By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Baker Hughes reported an increase of seven active oil rigs, and a decrease of seven gas rigs, so the total rig count for Friday was unchanged at 975. There were 318 rigs drilling across Canada, down seven. Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 27 active drilling rigs in western Kansas, up two for the week. The total in eastern Kansas was unchanged at eleven. Operators report drilling underway on leases in Barton and Ellis counties, and drilling ahead at other sites in Ellis and Stafford counties. They were moving in completion tools at one site in Barton County, two in Ellis and Russell counties, and at one lease in Stafford County.

The state of Kansas recorded 46 permits last week for drilling at new locations, 17 in eastern Kansas, 29 west of Wichita, including two each in Barton and Ellis counties.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 48 new well completions for the week, 227 so far this year. (There were 23 in eastern Kansas and 25 west of Wichita.) There were two newly completed wells in Barton County and three in Ellis County.

A committee in the Kansas House of Representatives last week rejected a bill that would have broadened the scope of saltwater disposal limitations, in an effort to prevent earthquakes. Current regulations limit only those disposal wells in earthquake zones in Harper and Barber County, but House Bill 2641 would have imposed the same restrictions on another 430 wells across Kansas. Edward Cross of KIOGA was among industry lobbyists arguing against the measure, saying the bill was based on a number of false assumptions and was an effort by “activists trying to disrupt the oil and gas industry.” The bill died in committee, but supporters say it could be referred to an interim study committee later on.

Colorado oil and gas regulators are raising taxes on energy developers to help pay for the environmental impacts of drilling. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission approved a plan to raise $4.8 million more in taxes by charging 0.11 cents on every dollar’s worth of oil and gas produced. The industry supported this increase, after local governments and environmentalists urged a much bigger tax increase.

For the first time, a supertanker laden with US crude oil is on its way overseas. Bloomberg reports the ship is on its way to China from the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP, currently the only deep-water port in the US able to handle the huge ships. The Saudi-owned tanker Shaden was the first so-called very large crude carrier to load oil at the LOOP rather than unload oil there.

Preliminary numbers from the North Dakota regulators show December oil production fell for the first monthly drop since June. The state produced 1.18 million barrels per day in December. November’s final numbers were about about 46-thousand barrels shy of the state’s all time record set back in 2014. Director Lynn Helms said Thursday the number of well completions in North Dakota spiked from 77 in November to 93 in December.

A shortage of rail cars in Canada is leaving oil shipments and grain harvests stranded, sending crude prices plummeting and leaving farmers in a cash crunch. Bloomberg reports the nation’s biggest railways haven’t been able to deliver enough cars after harsh winter conditions and increased demand from the energy industry. Some farmers have been waiting for months to deliver wheat and canola to elevators before they can get paid. The squeeze also means that crude supplies are piling up in Alberta, pushing prices to the biggest discount relative to New York futures in more than four years.

The Philippines and China have agreed to set up a special panel to work out how and if they can jointly explore for oil and gas in offshore waters both sides claim without having to address the explosive issue of sovereignty. Forming an agreement for a joint project would be complex and sensitive as both countries claim jurisdiction of the site, so sharing the oil and gas reserves could be deemed legitimizing the other side’s claim, or even ceding sovereign territory. A senior Philippine official also told Reuters that several Southeast Asian countries and China would begin negotiations next month on a long-awaited maritime code of conduct.

Oh, there are of course the technical and philosophical complaints about the new federal income tax cuts that took effect just in time to lower your federal income tax bill this year. Don’t last long enough, the rich do better, can’t claim the dog as a dependent because you couldn’t get it a Social Security number…

You know how all that goes.

But one place that it mostly goes well is the Kansas budget.

There are dozens of little changes in federal taxes that jiggle the top line of your Kansas income tax form, but on a mass basis, that number—what you have left after paying your federal income taxes—yields for most purposes the income on which you’ll pay Kansas income taxes this year.

And the big news is that the federal tax cuts leave more Kansas-taxable income for the state to levy against.

Result: Kansas is likely to receive $138 million more than expected in the fiscal year that starts July 1. And it just gets better… Estimates are that the next year, Kansas will take in $180 million more and the year after $188 million. That additional state income doesn’t require any icky tax increases here; there’s really nothing to blame the Legislature about because it has no fingerprints on the federal tax cuts that yield more money for the State General Fund which lawmakers will spend.

