BLM Helium Sales Generate $130 Million for American Taxpayer

Bureau of Land Management Press Release

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Amarillo, TX – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced that $130 million generated from the 2017 sale and auction of crude helium from the Federal Helium Reserve is being transferred to the U.S. Treasury. The Federal Helium Reserve is a resource owned by the American people and managed by the BLM's Amarillo, Texas, Field Office.  The helium revenues were received in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, which provided for market-based pricing and competitive auctions for the sale of Federal helium. 

The BLM's Federal Helium Program has returned over $1.86 billion dollars to the U.S. Treasury from the sale and auction of crude helium between Fiscal Year 2005 through Fiscal Year 2017.  The Program is entirely revenue funded, operating using a revolving fund with all revenue generated being deposited into the fund and therefore no taxpayer money is used in its operations. 

The Federal Helium Reserve is the Nation's leading producer of crude helium for both the public and private sectors. Crude helium is an important resource for technology development and other important uses related to national defense, energy, medicine, industry, and space exploration.  Currently, the BLM's crude helium plant satisfies approximately 42 percent of the U.S. helium demand and approximately 15 percent of the global demand.

Former Presidential Candidate and Senator John McCain Passes Away

Kevin Surbaugh

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This past Friday (August 24, 2018) we learned that Senator John McCain (81) had decided to stop further treatment for the brain cancer he had been battling for the past ten months. Glioblastoma is the same aggressive brain cancer that killed Vice-President Joe Biden's son Beau and Senator Ted Kennedy.  One day later, McCain passed away from the deadly cancer. Both Senator's passed away on August 25 exactly nine years apart. McCain's death came one day after his family announced that he was forgoing further treatment.
According to a brief statement on the Senator's Senate website,

Senator John McCain
Photo Credit: Senate.gov

“Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years.”

 The Senator's wife Cindy McCain tweeted:

"My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best."

Senator Jerry Moran tweeted the following statement:

"Godspeed to my friend @SenJohnMcCain, who leaves behind a profound legacy of courage and conviction. Robba and I are praying for the McCain family and we thank them for sharing John with us for so many years"

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer issued a statement

“Senator McCain will long be remembered for his years of dedicated service to our nation,” said Gov. Colyer, “We are grateful to him for his devotion to this country and send our deepest condolences to his family as they grieve his passing today. May God be with them all during this difficult time.”

Senator Pat Roberts tweeted:

My friend @SenJohnMcCain is an American hero and has spent his life serving our country. Franki and I are praying for the entire McCain family and wish them peace and comfort in the coming days.

Independent Candidate Greg Orman issued a statement:

"Sybil and I were saddened to hear the news of Senator John McCain’s passing. Our hearts go out to the McCain family—our thoughts and our prayers are with them. Tonight, the United States mourns the loss of a great American patriot and hero."

Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Caldwell issued the following statement: 

Our campaign is saddened to hear the news of Sen. John McCain’s passing and we offer our condolences to his family in this time of mourning. Death is the great equalizer and transcends politics. Sen. John McCain was a great American that served his country for his entire life and deserves the respect of all Americans. Although there may be differences in approach, there is no question that Sen. John McCain was committed to this country and to his fellow countrymen.

Republican Gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Kris Kobach tweeted:

"I am grateful for Sen. John McCain's service to our country. Heather and I hope that his wife, Cindy, and family find comfort knowing our nation is praying for them during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Senator."

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly tweeted:

 "John McCain was a man of honor and unrivaled integrity. My heart goes out to his family as they grieve. He was a true American patriot."

Senator McCain had stated that he wanted his funeral to be at the United State Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and that President Trump was not invited.  His wishes also stated that former President's (and presidential rivals) Barrack Obama and George W. Bush have been asked to speak at the funeral. At the time of this writing, there were no official arrangements made yet.

Steve Watkins Issues Statment Regarding Mollie Tibbetts Murder

Press Release

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Steve Watkins  (File Photo)

Topeka, KS -- Steve Watkins, U.S. combat veteran, engineer, and Republican candidate for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, today released the following statement blasting progressive politicians who support senseless immigration policies that put American citizens at risk. Watkins’ statement comes after a criminal illegal alien was arrested yesterday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) officials for the murder of Mollie Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student who had been missing since July 18, 2018.
“I am heartbroken that the month-long search for Mollie Tibbetts ended after she was found dead at the hands of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a criminal illegal alien who had no business being in our country," said Steve Watkins. "We are a nation of law and order, and any politician who continues to support senseless immigration policies that put the well-being of criminal illegal aliens before the American people is an utter disgrace. In Congress, I will fight alongside President Trump to build a border wall, reform our broken immigration, and keep 2nd District communities safe so no family ever has to endure a tragedy like this.”

