Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. issues Executive Order regarding Paid Parental Leave

Press Release for Kansas Governors Office

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Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. recently issued Executive Order 18-19 providing paid parental leave for Kansas state employees.

Under the policy, all state employees under the jurisdiction of the governor will be eligible to receive paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child, with primary caregivers receiving six weeks and secondary caregivers receiving three weeks. Employees will receive 100 percent of their regular salary during their leave.

“I think this is an important initiative for all Kansans,” said Governor Colyer. “It shows how important our children are to us and how much we value family here in Kansas. I want state employees to have the same type of benefits that you see in private businesses across our state and nation, and I encourage all other statewide elected officials and agencies to adopt comparable policies for their employees.”

The new policy will apply to over 17,000 state employees. Kansas joins 14 states and the District of Columbia in providing paid parental leave to all or some of their workforce.

Opinion: Hawver Report - At the Rail - Week of November 19

By Martin Hawver

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Almost eerily quiet; this Thanksgiving week the Statehouse is going to be nearly empty, no interim committees meeting to thrash out possible legislation for the upcoming session, not even freshly elected legislators likely to be wandering the halls wondering where their offices are going to be.

Martin Hawver, Columnist

Of course, nobody has won anything until the State Canvass Board meets later this month to certify that those election results are official, that the county officials counted right, that the candidates who were named winners in their local courthouses get the final OK in the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.

But pending that Topeka stamp of approval, there are still going to be 125 members of the Kansas House, and at least 27 of them are new, or at least relatively new (some served earlier terms, quit or were defeated, and came back). Five of those new or relatively new faces are Democrats, 22 are Republicans. A recount out in Hays will determine if Rep. Eber Phelps, D-Hays, or Republican Barbara Wasinger, Hays, wins the vote, which could change the number of new faces.

If Wasinger wins, the ratio stays at the current 85 Republicans, 40 Democrats. If Phelps wins, that makes it 84 Republicans, 41 Democrats. Not a “blue wave” in the House of Representatives.

That eerie quiet in the Statehouse is going to be offset by what will be hot phone lines, e-mails and voice messages between House members who will be campaigning within their party for leadership offices.

Now, everyone knows that the big job, the most powerful job in the Kansas House, is the Speaker. He/she with the help of the House Majority Leader decide what is going to be debated, and when.

That top job appears to be locked up by current Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, who doesn’t have any serious opposition for the post within his party.

House Minority Leader Jim Ward, D-Wichita, may see a scrap for his post, largely because it doesn’t appear that he’s been able to increase Democrat numbers in the chamber, which is considered a major responsibility.

Everything else? Well, look for a GOP scrap over the No. 2 job in the chamber, Majority Leader. It’s the Majority Leader, moderate Republican Rep. Don Hineman, R-Dighton, who is facing at least two conservative Republicans who hope to build on the shift to the right of the House GOP caucus.

It’s that under-the-sheets campaigning that will to a large degree determine whether Democrat Gov.-elect (now Senator) Laura Kelly, Topeka, gets much of her budget and legislative agenda approved.

And that, again, is where the leadership of the House becomes a key. That House leadership appoints members to committees which will not only come up with their own bills but hold hearings on Kelly-proposed bills.

Don’t like the Kelly bill? Just have the Majority Leader send it to a committee that will knock it down or amend it. That’s why the power to name Republican members of committees is almost thermonuclear.  The House party breakdown means 23-member committees are 16 Republican/7 Democrat; 17-member committees are 12 Republican/5 Democrats and so-on,

So how does a fresh-faced new legislator who doesn’t even know where all the Statehouse bathrooms are, get a flashy committee assignment, say, Appropriations or Tax or Commerce or Federal and State Affairs?  How about pledging to vote for a member of leadership, a little tradeoff and the first real use of a freshman’s power.

Democrats? They’ll make their own committee assignments, but not with the leverage that the Republican committee assignments carry.

Wonder what the upcoming session is going to look like? Wait for the leadership races to trickle down to committee assignments.

We’ll see…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is the publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Obituary: Michael Lee "Mike" Troute

Michael Lee “Mike” Troute, age 56, of Manhattan KS, died November 18, 2018, at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan.

He was born July 4, 1962, in Carthage, IL, the son of Larry L. and Gloria Jean (Ikerd) Troute.

Mike grew up in Dallas City, IL, and graduated from Dallas City High School.

Mike served for 12 years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1994 at the rank of First Sergeant. Following his discharge from Fort Riley, he stayed in the Manhattan area. He was an owner/operator of several local businesses over the years and currently owned and operated O’Malley’s, Salty Rim and Porter’s.

Mike was a gym rat, enjoyed playing basketball, watching K-State football, boating and loved spending time with his boys. He attended the TRU Community Church in St. George, KS. Mike loved being around people and everyone that he knew was his best friend.

Survivors include his two sons: Tyler Troute of Manhattan, KS, and Teagan Troute of Baldwin City, KS; his mother Gloria Troute of Dallas City, IL; three siblings: Thomas Troute of Golden, IL, Larry Troute of Oakdale, MN, and LeeAnn Unruh of Midland, TX; and many, many friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his father and by his sister-in-law Martha.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Pastor David Romero officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Harris Cemetery in Dallas City, IL.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Good Shepherd Hospice House, Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan or the TRU Community Church of St. George. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.