That federal trickle-down could brighten the amount available to spend in the upcoming budget year which lawmakers are now assembling, or, rather, just touching up what they planned last year to spend in the new fiscal year.

So, what happens? Well, things probably brightened for state employees looking for raises. It could mean less sales tax money pulled out of the budget of the Kansas Department of Transportation, which has canceled more than 20 highway and bridge projects in the last year. It could mean more money for health care for the poor and their children and lots of nice things.

But it will undoubtedly become just another stick to use in the fight over increasing state support of public schools demanded by the Kansas Supreme Court which says the state isn’t making suitable provision for school operations statewide.

The first scrap, remember, is coming up with a new school finance formula this legislative session and financing it and then proving to the court that the problem is solved…that children in every public school from border to border are receiving a good education.

Ironically, the new state income tax money is probably about the right amount over the next few years to meet the roughly $600 million in new K-12 spending that most of the Legislature believes is the magic amount that will see the court decide that if divvied up right, it meets constitutional requirements.

That’s if the estimate is right and if all of it, and probably a little more, is spent on schools and almost nothing else.

Expect that the additional money is already being sized-up by legislators—especially House members who all stand for reelection this year—for spending on other stuff, like raises for state workers, health care, assistance for the elderly and poor and nearly every other task of state government.

And, remember that there are conservative lawmakers—especially in the Senate which doesn’t stand for reelection this year—who believe the Supreme Court is wrong, that maybe some changes in school spending patterns are needed, but that the state is spending all it needs to for K-12. That makes the millions of increased state revenue just money in the bank.

That spare cash will get interesting…

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

February 16, 2018

Bills Passed In the House

This week was a busy one in the Kansas House of Representatives as we started to debate numerous bills as we near the point in the session that we refer to as “Turnaround.”

House Bill 2455 is a bill that requires the juvenile justice oversight committee to calculate and reduce expenditures with out-of-home placements.  This bill passed, 118-2.

House Bill 2444 is in regards to the investments made by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS).  This bill specifically prohibits the Board of Trustees with KPERS from investing any money in companies with certain business operations in Sudan.  This passed, 111-9.

House Bill 2505 relates to a mayor’s position in local government.  The bill makes a change that has mayors considered as part of the city governing body in all manners when the cities have a format of commission or commission-manager form of government.  This bill passed the House, 122-0.

House Bill 2506 is in regards to the rehabilitation of abandoned property by a city.  This bill makes changes to what is considered blighted which is highly relevant in eminent domain cases.  For example, inadequate drainage would no longer constitute a property as being blighted.  The bill also changes what is considered as “abandoned” property.  This bill passed, 90-32.  I voted “yes” on all.

House Bill 2533:  Horse and Dog Tracks

On Tuesday, the Federal and State Affairs Committee heard testimony regarding the Horse and Greyhound tracks in the state.  The main point of contention from those that own the racetracks is that since the passage of the Expanded Gaming Act of 2007, the allowable slot machines are taxed differently depending on the facility.  The owners of the racetracks would like to reduce their slot machine tax from 40%, which is current law, to the same tax rate as that of state-owned casinos at 22%.  During discussions with the racetracks and the casino managers, there has been this impending threat of a lawsuit by the casino managers if there are changes made to the existing law.

Appropriations Committee- Budget Work

This week was a busy one for the House Appropriations committee.  We had a full week with the budget chairs reporting the reviewed budgets in their respective committees to the full committee.

On Monday, we had the budgets of the Department of Administration, Attorney General, and the office of the Governor.  Tuesday, the budgets of the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, Office of the State Fire Marshall, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services were reported out.

Then on Wednesday, we reviewed the budgets of the departments of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and Agriculture, and the Kansas Commission on Veteran’s Affairs Office.  On Thursday, we ended the week with reports on the budgets regarding the Board of Regents, Emporia State University, Wichita State University, and the University of Kansas Medical Center.  This is the first full week of budget reports that will be included in the supplemental budget bill.

Contact Information

As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, 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.

Friend,

Last week we lost 17 beautiful lives due to a senseless act of violence in Parkland, Florida. I hope you will join me in praying for the victims and their families. I also want to thank the first responders, teachers, and medical professionals who stepped in during the tragedy. This unspeakable violence must stop.

