A month into this year’s legislative session, brand new Gov. Jeff Colyer will tell the House and Senate just what he wants his 11-month governorship to look like at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Those first days of this election-year session? Well, there were no injuries, so that’s a good thing but about as good as it got. Now-U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback is out of the building, and Colyer has a strong venue this week to talk to the House and Senate about his plans for this fiscal year and next; pre-Wednesday, he has been silent about just what he wants to change, if anything.

He has already harvested a House member, Rep. Larry Campbell, R-Olathe, to be his budget director, and moved Brownback/Colyer budget director Shawn Sullivan to a new more global administrative post.

At the Statehouse? Well, opinion is still split on whether he keeps the massive stuffed buffalo head in the entrance to his office. That buffalo head makes interesting background for photos, but, well, it’s a buffalo head and that’s as good as it gets. Furniture moved in the office, and well, we’re waiting for that new “tone” he talks about.

Legislative leadership? Colyer has met with both Republican and Democratic leaders, and nobody is talking about what, if anything, purposeful was said in those polite talks.

And Colyer himself isn’t talking about anything that Brownback who was his boss for seven years did or didn’t do that Colyer had to just ignore and not criticize because, well, that’s what lieutenant governors do, just be quiet.

It’s not strange that Colyer isn’t well-known to many Kansans, because the sitting governor is the face of the state. Not quite like being lieutenant governor is a witness protection program, but only in the past couple months has Brownback allowed Colyer to put his DNA on much besides appointment of a new Kansas Secretary for Children and Families, Gina Meier-Hummel, to succeed retiring Secretary Phyllis Gilmore.

So, us Statehouse hangers-on are interested in Wednesday and what will change that we can figure out.

How often is it that us insiders don’t know more than Kansans who have regular lives, in which they don’t look for every verb or adjective that might mean a bill or a policy isn’t favored by the guy who has to sign or veto it?

But, we will be watching whether Secretary of State candidate for the GOP nomination for governor this summer will be at the speech. We all noted that Colyer tapped Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss to do the official swearing-in last week. That’s a job that often falls to the Secretary of State but Colyer really didn’t want competitor Kris Kobach in the pictures and demonstrating the power to scooch Colyer into the nicer office.

So, what’s new? We have a Legislature that will have spent a few weeks on the job without a clear vision of just what the new administration wants to accomplish and whether lawmakers—those Colyer fans and those who would like someone else for governor—are willing to give Colyer legislative victories that he can use to win the GOP nomination for governor.

Republican candidates for just about any elected office tend to lean to the far right, to get those diligent Republican primary voters, then after the primary move toward the political middle for the general election in hopes they can pick up moderate votes, maybe a Democrat or two.

We’ll see which way Colyer is going this week…

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

Recently while pouring over the 2017 fishing forecasts on the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, I began to wonder how Kansas lakes and reservoirs are rated on those forecasts, how those forecasts are put together and how to read them. I spoke with the KDWPT Fisheries Biologist in my area, Bryan Sowards and got a crash course in reading and interpreting their fishing forecasts and learned more about how they put them together.

On the website, www.ksoutdoors.com, there are both fishing reports and fishing forecasts. Fishing reports are simply information gathered by biologists from fisherman, marinas etc. at each lake and reservoir about how best to catch each species of fish in that impoundment. Fishing reports are updated weekly from March through October as information is received. Fish sampling occurs on all Federal Reservoirs and State Lakes, and on some community owned lakes and ponds, and annual fishing forecasts are generated from that data.

There are three ways fish in lakes and reservoirs are sampled to obtain information for annual fishing forecasts. In late October large hoop nets are set along shorelines to sample populations of crappies and bluegills. The nets are left for one night and the number of fish trapped are counted and measured for the forecast report. To sample walleye, saugeye, wipers, stripers, white bass and catfish populations, gill nets are placed along shorelines for one night also in late October, and captured fish are counted and measured for the report. To sample largemouth bass, small mouth bass and spotted bass, a method known as electrofishing is used in the spring. Done from a boat, this technique electrifies water around the boat, temporarily stunning fish and allowing biologists to capture, weigh and measure them for the forecast report.

To access fishing REPORTS, go to the website, click on fishing, then on reports. From the list of regions, choose the region that contains the lake or reservoir you want to check, then click on the appropriate lake. To view fishing FORECASTS, click on forecasts, then from the list of fish species shown, click on the species you want to know about, then you will be given a choice of all lakes, ponds and reservoirs sampled for that species will be listed.

