<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744292698733.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Hays High vs Dodge City Thursday, April 10th – 4:00 p.m.&nbsp; Hays, Kan. - Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex

Radio: KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: Hays High Sports Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/2343480">CLICK HERE TO WATCH $$</a>

Hays High (5-0, 1-0) resumes their three game series with Western Athletic Conference opponent Dodge City (0-5, 0-3) today. The double header will be played at Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex. The Indians defeated the Red Demons in Dodge City on Tuesday by the score of 15-0 in three innings.

First pitch&nbsp; is set for 4:oo p.m. on the Hays High Sports Network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699014932.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays High vs Dodge City Thursday, April 10th – 4:00 p.m.&nbsp; Hays, Kan. - Bickle Schmidt Sports ComplexRadio: KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: Hays High Sports Network:&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/2343480">CLICK HERE TO WATCH $$</a>Hays High (5-0, 1-0) resumes their three game series with Western Athletic Conference opponent Dodge City (0-5, 0-3) today. The double header will be played at Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex. The Indians defeated the Red Demons in Dodge City on Tuesday by the score of 15-0 in three innings.First pitch&nbsp; is set for 4:oo p.m. on the Hays High Sports Network.

🥎🎥 Hays High hosts Dodge City

DODGE CITY — Ellis County is on the southeastern edge of a Red Flag Warning for Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10.

According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, the elevated fire danger threat is due to north winds of 15-25 mph, gusting up to 35 mph, combined with a low relative humidity of 15%.

Today's high temperature is forecasted to reach 72 degrees.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744291369709.png" alt="National Weather Service, Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>National Weather Service, Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceDODGE CITY — Ellis County is on the southeastern edge of a Red Flag Warning for Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10.According to the National Weather Service in Dodge City, the elevated fire danger threat is due to north winds of 15-25 mph, gusting up to 35 mph, combined with a low relative humidity of 15%.Today's high temperature is forecasted to reach 72 degrees.&nbsp;

Red Flag Warning for Ellis County today

By STACY CAMPELL Cottonwood Extension District

For irrigated growers the following can serve as a good refresher or reminder. 

Giving your irrigation system a thorough check-up and tune-up this spring can lead to more effective water application and potentially, to fewer breakdowns or problems during the heart of the irrigation season. 

Even if irrigation has started in places like southwestern Kansas, it’s important to go through this checklist to potentially save energy and costs while irrigating to the best of the system’s abilities. The above-average seasonal temperatures might have made it where some have jumped into irrigation already, though the nights are still cold.

Here are some areas to check before irrigation starts or when the first irrigation occurs. These areas include the pump and pivot itself, but there may be additional areas to consider as this is not an exhaustive list. Some of this checklist might have been done in the fall.

· Clean pipes and structure of animal nests and check for any damage on the wires.

· Check all panel or pump wires for rodent damage.

· Change all lubricants, associated filters, and fluids if not done in the fall: engine, fuel, cooling system.

·  Refill the drip oil reservoir and allow oil to drain into the drip line based on pump column length.

· Grease drive shafts on the pump and motor.

· Check spark plugs on gas, propane, or natural gas motors.

· Ensure that the right-angle gear head is free moving and clean and lubricate non-reverse pins.

· Blow out any in line filters of debris and check for damage

· Flush system thoroughly with drains removed/open to prevent plugging nozzles and pressure regulators.

· Close any drains/ valves that were opened.

·  Most newer pivots have automatic frost drains that do not need maintenance, but it’s a water loss orifice that shouldn’t be overlooked.

·  Tighten all pressure valves back into operation if loosened or removed for winter months

· Run the motor at the normal operating speed for 45 minutes and walk along the system looking for faulty sprinklers. Look for plugging, broken sprinklers, partially opened valves (if present), unusual distribution/movement, and leaks. If no faulty sprinklers, then any hoses and sprinklers that might have fallen off in the winter.

·  Check the pressure at the pivot point and at the end of the system, particularly at the highest point of the field. Compare this to the design pressure indicated in the pivot chart and adjust accordingly.

· Nozzle wear depends on the quality of the water and the system operating pressure. As a rule of thumb, sprinkler replacement should be considered after approximately 10,000-12,000 hours of operation.

·  Be sure to replace malfunctioning nozzles with ones listed on the computer printout you received from the manufacturer (i.e. pivot chart).

·  Visually inspecting the sprinkler in operation before the irrigation season starts can help identify whether water application is uniform and adequate and whether repairs are needed.

· If in an area with water quality concerns, grab some water samples for water quality testing to anticipate necessary mitigation.

· Check the chemigation pump and safety equipment operation.

·  Check hoses and replace them if cracking is noticeable.

· Check for correct air pressure and extreme wear and tear in each pivot tire

Performing a preseason checkup of your irrigation equipment this spring should be part of your regular maintenance schedule. Component wear happens, resulting in less uniform water application, increased energy use, and untimely breakdowns during your irrigation season. Identify and replace worn components now to have your system ready when you need it.

Information provided by Tina Sullivan, Northeast Area Agronomist and Jonathan Aguilar, Water Resources Engineer.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictFor irrigated growers the following can serve as a good refresher or reminder. Giving your irrigation system a thorough check-up and tune-up this spring can lead to more effective water application and potentially, to fewer breakdowns or problems during the heart of the irrigation season. Even if irrigation has started in places like southwestern Kansas, it’s important to go through this checklist to potentially save energy and costs while irrigating to the best of the system’s abilities. The above-average seasonal temperatures might have made it where some have jumped into irrigation already, though the nights are still cold.Here are some areas to check before irrigation starts or when the first irrigation occurs. These areas include the pump and pivot itself, but there may be additional areas to consider as this is not an exhaustive list. Some of this checklist might have been done in the fall.· Clean pipes and structure of animal nests and check for any damage on the wires.· Check all panel or pump wires for rodent damage.· Change all lubricants, associated filters, and fluids if not done in the fall: engine, fuel, cooling system.· Refill the drip oil reservoir and allow oil to drain into the drip line based on pump column length.· Grease drive shafts on the pump and motor.· Check gearboxes for each pivot tower.· Check spark plugs on gas, propane, or natural gas motors.· Ensure that the right-angle gear head is free moving and clean and lubricate non-reverse pins.· Blow out any in line filters of debris and check for damage· Flush system thoroughly with drains removed/open to prevent plugging nozzles and pressure regulators.· Close any drains/ valves that were opened.· Most newer pivots have automatic frost drains that do not need maintenance, but it’s a water loss orifice that shouldn’t be overlooked.· Tighten all pressure valves back into operation if loosened or removed for winter months· Run the motor at the normal operating speed for 45 minutes and walk along the system looking for faulty sprinklers. Look for plugging, broken sprinklers, partially opened valves (if present), unusual distribution/movement, and leaks. If no faulty sprinklers, then any hoses and sprinklers that might have fallen off in the winter.· Check the pressure at the pivot point and at the end of the system, particularly at the highest point of the field. Compare this to the design pressure indicated in the pivot chart and adjust accordingly.· Nozzle wear depends on the quality of the water and the system operating pressure. As a rule of thumb, sprinkler replacement should be considered after approximately 10,000-12,000 hours of operation.· Be sure to replace malfunctioning nozzles with ones listed on the computer printout you received from the manufacturer (i.e. pivot chart).· Visually inspecting the sprinkler in operation before the irrigation season starts can help identify whether water application is uniform and adequate and whether repairs are needed.· If in an area with water quality concerns, grab some water samples for water quality testing to anticipate necessary mitigation.· Check the chemigation pump and safety equipment operation.· Check hoses and replace them if cracking is noticeable.· Check for correct air pressure and extreme wear and tear in each pivot tirePerforming a preseason checkup of your irrigation equipment this spring should be part of your regular maintenance schedule. Component wear happens, resulting in less uniform water application, increased energy use, and untimely breakdowns during your irrigation season. Identify and replace worn components now to have your system ready when you need it.Information provided by Tina Sullivan, Northeast Area Agronomist and Jonathan Aguilar, Water Resources Engineer.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Pre-season irrigation checklist: Maximize efficiency and minimize issues

An update on project work by the Hays Youth Leadership Advisory Board will be heard by city commissioners during their meeting this afternoon.