Last week I spoke to a group of more than 150 veterans about PTSD and treatment for migraine and headache disorders. Chronic migraines is a disabling disease that our men and women in uniform are too familiar with. I am grateful for groups like Headache on the Hill that continue to bring awareness to these issues. As a physician, I want to focus on finding solutions. I am part of the Doctors Caucus that meets weekly with my fellow members of the House and Senate to discuss health care issues and to work to find solutions. Certainly, PTSD is part of these discussions.

Low Dose Radiation Bill Unanimously Passes House

On Tuesday, my sponsored bill, H.R. 4675 The Low Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017 unanimously passed the House and now moves to the Senate! This bill creates a research program at the Department of Energy to study the health impacts of exposure to low doses of radiation. As a physician, I understand how critical it is to have the best research possible when making decisions regarding a patient’s health. Medical technology and techniques will continue to advance and we must know more about the effects of this type of radiation. This was a very special moment for me as it was my first stand-alone bill to pass through the House.

Read more on this bill HERE.

President of Wichita State University Testifies on the Success of STEM Education Programs 

The president of Wichita State Dr. John Bardo gave an incredible testimony to the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM curriculum at Wichita State University. Wichita State is a shining example for the rest of the nation when it comes to advancing education, technology, and applied learning. I was so proud to have Dr. Bardo testify before the Science Space and Technology Committee and discuss all of the great STEM programs that we have in Kansas. Of the 6 million open jobs across our country, 500,000 require some type of computer science background.

I am glad to see colleges like Wichita in addition to many community colleges in my district focus on the demands of our current workforce and offer more STEM programs. Click HERE to read it.

100 Percent Commitment to Faith, Family and Freedom Award

The Family Research Council Action recognized members with a 100 percent voting record concerning pro-life and pro-family legislation. I am thankful to receive their “True Blue” award. As a father of four, these are the same values that I instill in my own kids. As your Congressman, I will always fight to protect the sanctity of human life, family values, and the integrity of marriage.

Happy Valentine’s Day From the Marshalls

Valentine’s Day is a special day for Laina and me because on the holiday 35 years ago I asked her to be my wife.

Now 34 years later, we have four great children and two beautiful grandkids. I could not have made this journey to Congress without Laina, and I am thankful everyday for her constant love and support.

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS

This week marked the sixth week of session with the first half of the legislative session almost behind us.  As we approach “turn-around” the Senate held floor debate on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and worked bills which were sent out of committees to the full Senate.  The bills voted on by the full Senate now cross over to the House of Representatives where the process starts over.  Conference committees will meet to iron out the differences between the Senate and House versions before the 2018 session ends in May.

FLOOR ACTION

GROUNDWATER DISTRICT USER CHARGES – SB194 permits groundwater management district boards to increase the maximum water withdrawal charge from $1.50 for each acre-foot to $2.00 for each acre-foot.

LICENSE RENEWAL OF TREATMENT CENTERS – HB 2106 authorizes the Secretary for Aging Disability Services Secretary to grant a treatment facility licensed by the Secretary under the Alcohol or Other Drug Addiction Treatment Act and also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Services.

ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN ADULT CARE HOMES – House Bill 2232 allows a resident of an adult care home, or a resident’s guardian or legal representative, to conduct authorized electronic monitoring in the resident’s room subject to requirements set out in the bill.

VEHICLE DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS LICENSING ACT – SB324 adds two sections to the Vehicle Dealers and Manufacturers Licensing Act on improvements to dealer facilities, dealer performance criteria, and recall repairs.

CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND – Senate Bill 266 amends law governing awards from the Crime Victims Compensation Board.

LICENSURE OF DENTAL THERAPISTS – Senate Bill 312 expands the Dental Practices Act by creating the practice of dental therapy and requiring the Kansas Dental Board to authorize a person to practice as a dental therapist if such person meets the qualifications set forth in the bill. This bill passed the Senate 38-0

KANSAS RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS ACT – Substitute for Senate Bill 323 revise law related to Kansas municipal energy agencies (MEAs), the oversight of electric cooperatives by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), and retail electric suppliers.

KANSAS AMUSEMENT RIDE ACT – Senate Bill 307 makes multiple amendments to the Kansas Amusement Ride Act.