Down the left side of the forecast report is displayed a list of all lakes or reservoirs sampled for the species you chose. The first category will be “Density Rating” and is the number or fish over 8 inches found in each net or trap. The next two categories are “Preferred Rating “ and “Lunker Rating,” and display the number of fish over 10 inches and over 12 inches respectively found in each trap or net. The next category called “Biggest Fish” is simply the weight of the largest fish caught in the sample. The next category called “Biologists Rating” rates the impoundment as Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor according to information available to the biologist, and it may not reflect all the other categories if information is known about the fish populations there that weren’t necessarily reflected in the samples captured. The last category is “3 Year Average,” and is the average number of fish over 8 inches captured over the last 3 years of sampling. The lakes are listed by the density rating; the more fish over 8 inches captured in sampling, the higher that lake is ranked.

Fishing reports and forecasts are obviously not infallible, but are both good tools to help fishermen decide where and how they might want to spend their time and efforts. Devout Kansas fishermen are already gearing up to catch hungry catfish when the ice thaws, and the opportunities will only grow from there, so grab a kid, a spouse or a friend and take someone fishing this year as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

Growing up, I heard story after story about the Dust Bowl from my parents and grandparents. Dad described his mother shoveling rather than sweeping post-storm drifts. Grandma told how she placed wet sheets over her children’s beds to protect their lungs as they slept. She’d launder filthy linens day after day.

My mother’s family lived in Southwest Kansas and shared similar tales when family gathered. What made these epics unique was that I grew up in Southern California among verdant citrus orchards and strawberry fields. Dust blacking out the sun seemed outlandish to a little girl who played outside on green grass year-round.

When we moved to Oklahoma in 1972, I listened to more first-person accounts of the Dirty Thirties, tales that-seemed movie or book-like to me. Even though I ‘d seen dramatic photos in history books, I couldn’t imagine air that held more dirt than breathable oxygen.

As a college junior in Weatherford, Oklahoma, I got my first taste of dust storms. As my relatives once described, daylight disappeared. Aeolian soil, probably from Nebraska, found its way through every crevice in my ancient dorm room. Mucus coughed up in response to this invasion was muddy, which explained why my taste buds screamed, “What are you doing, eating dirt?”

Just as in the stories relatives relayed, the day turned so dark I flicked on overhead lights to see. I also skipped the trek to the cafeteria for supper. My tongue thanked me as it already had plenty of foreign matter to process. I hadn’t devoured that much soil since I was three.

Over decades, I’ve seen dust storms enough that those old tales now ring true. Recently, I drove between Ellis and Logan during marathon winds. As I traveled toward my destination, air-borne loam muted all horizon lines. Beyond those fuzzy edges, I could see distant elevators.

By the time I finished my chores and began the return trip, I couldn’t see from one section line to another. Wind speeds had increased considerably, stirring air to the color of milky coffee. What had been bluster early was now gale that pressed ditch weeds flat to the earth.

Hordes of tumbleweeds large and small raced east. It was like watching a movie or news report where throngs of people broke out of prison and scurried helter skelter to get away–only these were various sized herbaceous orbs rolling at top speed across the prairie. I didn’t clock them, but if I’d had a radar gun, I suspect sleeker plants sailed by at over 55 miles per hour.

Thankfully, they were plants and not people or animals dashing in front of my grille. I know I whacked over 200 unmoored Russian thistles that day. At times, it seemed as if 2,000,000 sped my way. If I could’ve seen more than a couple hundred feet, I’d have parked to count the masses. Tumbleweeds that day compared in number to the millions of migrating buffalo that once stopped trains crossing these grasslands for up to three days.

I no longer have trouble understanding family Dust Bowl accounts. In fact, after that nasty storm, I’ve a saga of my own to pass on to grandchildren. As Kansas kids, they won’t have the trouble Grandma did picturing a landscape erased by blowing dirt.

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.

What is happening in our country is pathetic, especially on one end of the political spectrum. Another theme in my letter to the editor will be winners and losers. Look for that also.

I have a question, and whenever I ask it, the silence is deafening and speaks volumes in my opinion. The question is “what agendas coming from the Democrat Party as we speak will appeal to voters in the next election?” I get no takers on that question, and that’s why I also write that there are winners and losers.