That is My Dream! by Langston Hughes, Illustrated by Daniel Miyares to Represent Kansas at National Book Festival

Press Release

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TOPEKA – Each year as part of the Great Reads program at the Library of Congress National Book Festival, every state offers a book that highlights its literary culture and history. At this year’s festival, the Kansas Center for the Book, a program of the State Library of Kansas, will feature That is My Dream! by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Daniel Miyares.

The book will be featured at the Kansas booth at the National Book Festival, September 1, 2018, in Washington D.C. and will be included in the Great Reads brochure distributed at the festival.

About the book: 
“Dream Variation,” one of Langston Hughes’s most celebrated poems, about the dream of a world free of discrimination and racial prejudice, is now a picture book stunningly illustrated by Daniel Miyares, Leawood, Kansas.

Langston Hughes’s inspiring and timeless message of pride, joy, and the dream of a better life is brilliantly and beautifully interpreted in Daniel Miyares’s gorgeous artwork. Follow one African-American boy through the course of his day as the harsh reality of segregation and racial prejudice comes into vivid focus. But the boy dreams of a different life: one full of freedom, hope, and wild possibility, where he can fling his arms wide in the face of the sun.

Langston Hughes, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance and one of the most influential and esteemed writers of the twentieth century, was born in Joplin, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in Kansas before moving to Harlem. 

Daniel Miyares is an author and illustrator of stories for children. He grew up in South Carolina before studying at Ringling College of Art and Design. After graduating with a BFA in illustration, he moved to Johnson County with his wife and their two children.

That is My Dream! is available at public libraries in Kansas. Visually impaired readers may download it through the State Library of Kansas Talking Books program: https://kslib.info/Talking-Books.

AG Derek Schmidt asks HHS to Maintain Access to Liver Transplants for Kansans

Attorney General Press Release

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Attorney General Derek Schmidt
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

TOPEKA  – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt this week joined the attorneys general of Georgia, Hawaii and Wisconsin in demanding that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar rescind a recent directive that would have the effect of restricting access to liver transplants performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center and in other areas throughout the country.

 

The attorneys general believe the HHS directive will unfairly weight access to liver transplant services toward programs in the northeast and west coast and will diminish access to transplant services among rural, underserved and socioeconomically challenged areas of the country by directing organs donated in those areas to the more populous regions of the country.

The bipartisan letter, led by Kansas, specifically asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to rescind a policy directive, announced in July, in which HHS disregarded the years-long work of a body authorized to recommend the policy for distributing donated organs. The HHS letter directed that a revised December 2017 organ-distribution policy, adopted after years of study and compromise, be replaced with a policy that favors organ recipients living in coastal areas of the country over those living in less-populous parts of the country.

“[T]his directive will diminish patient access to liver transplant services for our citizens solely for the purpose of benefiting transplant programs in the Northeast and the West Coast,” the attorneys general wrote. “We will defend the interests of our citizens to preserve patient access to liver transplantation services by using all available tools at our disposal.”

A copy of the letter is available at https://bit.ly/2wm9pIt.

Baker University partners with Pearson Education

Baker University Press Release

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OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS — Baker University announces its unique partnership with Pearson Education, one of the nation’s largest publishing companies, to provide students access to an exclusive, digital environment for eBooks, online tutoring, career support and more.
The exclusive program, Baker 360°, is the only Pearson partnership of its kind to provide a single online resource serving a student’s needs from the first day of class to graduation. The student-centered environment can be easily accessed both inside and outside the classroom. The Baker 360° platform offers a more holistic approach to education by providing online access to eBooks, eLabs, tutoring, essay review, and assistance with resume and cover letters all at the students’ fingertips. This is available to students from the very first day of class, and the cost is included in their tuition and fees.
Baker students come from diverse backgrounds and pursue higher education for a variety of reasons, and the university is committed to their educational success within a single online environment. Baker 360° makes that success more affordable and convenient for all students.