 

COMMITTEE ACTION

TRANSPARENCY BILL

On Wednesday, Senate President Susan Wagle (R-Wichita) and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley (D-Topeka) gave testimony for their transparency bill in the Senate Ethics, Elections, and Local Government Committee. The bipartisan legislation, SB 394, requires the registration of anyone attempting to influence a member of the executive or judicial branch, to register as a lobbyist. Currently, the law only requires registration for those attempting to influence legislative action. Thursday morning SB 394 passed out of the Senate Ethics, Elections, and Local Government Committee. 

CONCEALED CARRY BILL

On Tuesday, the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee held a hearing on HB 2042, an act concerning firearms and concealed carry licensing. The original bill which was recommended by the Attorney General. The bill contains three main provisions: recognizes licenses issued by other jurisdictions, lowers the age to obtain concealed carry license to 18 and allow postsecondary institutions to prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons if the person does not have a concealed carry license. The current law states that individuals must be at least 21 years old. The law also requires those individuals to have eight hours of training before they are eligible to conceal and carry if they wish to have a permit.

TRACEY MANN SWORN IN AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

On Wednesday, February 14^th, Tracey Mann of Salina was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Kansas. Governor Jeff Colyer announced the appointment Tuesday night at the Kansas Livestock Association Dinner.  Although he has never held elected office, Mann ran in the Republican primary for the 1^st District congressional seat in 2010. He currently serves as the managing director and principal for Newmark Grubb Zimmer, a Kansas City-based commercial real estate company. Prior to working for Newmark Grubb Zimmer, Mann served as the director for the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values. Mann, 41, and father of four, served as Student Body President for Kansas State where he graduated in 2000 with a degree in agricultural economics.

GOOD NEWS FOR KANSAS

A new report projects Kansas will collect more than $505 million in additional revenue over the next three years because of changes in federal income tax laws.

FROM THE STATE LIBRARY

Research for Kids

The State Library has online interactive eBooks, storybooks, and puzzles for children.  These resources encourage new and reluctant readers to develop a love for reading. BookFLIX (PreK to third grade) pairs children’s video storybooks with related nonfiction titles. TumbleBooks offers animated talking picture books and read-along chapter books that improve sight word recognition. Britannica E-Stax (PreK to 5^th grade) features nonfiction that can be downloaded to any Internet enabled device. http://kslib.info/kids

If the page above asks for a Kansas Library eCard number, you may get one at any library in Kansas.  Most people will be automatically recognized as inside Kansas and will not need this step.   Questions: [email protected] or 785-296-3296.

VISITORS FROM SENATE DISTRICT #36

The sixth week of session was one of the busiest of the legislative year so far.  Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services members attended their annual meeting and visited with their legislators – Kathy Coleman representing the city of Miltonvale and Region IV stopped in between her meetings. Members from home with the North Central-Flint Hills Area on Aging had lunch with us for Older Kansans Day and stayed to watch the Senate session.  Kansas Livestock Association members attended their annual event and dinner on Wednesday and Leadership Mitchell County invited Rep. Susan Concannon and myself to join them for lunch and a legislative update from us.  Kansas Farm Bureau members met with legislators for lunch and the Kansas Association Community College Trustees and Phi Theta Kappa held their annual scholarship banquet and introduced the 2017 scholars, the Academic Team for 2017, on Thursday.  The new Cloud County Community College president Mark Smith attended along with the four CCCC scholars – Galen Allen, Liza van der Merwe, Zeel Mehta and Jennifer Schultz.

I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature. Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at www.kslegislature.org. You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.  The House meets at 11:00 a.m. and the Senate at 2:30 p.m.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. An email is the best at this point in the session.

Thank you for the honor of serving you!

Senator Elaine Bowers
Kansas State Capitol Building
Room 223-E
300 SW 10th St.
Topeka, KS 66612
[email protected]
785 296-7389
www.kslegislature.org

By GREG ORMAN
Independent candidate for Kansas governor

Three weeks ago, we formally launched our campaign for governor of the great state of Kansas. Since then, I’ve traveled the state and met with voters and have been incredibly gratified by the response our campaign has received.

Hundreds of Kansans have told me they’re ready for something different and know our system of government isn’t serving them. They understand that if we want to face the challenges we have as a state, we can’t keep approaching politics in the same old way. We need a new approach, a new set of solutions and new leaders who can cut through the partisanship and the games and put the people of Kansas first.