How can the Democrat Party be a winner without a good agenda? They are losing on their many pathetic attempts to destroy Trump. Our president is still standing strong. Not only that, his accomplishments are great. Sadly, mainstream never goes there, nor even local newspapers.

The ridiculous behavior of Democrats during Trump’s State of the Union is another nail in their coffin. They wouldn’t acknowledge good news about anything, not even historical lows in unemployment among minorities.

The hate by liberals of President Donald J. Trump is unprecedented in American history. In most of my letters to the editor the word “unprecedented” is used more than any other word probably. Surely, one can see what is occurring in our politics and government for the past year is unmatched in American history, and what seems a hundred different ways.

I’m amazed at what is said about Trump when discussing the state of affairs with a liberal. It’s all criticism on silly “personal” levels. In other words it might be Trumps hair, the way he talks or walks or dresses, and every little word he utters. Liberals don’t even want to know what Trump is actually doing in the way of accomplishments – and there are many great ones. I call that pathetic politics.

I met recently with three co-workers at the college the four of us are retired from and “oh brother” was that an experience. The attacks by the three on Trump were all about silly personal stuff and they had no clue what he is doing actually – nor any clue about massive corruption coming from their political party, nor did they even want to know. My friends were teachers of science and math courses. So much for any kind of analytic thinking versus emotion.

I’ve come to the conclusion that liberals, especially when it comes to our president, have tunnel vision and refuse to look at the big picture. For example, the “crappy” word Trump supposedly used about Haiti consumed every minute for days by liberal media and Democrats. I could give lots of illustrations of narrow mindedness with no interest at all in looking at the big picture.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that many arguments can boil down to just simple common sense explanations. For example, how can an agenda be a winning effort when politicians put foreigners, who broke the law coming here, ahead of the needs of Americans? Add to that, the scheme is to have foreigners come here to swing elections. There’s not one iota of common sense in those Democrat agendas and I could give a dozen illustrations where common sense alone explains the whole thing.

Is Trump a miracle, or his accomplishments, perhaps both? Liberals control 90% of our media and 90% of their reporting is negative toward our president. The words “against all odds” comes to mind. Even some members of his own party are against him. Most of Hollywood, higher education, minorities, even milleianals are against him. Facebook, Google and Twitter admitted Hillary bias. Most, in and around Washington, D.C. voted for Hillary.

Worst of all, our own government was anti Trump when it came to voting and even engaged in corruption to prevent a Trump presidency. God help us, that includes thousands of Obama holdovers in virtually every agency including our FBI, CIA, DOJ, etc. Even the Democrat Party became corrupted trying to destroy Trump. Our own FBI actually collaborated with Obama and Hillary to destroy Trump.

That collaboration is the height of pathetic politics with our justice and intelligence agencies playing politics to determine who gets to be our president – rather than the American people. Maybe the height of pathetic politics is our past president Obama lurking in the shadows organizing to destroy Trump!

The corruption is not conspiracy as mainstream media leads us to believe. There is undeniable evidence to prove it. Trust me when I say the many bombshells are coming soon in the way of a showdown. Guess who will be losers in all of this if justice prevails.

Yup, nothing short of a miracle Trump is still standing, and making America great again as we speak. His SOTU speech was historical. He’s making history with his many accomplishments. He’s a winner. Google WMD’s 177 Trump accomplishments put together months ago and when bringing us up to date there are even more.

Some could argue I go overboard on Trump. The whole world has been against him and, if I speak out as a minority, so be it. On Facebook I saw “Obama lied to us eloquently and Trump tells us the truth crudely. Which do you prefer?” The truth on matters that count.

Anybody that disagrees with my analysis of Trump, is clearly watching the many liberal media TV outlets, and not the one conservative outlet, It’s like living on two different planets. Liberal media is still dwelling on Trump collusion with Russia after a year of no evidence. Fox News is the most watched cable news source 16 years running and dwells on what Trump is accomplishing and the massive corruption in our government. A first grader would know which is more important.

I suppose one could say liberal Democrat mainstream media is a winner on one score. They are successful in propagandizing and indoctrinating millions to hundreds of things that are not true. Is that a pathetic way to improve ratings or what? MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is the worst. Her entire show is insinuation, innuendos and speculation while she throws up on the screen all kinds of Trump Russia connections, most of which can’t be followed by the average viewer, and in 370 some days yet to have anything stick.