Opinion: The Hawver Report - Nov. 14, 2018

By Martin Hawver

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How would you like to be elected governor of Kansas by about 46,000 votes on Tuesday and on Friday learn that you’re going to have $306.4 million more to spend than you thought?

Martin Hawver

Doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Well, that’s exactly what has happened to Gov.-elect Laura Kelly, who by the way beat Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach who pledged during his campaign to start cutting taxes quickly if elected.

Well, Kelly isn’t talking tax cuts, she’s talking investment in schools, expanding Medicaid and balancing the budget without new taxes—and that was before she heard about the $306 million windfall which the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group unveiled Friday. The CREG meets twice a year, in November and April, to predict upcoming state revenues.

This might be an interesting four years ahead with a governor who wants to first take care of the state’s responsibilities that have been avoided the past several years before talking about tax cuts. The new money is good, of course, but we’re not yet constitutionally “adequate” on state aid to schools and are making little progress in restoring money that has been “swept” out of agency budgets for highway construction, pensions and such.

No, we’re not looking for Kelly to start handing out tax cuts while she’s waiting for her stationery and business cards to be printed up.

In fact, even before that $306 million windfall, Kelly was talking about waiting until next April’s Consensus Revenue Estimate before giving much thought to tax cuts—after she’s nailed down the spending necessary to restore state government duties.

Part of that, of course, is her experience as a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee—which makes the appropriations and cuts necessary to balance the budget. It’s been more cuts than appropriations in the past few years, and she’s made clear that restoration of services is first in line, ahead of tax cuts.

What’s it mean? Well, from a Statehouse viewpoint, it probably means a rather complicated “State of the State” message when lawmakers come back to town in mid-January. She’s a details person, likely to talk more about programs that need to be rebuilt or financed adequately than new programs that Republicans tend to spend a lot of time trying to think up catchy names (or acronyms) for.

Don’t look for flash.

Now, remember that she’s going to face an overwhelmingly Republican legislature that is probably going to be more interested in cutting taxes than rebuilding the state payroll of social workers and helping local school districts rebuild their staff of teachers and aides.

Key there is for the governor to convince those conservatives in the Legislature that the not-very-flashy care of the poor and ill and their children are the best way to improve the state before cutting taxes.

Tax cuts? They will probably start with the sales tax on food. It’s a big deal for the poor who see the cost of a can of beans at 9% or 10% (depending on local sales taxes) more than the shelf price before they get it out of the store and into the kitchen.  Oh, and it also means that those steaks and salmon are cheaper, too, but it’s not an afford-it or not decision for more prosperous Kansans.

That $306 million? Well, it gives Kelly some negotiating room, enough spare cash to bargain a dab of tax cut in return for the social service, highway construction and health-care expenditures she’d like to make.

***

But all that new direction in state spending that Kelly proposes will ultimately be keyed off of the makeup of the Legislature, and whether that top-heavy Republican majority in both chambers is solid enough to pass veto-proof legislation.

We’ll see. Check back in April…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Final Recap - Kansas General Election

Final Report of the Night

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Kansas Election Night - Report #3

Live Video Report - Kansas Elections 2018

8 PM Report

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Opinion: The Contentious Words and Name Calling Turns

Kevin Surbaugh

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photographer Kevin Surbaugh

The November election is tomorrow. How many people will vote tomorrow? Last week Douglas County reported that 23% had already voted (through Oct 29).  Since then the Kansas Secretary of State has reported 300,000 had already cast a vote in early voting statewide.  That kind of turnout is unprecedented, for a midterm election. Will that turnout hold true through election day tomorrow.  We will see, but for now, let's focus on my endorsements for this years election.

On the Federal level, you probably already seen my endorsement of Steve Watkins over Paul Davis.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

In the race for Governor of the Great State of Kansas, Laura Kelly (Democrat), Kris Kobach (Republican), and Greg Orman (Independent) are considered to be the three battling it out.  There are two others running, another independent and a Libertarian. They aren't even polling higher then single digits,  Then again, neither is Orman. So why is he considered a major candidate and the other two aren't? It goes back to when, he ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Pat Roberts, when without a Democrat in the race, he came in a strong second place.

Polling 

The Governor's race is interesting to me. It, of course, is the meat and potatoes in Kansas politics. Our focus boils down to Kelly and Kobach.  Polling, which I had alluded to already, have the race very tight. A poll conducted by Emmerson has Kobach edging Kelly 44% to 43% in a poll conducted between October 26 and 28.
In another poll, conducted about the same time (Oct 17-27), ISPOS and Reuters in conjunction with the Virginia Center of Politics reported that Kelly edged out Kobach 43% to 41%, in a statistical dead heat.