That’s why I’m running for Governor as an Independent candidate.

Political independence to me isn’t an ideology. It’s about an approach to public service. It’s about putting the needs of Kansas ahead of the needs of a political party. It’s about using facts and common sense to solve problems, not clinging to ideologically driven policies despite all evidence that they are failing. It’s about being free from obligations to special interests and party bosses who control both parties. It’s about leaving our state a better place for our children and grandchildren, so that they can choose to build their lives in Kansas.

Being an Independent liberates me to serve Kansas in ways that no other governor can. As an Independent governor, I won’t be limited to choosing from a small group of politically active partisans to form my administration. I’ll be able to recruit the best and brightest to serve Kansas based on competence, not political loyalty. I’ll be able to embrace the best ideas regardless of where they came from to move our state forward. I won’t be obligated to pull answers from outdated partisan playbooks, but can bring innovative solutions to wrestle with the many serious issues facing Kansas.

I’ve heard some sideline pundits say an Independent can’t win. They say an Independent candidate will only spoil the race for one party or the other. The truth is you can’t spoil a system that’s already rotten.

If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that conventional wisdom is no longer relevant. I understand my candidacy is troubling to the defenders of the status quo. I understand that those in the political and media elite for whom our system of government is set up to serve would rather not see any change at all.

Don’t be dissuaded by those naysayers who tell you that your vote doesn’t count or the fix is in before the game has even been played. Don’t be discouraged by those who say that you — the voters — don’t actually hold all the power. You do. They don’t. Never let them forget it!

But this race isn’t about the pundits or the political elite. It’s about you and the future of our great state.

Are we going to embrace the future confidently and leverage all our state’s many natural advantages, or are we going to succumb to the politics of lock-step ideology, extremism and fear? Are we going to hide from the real challenges facing Kansas and allow them to slowly overcome us, or will we fight back? Are we going to innovate? Are we going to rediscover those things that made Kansas such a dynamic leader in the past and lead once again?

If you believe like me that Kansas’ best days are in front of us, and you want to be a part of making it happen, then join us. Join us to help build a state that our children and grandchildren will be proud of and where everyone willing to work hard can make a great life for themselves and their families.

I remember a story told to me by a friend who is part of a group of goose hunters that tries to go to Canada goose hunting every fall. Goose populations have exploded to the point where many farmers welcome hunters to remove them from their property. My friend recalls their group eating in a Canadian restaurant and having landowners approach them, begging them to come hunt geese on their farms.

Unless you’re absolutely driving blind or totally oblivious to your surroundings as you travel, you have noticed hordes of white geese in local fields. Looking like God shook them from a giant salt shaker, “light geese” (which include Ross’ geese and both greater and lesser snow geese) are overly abundant most years around Kansas, and with the absence of winter over much of the state, their populations only grow. But never fear, that institution known as “The Fed” has again come to the rescue. A federally-authorized program known as the Light Goose Conservation Order, February 19 – April 30, 2018 is here to help.

The Light Goose Conservation Order 2018 allows for UNLIMITED harvest of light geese in Kansas from Feb. 19 through the end of April. Now a conservation order is an odd name, you might say for an order that allows for increased harvest of wildlife. The light goose populations have exploded in the past few years to the point where light geese have nearly denuded portions of their fragile arctic tundra breeding habitat, also negatively impacting other species of songbirds and water birds in the process.

This program comes with lots of perks for hunters. First of all, it allows for unlimited harvest as there is no daily bag or possession limit. This also means unlimited goose breasts for the freezer or unlimited goose jerky, and extended hunting days for the hunters. The order also allows hunters to use electronic game calls (not legal during normal goose seasons) and unplugged shotguns, meaning now 5 or more shells can be loaded into shotguns instead of just the 3 allowed during normal waterfowl seasons. All Kansas hunters need to take advantage of this special extended season is a regular 2018 Kansas hunting license and the Kansas HIP Permit, State Waterfowl Stamp and Federal Waterfowl Stamp required for any waterfowl hunting.