Also to be presented is the city's 2024 audit by Adams Brown, Hays.

The complete April 10 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04102025-1538">here</a>.&nbsp;

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584721067731.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostAn update on project work by the Hays Youth Leadership Advisory Board will be heard by city commissioners during their meeting this afternoon.Also to be presented is the city's 2024 audit by Adams Brown, Hays.The complete April 10 agenda is available <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04102025-1538">here</a>.&nbsp;The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

Hays Youth Leadership Advisory Board to present update to city commission today

FHSU crime log: April 4-10, 2025

By <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/08/kansas-board-of-educations-informal-school-policy-discussion-proves-informative/?emci=4e11d4a7-b414-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;emdi=d21bf603-2115-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/"></a>TOPEKA — A policy retreat offered the Kansas Board of Education opportunity to explore how local school boards could be liberated from much of the state’s educational bureaucracy by reshaping standards to emphasize instruction in the basics of reading, writing and math.

Conservatives on the 10-member state Board of Education expressed support Monday in personal and philosophical terms for a shift toward fundamental subjects. During the informal gathering at a Topeka office building, right-leaning members said time had come to curtail state mandates bearing down on 284 school districts serving nearly 500,000 students.

Cathy Hopkins, Hays, who serves as chair of the state Board of Education and represents District 5 covering much of western Kansas, said the board was guilty of piling burdensome responsibilities on teachers and administrators. It could be necessary to jettison a large portion of state mandates to improve the ability of local districts to deliver for students in fundamental subject areas, she said.

Her personal agenda for the upcoming two years centered on helping students excel in reading and writing because prowess in those core areas would create an educational ripple effect on student learning.

“How do we get back to that? The core,” said Leavenworth state board member Danny Zeck, who serves as the board’s vice chair. “Get rid of all this Barbra Streisand stuff that we’re doing. What we’re doing now … is not working. We need to get down to the basic stuff for these kids — that they can read and write and do arithmetic and maybe there’s some computer skills and go from there.”

State board member Debby Potter of Garden Plain said accreditation standards for public schools set by the state board had to be condensed.

“There’s a whole range of people and they don’t all have to know math at the level of every other one to be successful,” Potter said.

She indicted the state board should be operating at a 20,000-foot level in terms of academic directives. Local school boards should be allowed to fill in details of academic standards to reflect the character or needs of individual districts.

“God made us to want to learn and gain something we don’t have. All we have to do is provide the tools,” said Hutchinson board member Dennis Hershberger.

He said young children were being harmed by parents who gave them a PlayStation gaming device instead of a box of Crayons. He said he yearned for the past when a jar of pencils on a shelf or a chalkboard at the front of the classroom were keys to the educational experience.

Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, began the policy retreat by emphasizing the value of public service performed by the state Board of Education members. He asked the eight board members in attendance to consider policy amendments that could be accomplished in the next two years, but requested each be framed in terms of children and their families.

“This isn’t about trying to bait people,” Watson said. “All of you not only serve different parts of the state, you come at this job from a different perspective.”

He reminded board members of Article 6, Section 2 of the Kansas Constitution that declared the Kansas Legislature “shall provide for a state Board of Education, which shall have general supervision of public schools.” And, Article 6, Section 6 of the document: “The Legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state.”

Interpretation of those constitutional duties has prompted major legal battles every 20 years of so that ultimately were addressed by the Kansas Supreme Court, he said.

“You have a lot of authority, as does a local board,” Watson said. “What does a kindergartner need? What does a third-grader need? How do you build that? We can’t do everything.”

Politically moderate members of the state Board of Education said during the retreat in Topeka that Kansas ought to maintain a central role in the academic evolution of school districts statewide. They said the state board’s mission of delivering educational opportunity to all students had to remain a cornerstone of Kansas’ pre-kindergarten through high school public education system.

There was discussion of students’ demand for instruction in life skills, which have been designed by the state board to prepare graduates for a career or college.

Board member Betty Arnold of Wichita said compaction of instruction to reading, writing and math to the exclusion of other parts of a person’s education ignored reality because many students arrived in public school buildings ill-equipped to learn. Time devoted to mentally preparing students to succeed in school and life shouldn’t be viewed as an extravagance, she said.

“It’s more difficult to teach a kid who does not believe in him or herself,” Arnold said. “No students come to us the same way.”

Hershberger, the Hutchinson state board member, said he was “old-school” and recalled how he struggled emotionally as a child to overcome barriers to reading aloud in class. Students experience real education when they accomplished something they didn’t know they were capable of doing, he said.

“Every child unless there is some mental disability … has the capability of learning to read no matter what their background is,” Hershberger said.

In response, Arnold said it would be wrong for a state board member to transfer personal school experiences from decades ago to decisions about what was necessary to educate children in this era and the future.

“We have to be able to live outside of our own story,” Arnold said.

Melanie Haas, a state board member from Overland Park, said state board placed proper emphasis on a commitment to individual plans of study for students as well as issues related to values and morality. She said the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation program, which was crafted so district-level decisions were made about improving educational opportunity, was in place.

“We’re right in the middle of it. We’re doing it,” Haas said.

In terms of statewide reform, she said, it was imperative the state board concentrate on improving school culture by minimizing friction between teachers and administrators.

“When you have a great administrator who gives autonomy to those in school, you see that in student success,” Haas said. “When you have someone who is micromanaging and telling teachers what to do, and ruling, I think that’s where you see these cultures start to break down.”

She said surveys showed students welcomed instruction in life skills tied to personal, academic and vocational success, including social-emotional learning, practical skills for daily living and character development.

Zeck, the northeast Kansas member of the state board, said he was frustrated with emphasis on life skills in public schools.