Backbiting

The race has been interesting, to say the least. Like both of the Congressional races in eastern Kansas, it has been contentious. With former Republican Governors and U.S. Senators endorsing the Democrat. Republicans who have ignored Ronald Reagan statement, "never say anything bad about fellow Republicans."  It is true that Republican politicians have supported Democrats before, likewise, Democrats support Republicans. However, those instances were done in secret. Not publicly broadcasted. It is part what is expected from the leadership of any party. I, myself have personally served as a precinct committeeman. A position that, in part elects the chair and other leadership of their respective party. In turn, they also help promote the candidates of their party, they cannot publicly support any candidate from another party. Doing so goes against the grain of what they were elected to do. So the actions and statements by that handful of Republicans (some of who I call friends) are disappointing.

Endorsement

So, who am I endorsing? Well, I actually cast my vote, with having to be in the office until 4:30 and then driving in rush hour traffic back to home, it was just easier. Even though I am among the 23% plus that has already voted, it is important for me to lay out my cards and tell my readers who I voted for and thus who I encourage each of you to vote for also. That candidate is Kris Kobach. True, there are issues I disagree with him on.  One of which is medical marijuana. Something that has been proven to offer relief for some kinds of pain and medical conditions. Something that Missouri and Utah are voting on tomorrow to join the growing list of states that will legalize it for those with a doctors prescription. I think Kobach could come around with some education.   His commitment to hold the line on taxes is a big reason I support him.

State Representative

In the race for state representative, Eileen Horn is running unopposed, so I wrote my own name in.  If you so chose, you can also write in the name of D. Kevin Surbaugh for state representative. I have not campaigned for the position, nor will I, but I will accept the position if there are enough write-in votes.

Live Reporting

Finally, I will be live posting results as they come in tomorrow night. The first post I expect will be around 7:30, thirty minutes after the polls close. Who will win? We will find out tomorrow night.

Opinion: A Look at the Second Congressional Election

Kevin Surbaugh

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It's that time of the year again. Yes, it's election time.  That is no surprise with all the contentious barbs that have been being traded this election cycle. In fact, it has been one of the most contentious I have seen in several years.  Even more so than the Trump v Clinton election two years ago.
My mailbox has been filled with a lot of mail from both sides.

One piece of mail came from a group calling itself the Center for Voter Information, out of Springfield, MO.  Once it was opened up, I found the mailer was a liberal organization, twisting the truth. The first problem is that it is out of state interest group, interjecting itself into a Kansas election.  The second, it claimed that Steve Watkins wants to cut the taxes for millionaires.  Trying to insinuate that he wants to raise everyone else's taxes.  The real fact is that he wants to lower the taxes for everyone, especially the poor.  The fact that millionaires are also included, is a good thing.  If the millionaire's taxes are lower, they have more money to pay employees. Yes, millionaires tend to be the ones who own businesses. As such they create jobs.  More money they have, the more jobs they can create. The more jobs they create, the more people are working and paying taxes.  Which, is a big win for the government.
The fact Paul Davis is shady is, or should be by now obvious, with his being present in the back room of a strip club, receiving a lap dance when the club was raided for drugs. One could say, as Davis tries to, that was thirty-years ago. Does change the fact, that as a lawyer he should have known better.  Sure people can change, but it's hard to not overlook that fact.  I admit, I have done things in my past, that I would rather forget. Especially in my youth. That, however, was just that I was not a lawyer, I was not someone, who was representing the law in any way. I was young and ipressionable, I since grew up.  Davis was a grown man, working as a lawyer.
He in turns tries to paint Watkins to be just as shady. I for one am not buying it. Yes, I have qualms about the GOP nominee (I endorsed and voted for Caryn Tyson in the Primary), but I cannot in good conscience, vote for someone, who wants to raise taxes on Americans.  Which in turn, if it happened, would raise unemployment.  The fact is, we must cut Government waste.  If a candidate, isn't willing to look at cutting government waste first and foremost then I am not interested in voting for them,  It is for that reason, I am endorsing Steve Watkins for Congress in the second district of Kansas,  

Opinion: Hawver Reports

By Martin Hawver

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We’ve come to the point in the campaigns that political ad after political ad after political ad drag on long enough that there’s time to microwave popcorn and not miss the cop show on television.

Martin Hawver

Yes, and for those of you who have other things to think about during the commercials…one of those thoughts might just be what happens to the Kansas Legislature after the next federal census in 2020.

That’ll be the 24^th national census, and it is designed to tell us what the population of the nation is, and where those people are located—and likely whether Kansas remains a four-congressional district state.

Is that official April 1, 2020, headcount a little far off? Why think about it now? Well, if you live in one of those Kansas House or Senate districts out west, say, west of US-81, the north-south Interstate that is the dividing line between western Kansas and eastern Kansas, you might want to start thinking about it now.

It’ll be 2022 when the first statewide election occurs after the census, based on that federal census and where it says the people are. That’s the key data for reapportionment of Kansas House and Senate districts. Oh…and the state’s four congressional districts.

And that reapportionment is based on U.S. Census population data which the Legislature will spend more than a year dissecting into 40 Senate districts and 125 House districts, and, yes, those four Congressional districts.

What’s worth thinking about now ahead of that reapportionment? Probably for much of western Kansas it’s what the Republican Party efforts to further regulate immigration and the “close the border” talk has to do with populations out west of US-81.

Yes, it is western Kansas, with its agriculture and food processing industry that stands the best chance of seeing foreign workers not participating in the census or maybe misstating their legal citizenship for fear of deportation. Oh, and there are lots of foreign-born workers and their children in other parts of the state, too.