“This is a great opportunity for our students,” said Interim Dean of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies Dr. Emily Ford. “So often, students will spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks or go without the material if they can’t afford it. We want our students to succeed without worrying about the financial burden of course materials. Baker 360° ensures that every one of our students has what they need for success at Baker and beyond.” 

Course materials and career guidance are just a part of Baker’s efforts to support students during their education. As a part of the partnership with Pearson, tutoring is available to students 24/7 for every class.

“It’s a service that can work for students throughout their time at Baker,” Ford said. “They can receive help on an assignment for a challenging course or career assistance when writing their resume. It fits each student and their unique needs.”

In addition to eBooks, tutoring, and career support, Baker 360° also provides eLab capabilities as a supplement to class instruction. This allows instructors to provide students more individual, personalized instruction.

“We're looking forward to working with Baker University. We are collaborating with an increasing number of institutions to establish an effective and sustainable affordability model that helps control the overall cost of education and delivers equitable, immediate access to learning materials for all students," said Tom Malek, senior vice president of partnerships at Pearson.

FOOTBALL: Baker to Begin 2018 Ranked Number 9

Baker University Sports Press Release

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BALDWIN CITY – For the third-straight season, the Baker University football team enters the season ranked in the Top Ten, as the Wildcats will begin 2018 ranked number nine, as the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll was announced on Monday.

The Wildcats began 2016 ranked number five and 2017 ranked number two in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Polls.

The 16-time Heart of America Athletic Conference Football champions will begin its 2018 season on Saturday, September 1 at 2:30 p.m. against (RV) William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa in a game that will be broadcast worldwide by Niles Media on the ESPN App and locally on KSMO-TV.

Also ranked in the Top 25 this week from the Heart includes, number 10 Grand View and number 12 Benedictine. While Evangel, William Penn and Missouri Valley are all receiving votes.

Baker is coming off of its third-straight Heart of America Athletic Conference Southern Division Championship and fourth title in the past five seasons.

Poll Methodology

• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences.
• Each conference is given one rater for every four schools in the league.
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 25 points for each first-place vote, 24 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."

Baker Women’s Basketball Hires New Coach

Baker University Sports Press Release

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BALDWIN CITY – Baker University athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Justin Rees to become its newest head women’s basketball coach on Friday afternoon.

Coach Justin Rees

Rees brings over 19 years of collegiate coaching experience to Baker, most recently serving as the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division I Valparaiso for four seasons.

He also served as the head women’s basketball coach at Missouri Valley College for the 2013-14 season, leading the Vikings to the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals. In that season, the Vikings improved its win total by 11 games, posting a 19-13 record under Rees.

"First, I am incredibly honored and excited to be joining Baker University and the women's basketball family,” said Rees. “I would like to thank Athletic Director Nate Houser, Assistant Athletic Director Susan Decker, the rest of the search committee and the athletic department for this opportunity and welcoming me to Baldwin City."

"Baker basketball has a history of success and an expectation to strive for excellence both on and off the court and I look forward to building on those rich traditions. We have a strong foundation already in place and I cannot wait to get to work with our players and staff to grow our family and compete at the highest levels."  

Rees has led several players to All-Conference and All-America awards including NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Gabi Morales of Missouri Valley in 2013-14.

While at Valpo, he led seven players to All-Conference awards, including three All-Freshman/Newcomer Team award winners.

“We are very excited to welcome Justin into the athletic family here at Baker University,” said Baker Director of Athletics Nate Houser. “Justin has enjoyed success at all levels during his career as a basketball coach. He is familiar with our state and region, is a champion of student academic success and demonstrated that he understands what it means to run a successful program."

“Justin is a perfect fit to promote and sustain our goal of ‘Building Champions for Life.’ We look forward to sharing in the leadership and experience Justin will bring to Baker University and look forward to the exciting future of the women’s basketball program.”

The Barry University (Fla.) graduate has also included stops in his career as Assistant Coach at NCAA Division II William Jewell, NCAA Division II Ferris State and NCAA Division I Maine.

The Baker women’s basketball team has captured 20-wins in six-straight seasons and have advanced to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament in four of the last five seasons.