Let me leave readers with these two thoughts. Number one, how pathetic is it when Trump, a winner, is criticized by the left for using the word “America” too often in his famous speech? Secondly, the massive government corruption has shaken the very foundation of our democratic republic and somebody needs to pay a price.

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

Friend,

Laina and I this week had the privilege to bare witness to one of the biggest spectacles of the political calendar, the State of the Union Address (shown below). Every since I was a young boy, growing up in rural Kansas, I can remember my family gathering around to hear our President address Congress.

President Trump delivered a composed and professional speech, reporting the Stat of our Union as better than ever. We celebrated great victories such as the Passage of the GOP Tax Plan, we focused our attentions on battles to come such as infrastructure reform, but we also celebrated our military, our veterans and our emergency service workers and thanked them for their service and dedication to protect our nation.

Laina and I collected our favorite parts of the State of the Union and created a Twitter Moment!

Events such as this remind me just how lucky I am to be able to work for Kansas to improve the lives of Americans all across the world.

As always, if my team can be of any assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us.

In the House

Wind Energy

In Kansas, 30 percent of our energy comes from wind power making it incredibly valuable to our state.

This week, the Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing to examine the priorities of the Department of Energy, providing me with an opportunity to encourage prioritizing wind energy and the technological research needed to strengthen the industry.

Off to the GOP Retreat!

I spent the latter half of this week in West Virginia at the Annual GOP Retreat. As I am sure many of you know, this trip started in a deeply tragic way.  This accident  reminded me how precious life is. Laina and I have been praying for the families of the victims involved with the accident and their families.  Many of you have called in sending your prayers and my wife and I are so thankful to be in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Throughout this retreat, the GOP discussed its strategy for the upcoming legislative year and outlined our top priorities. It was a very productive retreat and I believe as we head back to D.C. today that our team is energized and focused on impactful solutions.

Happy Birthday, Kansas!

On Monday, we celebrated the 157th Birthday of Kansas! Ad astra per aspera, there’s no place like home. Today Kansas is known for more than its wheat production but our agriculture industry is growing and becoming more diverse than ever.

It is important to remember our states long history leaders and innovators like Walter Chrysler, Amelia Earhart, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Bob Dole.

As I travel through the state I see optimism and hope despite some of the economic hardships that our farmers and producers face. I really enjoyed watching and seeing all of the celebrations via social media – Please check out our twitter moment that we made to celebrate!

House Votes on First Bills

The House debated on House Bill 2482, which would change the time in which drinking establishments could serve, mix, or consume alcoholic beverages on the premises from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., to 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. This change would extend the daily period by three hours.  Proponents argued that this bill would improve opportunities for restaurants and businesses to attract additional clientele, particularly those working night shifts and individuals seeking breakfast opportunities. The only neutral testimony was presented by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue. The House passed this bill on Monday, January 29^th, 75-47.  I voted “yes.”

We also debated House Bill 2439 which would create an additional crime of involuntary manslaughter, while under the influence. This bill would provide greater penalties for those who drive under the influence at a time in which they are not entitled to because of a prior DUI offense, specifically when a death or serious injury occurs.

During the debate, an amendment was proposed to name this bill after a victim; the amendment to name the bill “Caitlin’s Law” was adopted.  This bill passed out of the House as well, 122-0.  Both of these bills are now headed to the Senate.

Bills Debated in the House

On Thursday, the Kansas House of Representatives debated two bills regarding the second amendment.  House Bill 2042 would require the state of Kansas to recognize all valid concealed carry licenses and permits issued by other states to non-Kansas residents.  This bill generated much debate on the House floor as there were many amendments regarding concealed carry licenses and permits.  One of the amendments that was passed would require any individual that would conceal carry on the premises of a college campus to complete training and acquire a conceal carry permit. The final bill, House Bill 2145 makes possession of a firearm by certain individuals a crime synonymous with Federal law.  Both passed the chamber Friday morning in Final Action.

Civil Asset Forfeiture

The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2459.  This bill makes changes to the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act (KSASFA). During the 2017 Session, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary committees requested that the Judicial Council study the topic of civil asset forfeiture. The Judicial Council set up an Advisory Committee to study civil asset forfeiture legislation.

The Advisory Committee recommended changes noting “The Committee, comprised of both proponents and opponents of civil asset forfeiture reform, worked together to reach agreement on the KSASFA amendments discussed above.”