Now, the GOP and President Donald Trump make a decent case that immigrants should come across the border with Mexico legally. They ought to get the visas and such, and probably some clearly defined path to becoming a full United States citizen, with a stake in how this country is run, and the right to vote.

But this concentration on immigration, while a strong national political issue, will undoubtedly have some effect on headcount in the census.

So, if the historic trend of adults and their children moving out of western Kansas is accelerated by federal immigration regulation that makes the census inaccurate, count on many who have come to this country and state for a better life to decide just not to participate.

And that means likely less census-counted population in parts of western Kansas, and by the time the Legislature has mapped out new House and Senate districts based on population, fewer state representatives and senators from areas where the population count is down.

That means fewer, and larger, Kansas House and Senate districts out west, and likely more districts in urban areas of eastern Kansas—Wichita, Topeka, and Missouri-bordered northeast Kansas counties.

Now, it’s based on population, and that’s fair, but it likely means less attention will be paid to western Kansas (except for highways) and more attention to population-heavy areas based on their representation in the House and Senate because the members of the House and Senate will be tilted toward urban areas—which, by the way, are easier to gerrymander based on voter political registration.

Something to think about during those commercials, isn’t it?

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Opinion: The Trump Factor

By Martin Hawver

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We have less than a month to figure out whether the Topeka rally by President Donald Trump will see if his endorsement of GOP gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State Kris Kobach is going to move the tight race in Kobach’s favor.

Martin Hawver

Similarly, we’re going to see whether his endorsement moves the tight race for 2nd District Congress to Republican Steve Watkins, who has virtually no government experience—or even experience at voting—to the relatively little-known Republican.

While a presidential visit to the state is always front-page news, Trump had his issue Saturday which was celebration of the Senate confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as the newest, and perhaps tipping-point on life issues, nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The question, of course, is will that matter to Kansas voters next month?

At the rally, Trump talked a little about general issues, the ones that rile the Kansas Legislature each session, like taxes and spending and illegal immigration. But nothing specific that would bring Kansas notoriety as a national leader or strong supporter of Trump policies on those issues. But…it’s not going to be difficult for candidates for governor and congressional seats to raise those issues to show that if they are elected, well, the president is on their side for whatever political and legislative advantage that might yield them and their constituents.

There weren’t many legislative candidates visible at the rally. Trump didn’t identify any by name, and searches of the 10,000-Republican crowd at the event didn’t turn up any legislative candidate who made it into the same photo frame as Trump.  It is those state legislators who, if Kobach defeats Democratic challenger Laura Kelly, will tip Kansas government next session either in favor of Kobach or away from Kobach in floor votes or in considering vetoes.

The rally, though, probably had a positive effect on conservative Republicans trying to move some of those moderate GOP candidates toward conservative policy.  There are going to be those House candidates who point to conservative party leadership, and their degree of support for that conservatism may jiggle the Legislature’s votes on state issues ranging from tax cuts to school finance to expansion of Medicaid (KanCare) to voting rights.

And there are going to be moderate Republicans who vote along with Democrats on key state issues who will be able to portray themselves as important brakes on conservative moves that would dramatically alter Kansas’ responsibility to care for the poor, the ill, the roads, the students from grade school through college.

Which side wins and which side of the GOP uses the Trump appearance to its best advantage in the general election are keys for candidates who are selling themselves to voters who are pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Democrats, seeing the GOP reaction to the presidential visit, may find ways to translate that into voter support for not taking that conservative tack in the upcoming Legislature.

Remember, when Trump carried Kansas in 2016 with 56.6% of the vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 36%, that was before Trump actually had taken the wheel of the federal government. His tough trade policies that appeared for a time likely to make Kansas farmers just watch their crops and livestock they produced rather than seeing them sell at good prices, now are being shifted to what might become economic boons for those farmers. And restricting immigration, a key to Kansas productivity because those immigrants comprise a significant share of the state’s workforce, might just become another of those policy moves that may shift to help the state’s economy.

Kansans have a month to decide, or predict, what effect Trump has had on the state—and even their Kansas House districts. And then vote for or against it.

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver's Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Steve Watkins Endorsed by National Federation of Independent Business

Topeka, KS - Steve Watkins, U.S. Army veteran and Republican nominee for Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, has earned an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business, which is dedicated to electing small business advocates to Congress.

Steve Watkins (Gazette File Photo)

“I am truly honored to have my candidacy for Congress endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business, an organization that consistently stands up for the needs of our nation's small businesses,” said Steve Watkins. “As someone who has found both success and failure in the small business world, I know how tough it can be to start and grow a business and I will be a dedicated advocate for those who keep our local communities growing.”
"Steve Watkins has a deep understanding of the small business climate in our state,” said NFIB’s Kansas State Director Daniel Murray. “He knows the issues that concern our members, and we are confident that he will be a strong advocate for small business in the United States House of Representatives. On behalf of small business owners in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, we are proud to endorse Steve Watkins for election to the U.S. House.”
This endorsement adds to four others earned by Steve Watkins in recent weeks, including the National Right to Life Committee, Kansans for Life, National Rifle Association, and an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Obituary: Brenda Sue Rice

Funeral services for Brenda Sue Rice, 72, rural Baldwin, will be at 10 am Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with Dave Olmstead officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Brenda died Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at her home, surrounded by family.

