KDA

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture was among 23 different organizations represented during the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Heartland Tour in Tokyo and Sendai, Japan, September 1-7, 2019. Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director, and Bob Haselwood, Berryton, Kansas Soybean Commission, represented the state on the mission.

The Heartland Tour visited Japan upon the announcement of the U.S.–Japan bilateral agreement. “The agreement is exciting for Kansas. Japan is consistently one of our leading and most valuable trade partners,” said Ryan-Numrich. “In 2018, Kansas exported over $754 million in agricultural commodities to Japan. This agreement will reduce tariffs and put us at a more level playing field with our competitors.”

During the Heartland Tour, participants observed the USMEF staff working to promote U.S. red meat and were able to join in on promotional events such as the USMEF Urban BBQ, a U.S. Beef and Pork promotion event with a celebrity chef, and a consumer event where they were able to demonstrate how to grill a ribeye steak and pork ribs. Grilling is a new method of preparation for most Japanese consumers.

The group was provided a market briefing by U.S. Department of Agriculture–Japan officials, toured the Tokyo Meat Market and beef carcass auction, and met with the Japan Meat Traders Association, Prima Ham, and Starzen, one of Japan’s largest meat importers and distributors. The team also traveled to Sendai, Japan, toured Kawaguchi Wagyu Farm, and met with the Sendai Beef Tongue Association.

Kansas exported nearly $726 million in red meat to Japan in 2018. “Not only can we look at exports in terms of red meat, but also exports of corn and soybeans in all forms. In 2018, the U.S. exported 40 million bushels of corn and 9.7 million bushels of soybeans to Japan in the form of red meat,” said Haselwood. “The USMEF has partnered with corn and soybean checkoff dollars to promote U.S. corn- and soybean-fed pork at the retail level. As a Kansas farmer, that’s meaningful work.”

Immediately following the USMEF Heartland Tour, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with the Kansas Department of Commerce, participated in the 51st Annual Joint Meeting of the Midwest U.S.–Japan Association and Japan–Midwest U.S. Association in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting is an annual gathering of business leaders from each association to reinforce the economic, political, and cultural ties that link the national economy of Japan with the regional economy of the Midwest.

KDA strives to encourage and enhance economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities. KDA is offering two upcoming opportunities to Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to participate in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant trade missions planned for 2020: VICTAM Asia/Petfood Forum Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, March 24-26; and NAMPO Harvest Day, Bothaville, South Africa, May 12-15. Interested persons should contact Suzanne Ryan-Numrich at [email protected] or 785-564-6704.

By BRIAN GRIMMETT
Kansas News Service

WICHITA — Deanna Caudill hasn’t used an inhaler since she was a child. That all changed for the 25-year-old Wichita State graduate student this month when, after getting a back-to-school cold, she never seemed to recover.

“It’s like every morning I wake up and I cannot breathe,” she said. “It’s just a feeling I’ve never had in my whole life be this bad.”

Caudill suffers from an allergic reaction to ragweed pollen and the lingering effects of a cold — a combination that’s becoming increasingly common for Kansans in September.

While ragweed pollen is typically at its peak this month, increased average temperatures caused by climate change are upping the total amount of ragweed pollen in the air every year. That means for many people with allergies, every year is worse than the last.

Plus, the third week of September is typically known as Asthma Peak Week: More allergy attacks happen now than any other time of the year.

Caudill’s symptoms are so bad that she’s already ran out of the first inhaler her doctor prescribed to her.

“I’m hoping that they don’t tell me I need to do breathing treatments,” she said. “Because I’m really busy and I don’t have time for all of this.”

Off the charts

As busy as Caudill is, doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, are likely even busier.

Doctors at the hospital monitor and forecast the pollen count every day. Usually people who are sensitive to ragweed begin getting itchy eyes, noses and throats when the count gets above 100 per cubic meter in the air.

“We’ve been getting counts in the 1,000 to 1,500 range which is off the chart — until we made the chart get taller,” said Jay Portnoy, an allergist and immunologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

It’s led to more people seeking medical attention, especially now. To prepare for the influx of patients, Portnoy’s  team makes sure to increase staffing levels. He also said he typically takes vacation in July or October so that he’s available during peak season.

Because increased amounts of ragweed pollen is a regularly occurring event, Portnoy said people should prepare themselves each year by seeing their doctor and making sure all of their medications are filled. He also encouraged people with worsening symptoms to go back to their doctors to see what other prescriptions might be available.

A pollen explosion

While it’s regular for ragweed pollen to spike in September, its peaks have been increasing in the past few years.

And research shows there’s a link to climate change.

Lewis Ziska, an environmental health professor at Columbia University, said there’s a correlation between increasing temperatures and higher pollen counts in the Northern Hemisphere. By analyzing temperature and pollen count data at 17 monitoring stations with histories greater than 20 years, Ziska found that as temperatures increased, so did pollen counts.

The longer growing season (between spring’s last freeze and fall’s first freeze) is also increasing how long plants are producing pollen, lengthening allergy season.

