual strength to last the season. Barricade can even be applied in 
the fall for crabgrass control the next season.

Dimension can be applied as early as March 1. Because of the added 
flexibility in timing, these products are favorites of lawn care 
companies who have many customers to service in the spring. Though 
Dimension is usually not applied as early as Barricade, it is the 
herbicide of choice if it must be applied later than recommended. It is 
the exception to the rule that pre-emergence herbicides do not kill 
existing weeds. Dimension can kill crabgrass as long as it is young 
(two- to three-leaf stage). Dimension is also the best choice if 
treating a lawn that was planted late last fall. Normally a pre-emergence 
herbicide is not recommended unless the lawn has been mowed two to four 
times.

But Dimension is kind to young tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, 
and Kentucky bluegrass seedlings and some formulations can be applied as 
early as two weeks after the first sign of germination. However, read 
the label of the specific product you wish to use to ensure that this 
use is allowed. Lawns established in the fall can be safely treated with 
Dimension the following spring even if they have not been mowed.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at [email protected] or calling 620-793-1910.

Budget Bill Passes the House

On Tuesday, March 26, we had final action on the Kansas House of Representative’s position regarding the budget. The final vote on the budget was 99-25, and now we will go into conference committee with the Senate to negotiate those details that differ between each chamber’s budget bill.

House Substitute for Senate Bill 25, which is the House Budget Bill, contains numerous provisions in it. It includes the annual bill that we pass regarding claims against the state, many of the recommendations from various state agencies, departments, and boards across the state, and some recommendations made by Governor Kelly.

Following are some of the highlights in the budget bill for the remaining months of fiscal year 2019 and for 2020.

• We are not going to payoff the Pooled Money Investment Board loan in full, as suggested by the Governor. Instead, we will accelerate the payment schedule so it is paid off more quickly.
• We will appropriate dollars for the hiring of 26 social workers in 2019 and an additional 26 social workers in 2020.
• We did provide funding in 2020 through the Department of Agriculture for the Cattle Traceability Program, money for the State Water Fund, additional funds for mental health, reestablishing funding for the Kansas Main Street program for rural development, and a 2.5% pay increase for all state employees, excluding legislators and the Judicial Branch. We have another provision for pay increases for the Judicial Branch in the budget bill.

Commercial Hemp

Also on Tuesday, final action was taken on House Bill 2173, the commercial hemp bill, which passed 119-5. I voted “yes.” Due to the federal government making provisions in the Federal Farm Bill that passed in December of 2018, the state of Kansas needs to update our statutes regarding hemp that we passed last year for the industrial research program. House Bill 2173 establishes procedures to be used by the Kansas Department of Agriculture in submitting a plan to the US Department of Agriculture under which the KDA would monitor and regulate the commercial production of hemp. This bill also stipulates that industrial hemp authorized by the Alternative Crop Act would be excluded from the definition of marijuana and the list of Schedule 1 controlled substances.

Senate Bill 16 – House Education Finance Bill

Among the 33 bills debated in the House of Representatives on Monday was House Substitute for Senate Bill 16. The bill, which is the House’s position for addressing the Supreme Court’s demands regarding K-12 Education, received lengthy deliberation and was passed in the House, 63-61, on Tuesday morning. While there was little to no funding provisions in the bill it does address how funding should be spent.

The bill provides for performance and longitudinal achievement reports, goals in meeting the Rose standards, accessibility for ACT testing, adding computer science and financial literacy courses, a bullying prevention hotline, changes the bilingual weighting to seven years, and adds the dyslexia task force for another two years, among other changes.

Although the bill provides only policy provisions, and has some flaws which I disagree with, it does create a House position from where we can negotiate with the Senate and start a discussion, which was why I voted in favor of the bill. Then we will see the final version to address education finance.

Contact Information

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected]. Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill) is the 109th Dist. state representative and chairman of the House Appropriations committee. The 109th District includes Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties and portions of  Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties.