Brenda Sue Rice

She was born April 7, 1946, in Lafayette, Georgia, the daughter of Temple T. and Irene Hales Hale. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964. She began working at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, and later worked for ServiceMaster as an Environmental Services Manager. She enjoyed home decorating and cooking, and watching HGTV and various cooking shows. But most important to Brenda was her family.

She married Frank Molby in 1964. They divorced in 1976. She married Dan Morrow in 1977. They divorced in 1985. She married Virgil ‘Bear’ Rice in 1987. He preceded her in death in 2009. She was also preceded in death by four siblings, Geneva, Jeanette, BettyJo, and Sonny. She is survived by three children, Sean Molby and wife Christy, Grain Valley, Mo., Daniel Morrow, North Kansas City, Mo., and Shawna Vandebuerie and husband Luc, Baldwin City; a brother, Oscar Dee Hale and wife Donna, Burlingame; a sister, Frances Bates, Chattanooga, Tenn.; a sister-in-law, Carol Hale, Overbrook; and many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brenda Rice Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Boil Water Advisory Continues for Franklin County Rural Water District 6, Franklin County

KDHE Press Release

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a boil water advisory for Franklin County Rural Water District (RWD) 6, in Franklin County on Sept. 29. Laboratory testing samples collected from the system indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination, however, due to the discoloration of the water, Franklin County RWD 6 will remain under a boil water advisory. 

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

The advisory took effect on Sept. 29, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a water line break.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

If you have questions, please contact the water system or you may contact KDHE at 785-296-5795.

Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at  kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

Alice Cooper new Album Released August 31

by Kevin Surbaugh  contributor to Blogcritics.org

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I have a confession or better yet an admission. When I grew up in the 70's and 80's I was not a fan of Alice Cooper. However, in the 90's something happened that changed all that. Alice Cooper changed. He recognized his weakness' in faith and accepted the God of his youth. The God his dad used to preach about all those years ago. His band quit and he hired a new band and released that first album that I fell in love with, The Last Temptation. That was 1994. Now twenty-four years later, I had the chance to have a listen and review his latest album, A Paranormal Evening at The Olympia Paris.

This album follows last years (2017) the release of the studio album Paranormal (Cooper's first in six years), which was the best chart-performing album by Alice Cooper in decades. That album had the American rock legend taking his exciting live show all over the world, accompanied by "the best band he has ever had." That tour ended in Paris on December 7, 2017, in Paris at the "world-renowned Olympia Theater, where this album was recorded.
This live album is a 90-minute release featuring classics such as “Poison,” “School’s Out,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” gems like “Pain,” and newer numbers like (Paranormal single) “Paranoiac Personality.”

The album captures a rock 'n' roll show at its peak and is one of the best live releases by Alice Cooper, featuring his longtime band guitarists Nita Strauss, Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie, bassist Chuck Garric, and drummer Glen Sobel in front of an excited audience, says the promotional media release.

Awesome Music with a Message

The music still has that sarcasm, that his fans have come to love, but there is a message.  It may not be, the overt in your face message that Stryper and other Christian bands do. However, for a band that isn't thought to be Christian at all, the message is there and can be seen for those that take time to actually listen to the lyrics.   In my effort to write this, I listened and then listened again to each song.  Sometimes, three or four times. In the first song, Brutal Planet, Cooper sings about how horrible this world is.  His lyrics include the words:

Right here we stoned the prophets, Built idols out of mud, Right here we fed the lions, Christian flesh and Christian blood, Down here is where we hung ya Upon an ugly cross, Over there we filled the ovens Right here the holocaust.

Granted it is not as good, in my humble opinion, as "Lost in America", my favorite Alice Cooper song, but it is still a fantastic song. I could certainly have it as the first song to be added to my cell phone's music player.  Other songs on the album included, which was released on earMusic and on two CD set or two (colored) LP set:

Compact Disc Set

CD1:

1. 1. Brutal Planet
2. 2. No More Mr. Nice Guy
3. Under My Wheels
4. Department of Youth
5. Pain
6. Billion Dollar Babies
7. The World Needs Guts
8. Woman of Mass Distraction
9. Poison 10. Halo of Flies

CD2:

1. Feed My Frankenstein
2. Cold Ethyl
3. Only Women Bleed
4. Paranoiac Personality
5. Ballad of Dwight Fry
6. Killer/I Love the Dead themes
7. I'm Eighteen
8. School's Out

LP (colored) Set

SIDE A:

1. Brutal Planet
2. No More Mr. Nice Guy
3. Under My Wheels
4. Department of Youth
5. Pain
6. Billion Dollar Babies

SIDE B:

1. The World Needs Guts
2. Woman of Mass Distraction
3. Poison
4. Halo of Flies

SIDE C:

1. Feed My Frankenstein
2. Cold Ethyl
3. Only Women Bleed
4.  Paranoiac Personality

SIDE D:

1. 1. Ballad of Dwight Fry
   2. Killer/I Love the Dead themes
   3. I'm Eighteen
   4. School's Out

   On Tour

   Overall, even though it is not my favorite, I would still give it four and a half stars out of five. As for Cooper, he is touring the country and has the following upcoming concerts.
   