Topeka’s growing season has increased by more than 30 days since 1970, and Wichita and Kansas City, Missouri, have seen increases of 7.9 and 4.5 days, respectively.

There’s also a third, although less understood, factor at play. Early research by Ziska suggests that increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to more pollen production. It’s also creating more potent pollen — or stronger proteins that cause allergic reactions.

“It turns out carbon dioxide isn’t a political molecule,” Ziska said. “It can stimulate both good plants and bad plants.”

But it’s not all bad news for those suffering through puffy eyes and endless boxes of tissues. Ragweed season in Kansas usually ends near the beginning of October — just in time for increased levels of mold.

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett (at) kmuw (dot) org. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.

By STEPHEN KORANDA
Kansas News Service

TOPEKA – Kansas lawmakers spent years imposing ever tougher restrictions on abortion and then saw the state Supreme Court declare that women hold a right to the procedure.

Now Republicans and abortion opponents appear determined to amend the Kansas Constitution to reverse that ruling.

They’re looking to protect years of wins on the contentious issue, efforts that peaked during the term of Republican then-Gov. Sam Brownback. Those anti-abortion victories included blocking most abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy and requiring parental consent for minors to get an abortion.

Groups such as the influential Kansans for Life warn that the high court’s ruling earlier this year puts those laws in danger.

“They’re in jeopardy,” said Jeanne Gawdun, a senior lobbyist for Kansans for Life. “The Legislature’s been able to enact over 25 different pro-life provisions, because it’s the will of the people.”

That risk is a rallying cry for conservative lawmakers. On Wednesday, a special committee made up of members from the Kansas House and Senate recommended an amendment to the state constitution. They want to specify in the document that there is no right to abortion.

Changing the Kansas Constitution is no easy task. Both the Kansas House and Senate would have to approve an amendment with a two-thirds majority. Then the issue would go on a ballot for a statewide vote.

“All Kansans should be concerned about this matter,” Republican Senator Eric Rucker said after the committee vote. “(They) have a right to vote on whether or not to uphold this most unusual decision by the Supreme Court.”

Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. The GOP has 84 of the 125 seats in the House, the exact number of votes needed to approve a constitutional amendment. In the Senate, 27 of 40 senators must approve a constitutional amendment and Republicans hold 29 seats.

In both chambers, a few moderate-leaning Republicans will be critical swing votes. Lawmakers narrowly failed to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of an abortion bill last session. An override requires the same two-thirds majority as a constitutional amendment.

As some Republicans rally behind the threat of undoing abortion restrictions, Democrats are preparing to push back.

“It completely opposes our platform,” Kansas Democratic Party Chair Vicki Hiatt said. “We strongly believe in a woman’s right to choose.”

The lawsuit that triggered the Kansas Supreme Court’s landmark decision this year is still pending. The high court clarified that the state constitution promises abortion rights and sent the case back to a lower court.

Because of that uncertainty, Democratic Rep. Pam Curtis said it’s unclear that existing abortion restrictions will be wiped out. She served on the committee that recommended a constitutional change and voted against the proposal.

“We really don’t know that yet,” she said. “We’re already jumping to a conclusion.”

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email skoranda (at) ku (dot) edu.

OSFM

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly officially proclaimed Oct. 6-12, 2019, as Fire Prevention Week in Kansas. The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Safe Kids Kansas teamed up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ for more than 90 years — to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” The campaign works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

In Kansas, there were 2,621 home fires in 2018, which accounted for 33 deaths and 189 injuries.

NFPA statistics show that in 2017 U.S. fire departments responded to 357,000 home structure fires in the United States. These fires caused 2,630 fire deaths and 10,600 fire injuries. On average, seven people died in a fire in a home per day during 2012 to 2016.

Today’s home fires burn faster than ever. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one or two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.

While many are focusing on home fires, these messages apply to virtually any location.

“Situational awareness is a skill people need to use wherever they go,” Doug Jorgensen, Kansas State Fire Marshal, said. “No matter where you are, look for available exits. If the alarm system sounds, take it seriously and exit the building immediately.”

While people feel safest in their home, it is also the place people are at greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occurring at home. That over-confidence contributes to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal recommends Kansans should practice their home fire escape drill at least four times a year, during the day and at night. They should also teach children to escape on their own in the event an adult cannot help them.

“Everyone in the home should know how to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone, and they should practice using different ways out,” Jorgensen said.

Safe Kids Kansas would like to remind families that Saturday, Oct. 12, is Home Fire Drill Day. This is an opportunity to plan, talk about and practice your fire plan with all your family members, especially young children, so they know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm.

“Teach children to get low and get out when they hear the smoke alarm,” Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas, said. “A child who has practiced getting out of the home and to a safe meeting spot will have a better chance of getting out of danger safely during a real emergency, so practice your escape plan regularly as a family. “

For more information about Fire Prevention Week activities in Kansas, visit https://firemarshal.ks.gov.