Rees will begin his duties at Baker immediately.

Hawver: Will Kansas Governors Race be a Traditional General Election Race

by Martin Hawver

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If there was ever a predictable pattern in Kansas—and possibly even national politics—it is that Republican candidates for nearly every slot on the ballot tend to spend the primary election cycle pandering to the most diehard conservative members of their party to win the general election nomination.

Martin Hawver

Now, Democrats tend to do the same thing (with the move toward the more liberal Democrats), but in Kansas, it’s to smaller numbers of primary election voters. But it works with Democrats, too.

But after that primary in both parties, it’s been traditional that the party’s standard bearers move their campaign to the middle of their party, and in some measure to the middle of the general voting age population.

Well, this will be a year that will make it worth watching whether that generally Republican move to the middle of the party after the primary election occurs.

Chances are good that Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, the Democratic nominee for governor, will not have to move very far. She’s a practical Democrat who probably dreams about budgets and line-item vetoes and cutting a deal with moderates in the Kansas Legislature to keep government moving.

And chances are good that Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who is the Republican nominee for governor, won’t move back to the middle. We’re figuring he dreams about a border wall with Mexico—or possibly Oklahoma—or that new Trump necktie that he wants…

Oh, and best-known independent candidate Greg Orman is probably dreaming about how to snag votes from both.

This year things are going to be different. Don’t expect Kobach to move toward the political middle in his campaign. Now, short-term Gov. Jeff Colyer might have, but he conceded, remember.

So, we come to a campaign where the narrow conservative side of the GOP—which includes Kobach, of course, and unsuccessful gubernatorial nomination candidate Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer—isn’t looking for any move to the center. Nope, and had Kobach lost the GOP nomination, we’re betting he wouldn’t have let Colyer move to the center, either.

So…where does this gubernatorial race go? Who gets elected governor and has the authority to take that preposterous stuffed buffalo head off the wall of the governor’s office and, of course, run the rest of the state?

Does Kobach come up with something new that will appeal to moderate Republicans, most of whom voted for someone else in the primary? Does Kelly come up with something that will see the moderate Republicans, who are probably most of the GOP voters, furrow their brows and vote for her as long as nobody’s watching?

Or, does Independent Orman turn out to be the safety valve for Republicans who are to the left of Kobach but just can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat, under the suspicion that their Republican friends will find out?

And you gotta figure that moderate Republican former Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia when in office and Topeka now, who drew the more liberal Republican primary voters, though not enough of them, isn’t going to be touting Kobach or even letting him put a sign in his yard.

Surprising that this election might come down to the conservative Republicans of the state and the Democrats, with Orman as a possible off-ramp for those who at least talk about the general conservative values and have never read the Kansas Republican Party platform.

Oh, and whoever wins the governor’s office must remember that in just two short years, whatever the governor pushes for or against splashes back on members of both parties in the Kansas House and Senate.

We’ll see, won’t we…

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

Baker's Blake Levine Signs with Nashville Soccer Club of the USL

Baker University Sports Press Release

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BALDWIN CITY – Former Baker University men's soccer standout Blake Levine has signed a professional contract with the Nashville Soccer Club of the United Soccer League (USL).

The Overland Park, Kansas native joins the Nashville club after playing four years for the Wildcats.

"We are really excited for Blake Levine," said Baker head men's soccer coach Nate Houser. "He graduated as a captain and All-American for us and finished as the all-time scoring and assist leader for Sporting Academy Collegiate players. He is very deserving of this opportunity to play at the next level."

Levine helped lead Baker to four NAIA National Championship tournament appearances and scored 32 goals in his career with a career-best 10 goals in 2017. He also had 20 assists in his career.

The 2017 NAIA All-American ended the season with 14 assists leading Baker and ranking No. 5 in the NAIA and his six game winning goals led the squad and also ranked No. 5 nationally.

Levine's signing with Nashville marks the second former Baker Wildcat to sign with a team from the USL in the last two years, as Amer Didic signed with the Swope Park Rangers of the USL in May of 2016, later signing with Sporting KC of Major League Soccer (MLS) in May of 2017.

Levine spent this season with Inter Nashville FC of NPSL. Levine made four appearances for Inter Nashville at the end of its season, scoring twice.