It’s seldom that Kansas hunters are asked to “save the day,” but in essence that’s what we’ll be doing by participating in this special extended goose hunting season. I know when the weather gets nice like this many of us put away the steel shot shells in favor of turkey loads, and even exchange the shotgun for a fishing rod. But why not keep the decoys out of storage a little longer this year and put a few more goose breasts in the freezer to go along with some fresh sweat corn on the grill come July. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

One of my favorite childhood memories or perhaps even adult memories involves using a bright light to cast finger shadows of rabbits, birds, and other creatures onto a blank wall. One morning, I noticed Mother Nature playing her own shadow games on Big Creek below my kitchen window. These engaging and active silhouettes encouraged me watch further and discover what fun the “old girl” could concoct using barren branches, agile squirrels, and flitting birds.

A number of factors played into this shadow extravaganza. First of all, water filled the creek that winter and provided a surface to reflect dozens of scampering critters bobbing in the overhead branches at any one time. Also, the creek hadn’t frozen for long periods due to unseasonably warm temperatures. This sharpened the mirror-like effect on the slow-moving stream. Next, the red line on the thermometer recorded mornings chilly enough to invigorate squirrels and birds, but not so cold that it forced them into still, huddled energy preservation mode.

Another bonus was unnaturally clear air—no fog, no mist, no moisture of any kind obscured mirrored images. Finally, weekends provided time to be home around 8:30 a.m. when the early sun popped over the hill in just the right spot to profile a myriad of cottonwood, ash, and locust shadows onto the winding brook.
What I saw when I gazed out the window onto Big Creek was a most unusual circus. Shadows of furry, acrobatic figures chased one another from one darkly silhouetted high branch to another up and down the bank. The inconsequential forms seemed to fly as they leapt across open space. I suspected a previous May’s tornado created greater gaps than the squirrels were used to based on some of the stretches their images made as they reflected vaults from one landing to another.

Amazingly, those breaches didn’t faze them as they launched wiry forms from limb to limb across spans of about 300 feet. The fearless rodents blasted off across open territory with the fearlessness of the Flying Wallenzas.

Every now and then I spied one of the reflected creatures performing a flip or winding itself artfully around a branch like it wanted to enhance its routine. Working in tandem, several choreographed a chase scene to rival the chase in The Thomas Crown Affair. In addition to the fury critters’ mirrored dives, leaps, twirls, shadows of big and little birds hovered and darted in and out of the darkly profiled scenes. Where to look first became the morning challenge. Who cared about coffee?

I don’t know how I missed this show on earlier weekend mornings unless that year’s presentation had more to do with previously mentioned factors—unnaturally warm temperatures and lack of moisture in the air that provided clarity we normally didn’t experience winter mornings. Whatever the reasons, I’ve recorded this shadow play in my memory banks so I can sit back on future mornings and smile at the antics of frisky squirrels turning somersaults in my mind.

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.

Teaching is considered a profession similar to medicine and law. Not only is a higher education required, but teachers are salaried professionals who do not punch a time clock for hourly wages. These are all state jurisdictions, with state bar exams and state medical board exams.

But the governance of these professions is not the same. In nearly all states, the legal profession is managed by legal professionals. Medical doctors likewise manage the state exams and sit on the hospital boards. Therefore, these professions are stable. They have a gradually evolving body of knowledge that they practice. There are no calls for drastic reforms and innovations every few years. And there is no movement to drastically lower the bar for entering the profession.

Education is different. There are fifty states and the District of Columbia producing 51 variations in governing the teaching profession. Day-to-day operations are usually overseen by a State Superintendent of Instruction or a Commissioner of Education. In 24 states, the State Board appoints that officer. In 14 states, the people elect this administrator. And in 12 states, it is a Governor’s appointment.

In 12 states the State Board is appointed and the Board appoints the chief officer. In 11 states, the governor appoints the State Board and the Commissioner or Superintendent is elected by the people. In nine states, the governor appoints both the State Board and the chief officer. And in eight states, the State Board is elected and appoints the Superintendent or Commissioner.

In two states (New York and South Carolina), the state legislature appoints the Board. In two states (Texas and New Mexico) and in the District of Columbia, the State Board is elected and the Governor or Mayor appoints the chief officer. In Mississippi, the Board is a mixed appointment between the executive and legislative branches. Louisiana, Ohio and Washington state have a mix of appointed and elected boards and chiefs. In two states, Minnesota (appointed) and Wisconsin (elected), the chief has no State Board and is the “education czar.”