“If we’re going to talk about life skills, I would like it to be black and white and not a whole bunch of gray,” Zeck said. “If we’re going to simplify things, then we need to simplify them and not have all this gray stuff.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744208911399.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Board of Education chair Cathy Hopkins, Hays, center, shares the opinion of some of her peers about the need to streamline state board mandates so local school boards and districts can best address the fundamentals of student instruction in math, reading and writing. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of state board’s livestream)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Board of Education chair Cathy Hopkins, Hays, center, shares the opinion of some of her peers about the need to streamline state board mandates so local school boards and districts can best address the fundamentals of student instruction in math, reading and writing. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of state board’s livestream)</figcaption>
 </figure>By <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/08/kansas-board-of-educations-informal-school-policy-discussion-proves-informative/?emci=4e11d4a7-b414-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;emdi=d21bf603-2115-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/"></a>TOPEKA — A policy retreat offered the Kansas Board of Education opportunity to explore how local school boards could be liberated from much of the state’s educational bureaucracy by reshaping standards to emphasize instruction in the basics of reading, writing and math.Conservatives on the 10-member state Board of Education expressed support Monday in personal and philosophical terms for a shift toward fundamental subjects. During the informal gathering at a Topeka office building, right-leaning members said time had come to curtail state mandates bearing down on 284 school districts serving nearly 500,000 students.Cathy Hopkins, Hays, who serves as chair of the state Board of Education and represents District 5 covering much of western Kansas, said the board was guilty of piling burdensome responsibilities on teachers and administrators. It could be necessary to jettison a large portion of state mandates to improve the ability of local districts to deliver for students in fundamental subject areas, she said.Her personal agenda for the upcoming two years centered on helping students excel in reading and writing because prowess in those core areas would create an educational ripple effect on student learning.“How do we get back to that? The core,” said Leavenworth state board member Danny Zeck, who serves as the board’s vice chair. “Get rid of all this Barbra Streisand stuff that we’re doing. What we’re doing now … is not working. We need to get down to the basic stuff for these kids — that they can read and write and do arithmetic and maybe there’s some computer skills and go from there.”State board member Debby Potter of Garden Plain said accreditation standards for public schools set by the state board had to be condensed.“There’s a whole range of people and they don’t all have to know math at the level of every other one to be successful,” Potter said.She indicted the state board should be operating at a 20,000-foot level in terms of academic directives. Local school boards should be allowed to fill in details of academic standards to reflect the character or needs of individual districts.“God made us to want to learn and gain something we don’t have. All we have to do is provide the tools,” said Hutchinson board member Dennis Hershberger.He said young children were being harmed by parents who gave them a PlayStation gaming device instead of a box of Crayons. He said he yearned for the past when a jar of pencils on a shelf or a chalkboard at the front of the classroom were keys to the educational experience.<h2>Peering into future</h2>Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education, began the policy retreat by emphasizing the value of public service performed by the state Board of Education members. He asked the eight board members in attendance to consider policy amendments that could be accomplished in the next two years, but requested each be framed in terms of children and their families.“This isn’t about trying to bait people,” Watson said. “All of you not only serve different parts of the state, you come at this job from a different perspective.”He reminded board members of Article 6, Section 2 of the Kansas Constitution that declared the Kansas Legislature “shall provide for a state Board of Education, which shall have general supervision of public schools.” And, Article 6, Section 6 of the document: “The Legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state.”Interpretation of those constitutional duties has prompted major legal battles every 20 years of so that ultimately were addressed by the Kansas Supreme Court, he said.“You have a lot of authority, as does a local board,” Watson said. “What does a kindergartner need? What does a third-grader need? How do you build that? We can’t do everything.”Politically moderate members of the state Board of Education said during the retreat in Topeka that Kansas ought to maintain a central role in the academic evolution of school districts statewide. They said the state board’s mission of delivering educational opportunity to all students had to remain a cornerstone of Kansas’ pre-kindergarten through high school public education system.There was discussion of students’ demand for instruction in life skills, which have been designed by the state board to prepare graduates for a career or college.<h2>‘Our own story’</h2>Board member Betty Arnold of Wichita said compaction of instruction to reading, writing and math to the exclusion of other parts of a person’s education ignored reality because many students arrived in public school buildings ill-equipped to learn. Time devoted to mentally preparing students to succeed in school and life shouldn’t be viewed as an extravagance, she said.“It’s more difficult to teach a kid who does not believe in him or herself,” Arnold said. “No students come to us the same way.”Hershberger, the Hutchinson state board member, said he was “old-school” and recalled how he struggled emotionally as a child to overcome barriers to reading aloud in class. Students experience real education when they accomplished something they didn’t know they were capable of doing, he said.“Every child unless there is some mental disability … has the capability of learning to read no matter what their background is,” Hershberger said.In response, Arnold said it would be wrong for a state board member to transfer personal school experiences from decades ago to decisions about what was necessary to educate children in this era and the future.“We have to be able to live outside of our own story,” Arnold said.Melanie Haas, a state board member from Overland Park, said state board placed proper emphasis on a commitment to individual plans of study for students as well as issues related to values and morality. She said the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation program, which was crafted so district-level decisions were made about improving educational opportunity, was in place.“We’re right in the middle of it. We’re doing it,” Haas said.In terms of statewide reform, she said, it was imperative the state board concentrate on improving school culture by minimizing friction between teachers and administrators.“When you have a great administrator who gives autonomy to those in school, you see that in student success,” Haas said. “When you have someone who is micromanaging and telling teachers what to do, and ruling, I think that’s where you see these cultures start to break down.”She said surveys showed students welcomed instruction in life skills tied to personal, academic and vocational success, including social-emotional learning, practical skills for daily living and character development.Zeck, the northeast Kansas member of the state board, said he was frustrated with emphasis on life skills in public schools.“If we’re going to talk about life skills, I would like it to be black and white and not a whole bunch of gray,” Zeck said. “If we’re going to simplify things, then we need to simplify them and not have all this gray stuff.”

KS Board of Education’s conservative wing emphasizes desire to focus on core subjects

A classic case of good versus evil is coming to Fort Hays State University this week.

Jekyll &amp; Hyde, the 1990 musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, will run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. in FHSU’s Felten-Start Theatre. 

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Jeff Leiker, host of The Morning Blend on KAYS Radio, talks with&nbsp;Dr. Terry Crull, professor of music and director of Jekyll &amp; Hyde. &nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: 'Jekyll & Hyde' musical presented by FHSU" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=8s6zx-1876f8f-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>A classic case of good versus evil is coming to Fort Hays State University this week.Jekyll &amp; Hyde, the 1990 musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, will run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. in FHSU’s Felten-Start Theatre. On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Jeff Leiker, host of The Morning Blend on KAYS Radio, talks with&nbsp;Dr. Terry Crull, professor of music and director of Jekyll &amp; Hyde. &nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: 'Jekyll & Hyde' musical presented by FHSU this weekend

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Our HAPp program began in January 2025 and is going strong! 

Participants are learning the basics about hypertension, how to take their blood pressure at home and be in dialogue with their health care provider about the data. They are also learning about lifestyle choices that can affect their blood pressure such as diet, exercise, and stress management.

HAPp offers office hours twice a month that coach participants and answer questions around hypertension. They are also setting goals in relationship to the health goals they want to accomplish. In addition to the office hours, participants, as well as the public, are invited to the nutrition workshops.

We have had two of our nutrition workshops that also include a food demonstration. At our first workshop we discussed the role of fat in our diet and learned about how to read food labels. Our program assistant conducted a food demonstration, and participants were able to taste test a couple of delicious recipes.

The second workshop included a special guest speaker, Dr. Travis Haneke, a cardiologist from Hays Medical Center. Dr. Haneke gave an overview of hypertension from a cardiologist’s point of view and was able to answer detailed questions about what hypertension is and how it affects the body! He was a great addition to the night as we further explored how salt in our diet affects blood pressure. 

We finished the night with another food demonstration from Cottonwood District program assistant, Jacy, and she broke down the numbers for us on how using reduced sodium products in recipes affects the bottom line. We also tasted a couple of great recipes! Black bean soup and a lentil recipe were outstanding!

The participants are reporting great successes including lowered blood pressure readings and just an overall feeling of wellness after a couple months into the program. They enjoy the office hours to troubleshoot specifics for themselves as well as the group support offered at the nutrition programs. 

Most importantly, participants regularly monitor their blood pressure at home to enjoy better health in the long term.