Orman and Doll Clinch November Ballot Access

Press Release

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Greg Orman, Independent
candidate for Governor

OLATHE — The Independent ticket of Greg Orman and Sen. John Doll today clinched access to the general election ballot following verification of signatures by the Secretary of State’s office as part of the campaign’s ballot petition. The candidates for Governor and Luetinet Governor will give Kansas voters a viable Independent choice in the November election for the first time in generations.
The Orman for Kansas campaign submitted more than 10,000 signatures of Kansas voters to Topeka on August 6. By state law, Independent candidates must collect at least 5,000 signatures to qualify for the general election ballot.

“Despite the best efforts of both parties to avoid electoral accountability by preventing anyone but their own from accessing the ballot, Senator Doll and I will give Kansas voters a true Independent choice in this election for the first time in generations,” said Orman.
​”I'm running for governor because we have been shut out of our own government by partisan politics and nationally-driven agendas. Over the next 12 weeks, Senator Doll and I will be traveling the state, and making our case to voters that we’re no longer willing to stand by as party bosses and special interests run our state into the ground,” Orman said.

The campaign began a statewide ad campaign last month with two spots now airing on broadcast and cable television across Kansas and reported over $450,000 cash on hand entering the general election.

Baker University Dean National Award

Baker University Press Release

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Dr. Darcy L. Russell
(photo credit: Baker University Directory)

Baldwin City — Dr. Darcy L. Russell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, received the Louise Kettler Helper Memorial Award June 29, at Zeta Tau Alpha’s biennial convention in Orlando, Florida.
Zeta Tau Alpha’s National Council presents this award to an alumna whose service and achievements have made notable contributions to the progress of the fraternity and the fraternity/sorority world. Russell has represented Zeta Tau Alpha in multiple National Panhellenic Conference leadership positions since 2007. In the 2017-2018
academic year, she chaired the conference’s Structure Think Tank, guiding the conference to a decision designed to preserve the future of the sorority experience. She is also a member of the NPC Strategic Planning Committee and Release Figure Method Leadership Team.
“I have loved being a member of Zeta Tau Alpha since 1976,” Russell said. “To be recognized this way by my sisters literally means the world to me. It has been an honor to serve this organization.”
In addition, Russell has served ZTA as National Academic Achievement chairman from 2008 to 2018, implementing innovative programming to help members excel in the classroom. She previously served ZTA for six years as a province president, overseeing collegiate chapters in Kansas and Missouri.
Former Zeta Tau Alpha National President Carolyn Hof Carpenter said,  when presenting the award,

“Darcy is respected by all 26 NPC organizations for her dependability, dedication, and discernment. When she makes a presentation, you immediately notice her calm, thoughtful demeanor and appreciate her ability to talk through difficult processes in a manner everyone can understand.”

 Baker University President Lynne Murray said,

“Dr. Russell's dedication to ZTA as a member, a mentor, and a national leader reflects her commitment to student success in the classroom and beyond. She is so deserving of this national recognition, and I congratulate her."

Colyer Conceedes, Kobach GOP Nominee for Governor

Kevin Surbaugh

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Topeka - Governor Jeff Colyer last night (August 14, 2018) conceded the Republican party nomination for governor to Secretary of State Kris Kobach. According to Colyer's press release,

"There is only one thing to say on an occasion such as this, and that is 'Thank you'," said Gov. Colyer in his concession speech, "Thank you to our tens of thousands of supporters, especially those who gave of their time and treasure to make our campaign possible. I am very proud of the work we have done in the past six months and of the hopeful optimistic message we shared in this campaign."
“It has been an honor to serve as the Lt. Governor and meet so many Kansans across this great state,” said Lt. Governor Tracey Mann. “Governor Colyer and I are committed to supporting the Republican nominee for governor and helping him win in November.”

Colyer congratulated Kobach on his success in the primary and repeated his determination to keep the governor's seat in Republican hands. He also committed to serving out the remaining five months of his term in the same hard-working fashion he has throughout his time as governor.