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.

 

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.

KID

TOPEKA – Nearly 40 percent of engagements occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. Then, the planning begins, not only for the wedding but for married life in general.

One not-so-exciting – but just as important – factor that engaged couples should discuss is what to do about insurance needs. That may not be as fun as sampling cakes, but getting married can certainly have an impact on insurance coverage.

Our Kansas Insurance Department (KID) staff and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have some insurance tips for couples who are about to say “I do.”

Wedding insurance

Insurance to protect against weather, illness or even “cold feet” is increasing, according to insurance companies. Since the average cost of a wedding in the United States is reportedly at $26,000, and an estimated 2 million-plus weddings occur annually in the U.S., couples might want to check with an insurance agent to see if this could be useful for their situation.

Homeowners and Renter’s Insurance

There are several things to consider when deciding where you and your spouse will live. Location, size of the dwelling and construction type are all factors that determine your insurance premium.

Combining households also means combining your belongings. Make a home inventory of all your belongings to determine how much coverage you will need. It will also make filing a claim easier in the event of a loss or disaster. The NAIC offers a free smartphone home inventory app that makes your information and photos available at your fingertips. You can also print off the KID Personal Home Inventory by going to www.ksinsurance.org.

 Auto Insurance

Married couples have the option of combining their auto insurance policies, but most newlyweds do not discuss their spouse’s driving record before getting married. A poor driving record could increase the cost of your premiums, so you might want to have that conversation.

As a newlywed, you may be eligible for discounts. Some insurance companies consider married couples a lower risk, which could result in lower rates. Also, if you combine your auto policies or buy auto coverage from the same company that carries your homeowners or renters policy, you may be eligible for additional discounts.

Health Insurance

When deciding about your health insurance needs as a couple, evaluate your current and future health care. Review the provisions of your policies with those needs and coverages in mind. You will also want to compare the cost of adding your spouse to your policy against keeping your own health insurance.

For individual plans, contact your insurance agent for specific enrollment requirements for spouses. You will need your spouse’s Social Security Number and income information to add him/her to your plan.

Life Insurance

It is not easy to talk about something such as life insurance during a happy time, but life insurance may help secure your family’s financial future. Unfortunately, current reports indicate that many marrying-age millennials see life insurance as unneeded.

But for future family planning, it can be a must. To calculate your needs, consider future income, the cost of raising children and any large outstanding debts such as school loans or mortgage payments.

If either or both of you have life insurance, check with your insurance agent about updating your beneficiary information. Remember to check with your employer about any life insurance benefits offered through work.

Not Sure Where to Start?

To help couples get smart about insurance, the NAIC created a special section in its www.insureuonline.org website under “Weddings” in “Life Events.”  This guide encourages couples to ask the tough questions early.

As always, you can always call the Kansas Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline at 800-432-2484.

The Senate Utilities Committee has scheduled hearings Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6-7, on two bills important to Kansas clean energy advocates.

Supporters can come Tuesday to the Statehouse to testify or can submit written testimony on the bills: one would protect Kansans with solar power from new utility charges and the other would encourage energy efficiency through yearly goals for utilities.

Senate Bill 322  would nullify changes made in 2014 to the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act, which applies only to investor-owned utilities.

The bill returns reasonable size limits (25kw for residential customers and 200kw for commercial and industrial customers, plus schools, cities, and churches) and gives customers one-to-one credit for the generation they create and use annually.

SB 322 also keeps the 1% net meter cap to protect utilities and returns protection to customers from being charged additional fees just because they self-generate some of their electricity. This bill is good for growing solar and other distributed generation systems in Kansas.

Read more about the changes in SB 322 on the Climate + Energy Project website.

Senate Bill 347  would establish energy-efficiency goals for Kansas utilities, including annual reductions in electricity and natural gas use.

Kansas ranks 48th for energy efficiency, so the potential for effective policies that encourage energy efficiency is great.

The committee will hear testimony from supporters at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 6, in Room 548 South of the Kansas Statehouse. Opponents are scheduled to testify at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 7.

The Climate + Energy Project (CEP) is a Hutchinson-based non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Located in America’s Heartland, CEP collaborates with diverse partners across the nation to find practical solutions for a clean energy future that provides jobs, prosperity and energy security.