It’s not too late to join us! We have two nutrition programs left scheduled for April 29 and May 27. In April we will discuss cooking with herbs and spices and in May we will explore ways to eat healthy when out and about. Both nights will include food demonstrations and tasting new recipes and foods.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictOur HAPp program began in January 2025 and is going strong! Participants are learning the basics about hypertension, how to take their blood pressure at home and be in dialogue with their health care provider about the data. They are also learning about lifestyle choices that can affect their blood pressure such as diet, exercise, and stress management.HAPp offers office hours twice a month that coach participants and answer questions around hypertension. They are also setting goals in relationship to the health goals they want to accomplish. In addition to the office hours, participants, as well as the public, are invited to the nutrition workshops.We have had two of our nutrition workshops that also include a food demonstration. At our first workshop we discussed the role of fat in our diet and learned about how to read food labels. Our program assistant conducted a food demonstration, and participants were able to taste test a couple of delicious recipes.The second workshop included a special guest speaker, Dr. Travis Haneke, a cardiologist from Hays Medical Center. Dr. Haneke gave an overview of hypertension from a cardiologist’s point of view and was able to answer detailed questions about what hypertension is and how it affects the body! He was a great addition to the night as we further explored how salt in our diet affects blood pressure. We finished the night with another food demonstration from Cottonwood District program assistant, Jacy, and she broke down the numbers for us on how using reduced sodium products in recipes affects the bottom line. We also tasted a couple of great recipes! Black bean soup and a lentil recipe were outstanding!The participants are reporting great successes including lowered blood pressure readings and just an overall feeling of wellness after a couple months into the program. They enjoy the office hours to troubleshoot specifics for themselves as well as the group support offered at the nutrition programs. Most importantly, participants regularly monitor their blood pressure at home to enjoy better health in the long term.It’s not too late to join us! We have two nutrition programs left scheduled for April 29 and May 27. In April we will discuss cooking with herbs and spices and in May we will explore ways to eat healthy when out and about. Both nights will include food demonstrations and tasting new recipes and foods.

KOERNER: Hypertension Awareness and Prevention program (HAPp) update

In August of 2023, Bob Davis the voice behind some of the most memorable moments for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, was inducted into the Hays High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

Davis, who also is know for his time behind the microphone calling games for the Fort Hays State University Tigers and the Kansas City Royals died last month.&nbsp; In his memory, we present this special edition of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Time as Gary Shorman visits with Bob Davis from August 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744141710977.png" alt="Photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy University of Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>In August of 2023, Bob Davis the voice behind some of the most memorable moments for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, was inducted into the Hays High School Athletics Hall of Fame.Davis, who also is know for his time behind the microphone calling games for the Fort Hays State University Tigers and the Kansas City Royals died last month.&nbsp; In his memory, we present this special edition of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Time as Gary Shorman visits with Bob Davis from August 2023.<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Hays High Athletic Hall of Fall inductee Bob Davis" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=59w2u-14848e7-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎤 Forward Ever Special Edition with radio voice Bob Davis

The Arbor Day Foundation named Hays a 2024 Tree City USA in honor of&nbsp;its commitment to plant, grow, and maintain trees to benefit its community. 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and&nbsp;celebrate trees. 

Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972.&nbsp;

The Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability of their local area for over 40 years. 

"We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions like Hays are leading the way," said&nbsp;Michelle Saulnier, vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. "Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation's cities. We're proud Hays is among the Arbor Day Foundation's growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees."&nbsp;

In cities and neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce&nbsp;stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. &nbsp;

When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.&nbsp;

“The desire to plant trees in the area dates back to the city’s early settlers,” said Sandy Jacobs, City of Hays mayor. “Many of those early efforts by Fort Hays soldiers, Martin Allen, and many others, can still be seen today. We are proud to continue that legacy, and the recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation remains a point of pride for the City of Hays.”&nbsp;

To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree&nbsp;board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban&nbsp;forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. 

The Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National&nbsp;Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. 

To learn more about the program or how to apply, visit <a href="https://www.arborday.org/">arborday.org</a>.&nbsp;

About the Arbor Day Foundation&nbsp;

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.&nbsp;

They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporter united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees.&nbsp;

For more than 50 years, they've answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.&nbsp;

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the&nbsp;power of trees.

Learn more at <a href="https://www.arborday.org/">arborday.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743780590377.jpeg" alt="Trees in Frontier Park. City of Hays" />
 <figcaption>Trees in Frontier Park. City of Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe Arbor Day Foundation named Hays a 2024 Tree City USA in honor of&nbsp;its commitment to plant, grow, and maintain trees to benefit its community. The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and&nbsp;celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972.&nbsp;The Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability of their local area for over 40 years. "We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions like Hays are leading the way," said&nbsp;Michelle Saulnier, vice president of programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. "Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation's cities. We're proud Hays is among the Arbor Day Foundation's growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees."&nbsp;In cities and neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce&nbsp;stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. &nbsp;When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.&nbsp;“The desire to plant trees in the area dates back to the city’s early settlers,” said Sandy Jacobs, City of Hays mayor. “Many of those early efforts by Fort Hays soldiers, Martin Allen, and many others, can still be seen today. We are proud to continue that legacy, and the recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation remains a point of pride for the City of Hays.”&nbsp;To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree&nbsp;board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban&nbsp;forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. The Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National&nbsp;Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To learn more about the program or how to apply, visit <a href="https://www.arborday.org/">arborday.org</a>.&nbsp;About the Arbor Day Foundation&nbsp;The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.&nbsp;They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporter united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees.&nbsp;For more than 50 years, they've answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.&nbsp;The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the&nbsp;power of trees. Learn more at <a href="https://www.arborday.org/">arborday.org</a>.

Hays earns 2024 Tree City USA recognition from Arbor Day Foundation

COLBY — The Colby Community College Trojan basketball teams hosted the Trojan All-Stars game March 30 at the Colby Event Center. 

"It was a game to showcase the region's top athletes in the senior class, with one last time representing their school, families and teams," Coach Jerrod Stanford said. “It was a great day celebrating our local athletes, I hope they understand what an honor it is to be nominated and also the significance of sharing the game of basketball with the youth of the communities.”&nbsp;

The top senior athletes from this region in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado are nominated by their high school coaches and selected to join their fellow all-stars.

 This year's selected class is as follows:&nbsp;

Averi Windholz (Victoria HS), Megan Trout (Scott City HS), Molly Martin (Hays HS), Karissa Keeten (Philipsburg HS), Jadyn Mangan (Greeley HS), Emily Bainter (Hoxie HS), Hallie Brooks (Norton HS), Kelvie Reeves (Russell HS), Aubrey Birney&nbsp;(Russell HS), Logan Nolan (Colby HS), Addison Poore (Osborne HS),  Grace William (Osborne HS), Briana Croisant (Otis-Bison HS), Bryan Gillespie (Quinter HS), Natalie North (Ellis HS), Kassi Kaser (Osborne HS), Maggie Labertew (Sylvan-Lucas HS), Juanita Puentes (Southwestern HTS HS), Brynn Billings (Phillipsburg HS), Kayla Jacobs (Phillipsburg HS) and Cris Valle (Weskan HS). 

Tomohito Kobari (Bel Air, KS/Sunrise Christian), Tyce Bollers (Strasburg, CO), Grant Stevens (Colby, KS), Jaryn Windholz (WaKeeney KS/Trego), Daniel Cramer (Healy, KS/Dighton), Clayton Hammeke (Burdett, KS/Pawnee Heights), Shea Salyers (Quinter, KS), Andrew Cooper (Courtland, KS/Pike Valley), Marko Pavlovic (Bel Air, KS/Sunrise Christian), Rhett Kats (Prairie View, KS/ Logan-Palco) and&nbsp; Coach Tim Simoneau. Alvaro Leyva-Loya (Syracuse, KS), Levi Renner (Oakley, KS), Trey Allen (Weskan, KS) Noah Dowell (Hoxie, KS), Mason Jackson (Oakley, KS), Brody Keller (Syracuse, KS), Josiah Irwin (Kit Carson, CO, Kit Carson), Kaden Hardy (Holcomb, KS), Zavionn Thurman (Colorado Springs, CO, Vista Ridge) and Coach Vance Keller.&nbsp;

In addition to the game they also open the gym to pour into the next generation of athletes, hosting a free Rising Stars Skills Clinic. 