"There is no greater blessing than the opportunity for service and over these remaining few months we again pledge ourselves to the people of Kansas. We will tell the truth, we will seek solutions and progress. We will listen, we will serve and we will lead. It has been a pleasure and a privilege."
When I first became Governor a few short months ago. I promised the citizens of Kansas I would listen serve and lead. We would build solutions for our neighbors. My Dad Jim Colyer always told me to put others ahead of ourselves. I learned that as a student at Thomas More in Hays. My mom Lorene always said do the right thing even when nobody is looking. Ruth and I saw it in the blood stains of Rwanda. We've experienced it in war zones around the world. And every day we try to live it, whether it is in this magnificent heart of America, or with my strong daughters, or in the operating room with someone who has no hope, or as governor of this amazing state.

The complete text of his press conference was: 

I've just had a conversation with the Secretary of State and congratulated him on his success and repeated my determination to keep this seat in Republican hands. This election may be the closest in America. But the numbers are not there.
Kansas is too important. Tracey and I will not challenge this in court, nor will we ask a recount. Right here and now we endorse the winner Kris Kobach and Wink Hartman.
There is only one thing to say on an occasion such as this, and that is "Thank You"
Thank you to our tens of thousands of supporters, especially those who gave of their time and treasure to make our campaign possible.
I am very proud of the work we have done in the past six months and of the hopeful optimistic message we shared in this campaign.
Thank you to our staff who have worked tirelessly on our behalf.
Thank you to a great Lt. Governor and running mate, Tracey Mann.
Thank you to my wonderful family, especially the love of my life, Ruth Colyer.
Thank you most of all to a gracious and loving God who has blessed our family and our state beyond measure.
Thank you to every Kansan for serving our neighbors . While a few may try to break up and tear down America, I pray we should all continue to serve our neighbors
There is no greater blessing than the opportunity for service and over these remaining few months we again pledge ourselves to the people of Kansas.
We will tell the truth, we will seek solutions, and we will govern with best interests of Kansans at heart.
We will make sure the next Governor is fully prepared and has our total cooperation in the peaceful transition of power.
We will listen, we will serve and we will lead.
It has been a pleasure and a privilege.
Thank you. Good night. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the state of Kansas.

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which has been very vocal about the close Republican primary over the past week, issued a statement following the Colyer's press conference. In their partisan statement, DGA Executive Director Elisabeth Pearson said,

"Kris Kobach is Sam Brownback on steroids,” said Pearson. “Kansans aren’t going to get a change from a candidate who praised Sam Brownback as a ‘transformative governor.’ Not only would Kobach reinstate the disastrous Brownback tax plan, he wants to go even further by slashing education funding. The last thing Kansas’ schools, roads, and economy need is the policies of Sam Brownback and Kris Kobach.
“As Secretary of State, Kris Kobach proved he only cares about himself. He wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits. He chased the national spotlight while Kansas taxpayers paid the bill. He wasn’t looking out for Kansans as Secretary of State, and he’ll abandon them again as governor.”

In a statement from Kobach, following Governor Colyer's concession,
Kansas Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Kris Kobach that he received a call from Governor Jeff Colyer prior to his press conference. Colyer conceded the Republican primary race for Governor and offered his endorsement of the Kobach-Hartman team.

"He was incredibly gracious, and that meant a lot after such a hard-fought campaign," Kobach said. "I want to thank Gov. Jeff Colyer for a race well run. He was a worthy opponent, and I thank him sincerely for his service to the state of Kansas. I will work hard to advance our shared values, and I look forward to working with Governor Colyer and all Republicans to keep Kansas red in November."

At the end of Tuesday, after canvassing was done in all but twenty counties, Kobach held on to a lead 245 votes over Colyer. Kobach had said in earlier press conference that he expects the trend to continue. Only two of those twenty were considered big counties, Shawnee and Douglas. Both counties will have their canvass to certify votes and look at provisional ballots on tomorrow (Thursday, August 16, 2018). At the time of this writing, Kobach had scheduled another press conference for 12:30 this afternoon (August 15, 2018). 

Kobach Continues Narrow Lead

Press Release

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Topeka - As counties began certifying, the seperation between Governor Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach widened. According to the Secretary of State's office there was more than 70 counties that reported final provisional ballot numbers on Monday. With those final numbers in, Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Kobach increased his lead over Jeff Colyer.
State Representative and Kansans for Kobach Campaign Manager J.R. Claeys said,

"We expect this to continue as the canvas takes place throughout the week in the remaining counties. without the interference from partisan operatives, we expect canvassers will be able to quickly finish the canvass in compliance with Kansas law. Meanwhile, we will be taking the fight to the Democrats. The liberals are hoping for a prolonged legal battle and a fractured Republican party. They won't get it. We will unite as a party and defeat the two liberal tickets in November."