Planning for the future is vital for families who want to preserve assets for the next generation. Learning about the estate planning process and taking steps now can help to keep those hard-earned assets in the family that worked so hard to attain them.

K-State Research and Extension will offer two regional workshops in February on “Preserving the Family with Estate Planning” to aid families in beginning the process of transitioning from one generation to another. An attorney and K-State experts will cover a range of topics including getting started in estate planning, estate planning basics, and farm or small business succession planning.

The workshops will be held in Phillipsburg on Thursday, February 22 at the Phillips County Fair Building and in Great Bend on Monday, February 26 at the Burnside Room of the Great Bend Recreation Commission. Workshop hours in both locations are 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.

The cost for the workshop is $20 per person, due by February 16th, and includes a meal and program handouts. Additional family members can attend for $15 each if registered together at the same time. Meal and materials cannot be guaranteed for late (after 2/16) or walk-in registrations.

Extension agent Anna Schremmer will open the program with introductory information on “Getting Started in Estate Planning.” Schremmer’s powerful presentation will motivate attendees to begin the estate planning discussion and give a better understanding of how to identify and accomplish estate planning goals.

Kansas Farm Bureau attorney Wendee Gray will discuss “Estate Planning Basics” as it relates to planning for death or incapacitation, protection of assets and distribution of property. Gray is Assistant General Counsel and Director of the Legal Foundation at Kansas Farm Bureau.

KSU Extension Agricultural Economists Mark Wood (in Phillipsburg) or Bryan Manny (in Great Bend) will close the program with economic, financial and compatability issues surrounding succession planning for a farm or small business. Typical estate planning goals, legal entity structure and general planning considerations will be identified.

The “Preserving the Family with Estate Planning” registration brochure and more information is available at Extension offices throughout northwest Kansas. To see a complete brochure and to register and pay online, go to www.northwest.ksu.edu under Events.

It’s never to early or too late to establish an estate plan, and you don’t need to be wealthy to benefit from good planning. Join us for this informative program from K-State Research and Extension to learn more. For questions, contact the Cottonwood Extension District offices in Hays- 785-628-9430 or Great Bend- 620-793-1910.

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

On average, the educational aspirations of Asian immigrant children and Asian international students
surpass all other students in American schools. While there is some variation within ethnic groups in
America, interviews detailed in “The Asian American Achievement Paradox” by Jennifer Lee and Min
Zhou show an upward educational trajectory for second generation immigrants.

“Overachievement” by Asian-American students has long been recognized. Considered the “model
minority,” both temporary Asian international students and second generation Asian-American students
have long excelled in American schools.

Lee and Zhou define this achievement mindset as a “success frame,” or the general way in which
each ethnic culture frames success. This includes both family expectations and how each minority may
provide resources for others within their group to achieve that success frame.

American teachers really enjoy having Asian students. When they get a “B” on the first quiz or exam,
some Asian students drop a college class to take it over again. Simply, a “B” is an Asian “F.” Nothing
less than straight “As” is acceptable. Success is often framed as entry into the top tier of elite
universities—a public university is second choice.

This Asian view focuses on achieving a higher paying job. Medicine, law or engineering are viewed
as successful careers. Not teaching. Not police work.

Success is also framed as being a matter of effort, not innate ability. While Asian students overall
outperform all other groups, the failure of some of them to hit these super-high targets also gives them
the lowest self-esteem of all ethnic groups surveyed. When an Asian student fails to meet ethnic
expectations, the sense of failure can result in suicide at the college level–-more common in Asia than in
the United States—but also not found to any significant extent in students from other cultures. However,
these cultural values also result in the lowest rates of delinquency, incarceration and teenage births of all groups.

Asian immigrants to the U.S. are over-selected for high degrees; that is, Asians who come here
average higher levels of education than was found on average back in their home countries of China,
Vietnam, Korea, etc. In 1970, the Asian population was barely one percent of the American population;
today it exceeds 6 percent. This growth is due to the influx of Vietnamese refugees following that war,
and to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. In addition, nearly all of the U.S. growth in
engineering, physics and medical/pharmacy degrees since then can be attributed to Asian American
students, or to Asian international students who earn a large proportion of those degrees and are then
recruited to remain and work in the United States.

The Asian sub-communities found in larger cities likewise provide after-school resources that are
available to both affluent and economically poor Asian students, thereby providing extra help not
generated by other ethnic groups. This includes not only after-hour cram schools, but also counseling and
networking that directs students down these career paths and makes college entrance easier.