   • 10/4 — Albany, NY — Palace Theater
   • 10/9 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium
   • 10/10 — Atlanta, GA — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
   • 10/12 — Chattanooga, TN — Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
   • 10/13 — Biloxi, MS — Beau Rivage
   • 10/14 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hill Lawn
   • 10/16 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
   • 10/17 — Park City, KS — Hartman Arena
   • 10/19 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theater
   • 10/20 — St. Louis, MO — Peabody Opera House
   • 10/21 — Cedar Rapids, IA — Paramount Theater
   • 10/23 — Des Moines, IA — Des Moines Civic Center
   • 10/24 — Rockford, IL — Coronado Performing Arts Center

President Trump Coming to Topeka

by Kevin Surbaugh, compiled from Press Releases

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TOPEKA  - In a recent announcement, President Donald Trump announced he will visit Topeka, Kansas in support of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's campaign for governor. The October 6 event is free, but tickets are required.
Upon the announcement, Kobach said

"I'm honored and grateful that President Trump will be coming to Kansas on October 6. President Trump's success in cutting taxes at the national level unleashed economic growth, and I want to accomplish the same thing in Kansas by reducing our crushing tax burden. It has been a great privilege to work with President Trump's administration as a transition team member and informal adviser, and I look forward to working with him closely when I am Governor of Kansas."

 Steve Watkins, U.S. combat veteran, engineer, and Republican nominee for Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, a statement in response to the upcoming rally at the Expocentre in  Topeka, saying,

“Regardless of your political stripes, it is always a true honor to have an opportunity to welcome the President of the United States to your hometown. President Trump recognizes that this upcoming election and the race for the Second District of Kansas, in particular, is critical to the future of our nation and the Great State of Kansas. While my liberal career politician opponent, Paul Davis, has proudly embraced Nancy Pelosi’s radical agenda and has in turn been showered with over $2 million in outside liberal interest group spending, conservatives like President Trump are supporting me. I look forward to meeting President Trump on October 6th and sharing with him my plans to help deliver lower taxes, enhanced border security, and higher paychecks for 2nd District Residents.”

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Number 1 Park Earns Home Sweep over Williams Baptist

Park University Sports Press Release

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PARKVILLE, Missouri – The number one nationally ranked Park University women’s volleyball team made quick work of Williams Baptist (WBU) on Friday night inside the Breckon Sports Center, as they defeated the Eagles in straight sets, (25-13, 25-7, 25-9). 

The Pirates move to 16-0 on the season and extend their season-long set winning streak to a perfect, 48-0.

WBU falls to 3-16 overall and 2-4 in American Midwest Conference play, while the Pirates stay in first-place with its 4-0 AMC mark.

In the first set, Park held the Eagles to .061 hitting, as the Eagles had just six kills. Park hit .289 in that first set and Paula de Oliveira was stellar at the net with five kills and hit .444 in that first frame.

In the second, the No. 1 Pirates pieced together its best set of the night, as they hit .364 as a team, but defensively the Eagles hit just -.080 against the Park defense.

In the finale, the Pirates offense overpowered WBU by hitting, .433 and holding the Eagles to just .083 as a squad.

The Pirates had a balanced attack, as Salma Shahtout and Noura Meawad led the team in kills with seven each.

Two-time 2018 AMC Setter of the Week Danna Gomes had a team-high 26 assists in the victory and Celina Monteiro led the way with 12 digs.

Park had an impressive 12 service aces in the win while giving up zero. Gomes and Mackenzie Nunn each had three service aces to lead the Pirates

The Pirates will compete again inside the Breckon Sports Center on Saturday, September 29, as they take on Freed-Hardeman in another AMC match up at 1 p.m.

 

Team	1	2	3	Won
Williams Baptist (Ark.)	13	7	9	0
Park (Mo.)	25	25	25	3

NAIA Women's Volleyball Box Score

BLM Announces Annual Adjustment to its Mineral Fee Cost-Recovery Schedule

Press Release

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WASHINGTON – Effective October 1, 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin using an updated fee schedule to recover costs incurred in processing certain actions related to oil, gas, coal, and solid minerals activities on public land. The fee schedule is adjusted regularly based on inflation and follows procedures established under the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule. The updated schedule appears in today’s Federal Register and will be posted to the BLM website at http://www.blm.gov.

The fees cover the BLM’s costs for processing such actions as lease applications, name changes, corporate mergers, lease consolidations, and reinstatements. Under this update, seventeen of the forty-eight fees subject to annual adjustment will remain unchanged, while thirty-one will increase.

Of the thirty-one fees that are increasing, eighteen will increase by $5 each and eight will increase by $10 each. The fee for adjudicating ten or fewer mineral patent claims will increase by $50 (from $1,555 to $1,605), and the fee for adjudicating more than 10 claims will increase by $105 (from $3,110 to $3,215).