At the end of the day, according to the counts on the Secretary of State's website Kobach's lead increased to the razor thin margin of 206.

Razor thin margin's seperate Kobach and Colyer.

Area Happenings - Week of August 12, 2018

Here are the upcoming events that the Gazette has been made aware of as of  August 11, 2018.  To submit an item to the community events calendar, please email it to press@baldwingazette.com.

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August 15, 2018

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August 17, 2018

Nadine Button Artist Reception
Third Friday Artwalk

Location:
Lumberyard Arts Center

718 High Street
Baldwin City, KS

Time: 6:30-8:30  P.M.

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August 18, 2018

The sign-up deadline is almost here - sign up by next Wednesday, August 1st! This is a great opportunity to introduce your business to Baker students and staff. Don't miss out!

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August 21, 2018

Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
Time: 7 P.M.

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August 31, 2018

Vinland Vittles Community Dinner and Fellowship

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 6 P.M.

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September 4, 2018

Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
Time: 7 P.M.

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September 7, 2018

Ribbon Cutting & Open House: School House Lofts


Date: Friday, September 7
Time: 5 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Schoolhouse Lofts
704 Chapel Street
Baldwin City, KS

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September 8, 2018

Community Coffee

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 9:30 to 11:00 AM

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September 18, 2018

Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
Time: 7 P.M.

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September 22, 2018

Baldwin City Chamber Golf Tournament
by Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce

Date: Sat, September 22, 2018 
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM CDT 

Location: Baldwin Golf Course 
1102 Main Street 
Baldwin City

Annual Baldwin City Chamber Golf Tournament, 2 person scramble. 
8:30am registration. Pre-register by 9/14 - forms will be available on the Chamber website or in the office.
9:30am Shotgun Start 

Prizes and more!

Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Jake Wright - jake@baldwinstatebank.com or Jeannette Blackmar - jeannette@baldwincitychamber.com with questions.

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October 2, 2018

Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
Time: 7 P.M.

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October 16, 2018

Baldwin City Council Meeting
Location: Baldwin City Library
800 7th Street
Baldwin City, KS
Time: 7 P.M.

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October 20-21, 2018

Maple Leaf Festival

Location:
Downtown

Baldwin City, KS

Time: All Day both days

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October 26, 2018

Vinland VittlesCommunity Dinner and Fellowship

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 6 P.M.

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November 10, 2018

Community Coffee

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 9:30 to 11:00 AM

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December 29, 2018

Vinland Vittles Community Dinner and Fellowship

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 6 P.M.

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January 12, 2019

Community Coffee

Location: Vinland United Methodist Church
                 in the  Fellowship Hall
                  1724 N 692nd Road
                 Baldwin City, KS

Time: 9:30 to 11:00 AM

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Every 4th Thursday of the Month
10 A.M. - 11 A.M.
Mobile Food Bank
Baldwin City New Life Assembly of God
118 5th St  Baldwin City, KS
Stay in your car, line up and drive through

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Every Tuesday through October  
Eudora Local Gardening Farmer’s Market
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Tuesdays
through October 2016
1402 Church Street
Eudora, KS.
In the parking lot of Gene’s Hartland Foods.
Local, fresh produce and foods offered by local growers and producers!

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Every Wednesday through October
De Soto Farmer’s Market (Fresh Promise’s Market)
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesdays through October 2016
at The Barn at Kill Creek Farm
9200 Kill Creek Road
De Soto, KS
Local, fresh produce and foods offered by local growers and producers!

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Every Thursday through October 
Cottin's Hardware Farmer's Market on Thursdays from
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
through September
at Cottin's Hardware & Rental back parking lot
1832 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS
Local vendors offer a variety of goods including produce, baked items, hot foods, meats, eggs, soaps, jams, jellies, herbs, fudge and much more!;

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Every Friday through October
Perry Lecompton Farmers' Market
Fridays from 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
at Bernie's parking lot
24 Hwy and Ferguson Road
Perry, KS

Visit the market to find fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, honey, fresh cut flowers, farm fresh eggs, handmade crafts and more!