The effect of having your whole ethnic community behind you, encouraging you as a student to
achieve high goals, has a tremendous effect on achievement. The high school dropout rate for white
students has gone from 9 percent in 1993 to 5 percent in 2014. For Asian students, it was always under
one percent.

College enrollment of 18-to-24 year-olds in 2014 was 33 percent for blacks, 35 percent for Hispanics,
42 percent for whites and 64 percent for Asians. State and national goals exhort students to achieve a 60
percent college completion rate. Asian students are already beyond that. When it comes to completing a
bachelor’s degree within the age bracket of 25-29, Hispanics are at 15 percent, blacks at 22, whites are at
41 and Asians are at 63 percent.

Bottomline? If the U.S. reduces Asian immigration, it will reduce a critical supply line of future
engineers, doctors, pharmacists and physicists America needs for its future. But Asian students are not
the only ethnic group that is moving upward in U.S. schools.

John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

On Wednesday, Kansans got a new governor.

Jeff Colyer’s emergence from the witness protection program of being Lt. Governor should be the story of the week.

Colyer has six months to establish a record and a persona that will carry him to victory in the crowded GOP primary election. No mean feat.

What’s the problem? In short, the 2018 election is all about gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, the current Secretary of State.

First, a little history. Since 1974, when Kansas adopted four-year gubernatorial terms, every successful candidate has either served as a top legislative leader or has held an elected statewide office. In the 1970s and 1980s, Bob Bennett, John Carlin and Mike Hayden came from the Legislature. From 1990 on, Governors Joan Finney, Bill Graves, Kathleen Sebelius, and Sam Brownback all moved to Cedar Crest directly from elected statewide positions, although none served as attorney general, the most notable stepping-stone office.

Winning a down-ballot statewide office is a viable route to the governorship. In 2018, this is the path trod by Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer and, most notably, Secretary of State Kris Kobach. While Selzer remains essentially unknown, Kobach is far more recognizable, even notorious.

Unlike Bill Graves, who in 1994 rose unexpectedly from serving as a conventional Secretary of State to winning the governorship, Kobach stands in 2018 as the best known gubernatorial aspirant (the good news) and the one with by far the highest disapproval rating (the bad news).

Kobach, given his unapologetic support for voter suppression, nativism, and the Brownback tax cuts, has become the focal point – explicitly or not – of all Republican and Democratic candidates.

Like Donald Trump, Kobach doubles down at almost every opportunity; unlike Trump, he remains consistent in his alt-right approach to politics, whether writing exclusionary, unconstitutional anti-immigrant laws across the country or frothing vitriol at the Breitbart website or defending the indefensible Kansas Crosscheck voter security (sic) system. Add to these issues his unstinting backing for the unpopular Sam Brownback and his own high negatives, to say nothing of modest early fund-raising, and Kobach might well look less than formidable.

For Colyer and the other five so-called major Republican aspirants, however, the problem is to find a way for one of them to surpass the 25-to-30 percent of the vote that Kobach seems destined to win. To be sure, recent national publicity on Trump’s voting commission debacle and state attention to the insecure multi-state Crosscheck could combine to reduce his core support. Still, with six serious candidates and a host of minor ones, winning even 20 percent of the GOP primary vote might propel Kobach to the GOP nomination.

Kobach’s notoriety has increased the visibility of the Secretary of State position, and several candidates from both parties likely regard the office as a gateway to further advancement. Three significant Republicans – Representatives Keith Esau and Scott Schwab and GOP state chair Kelly Arnold – have announced, along with two Democrats — Senator Marci Francisco and newcomer Brian McClendon. While it is noteworthy that four veteran Kansas politicos are vying for the office, it’s equally significant that McClendon, a Kansas native with an extensive background in the tech industry (Google and Uber), has returned to the state to run for a traditionally unglamorous position.

Kobach has certainly raised the relevance of his office, but so have disputes about voting rights, both in Kansas and across the country. The governor’s race will surely be the main event in 2018, but the important undercard battle to become secretary of state will be worth watching as well.

Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.