The kids in attendance got to learn from the Trojan All-Stars and CCC basketball players. They take them through a series of skills drills, fun competition and team building. The event is a huge success ending with a friendly dunk contest by the men’s basketball team. 

“We had a great day celebrating the high school playing careers of several players across our region. The game was highly competitive and all the players were fun to have around. Our CCC players had a chance to give back to our community with the kids skills camp and all had a blast,” Coach Darin Spence shared. &nbsp;

Congratulations to all of the area All-Stars on the huge accomplishment of being chosen and hosted in Colby.&nbsp;

SubmittedCOLBY — The Colby Community College Trojan basketball teams hosted the Trojan All-Stars game March 30 at the Colby Event Center. "It was a game to showcase the region's top athletes in the senior class, with one last time representing their school, families and teams," Coach Jerrod Stanford said. “It was a great day celebrating our local athletes, I hope they understand what an honor it is to be nominated and also the significance of sharing the game of basketball with the youth of the communities.”&nbsp;The top senior athletes from this region in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado are nominated by their high school coaches and selected to join their fellow all-stars. This year's selected class is as follows:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743786047485.jpeg" alt="Girls All-Stars.&nbsp; Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Girls All-Stars.&nbsp; Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Girls All-Stars:&nbsp;Averi Windholz (Victoria HS), Megan Trout (Scott City HS), Molly Martin (Hays HS), Karissa Keeten (Philipsburg HS), Jadyn Mangan (Greeley HS), Emily Bainter (Hoxie HS), Hallie Brooks (Norton HS), Kelvie Reeves (Russell HS), Aubrey Birney&nbsp;(Russell HS), Logan Nolan (Colby HS), Addison Poore (Osborne HS), Grace William (Osborne HS), Briana Croisant (Otis-Bison HS), Bryan Gillespie (Quinter HS), Natalie North (Ellis HS), Kassi Kaser (Osborne HS), Maggie Labertew (Sylvan-Lucas HS), Juanita Puentes (Southwestern HTS HS), Brynn Billings (Phillipsburg HS), Kayla Jacobs (Phillipsburg HS) and Cris Valle (Weskan HS). <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743786340718.jpeg" alt="Boys All-Stars. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Boys All-Stars. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743786403743.jpeg" alt="Boys All-Stars. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Boys All-Stars. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Boys All-StarsTomohito Kobari (Bel Air, KS/Sunrise Christian), Tyce Bollers (Strasburg, CO), Grant Stevens (Colby, KS), Jaryn Windholz (WaKeeney KS/Trego), Daniel Cramer (Healy, KS/Dighton), Clayton Hammeke (Burdett, KS/Pawnee Heights), Shea Salyers (Quinter, KS), Andrew Cooper (Courtland, KS/Pike Valley), Marko Pavlovic (Bel Air, KS/Sunrise Christian), Rhett Kats (Prairie View, KS/ Logan-Palco) and&nbsp; Coach Tim Simoneau. Alvaro Leyva-Loya (Syracuse, KS), Levi Renner (Oakley, KS), Trey Allen (Weskan, KS) Noah Dowell (Hoxie, KS), Mason Jackson (Oakley, KS), Brody Keller (Syracuse, KS), Josiah Irwin (Kit Carson, CO, Kit Carson), Kaden Hardy (Holcomb, KS), Zavionn Thurman (Colorado Springs, CO, Vista Ridge) and Coach Vance Keller.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743786176525.jpeg" alt="Rising Stars Skills Clinic. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rising Stars Skills Clinic. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743786255880.jpeg" alt="Rising Stars Skills Clinic. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rising Stars Skills Clinic. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to the game they also open the gym to pour into the next generation of athletes, hosting a free Rising Stars Skills Clinic. The kids in attendance got to learn from the Trojan All-Stars and CCC basketball players. They take them through a series of skills drills, fun competition and team building. The event is a huge success ending with a friendly dunk contest by the men’s basketball team. “We had a great day celebrating the high school playing careers of several players across our region. The game was highly competitive and all the players were fun to have around. Our CCC players had a chance to give back to our community with the kids skills camp and all had a blast,” Coach Darin Spence shared. &nbsp;Congratulations to all of the area All-Stars on the huge accomplishment of being chosen and hosted in Colby.&nbsp;

Area high school senior athletes compete in Trojan All-Stars basketball game

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744206284942.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

SMITH COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in Smith County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Freightliner semi driven by Steven L. White, 61,&nbsp;Forsyth, Missouri, was southbound on U.S. 281 fourteen miles north of U.S. 36. The vehicle traveled off the road, entered the west ditch, and came to rest upright in a field.

EMS transported White and a passenger, Tina J. White, 65, Forsyth, Missouri, to the Smith County hospital.&nbsp;

SMITH COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in Smith County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Freightliner semi driven by Steven L. White, 61,&nbsp;Forsyth, Missouri, was southbound on U.S. 281 fourteen miles north of U.S. 36. The vehicle traveled off the road, entered the west ditch, and came to rest upright in a field.EMS transported White and a passenger, Tina J. White, 65, Forsyth, Missouri, to the Smith County hospital.&nbsp;

2 hospitalized after semi accident

Congratulations to Bob Mickelson, winner of the&nbsp;Fort Hays Tech North Central March Mania Bracket Challenge from Hays Post!

Bob received $200 worth of Hays Chamber checks for having the top score.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744235601083.jpeg" alt="Bob Michelson claimed the top prize in the Fort Hays NC Tech March Mania Bracket Challenge" />
 <figcaption>Bob Michelson claimed the top prize in the Fort Hays NC Tech March Mania Bracket Challenge</figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Bob Mickelson, winner of the&nbsp;Fort Hays Tech North Central March Mania Bracket Challenge from Hays Post!Bob received $200 worth of Hays Chamber checks for having the top score.

The Fort Hays Tech North Central March Mania Bracket Challenge winner is...

An Easter story time and special Easter egg hunt will take place starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at ARC Park, 3300 Hillcrest Drive, Hays.

The Rev. Jason Murray, pastor at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church, will present a “resurrection story time,” including songs, on the Rainbow Stage in the park.

Following the story time, an Easter egg hunt will be held for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals should bring their own baskets or bags.

Both events are free and open to all ages.

 The hunt is being sponsored by Celebration Community Church. 

The events will not be held in case of inclement weather.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744210501880.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Ministerial AllianceAn Easter story time and special Easter egg hunt will take place starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at ARC Park, 3300 Hillcrest Drive, Hays.The Rev. Jason Murray, pastor at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church, will present a “resurrection story time,” including songs, on the Rainbow Stage in the park.Following the story time, an Easter egg hunt will be held for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals should bring their own baskets or bags.Both events are free and open to all ages. The hunt is being sponsored by Celebration Community Church. The events will not be held in case of inclement weather.

ARC Park to feature story time, IDD Easter egg hunt

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS — The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center has received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to support their efforts to address the shortage of nursing students and nurses throughout the state.

The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, is engaged in several projects designed to increase interest in nursing and boost applications to nursing schools throughout the state. The grant also will fund a comprehensive report analyzing the relationship between the nursing shortage in the state and its educational programs, providing insight into best practices and barriers for increasing nursing school applications, enrollments and licensing pass rates.

“The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center is so grateful for the support from the Board of Regents,” said Barbara MacArthur, MN, FAAN, director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center and a member of the faculty at KU School of Nursing. 

“By collecting data on nursing issues throughout the state, the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center has learned about the issues facing potential students as well as nurses at any stage in their career," she said. "The Kansas Nursing Pathways Project aims to increase applicants to pre-licensure nursing education programs, which is at the core of growing the nursing workforce.”