To learn more about this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”  and home escape planning, visit https://fpw.org.

KU NEWS SERVICE

LAWRENCE — We’ve entered the golden age of legal nonsense.

“It’s a problem partly because of a lack of knowledge, but partly just a feeling people have that the courts won’t help them. And they’re looking for anything to fix that,” said Colin McRoberts, a lecturer with the University of Kansas School of Business.

McRoberts’ article “Tinfoil Hats and Powdered Wigs: Thoughts on Pseudolaw” can be found in this month’s Washburn Law Journal. The piece probes why a rise in legal scams and frauds is gumming up the court system and harming those gullible enough to be duped.

“For a long time, we’ve had weird, unusual, damaging and predatory legal ideas. But for a long time they grew in tiny little communities that communicated by word of mouth or newsletter. Now it’s online. And now you get much weirder ideas building on top of weird ideas that have always been there.”

A Harvard Law School graduate and former litigator, McRoberts became immersed in the wacky underground community of pseudolaw when he embarked on the 2016 Conspira-Sea Cruise.

“This a cruise by conspiracy theorists for conspiracy theorists,” said McRoberts, who joined writers from Popular Mechanics and Jezebel as the other observing skeptics.

“You spend a couple thousand bucks, which I crowdfunded, and get to listen to a week’s worth of people talking about psychic vampires, Hillary Clinton is a shape-shifting alien, secret ways to avoid paying income tax and all kinds of that stuff.”

The trip also introduced him to Winston Shrout, whose unforgettable name is matched by the unforgettable tales McRoberts divulges about the man in his article. In “Tinfoil Hats,” he describes Shrout as “a prolific lecturer and self-declared Earth delegate to the interdimensional Galactic Round Table. He is also a felon and currently a fugitive from justice.”

This convicted tax dodger capped a weeklong excursion on the Pacific Ocean by telling a room full of rapt theorists that he worked with the Queen of the Fairies to move the international dateline from London to France because it would disrupt international transactions.

McRoberts said, “It was bizarre because I’d watched him sell consulting services, DVDs and books to people on this cruise the whole week. And here was the finale where all the speakers provide their quick high points. And I thought, ‘This is the end of a scam.’ Because the people who are paying to have a private consulting side are now seeing him talk about the Queen of the Fairies. How can they go home and keep sending in money?

“But when I looked around the room, people were nodding and into it.”

The nature of how and why individuals could be so susceptible to this type of wild misinformation became the real revelation for McRoberts. He equates it to the “boiled frog” concept, where progressive exposure to distorted reality takes people to places they never would have gone previously.

McRoberts reveals the informal legal term that embodies this skewed subset: “replacement law.”

“It’s the idea that there is an alternative universe of law,” he said. “That’s the universe where my birth certificate makes me a literal vessel, like a ship, instead of a person. And there is a law saying that. There’s not. It’s the attempt to take that fake universal law and staple it to the real world, without ever bothering to find out whether it’s true.”

While the tinfoil crowd is unquestionably hilarious on the surface, there is plenty of genuine erosion beneath. This type of pseudolaw leaves a trail of casualties.

“If somebody goes to court for not paying taxes because they fell for pseudolaw, and they defend themselves in the tax fraud charges using pseudolaw, they get hurt. And we think of them as the villain in the case — but maybe they were just desperate and fell for some professional guru’s sales pitch. Yet that person never gets in trouble,” he said.

McRoberts contends this is because people viewed as “goofballs” are considered a low priority for law enforcement. In fact, in order for litigious perpetrators to be held accountable, they typically have to stop paying taxes.

That’s what happened to Shrout.

The self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” mailed more than 1 quadrillion dollars in fake “International Bills of Exchange” to a bank, claiming the U.S. Treasury would honor them. Instead, the government brought him to trial and sentenced him to 10 years for numerous charges, primarily tax evasion. In March, he neglected to turn himself into authorities and is now a wanted man (which hasn’t stopped him from posting his seminars online).

“The reason pseudolaw has grown to be a problem is that people try it, and it fails. But they don’t understand why it failed because the court never explained it or because they don’t have any access to legal understanding and education. So they only know it failed, but not why. And they attribute that to the same shadowy conspiracies that have been plaguing them the whole time,” McRoberts said.

The lawyer wonders why, rather than indulge in pseudolaw, they can’t simply study actual law.

“Why don’t they take the same classes lawyers and judges take?” he said. “And I have yet to find anybody who would even consider taking one of those classes.”

McRoberts started at KU less than a month ago, but his wife has worked nearly four years as a professor in anthropology at the university. Prior to his higher education career, he was a consultant with his own firm, Vasher McRoberts, and with the SAB Group. The Texas native was also a litigator with the Chicago office of Steptoe & Johnson.

His academic expertise is in legal persuasion.

McRoberts admits sometimes it’s tricky to determine what appears more absurd: a tinfoil hat or a powdered wig.

He said, “If you give an average person a page of real law and a page of pseudolaw, it’s kind of hard to tell the difference. They both look ridiculous.”