Because public schooling is supported by a substantial amount of state tax revenue, every state has taken governance of education away from teachers—the education professionals—and made educational decision-making political. So in nearly all states, the criteria for being a member governing educational policy does not include being an education professional. (Admittedly, in Kansas, several Board members were teachers.)
So while the legal and medical professions move ahead with steady progress, building upon a solid history of practice, education policy whip-saws from pillar to post, requiring everyone to follow standardized assessments, then switching teachers to social skills development, then to continuous school improvement, etc.

But this non-professional government of education is not our only problem. Before the 1970s, state educational governance was the same as now but classroom teaching decisions rested fully with the classroom teacher. The intrusion of external assessments, the loss of professional teacher decision-making, and the usurping of state authority by federal extortion occurred since then. Before 1970, education was almost never a political issue and state governing boards let teachers be professionals.

When I examine the educational governing bodies of other countries today, all of which manage education at the national level, their ministries of education are stable. Staffed with educational professionals, most continue to serve across changes in political administrations. Other countries’ education policies evolve slowly. There is no reform fever. No perpetual innovation. Their school administrators serve their teachers, just as an American hospital administrator serves our doctors.

We would not consider a person qualified to make legal-profession policy just because they had appeared in court, nor oversee medical policy merely because they had at one time been a patient. But in most states, having been a student makes you qualified to be appointed or elected to manage educational policy and oversee the profession. Perhaps it is time to make teacher certification a requirement for election to our governing education bodies.

John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Four statues stand in the rotunda of the Kansas Capitol. They honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sen. and Gov. Arthur Capper, aviator Amelia Earhart, and country newspaper editor William Allen White. White was one of the most famous newspaper editors of his day. He was nationally influential while publishing the daily newspaper in his small town in rural Kansas. His legacy continues through the years.

Last week we learned about Red Rocks, the William Allen White home that is now a state historic site in Emporia. At Red Rocks through the years, William Allen White and his wife Sallie hosted many visitors, including several presidents and thought leaders from across the nation.

One of those was Edna Ferber, the most successful female novelist in the first half of the twentieth century. She wrote: “…there is no ocean trip, no month in the country, no known drug equal to the reviving quality of twenty-four hours spent on the front porch or in the sitting room of the Whites’ house in Emporia…”

White was a gifted and articulate writer. He wrote 22 books. His newspaper editorials through the years dealt with topics ranging from national policy to his favorite recipes. His 1896 editorial, “What’s the Matter with Kansas,” first brought him national fame. This editorial led to him meeting and becoming a longtime friend of Teddy Roosevelt. In later years, White came to embrace Roosevelt’s progressive policies within the Republican party.

Another editorial was a tribute to his 16-year-old daughter, killed in a horseback riding accident. This touching column would become reprinted in textbooks for years.

In later years, White challenged the racism of the Ku Klux Klan. He also supported free speech. His 1922 editorial, “To an Anxious Friend,” won a Pulitzer Prize as did his autobiography.

One day, White wrote about his lost dog, a fox terrier named Teddy (after Teddy Roosevelt). His column brought an outpouring of letters from across the country, reporting dog sightings or offering a puppy. Eventually, the lost dog was found and reunited with the family. Decades later, in 2013, Emporia author Jerilynn Henrikson wrote a children’s book about the dog. The fanciful book, titled “Teddy, the Ghost Dog of Red Rocks,” chronicled the day-to-day life of the Whites through the eyes of the family canine.

William Allen White passed away on Kansas Day in 1944. His son, William Lindsay White – sometimes known as Bill – assumed ownership of the Gazette. Bill White had worked in radio, sometimes filling in for legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow during World War II. Bill White married Kathrine, a native of the rural community of Cawker City, population 469 people. Now, that’s rural.

Bill and Kathrine had no children of their own. During World War II, Bill sought to adopt a war orphan in London and bring the child to the U.S. Flights were full and wartime restrictions were in place. Finally, White adopted young Barbara and left his luggage in London so that Barbara could ride on his lap on the plane. This story would become the basis for White’s book “Journey for Margaret” and a movie of the same name.

Bill, Kathrine and Barbara came to Emporia in 1951 and lived at Red Rocks. Barbara married a Stanford classmate, David Walker. In 2001, Barbara gifted Red Rocks to the state of Kansas. The Walker family continues ownership of the Emporia Gazette today.