Enrollment in Kansas nursing education programs has steadily declined by 38% over the last 10 years. Additionally, a significant number of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses plan to retire in the next five years. Rural hospitals in the state are particularly vulnerable and could face closure.

“The mission of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center aligns perfectly with the regents’ strategic plan for our state’s public higher education system,” said Blake Flanders, Ph.D., Kansas Board of Regents president and chief executive officer. “It will ensure that that our system is meeting a critical need in our state by developing a robust nursing talent pipeline and helping nurses deliver the best possible care.”

“A persistent shortage of nurses means that Kansas patients are at risk of not getting the care they need,” MacArthur said. “Potential nursing students struggle to see an educational pathway that fits their needs, and they often spend time and money filling out multiple applications. Nursing education programs have unfilled seats, and employers struggle to find nurses.”

KU School of Nursing will continue to support and house the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center throughout this initiative.

The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center was established at KU School of Nursing in August 2023 and is one of 46 in the nation focused on solving the nursing shortage issue. It is focused on using data and collaboration to address the nursing workforce shortage throughout the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

About the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">Kansas Nursing Workforce Center</a>, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, ensures Kansans have access to nurses when and where they need them. It will support nurses both individually and as part of the health care team. The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center will use science and evidence-based practices to examine nursing workforce information, provide solutions and generate new knowledge to support nurses. It also will represent the state of Kansas as a member of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers.

To learn more, visit the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">website</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692375833810.jpeg" alt="Salina nursing students training. Photo courtesy University of Kansas Medical Center" />
 <figcaption>Salina nursing students training. Photo courtesy University of Kansas Medical Center</figcaption>
 </figure>UKMC NewsKANSAS CITY, KANSAS — The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center has received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to support their efforts to address the shortage of nursing students and nurses throughout the state.The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, is engaged in several projects designed to increase interest in nursing and boost applications to nursing schools throughout the state. The grant also will fund a comprehensive report analyzing the relationship between the nursing shortage in the state and its educational programs, providing insight into best practices and barriers for increasing nursing school applications, enrollments and licensing pass rates.“The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center is so grateful for the support from the Board of Regents,” said Barbara MacArthur, MN, FAAN, director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center and a member of the faculty at KU School of Nursing. “By collecting data on nursing issues throughout the state, the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center has learned about the issues facing potential students as well as nurses at any stage in their career," she said. "The Kansas Nursing Pathways Project aims to increase applicants to pre-licensure nursing education programs, which is at the core of growing the nursing workforce.”Enrollment in Kansas nursing education programs has steadily declined by 38% over the last 10 years. Additionally, a significant number of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses plan to retire in the next five years. Rural hospitals in the state are particularly vulnerable and could face closure.“The mission of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center aligns perfectly with the regents’ strategic plan for our state’s public higher education system,” said Blake Flanders, Ph.D., Kansas Board of Regents president and chief executive officer. “It will ensure that that our system is meeting a critical need in our state by developing a robust nursing talent pipeline and helping nurses deliver the best possible care.”“A persistent shortage of nurses means that Kansas patients are at risk of not getting the care they need,” MacArthur said. “Potential nursing students struggle to see an educational pathway that fits their needs, and they often spend time and money filling out multiple applications. Nursing education programs have unfilled seats, and employers struggle to find nurses.”KU School of Nursing will continue to support and house the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center throughout this initiative.The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center was established at KU School of Nursing in August 2023 and is one of 46 in the nation focused on solving the nursing shortage issue. It is focused on using data and collaboration to address the nursing workforce shortage throughout the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;About the Kansas Nursing Workforce CenterThe&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">Kansas Nursing Workforce Center</a>, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, ensures Kansans have access to nurses when and where they need them. It will support nurses both individually and as part of the health care team. The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center will use science and evidence-based practices to examine nursing workforce information, provide solutions and generate new knowledge to support nurses. It also will represent the state of Kansas as a member of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. To learn more, visit the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-nursing/about/kansas-nursing-workforce-center.html">website</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Kansas Nursing Pathways Project launched to address state’s nurse shortage

Senate’s COGE panel hears feedback about Medicaid expansion, Kobach’s performance and anti-trans bills

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINISKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/let-kansans-live-free-leaked-emails-to-efficiency-portal-call-for-abortion-rights-school-funding/?emci=115dd2d6-3714-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;emdi=8f2e75d4-5714-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A “defeated” single mother seeking health coverage, a disabled Navy veteran who wants to move to Kansas but can’t afford the taxes and a former state internal auditor fed up with corruption and bureaucracy were among the suggestions submitted to Kansas’ GOP-led Senate Committee on Government Efficiency.

The majority of submissions to the committee’s public suggestion portal, which debuted Jan. 31 and was the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/21/kansas-government-efficiency-committee-restricts-access-to-public-suggestions/">subject of public records requests</a>, included complaints that do not align with the policy priorities of the majority party. Instead, top suggestions included maintaining abortion rights, leaving school vouchers out of public education funding, critiques of leadership, expanding the state’s Medicaid program, focusing on substantial policy issues instead of legislation targeted at trans kids, and more than 60 references to legalizing marijuana.

Kansas Reflector obtained leaked copies of the more than 1,500 submissions sent to officials between Feb. 3 and March 28 containing specific public input from across the state alongside sarcastic replies, spam and suggestions in jest. A significant portion of those submissions showed a sense of disillusionment with Kansas politics, politicians and government. A few submissions contained personal stories of inefficiencies in state government. Even fewer included complaints or opinions in line with Republican policy.

Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and chair of the efficiency committee, has promised that the committee will meet outside of the legislative session to review the submissions. Republican leadership created the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, or COGE, earlier this year in response to the similar federal effort from billionaire Elon Musk called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The committee sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_government_efficiency_1/" target="_blank">11</a>&nbsp;bills this session, many of which targeted public assistance programs, public employees or spending cuts. Little, if any, of the committee’s work this year aligned with what Kansans suggested.

Suggestions could be submitted in one of two ways: via&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansascoge@senate.ks.gov">email</a>&nbsp;or a standardized form in a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/" target="_blank">public portal</a>&nbsp;that includes the submitter’s first and last name, an age range and their county, city and zip code. The form notes that submissions are public records. Kansas Reflector did not independently verify the names provided with submissions.

Kansas Reflector submitted a request for the public records to Erickson in February. Erickson said she would deliver them to journalists on April 9, even though she delivered them to a legislator on March 17 in response to his formal records request. Under the Kansas Open Records Act, public records are required to be provided as soon as possible.

One suggestion from Ben Carmichael, a Wichita resident in his 30s, detailed concerns that the Legislature has morphed into a “full-time machine, expanding its power and influence without corresponding checks in accountability, transparency, or fiscal restraint.” He pointed to continued meetings among legislators outside of the session and the consolidation of power within the Legislative Coordinating Council, which is made up of the governor and legislative leadership.&nbsp;

The line is blurred, he said, between “part-time service and full-time rule.”

“Instead of trusting Kansans to govern their own lives and communities, the state has taken on a paternalistic posture, eroding both personal freedom and local governance,” Carmichael wrote. “This is not only inefficient government — it is unjust government.”

Carmichael added that in times of national division and economic uncertainty, Kansans don’t need more laws, rules or interference.

“They need a Legislature that knows its limits and remembers its mandate: to serve, not to rule,” Carmichael wrote. “Shrink the footprint of government. Restore the citizen Legislature. Let Kansans live free.”

Around 300 submissions included mention of abortion. Most begged legislators to leave the issue alone, as voters made their opinions clear in the August 2022 primary, during which a constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion rights failed by a 59-41 margin.

Bethany Quesnell, a 30-something in Wamego, said elected officials could be most effective if they listened to the stories of the constituents in their districts.

“Don’t just stop listening after one person who matches your personal beliefs, either,” Quesnell wrote.