Friends,

It has certainly been a busy week! The Mueller report has finally put to bed this costly 2-year witch hunt, confirming what we all already knew, no collusion by our president or his team. This week we also passed legislation in the House honoring Senator Bob Dole, and we now have health care back in the headlines.

Our team has been working around the clock for years meeting with Republicans and Democrats to discuss and try to find solutions to fix our health care system, I am glad its back in the press, pushing more and more people to the table to make sure that we can solve this problem- that is, the cost of health care. Fixing our health care system is long overdue, and we need to focus in on a solution that allows patients and families to make their own choices!

Senator Bob Dole Legislation Passes!

Senator Roberts, Senator Moran and I have been working hard alongside the U.S. Army to push through legislation that would give Senator Dole an honorary military promotion. I am happy to announce that this week, the House unanimously passed this legislation!

I was so proud to see the House quickly recognize and pass this bill honoring our legendary Kansas Senator, Bob Dole. There is absolutely no one I can think of more deserving of this honorary promotion than our true Kansas hero, Senator Dole.

I was also thankful to have the opportunity to meet with Senator Dole and deliver the great news. Now with the legislation through both the House and the Senate, it will head to the president’s desk for final signage..

‘Nothing Burger’ Mueller Report

The witch hunt is finally over my friends. After two years and a price tag of $50,000 per day to the U.S. taxpayer, the Mueller Special Counsel has adjourned, reporting what we have been saying for years- no collusion! I am glad that we can now move past this embarrassing chapter of American politics.

This week I addressed the House Floor with one question for my fellow members, the national media, and nation- Can we please move on and work with our President rather than against him and focus on policy rather than fantasy?

Patient Choice V. Medicare For All

Behind the scenes, we are taking steps to address things that Obamacare did not—the cost of health care. I recently sat down with the President to discuss this very issue.

The narrative that health care has been forgotten up here is just not true.

Addressing the Needs of Our Vets

This week the Doctor’s Caucus met with the Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to discuss ongoing improvements being made within the VA.

Secretary Wilkie explained to us the changes in protocol that they’ve made at their VA facilities across the country to improve customer satisfaction. I’m proud of the work being done in the VA under this Administration, they truly are trying to make the complicated, simple for our nation’s veterans.

We also chatted at length about some of the ongoing problems many of our veterans are facing. While this Administration, with support from Congress, has made great strides towards improving VA care, I am fully aware that there is still a lot of work to be done. We discussed the horrible reality of suicide rates among our veterans and how, along with homelessness and opioid addiction, it is one of the biggest continuing concerns. Regarding these top concerns, the Secretary discussed some solutions they are focused on like expanding the VA’s mental health staff so that anyone that walks into their clinics will have same-day access, and a 24 hour follow up call after discharging those at high risk.

I was glad to see the Secretary listening to our concerns and outlining their response to the top issues facing our nation’s veterans. I will continue to monitor and work with the VA to make sure that we are finding solutions to our service men and women’s concerns, and will continue to focus our efforts on working with the VA to find solutions.

Kansas Stands with Israel, Joining AIPAC Convention

This week, President Trump and Secretary Pompeo took the bold step to affirm Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights region. I support this Administration and our longtime friend and ally, Israel in this fight to protect their homeland.
I had a great time meeting with all of the delegates who were in DC for the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee Convention this week! The AIPAC convention was an excellent opportunity to meet with Kansans who share these beliefs and to discuss ways to strengthen the already great bond between our two nations. We discussed Trump’s recognition of the Golan Heights, the rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. and around the world, Iranian aggression in the Middle East, and our shared opposition to the Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) movement.
Israel is a vital strategic partner of the United States; for centuries they have been America’s eyes and ears in the Middle East. I thank the President and Secretary Pompeo for their bold action and will continue to assure them that Kansans stand with them.

Update on the ‘Green New Mess’

I know a bad deal when I see one, and from the beginning, I knew that the Green New Deal would be an absolute disaster. It was clear this week that Senate Democrats know how awful this deal would be for our country, considering they voted ‘present’ on the measure earlier this week rather than casting a yes or no vote.
As an avid outdoors man, I know the importance of leaving this world better than we found it, but this just is not the solution. It would hurt our farms, ranchers, and crush our economy completely.