By Dr. TISA MASON
Fort Hays State University president

I recently returned from a meeting of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and I was impressed with the number of Division II presidents who were actively engaged in the meeting. The focus on the successes, opportunities and challenges facing our student athletes was informative. As a former vice president for student affairs, I especially enjoyed the involvement and perspectives of the student athletes who participated in the governance of the association. They spoke with passion, purpose and eloquence about the privileges and challenges unique to student athletes. They were inspiring.

It is not easy being a student athlete. Our student athletes often maintain very hectic schedules, relying on perfecting time management skills and a relentless focus on prioritizing as they attempt to balance classes, study, workouts, practices, games, team travel, internships, campus leadership responsibilities – and for many, jobs – which means fewer social events and not a whole lot of “me time.”

In fact, one of the issues discussed at the meeting was helping student athletes find balance amid a growing number of “voluntold” activities (activities that are not mandatory but are strongly encouraged, and in which nonparticipation may result in consequences). In the end, at FHSU, the drive, determination and character of each of our student athletes pays off. But don’t take just my word for it – check out the 2016-17 evidence:

• 16 individuals earned All-America accolades in their respective sports.

• FHSU enjoyed its most successful fall season overall in school history and ranked seventh nationally in the Learfield Directors’ Cup at the end of the fall sports season.

• Football made a bowl game appearance and finished 8-4 for the second consecutive year. FHSU picked up its first-ever win in a postseason game by winning the Heart of Texas Bowl 45-12 over Eastern New Mexico. The team had 14 All-MIAA performers and four All-Americans. (And of course the many accolades of the fall of 2017 included an undefeated 11-0 regular season earning our first MIAA Championship, first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1995 and the most wins by a team in school history – breaking the previous record of 8.)

• Volleyball finished the year 25-9 and fourth in the MIAA standings, its highest finish since joining the conference in 2006. The 25 wins tied for second most in the program’s Division II history. Five players earned All-MIAA honors and Crystal Whitten earned All-America honors.

• Men’s soccer won the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament and made the national quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. FHSU served as host of the NCAA Super Regional. The team had 12 All-MIAA selections and Luis Torres earned All-America honors. (In the fall of 2017, the team earned its first MIAA championship and made its sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament.)

• Women’s soccer made its deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in program history, advancing to the Central Regional Championship against Central Missouri. FHSU shared the MIAA regular season title with Central Missouri. The team had 11 members named All-MIAA.

• Women’s cross country qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time in 20 years and placed 18th nationally. The squad had four All-MIAA performers.

• Men’s cross country finished fourth in the MIAA and had one All-MIAA performer.

• Women’s basketball posted its sixth consecutive 20-win season in 2016-17, going 22-8 overall. The team had four All-MIAA selections.

• Men’s basketball had another successful season, going 18-11. Rob Davis earned All-America honors, averaging 21.4 points per game, and three Tigers were named All-MIAA.

• Wrestling had four national qualifiers and six All-MIAA performers. Jon Inman was national runner-up at 197 pounds, while Brandon Ball finished sixth at 141 pounds, each earning All-America honors. Head Coach Chas Thompson was named the MIAA Coach of the Year.

• Men’s track and field spent time in the national rankings for the indoor season, and Dillando Allotey and Brett Meyer earned All-America honors in the 200 meters and 800 meters respectively for the indoor season. Dean Cronin won the national title and gained All-America status in the 800 meters for the outdoor season. Meyer also was an All-America performer in the 800 meters for the outdoor season. T.J. Dozier was an All-America performer in the discus for the outdoor season.

• Women’s track and field spent time in the national rankings for the outdoor season. Micki Krzesinski (10,000 meters), Alexcia Deutscher (javelin), and Kelly Wycoff (400 meters) were All-America performers for the outdoor season.

• Tennis reached 10 wins in a season for the ninth time under head coach Brian Flax and the team had three All-MIAA selections.

• Women’s golf finished eighth at the MIAA Championship. Hannah Perkins qualified for the NCAA Regional and NCAA Championships as an individual.

• Men’s golf finished 11th in the MIAA. Two players finished in the Top 15 at events at least once this season.

• Baseball and softball each had two All-MIAA selections, and former baseball student-athlete Giles Fox was the recipient of the FHSU Torch Award as the outstanding graduating senior of 2017.

I really admire our student athletes and am thankful for an outstanding coaching staff, caring faculty and a community that believes wholeheartedly in our students. Our athletics program is another great example of how FHSU creates an environment of heart and home!

Dr. Tisa Mason is the 10th president of Fort Hays State University.