And if an issue has been voted on in recent years, Quesnell suggested officials refrain from bringing that issue up again.

“Abortion is a great example,” Quesnell said. “Kansans made their opinions known and we don’t want to hear about it anymore.”

Submitters characterized the Legislature’s continued focus on abortion regulation as a waste of time and money.

“The amount of times transgender healthcare and abortion have come up in this legislature is downright wasteful,” said Kat Stucky, a Cheney resident in her 30s.

More than 130 suggestions told lawmakers to stop legislating trans issues.

Stucky, and several other commenters, said trans people make up a tiny fraction of Kansas’ population but have received a significant amount of focus, particularly this legislative session.

Pamela Sturm, a septuagenarian from Kansas City, Kansas, said the state could save money if the Legislature focused on issues guided by voter’s actions.

“The legislature has decided that attacking transgender kids is a more legitimate target for their attention than dealing with real issues for Kansans, just as they’ve decided to deny Kansas residents legitimate access to cannabis and that it’s okay for rural hospitals to close because they refuse to honor the will of the people by expanding Medicaid in our state,” Sturm wrote.

A “very frustrated and defeated” single mother of three, Ashlie Bruner, wrote to legislators in February detailing a recent denial of health care coverage under the state’s Medicaid program. Bruner is caught in what is known as the Medicaid gap.

Her employer doesn’t offer health insurance. She said she earns $1,200 a month while the state Medicaid income cap for a household of four is $880 a month.

“This has left me in a position where I can not afford health insurance or do not qualify for lower rates or state insurance as my income is either too high or too low,” she said. “The system is flawed.”

Average rental prices, bills and necessities make up a majority of Bruner’s spending, and, as a single parent, she said she struggles to pay those costs.

“I know I’m not the only person with this problem,” she said. “And it leaves the question of what am I supposed to do?”

Bruner begged legislators for a solution because she cannot seek medical care without paying out of pocket, leaving her “suffering through illnesses or medical conditions unable to afford the help I need.”