The BLM is authorized to charge cost recovery fees under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the 2005 Cost Recovery Rule. The Office of Management and Budget has also directed federal agencies to recover costs for their services. The 2005 Cost Recovery Rule expressly projected that the BLM would annually adjust the fee schedule to account for inflation. The BLM updates the fee schedule each year based on changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product (IPD-GDP), as determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Statue Celebrating Lifetime Achievements of Senator Bob Dole Unveiled at Washburn University

Washburn University Press Release

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Topeka  – Today, Washburn University unveiled a bronze statue and celebrated the lifetime achievements of Senator Bob Dole. It was the first commissioned bronze statue of Dole ever created.

Washburn University President Jerry Farley said,

Photo couertesy of the Washburn University
Alumni Association and Foundation

“Senator Dole’s honorable career as a public servant embodies what we want Washburn students to reflect on while they are receiving their education. His career was built on service to others, to the country, and to the world, and what can be achieved when we focus on finding common ground. We are thankful for his leadership at Washburn and in the state of Kansas. We are honored to be able to celebrate his life with the dedication of this statue.”

The statue is a gift to Washburn University from John Pinegar, BA 1982, and the Doug and Kathleen, BBA 1984, Smith family and is located north of stately Carnegie Hall on Washburn’s campus.
Dole, BA ’52, JD ’52, H ’69, H ’85 said,

“Washburn provided me with a firm foundation to set my sights on great things. For my generation, which had won a war overseas, but then had to create a better future back home, Washburn gave us that new start through education.”

During the war, Dole suffered devastating injuries while trying to help a fellow soldier. He was later awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service. He has developed a worldwide reputation for public service, holding elected positions in the Kansas House of Representatives, as Russell County (Kan.) attorney and as U.S. congressman before spending nearly 30 years as U.S. senator. He was chair of the Republican National Committee, Senate Minority Leader and Senate Majority Leader, where he set a record as the longest-serving Republican leader. Dole was President Gerald Ford’s vice presidential running mate in 1976 and a Republican presidential candidate in both 1988 and 1996, earning the GOP nomination in 1996. He served as national chair of the World War II Memorial Campaign and has been a strong advocate for veterans and the disabled. In January, Dole was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian honor.

Washburn conferred on him an honorary doctor of laws in 1969 and an honorary doctor of civil law in 1985. He received the Washburn Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1966. The Washburn University School of Law honored him with the Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1981 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
The Washburn University School of Law houses the Robert J. Dole Center for Law and Government, where a professorship was also established in his name. A special scholarship bearing his name is designated for law students with disabilities. He served 11 years as a trustee of the Washburn University Foundation and has served as trustee emeritus since 1998.
Dole currently serves as special counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of  Alston & Bird LLP, a leading national and international law firm.

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NRA Endorses a Gubernatorial Candidate

Press Release

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TOPEKA  - The National Rifle Association (NRA) today announced its endorsement of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach for Governor. The NRA's Political Victory Fund praised Kobach's support for gun rights and his advocacy for America's hunting heritage. The organization urged all NRA members, gun owners, and sportsmen in Kansas to vote for Kobach in November.

In a statement, Kobach told the media,

"I am humbled and honored by the NRA's endorsement, I will always defend our Second Amendment rights."

Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Need Government Officials Representing All of Us

Letter to the Editor by Sam Gellhorn (of Baldwin City)

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The people of Kansas need hope for progress and change. We need government representatives representing all of us and not just the one (1) percent. The people of Kansas have good strong values. Taking food and healthcare from the poor to give tax breaks to billionaires is not one of them.
Progress and change. Yeah!

Sam Hellhorn

Baldwin City, KS

Your Five Candidates for Kansas Governor

compiled by Kevin Surbaugh

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Below I have compiled a brief biographical profile of each candidate.


Republican:

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Kris Kobach

Kris Kobach (file photo)

Birthday: March 26, 1966 (52 years old)
Marital Status: Married to Heather Kobach (17 years)
Children: 5 - Josephine, Lilly, Charlotte, Reagan, and Molly Kobach
Occupation: was a lawyer and law professor before being elected Secretary of State.
Education:  Washburn Rural High School, Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University, M.A. and D.Phil. in Politics at the University of Oxford, earned a J.D. from Yale Law School

Kobach won a seat on the Overland Park, Kansas, City Council, in April 1999. He unsuccessfully ran for a state senate seat in 2000.  In 2004 Kobach unsuccessfully challenged then Congressman Dennis Moore.  In 2007, Kobach was elected Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, a position he served for two years. Later in 2010, he was elected to his first of two terms as Secretary of State, a position he currently holds.  Kobach announced in June 2018 that he would run for Governor of Kansas against incumbent Governor Jeff Colyer. After a narrow primary victory, Kobach is running against Democrat Laura Kelly, Independents Greg Orman, and Rick Kloos, as well as Libertarian Jeff Caldwell in the general election.



Democrat:

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Laura Kelly

Laura Kelly (file photo)

Birthday: January 24, 1950 (age 68)
Marital Status: Married to Dr. Ted Daughety (34 years)
Children: 2 - Kathleen and Molly Daughety
Occupation: prior to being elected State Senator, she was director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association for 19 years and prior to that recreational therapist, which involved using recreation to help children with mental illness.
Education: Bradley University, Indiana University Bloomington


In 2005, Kelly was elected as a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 18th District. Currently, she is the Senate Minority Whip, previously during the 2011-2012 Legislative Sessions, she served as the Kansas Senate Assistant Minority Leader.  In 2009 she briefly considered a run for Kansas's 2nd congressional district.