The legacy of William Allen White lives on. The journalism school at KU and the library at Emporia State are named in his honor, as was a B-29 airplane, a children’s book award, a local elementary school, and more. He was the Sage of Emporia, known nationally as an advocate for small town life in middle America.

In the Kansas capitol, William Allen White is one of only four Kansans depicted as statues. We commend all those who are making a difference by keeping this history alive. His impact on Kansas history is statuesque.

And there’s more. The Walker family not only continues White’s legacy in Kansas journalism, it is reaching even more communities. We’ll learn about that next week.

Sponsored by Glassman, Bird, Brown and Powell LLP — a full-service law firm serving Hays and Northwest Kansas.

You can also watch the weekly reports from Topeka on Eagle TV Channels 14 and 614.

Stock market declines are the last thing most investors want to experience, but they are an inevitable part of investing. Perhaps a little historical background can help you put stock market declines in perspective.

A look back at stock market history since 1900 shows that declines have varied widely in intensity, length and frequency. In the midst of a decline, it’s been nearly impossible to tell the difference between a slight dip and a more prolonged correction.

About 3 times a year, the Dow Jones has dropped 5% or more, with the average length of the drop being 47 days, and the last occurrence in August of 2015.

About once a year, the Dow Jones has dropped 10% or more, with the average length of the drop being 115 days, and the last occurrence in August of 2015.

About once every two years, the Dow Jones has dropped 15% or more, with the average length of the drop being 215 days, and the last occurrence in October of 2011.

And, about ever three and a half years, the Dow Jones drops 20% or more with the average length of the drop being 341 days, and the last occurrence in March of 2009.

Living with a market decline isn’t easy, but if you understand these 3 key lessons, you’ll be a more intelligent investor:

No one can predict consistently when market declines will happen. It’s easy to look back today and say with hindsight that the stock market was overvalued at a particular time and due for a decline. But no one has been able to accurately predict market declines on a consistent basis. If they do claim that they have consistently and accurately predicted market slides, either run for the country, or look at their overall record, as you’ll find as many misses as hits, but obviously the only ones that are published are the hits. Jeanne Dixon, the fortune teller from the 60’s, claimed fame by predicting John F. Kennedy’s death, but missed on many other predictions that were not made public.

No one can predict how long a decline will last. Since 1982, with few exceptions, market declines have been relatively brief. Earlier market declines had lasted longer.

After the 1929 crash, it took investors 16 years to restore their investments if they invested at the market high. In 2000, it took about 5 years. But after the 1987 crash, it took about 23 months to get back. In 1990, it took about 8 months. (In all cases dividends were assumed to be reinvested).

No one can consistently predict the right time to get in or out of the market. Successful market timing during a decline is extremely difficult because it requires a pair of near-perfect actions: getting out and then getting back in at the right time. A common mistake investors make is to lose patience and sell at or near the bottom of a downturn. But even if you have decent timing and get out early in a decline, you still have to figure out when to get back in.

A bear market is not usually characterized by a straight-line decline in stock prices. Instead, the market’s downward trend is likely to be jagged-showing bursts of stock price increases, known as “sucker’s rallies,” and then declines.

Of course, only time will tell if we are in for a correction, or not. For those interested in “fake news,” President Trump is not causing the downturn in the market any more than his claim for being responsible for its 27% upturn since his inauguration. The fact that the Dow dropped the day of his State of the Union address has to be prefaced by the fact that the Dow closes at 4:00 est and the State of the Union address didn’t even start till sometime after 7:00 est.

The media will report a 660 point one day drop and sensationalize this occurrence, but a 660 point drop on a 25,000 Dow is not the same as a 660 point drop on a 5000 Dow, but it sure raises eyebrows, which is what it’s meant to do.

If you continue to have concerns, don’t hesitate to call your financial advisor before making any changes to your financial plan.

Tim Schumacher represents Strategic Financial Partners in Hays.

We would like to thank the entire community of Hays for supporting Kaizer and his battle with Williams syndrome and related heart defects.

The benefit bake sale sold out, and we are absolutely astonished by how many people continue to reach out to us for support. We are so proud to live in such an amazing, supportive community! We had so many people that brought in baked goods or donated and we want everyone to know how thankful we are for your love, kindness, and generosity.

Kaizer is very blessed to have so many people behind him. We will forever be grateful for the generosity we have received from this community.

Thank you!!

Jason, Krista, Braxton and Kaizer Dechant