Internet of Things Cybersecurity Act

Earlier this month, I joined a handful of colleagues in introducing H.R. 1668, the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019. As we dive deeper into the digital age, we are increasingly using devices such as fitness trackers, smartwatches and thermostats that connect to various networks, however many of these devices lack adequate cybersecurity protections. The number of cyber attacks is increasing, and with that comes the need to create more secure and resilient products and services, particularly when it comes to the use of “internet of things” devices by the federal government. This bill aims to address risks posed by these devices by establishing light-touch, minimum security requirements for procurement of internet-connected devices by the government.

Economic Development in Western Kansas

On Monday, our office hosted delegations from Garden City, Liberal, Great Bend, and Dodge City as part of their annual fly-in to Washington. I really enjoy when folks from back home come visit our team in D.C., and these communities in particular represent such a unique part of my district.

We had great conversations about economic development in Western Kansas, and how things like access to an affordable broadband connection as well as improving infrastructure in rural America can help these communities not only to grow, but thrive!
Looking forward to getting back out west today, because there really is no place like home!

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the Kansas First District Congressman. 

Last week, a coalition of Democrats and centrist Republicans steamrolled House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, the Kansas Legislature’s chief obstructionist to extending health care coverage to 130,000 low-income Kansans.

For the first 43 days of the current legislative session Hawkins, along with House Speaker Ryckman, Senate President Wagle, and Senate Majority Leader Denning, had blocked debate and hearings on Governor Laura Kelly’s proposal to extend Medicaid coverage to uninsured Kansans. However, through crafty floor maneuvers, a bipartisan majority adopted the governor’s proposal and moved consideration of the issue over to the Kansas Senate.

The time has arrived for Republicans to stop obstructing majority will and negotiate a path forward on extending health care to uninsured Kansans. Their partisan blocking tactics have become a losing proposition, in terms of both public policy and politics.

Reputable surveys of Kansans consistently show strong support for extending health care access. They do so in part because more than nine in every ten Kansans already have access to health care, mostly
through their employers. Seniors, disabled, and the poorest Kansans have access through Medicare and Medicaid. Active military and veterans have access through Tricare. Others qualify for Obamacare.

Most Kansans with health care do support extending access to those without, particularly when federal grants—financed by tax dollars sent to the U.S. Treasury by Kansans—will cover 90 percent of the cost. The Kansas Hospital Association reports that Kansas has forfeited over $3.2 billion by not extending Medicaid when it became available five years ago. This loss of federal dollars has forced a number of rural communities to increase local sales and property taxes to maintain their local hospitals. Others have closed or face the threat of closure.

To do the right thing will require political courage. Resistant Republicans need to break loose from the shackles placed on them by organizations such as the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity. These organizations despise safety nets for vulnerable Kansans, and any legislator voting to extend access to health care will become a target for retaliation through disingenuous postcard attacks in upcoming elections.

Reluctant Republican legislators should remember, however, that Kelly convincingly won the governorship last fall by campaigning on two issues, education and health care. She won in many legislative districts now held by Republicans. Further, both Sam Brownback and Khris Kobach vigorously opposed expanding access to health care. And where are they now? Brownback left his governorship early with record-high disapproval. Kobach lost to Kelly with less than 43 percent of the vote.

Thirty-six states have either expanded health care through Medicaid or are in the process of doing so. Voters in three red states, including neighboring Nebraskans, enacted referenda on expansion last November. A Florida initiative for expansion is now underway.

Health care also became a significant national issue in mid-term elections last fall, and congressional Republicans are now reassessing their negative posture on the issue after losing 40 seats, including one in Kansas, and control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to the Kansas Health Institute, 243,305 Kansans remain uninsured for health care. Extending access through Medicaid would cut that number by more than half. An additional 90,000 adults and 40,000 children would be covered, according to the Institute. If the governor’s proposal is adopted, 96 of every 100 Kansans would have access to health care.