The vast majority of the roughly 180 submissions that mentioned Medicaid supported expansion or opposed further cuts to the program. Kansas is one of 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid. Roger Smith, a Wichita resident in his 70s, suggested the Legislature ensure Medicaid fraud isn’t taking place by reviewing and confirming that Medicaid participants are appropriately using allocated funds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744134665240.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Kansas Reflector obtained leaked copies of suggestions that were sent to the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency. They urge lawmakers to maintain abortion rights, reject school vouchers, expand Medicaid, stop harming trans kids, and legalize marijuana.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas Reflector obtained leaked copies of suggestions that were sent to the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency. They urge lawmakers to maintain abortion rights, reject school vouchers, expand Medicaid, stop harming trans kids, and legalize marijuana.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Senate’s COGE panel hears feedback about Medicaid expansion, Kobach’s performance and anti-trans bills</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINISKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/let-kansans-live-free-leaked-emails-to-efficiency-portal-call-for-abortion-rights-school-funding/?emci=115dd2d6-3714-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;emdi=8f2e75d4-5714-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A “defeated” single mother seeking health coverage, a disabled Navy veteran who wants to move to Kansas but can’t afford the taxes and a former state internal auditor fed up with corruption and bureaucracy were among the suggestions submitted to Kansas’ GOP-led Senate Committee on Government Efficiency.The majority of submissions to the committee’s public suggestion portal, which debuted Jan. 31 and was the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/21/kansas-government-efficiency-committee-restricts-access-to-public-suggestions/">subject of public records requests</a>, included complaints that do not align with the policy priorities of the majority party. Instead, top suggestions included maintaining abortion rights, leaving school vouchers out of public education funding, critiques of leadership, expanding the state’s Medicaid program, focusing on substantial policy issues instead of legislation targeted at trans kids, and more than 60 references to legalizing marijuana.Kansas Reflector obtained leaked copies of the more than 1,500 submissions sent to officials between Feb. 3 and March 28 containing specific public input from across the state alongside sarcastic replies, spam and suggestions in jest. A significant portion of those submissions showed a sense of disillusionment with Kansas politics, politicians and government. A few submissions contained personal stories of inefficiencies in state government. Even fewer included complaints or opinions in line with Republican policy.Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican and chair of the efficiency committee, has promised that the committee will meet outside of the legislative session to review the submissions. Republican leadership created the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, or COGE, earlier this year in response to the similar federal effort from billionaire Elon Musk called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The committee sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_government_efficiency_1/" target="_blank">11</a>&nbsp;bills this session, many of which targeted public assistance programs, public employees or spending cuts. Little, if any, of the committee’s work this year aligned with what Kansans suggested.Suggestions could be submitted in one of two ways: via&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansascoge@senate.ks.gov">email</a>&nbsp;or a standardized form in a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/" target="_blank">public portal</a>&nbsp;that includes the submitter’s first and last name, an age range and their county, city and zip code. The form notes that submissions are public records. Kansas Reflector did not independently verify the names provided with submissions.Kansas Reflector submitted a request for the public records to Erickson in February. Erickson said she would deliver them to journalists on April 9, even though she delivered them to a legislator on March 17 in response to his formal records request. Under the Kansas Open Records Act, public records are required to be provided as soon as possible.One suggestion from Ben Carmichael, a Wichita resident in his 30s, detailed concerns that the Legislature has morphed into a “full-time machine, expanding its power and influence without corresponding checks in accountability, transparency, or fiscal restraint.” He pointed to continued meetings among legislators outside of the session and the consolidation of power within the Legislative Coordinating Council, which is made up of the governor and legislative leadership.&nbsp;The line is blurred, he said, between “part-time service and full-time rule.”“Instead of trusting Kansans to govern their own lives and communities, the state has taken on a paternalistic posture, eroding both personal freedom and local governance,” Carmichael wrote. “This is not only inefficient government — it is unjust government.”Carmichael added that in times of national division and economic uncertainty, Kansans don’t need more laws, rules or interference.“They need a Legislature that knows its limits and remembers its mandate: to serve, not to rule,” Carmichael wrote. “Shrink the footprint of government. Restore the citizen Legislature. Let Kansans live free.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744134759087.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Attendees of the August 2022 Kansans for Constitutional Freedom watch party celebrate after primary election results verify Kansans voted to keep abortion a constitutional right.&nbsp; Photo by Lily O’Shea Becker/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Attendees of the August 2022 Kansans for Constitutional Freedom watch party celebrate after primary election results verify Kansans voted to keep abortion a constitutional right.&nbsp; Photo by Lily O’Shea Becker/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Attacks on health and autonomy</h2>Around 300 submissions included mention of abortion. Most begged legislators to leave the issue alone, as voters made their opinions clear in the August 2022 primary, during which a constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion rights failed by a 59-41 margin.Bethany Quesnell, a 30-something in Wamego, said elected officials could be most effective if they listened to the stories of the constituents in their districts.“Don’t just stop listening after one person who matches your personal beliefs, either,” Quesnell wrote.And if an issue has been voted on in recent years, Quesnell suggested officials refrain from bringing that issue up again.“Abortion is a great example,” Quesnell said. “Kansans made their opinions known and we don’t want to hear about it anymore.”Submitters characterized the Legislature’s continued focus on abortion regulation as a waste of time and money.“The amount of times transgender healthcare and abortion have come up in this legislature is downright wasteful,” said Kat Stucky, a Cheney resident in her 30s.More than 130 suggestions told lawmakers to stop legislating trans issues.Stucky, and several other commenters, said trans people make up a tiny fraction of Kansas’ population but have received a significant amount of focus, particularly this legislative session.Pamela Sturm, a septuagenarian from Kansas City, Kansas, said the state could save money if the Legislature focused on issues guided by voter’s actions.“The legislature has decided that attacking transgender kids is a more legitimate target for their attention than dealing with real issues for Kansans, just as they’ve decided to deny Kansas residents legitimate access to cannabis and that it’s okay for rural hospitals to close because they refuse to honor the will of the people by expanding Medicaid in our state,” Sturm wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744134835468.jpeg" alt="Kansans attended a March 6, 2024 rally to urge lawmakers to hear a Medicaid expansion proposal. Photo by Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Kansans attended a March 6, 2024 rally to urge lawmakers to hear a Medicaid expansion proposal. Photo by Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Expanding Medicaid</h2>A “very frustrated and defeated” single mother of three, Ashlie Bruner, wrote to legislators in February detailing a recent denial of health care coverage under the state’s Medicaid program. Bruner is caught in what is known as the Medicaid gap.Her employer doesn’t offer health insurance. She said she earns $1,200 a month while the state Medicaid income cap for a household of four is $880 a month.“This has left me in a position where I can not afford health insurance or do not qualify for lower rates or state insurance as my income is either too high or too low,” she said. “The system is flawed.”Average rental prices, bills and necessities make up a majority of Bruner’s spending, and, as a single parent, she said she struggles to pay those costs.“I know I’m not the only person with this problem,” she said. “And it leaves the question of what am I supposed to do?”Bruner begged legislators for a solution because she cannot seek medical care without paying out of pocket, leaving her “suffering through illnesses or medical conditions unable to afford the help I need.”The vast majority of the roughly 180 submissions that mentioned Medicaid supported expansion or opposed further cuts to the program. Kansas is one of 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid. Roger Smith, a Wichita resident in his 70s, suggested the Legislature ensure Medicaid fraud isn’t taking place by reviewing and confirming that Medicaid participants are appropriately using allocated funds.“Let us all be responsible for supplying the resources needed to those that truly need it,” Smith said. “Being a good steward at all levels is very important for everyone’s survival.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744134918911.jpeg" alt="Private school kids rally in support of vouchers on Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Private school kids rally in support of vouchers on Jan. 28, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Funding or dismantling education</h2>Suggestions on education were varied. Legislators in recent years have attempted to impose influence on education typically reserved for the Kansas State Board of Education. The Legislature controls funding for public schools and has the ability to create voucher programs.Sandra Kirby, a 40-something from Pittsburg, asked legislators to oppose any legislation that would eliminate the Kansas State Department of Education. Kirby said taxpayers shouldn’t support any religious institution or school.“If a person wanted to send their kids to a private or religious school- so be it,” Kirby wrote, “but leave the rest of Kansans alone.”Kirby added: “NO VOUCHERS.”Ryan Patton, a Hutchinson resident in his 40s, said the Kansas education system costs taxpayers around $18,000 annually per student, which is true according to KSDE data. Homeschooling produces better results, he said.“The Kansas education system is far beyond repair and needs to be dismantled,” Patton wrote. “There is extreme amounts of waste of these funds that never reach the teachers let alone the children.”Rick Ruppe, who did not include an age or location in his email to the committee, applauded the Legislature’s proposal to shift the Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/18/plan-to-elect-kansas-supreme-court-justices-scrutinized-by-critics-including-courts-former-chief/">judicial selection process to a popular vote</a>&nbsp;instead of the current nomination and appointment system.It’s long overdue, he said.State education funding, Ruppe said, is one area that has been part of a series of “bad outcomes in decisions being made by the court, which have been politically and ideologically slanted towards liberal and progressive viewpoints.”The Kansas Supreme Court has repeatedly determined the Legislature is not adequately funding education. Ruppe characterized the wording of the Kansas State Constitution that has been used to determine funding requirements as vague.“This has led to this issue becoming a political football, with the punting of a real solution, much like kicking a can down the road, with no clear criteria for what ‘sufficient or adequate’ funding is,” he said.He added that the court also erred in ruling the state constitution includes implicit rights that allow legal abortions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744134994815.jpeg" alt="Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announces he is suing Pfizer during a June 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announces he is suing Pfizer during a June 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka.&nbsp; Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Frivolous lawsuits’</h2>Nearly 60 submissions included criticism of the Kansas Attorney General’s performance. Many claimed Kris Kobach’s “frivolous lawsuits” have cost Kansas taxpayers millions, and others called for him to be fired.Amy Warfield, a Hays resident in her 30s, said “a more efficient Kansas state government would better seek to reign in vanity lawsuits” from Kobach, which include banning abortion drug mifepristone,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/19/kobach-part-of-lawsuit-aimed-at-helping-kansas-avoid-losing-u-s-house-seat-in-2030/">blocking immigrants without citizenship from being counted in the Census</a>, and limiting Title IX protections for youths.“In fact, the list of confrontations and lawsuits is so long and such a tangled web, it’s difficult to parse through what is even in the best interest of the people of this state and its funds, or just ideological check boxes,” Warfield said.Brice Cronn, a Colby resident in his 40s, suggested the Legislature refrain from passing any legislation having to do with Kobach.“Millions in litigation costs are unacceptable,” Cronn wrote.“This culture war stuff makes you popular with a certain voting block, but it is a nonsensical money pit that doesn’t do anything to improve the wellbeing of Kansans,” he said.Kari Nilson, an Andover resident in her 40s, said the best way to cut government spending would be to “get Kris Kobach to quit filing lawsuits that the people of Kansas don’t want to be part of.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744135097041.jpeg" alt="A bright sun rises March 5, 2025, behind the Kansas Statehouse dome. Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>A bright sun rises March 5, 2025, behind the Kansas Statehouse dome. Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Government efficiency</h2>Roberta Hill, who identified herself as a disabled Navy veteran, began her email by giving credit to the state of Kansas for taking care of its veterans.“I as a 100% disabled female veteran would move to Kansas, yet I financially could not afford to own a home,” Hill said.In her current state, which she did not disclose, she doesn’t have to pay property taxes on the home she owns.“I don’t abuse my taxes exempt status,” she said. “I believe in paying taxes on a lot of things. If Kansas allowed veterans to own homes and not pay property taxes. You would have them in your state paying taxes on other things. Helping the economy of Kansas!”Bills aimed at providing tax relief for veterans did not progress this session.A handful of submissions requested greater transparency from Kansas government.Jadie Chauncey, a Junction City resident, submitted a list of three issues, each with a clear proposal aimed at making Kansas government more open, fair and accessible. The three suggestions included eliminating “gut and go” bills, which allow legislators to entirely overhaul the content of a bill with unrelated legislation.“This process confuses voters and allows bills to pass without proper review,” Chauncey said.The second item suggested the Legislature make it easier for Kansans to submit testimony and establish a mandatory 72-hour notice before testimony submission deadlines. Chauncey called the current system “confusing and outdated.”“Some committees give very short notice for hearings, change their rules often, and require paper copies of testimony,” Chauncey said. “This makes it hard for people who live far from Topeka or have jobs during the day to participate.”Lastly, Chauncey noticed special interest groups tend to get more time than citizens and suggested ensuring all speakers at hearings get equal time to testify.Mark Ummel, a Burlingame resident in his 60s, said he performed internal audits and investigations for 15 years at one of the state’s largest agencies. He retired not because he was ready but because he “became fed up with various senior leaders at the agency who would use their position of power to hire their personal friends for high paying jobs without advertising publicly, review audits only to hide the malfeasance or illegal activity and position their personal needs above what is best for the agency.”State government operations could become more efficient, Ummel said, with improved audit practices that evaluate internal processes, wasteful spending and potential fraud.“If the legislative process can be described as ‘making sausage,’ ” he said, “the inner workings inside the agencies could be describe(d) as the ‘slaughterhouse.’ ”