Libertarian:

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Jeff Caldwell

Jeff Caldwell (file Photo)

Birthday:  September 8, 1986 (age 32)
Marital Status:   Single
Children:   0
Occupation:   Sales 
Education:        Attended, Business, Johnson County Community College, 2008     
Attended, Business, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007     
Attended, Business, Benedictine College, 2006     
Attended, Business, Mid-America Nazarene University, 2005-2006

   Jeff has lived in the Kansas City area  his entire life and in Kansas for 20 years. Caldwell has been an executive member for the Libertarian Party of Kansas since 2010. He has been a volunteer and campaign manager for multiple campaigns over the years and has run for Kansas State House of Representative  three times. 
Among his accomplishments, he has helped with drafting, introducing, and passing legislation through the legislative process in Topeka. Jeff has been to the committee hearings to get the Kansas Safe Access Act [medical cannabis] out of hearing and onto the floor for vote  and has seen firsthand the corrupt politicians who stand in the way of allowing medical cannabis to move forward in Kansas. Caldwell helped with the process of creating the Kansas Education Liberty Act, which would bring school choice and funding from outside  of the state to education in Kansas. A major victory was scored when Jeff helped overturn Lenexa's city ordinance of banning open carry of firearms. Jeff Caldwell is the only candidate running to cut government spending, cut taxes, legalize cannabis and defend  the Second Amendment.



Independents:

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Rick Kloos

Rick Kloos (file photo)

Birthday: July 26, 1966 (52 years old)
Marital Status: Married to Pennie Kloos (33 years)
Children: 4 - Nathaniel Kloos (Also his Lt. Gov Running mate), Michael Kloos, Ricky Kloos, Matt Kloos
Occupation: Director of God's Storehouse in Topeka Kansas (gshtopeka.org)

Kloos says,

I have come to appreciate this great state from my early years in rural Kansas by enjoying the outdoors -fishing, hunting and camping. As a teenager, I was known by the local farmers as “Mr. Stuck” because too many times I would get stuck mudding and have to be pulled out by one of the farmers with his tractor. At sixteen, I started driving a truck across Kansas, building my own business. I learned the value of hard work from my mother who is a German immigrant. I learned the art of negotiation from my stepdad, making my small business successful at a young age.  My wife and I graduated cum laude from Trinity College in North Dakota with a Bachelors in Theology and Ministerial Studies and served as clergy for nearly 30 years. I then continued my studies in substance abuse counseling at Washburn University and later received certification in ACPE which allowed me to serve both as a police and hospice chaplain in correctional facilities and clinical settings.  We have been in the Topeka community since May of 1998. In June of 2009, we started a non-profit thrift store employing a staff of 30. Its success is not credited to our leadership alone but in part to all our hardworking staff and volunteers. Pennie and I have been in public service almost all our lives. We realize that life is no longer about our dreams, visions and aspirations but it’s about our kids and our grandkids. It’s about their future and the generations to come. And this is where our next season in life begins. Our journey is about the passion we have for Kansas and the desire for it to be a place where we all can successfully live.

Kloos brands himself as a "Frustrated Republican," due to his previous party affiliation.
He recently told the media that his campaign adopted The White Buffalo as the Kloos for Kansas campaign symbol early on, due to the significance of the Buffalo as the Kansas State animal and the extreme rarity of White Buffalo. HIs campaign slogan is "Keep Kansas Home."
Kloos' 5 core platform points are: Support Education Redesign, Strengthen Agriculture & Aviation, Preserve Kansas' Appeal, Empower Local Governments & Unite Kansas through Bipartisan Efforts.

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Gerg Orman

Greg Orman (file photo)

Birthday: December 2, 1968 (age 49 years)
Marital Status: Married to Sybil Orman (5 years)
Children: 2 -  Imogen and Sigrid Orman
Occupation: Businessman
Education:   Mankato East Senior High School in Mankato, Minnesota and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Princeton University.

According to Wikipedia, Orman, who has never been elected has

at various times Orman has been registered as a Republican and a Democrat. He has been unaffiliated with a party since 2010. After a debate in 2014 he stated, "I've tried both parties; and, like most Kansans, I've been disappointed."
 Orman has made donations to both Democrats and Republican candidates. In 2006, while he was considering running as a Democrat for the Senate, he gave $1,000 to Harry Reid, and $4,600 to the 2008 presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Public records also show donations to Dennis Moore, Nancy Boyda and Al Franken. Orman has donated substantially more to political reform organizations. In 2012 he donated $25,000 to the independent political organization Americans Elect. He has also contributed $288,236 to the Common Sense Coalition.

Orman, Wikipedia reported was briefly a candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election in Kansas, but dropped out before the primary, saying

 "Whenever you run as a candidate in either party, there are certain constituencies that want you to behave and act and believe certain things. As I evaluated the race and looked at the positions I was going to have to take to get the support that was necessary to win, I just didn't feel comfortable taking those positions."