Expanding health access through Medicaid is coming. If not this year, next year. Legislators should stop playing political games on health care and do the work they were elected to do, that is, legislating.

H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden.

Our 40th President Ronald Reagan coined the phrase “a shining city on a hill” in describing America.

To some degree, thanks to Donald J. Trump in “making America great again,” we can still be described that way, however, criminality like never before in this country’s history is making many of us think otherwise about that shining hill. Our country has for some time now, gone completely off the rails when it comes to the rule of law and equal justice.

It makes one wonder if we have become a third world country or a despotic one. It appears, in many ways, under our legal system, it’s
all about who you are, not what you do.

No, this is not conspiracy theory. No, I am not making this up and yes, a major shock we have come to this as a country.

Trump comes along and all hell breaks loose because the establishment wanted the politician’s politician Hillary, and not a non politician named Trump that rightfully muddies the waters and wants to drain the swamp.

Crimes have been committed that may be beyond repair. Pay close attention readers to see what follows, especially what happens with a new Attorney General heading up our Department of Justice, a department that has been compromised beyond belief in the past, as has the FBI.

The trail of corruption and criminality leads back to former president Obama – and Hillary, then on to our law enforcement agencies and deep, very deep into other parts of our government, our media, and the Democrat Party. Call it a total abuse of power.

Their mission was, and still is, the destruction of a Trump presidency. At first it was all about preventing Trump from even becoming president. then the scheme became a coup. In other words, the anti Trumpers want to kick Trump out of office no matter what it takes. Far too much of it is motivated by hatred for Trump.

Does our vote even count in who we want as our president or is that to be determined by the Deep State that is clearly driven ideologically by a political party to the liberal and progressive left? What about those of us who are conservatives? If our votes don’t count then goodbye to America, once known as a democratic republic.

The criminality actually, is there for all to see. There are indisputable facts to back up my claims in this writing. No! You will not get this information from CNN, MSNBC, the three networks, the New York Times, Washington Post, let alone your local newspaper. In fact, parts of our government, media, and the Democrat Party have been one and the same in many respects.

Our law enforcement agencies provided Dems and media the weapons to destroy Trump. The whole thing has been politicized. Justice be damned. Trump’s presumption of innocence be damned by Democrats and media, even following the Mueller report of no collusion evidence. The Dems and media will press on looking under every rock on the shores of these United States for something, anything to destroy our Commander in Chief.

Not only was the Trump Russia collusion the biggest hoax ever, so was this the greatest miscarriage of justice. The Mueller Special Counsel was a hoax to begin with in that it was created based on a lie known as the fake dossier. If Mueller had any integrity he would never have taken the case to begin with for the simple reason there was never any evidence of a crime, including Trump colluding with Russia.

Two things to look for as we move forward. One bad, one good. The continued hatred of Trump by Democrats and media looking obsessively to impeach our president, even continuing with the collusion delusion. And, of course, obstruction of justice, even though they will lose on that account as well. Secondly, efforts to right our ship, by bringing the criminals to justice. The tables will be turned on the Trump haters as investigations take place by Republicans and our Department of Justice.

Maybe, with prayer and help from a higher power, the Clintons, along with Obama, and others, will be brought to justice. Just to name a few – read up on Uranium One, Clinton Foundation, Hillary’s private email server, and FISA warrants to spy on Trump using a fake dossier.

In spite of the recent final Special Council report, Mr. Investigator Mueller needs to be investigated too for hiring an army of Clinton connected lawyers to take out Trump.

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

Thomas More Prep-Marian

The Diocese of Salina and the Midwest Province of Capuchin Franciscans, headquartered in Denver, Colo., have or will release the names of priests and brothers who have had credible complaints of sexual misconduct of minors in past decades.

Some of these priests and brothers served on staff at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School when the school was under the sponsorship of the Capuchin Religious Order.  The offending priests that were identified by the Capuchins and who served at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School are listed on the Capuchin website, https://capuchins.org/ and the Diocese website, https://salinadiocese.org/the-register.  Our prayers and support are offered for the victims of sexual abuse and for those whose faith is shaken based upon these actions.  This transparency is a significant indicator of our desire for healing and unity for all those affected.

Our mission states: Thomas More Prep-Marian, a Christian community in the Catholic tradition, challenges its students to spiritual growth, academic excellence, and leadership formation.  The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount as we educate the leaders of our faith and humanity.  TMP-Marian is compliant with the United Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People which includes training for all teachers and adult volunteers in a Diocesan Safe Environment Curriculum and Diocesan Code of Professional Conduct as well as required criminal background checks.

In Kansas many professionals, including teachers, doctors, and counselors are mandated reporters.  These individuals are required by law to make a report immediately to the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) if they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is being neglected or abused in any way.  The DCF maintains a 24-hour statewide reporting hotline at 1-800-922-5330.

Furthermore, The Catholic Diocese of Salina encourages individuals who suspect abuse of a minor by clergy to report the allegation – past or present – to the Diocesan Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, 103 N. Ninth St., Salina, KS 67401; (785) 825-0865; [email protected].

The Diocese of Salina and Thomas More Prep–Marian Jr./Sr. High School express their genuine regret and profound sympathy to all victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy in the Diocese of Salina and elsewhere.  We are committed to promoting the healing and reconciliation of survivors.  Please direct questions to the following:

• Midwest Province of Capuchin Franciscans, 3613 Wyandot St., Denver, CO 80211, (303) 477-5436
• Catholic Diocese of Salina, Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, 103 N. Ninth St., Salina, KS 67401 (785) 825-0865, [email protected]
• Thomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School, Chad Meitner, Principal, 1701 Hall St., Hays, KS 67601 (785) 625-6577

By KIRBY ROSS
Phillips County Review

Kansas Legislature: You are going to get us killed. Literally.

After years of failing to properly fund Kansas highways in general — and northwest Kansas highways in particular — the Kansas Legislature has had the opportunity for a re-do this session, but seems to be taking a pass on it. In the process, the very dangerous U.S. 383 in Phillips County was specifically investigated by a legislative task force but fixes to it have been punted off into the future — dangerous, but not dangerous enough it seems.

As a result, life-saving improvements to U.S. 383 in Phillips County are still years away.

Those hazards came home to roost twice in three days this week, when on Monday an oversize overweight windmill tower load traveling U.S. Hwy 383 slipped off the [nonexistent] shoulder and wrecked. Luckily, no one was injured. But the entire 25-mile stretch of highway running through the county had to be shut down, a significant number of law enforcement officers from at least three different agencies had to be utilized, massive cranes had to be brought in, and thousands upon thousands of dollars had to be expended — all just to clean up the accident scene.

Can we send the bill for all this to Topeka because they won’t properly invest in our highways?

But it gets worse.

As this editorial was being written and just 18 hours after they cleared Monday’s wreckage off the 383 right-of-way a different semi hauling another windmill tower side-swiped a grain truck on U.S. 383 less than 2 miles from the previous accident site. Nonexistent shoulders + narrow roadway. That one shut the highway down the better part of Thursday morning and on into the afternoon.

All of which raises another question: Why are these wind tower loads even traveling down U.S. 383? Two years ago, oversize overweight windmill loads were banned by KDOT from passing through Phillipsburg because they were destroying the road infrastructure, and pilot car drivers couldn’t mind their manners on Phillipsburg streets. So, having been taken to the woodshed for bad behavior they ended up detouring off U.S. 183 and around Phillipsburg by traveling down U.S. 383. Which is even more ridiculous, given the nature of that road.

How about those who transport these gigantic loads through Phillips County try this instead? Find another route! In 2016, an elderly man was killed on U.S. 183 near Alma, Neb., north of Phillipsburg trying to get around these things that back traffic up a mile behind them. Let’s not have it happen here.

The way things are going, a death will eventually occur on U.S. 383.

Are you listening, Legislature? That one will be on you.