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."

Editorial: Changing Focus

by Kevin Surbaugh

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Kevin Surbaugh (1994)

Two and a half years ago (closer to three-years), this town awoke to the news that the local newspaper was closing. Though the paper was not local, it was a print paper and it was ours. That pride was shattered, with the announcement. That disappointment was short-lived, however. That same day, the news became public, a middle-aged man who studied Communications (Journalism) at Washburn University stood up and said, we can't have this, and launched an online newspaper.  The publication quickly jumped to an average of a hundred a day.  A position it maintained. At times it averaged a hundred-fifty, but the over-all average never dropped below the one-hundred per day.  The readership was there, but the widespread support was not. Still, the publication persevered and strived to bring the community the news.   In some aspect, at great financial difficulties.
Last week, a new print paper launched.  That paper which is free also, appeared in our mailboxes this past Tuesday. As the publisher of the Gazette, I support Vern Brown and the Baldwin City Community News.  It had been my hope to give him the Gazette name, as we worked to together,
but I didn't hear from him.  That is okay though, I look forward to seeing the new paper strive and flourish.  I still hope to work with him in some compacity. 

Future of the Gazette

As for the Gazette, we will still be around.  The focus will be a little different. Still providing the news, the Gazette will have a more statewide focus. With coverage of politics, government, business and of course college sports (especially Baker). With the contacts, I have made over the last thirty-years I hope to have more in-depth interviews with the people who govern us or hope to.
As we move forward, the Gazette will simply be the Baldwin Gazette.  Acknowledging our Baldwin City roots, while also acknowledging our forward move towards serving the statewide community. 

Number 12 Baker Football Hosts Culver-Stockton on Family Day

Baker University Sports Press Release:

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BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The No. 12 ranked Baker University football team looks to bounce back from a home opening day loss to No. 10 Grand View University, as they take on the Culver-Stockton Wildcats this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. inside Liston Stadium. Saturday also marks, family day, for the Baker community.

BU has dominated the all-time series against Culver, posting a 34-4 record heading into today's matchup, including a 67-7 victory last season in Canton, Missouri.

In that contest, running back Nate Pauly recorded two rushing touchdowns on seven carries for 66-yards, making him one of four Wildcats to record a multi-touchdown game.

Linebacker Jake Zieler returns for his sophomore season with the Wildcats, looking to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball. In 2017, Zieler played in 12 games and helped BU rank nationally in eight different defensive statistical categories.

Culver-Stockton is off to an impressive start to its 2018 season, as they have posted a 2-1 record through its first three games, including a 35-22 victory over Central Methodist on September 1^st, before falling last week to MNU, 46-20.

Sophomore quarterback Korbin Marcum returns for Culver-Stockon, looking to continue his early season success. Marcum has thrown seven touchdowns to only one interception so far this season and has completed 73-percent of his passes.

Through three games, Culver has 1,210 yards of total offense, averaging 403 yards per game, while the defense has allowed 282 yards per game.

The Baker offense has averaged 319 yards of offense through its first two games and will look to stifle the Culver offense with a strong defensive game plan.

In this matchup of Wildcats, Baker has won 10 of the last 11 games, and have recorded 50 or more points in three-straight matchups, including an 89-27 victory in 2016. In that contest, Baker set a team record for points in a single half with 75.

 

Governor Colyer Proclaims American Legion Day

American Legion Press Release

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  The National American Legion was chartered by the U.S. Congress on September 16, 1919, as a wartime veterans’ organization.  The American Legion principals are based on the four pillars of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth.    

contributed photo

The Kansas American Legion has become a preeminent community-service organization with more than 42 thousand family members currently supporting the four pillars.  Kansas Legion family members provide benefits for Kansas’ veterans, active duty service members, their families, and the youth of America.
American Legion posts are organizing special events to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the American Legion.  These events will provide opportunities for citizens to recognize Kansas Legionnaires for their many contributions to their communities and the State of Kanas.  
Governor Jeff Colyer is among those patriotic citizens who want to recognize and honor veterans.  He has expressed his support for Kansas Legionnaires by proclaiming September 16, 2018, as The American Legion Day.   
Kansas American Legion Department Commander Dan Wiley is actively encouraging Legion posts to organize 100th-anniversary observation events.  “Millions of Legionnaires have promoted American Legion ideals and principals over the past 100 years,” Wiley said.  “I appreciate Governor Colyer proclaiming September 16, 2018, as The American Legion Day to honor the efforts of those American patriots. 

Baker Football Falls to Grand View in Home Opener

Baker University Sports Press Release

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The number nine ranked Baker University football team suffered its first loss of the 2018 season, as the Wildcats fell to number 10 ranked Grand View, 39-17, in its home opener on Saturday afternoon inside Liston Stadium.

Baker falls to 1-1 on the year, and Grand View improves to 1-1. This marks the Wildcats' first loss to the Vikings since they joined the conference prior to the 2015 season.

The Vikings and Wildcats were nearly identical in total offensive yards, with 295 and 293 yards respectively.

BU jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, as quarterback Brandon Mueller scampered into the end zone from 12 yards out, and Cooper Lee nailed a 25-yard field goal.

The Vikings would respond with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Ben Ferkin to Steve Sarcone, cutting the Baker lead to 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

After a five-yard touchdown run by Ferkin to take a 14-10 lead over BU in the second quarter, the Vikings' defense recorded back-to-back pick sixes. At halftime, Grand View held a 27-10 lead over Baker.

In the third quarter, the Wildcats responded to another Vikings' field goal, when quarterback Marco Aguinaga found receiver Sam Huckabee in the back of the end zone from 16-yards out for the score.

Baker was not able to complete the comeback, as Grand View took the victory, 39-17.

Freshman wide receiver Sam Huckabee had an impressive day for the Wildcats, as he recorded 10 receptions for 135-yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kegan Shumann led the Baker defense with 14 tackles, including 3.5 for losses and a forced fumble.

Baker will next host Culver-Stockton College on Family Day, next Saturday, September 15 at 1 p.m. inside Liston Stadium.

KanCare Education Meetings Get Underway Today

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Press Release

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Member and provider meetings in Wichita, Olathe, Topeka, Pittsburg Dodge City, Hays

TOPEKA – Beginning this past, Tuesday, September 4, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will host education meetings throughout the state during the months of September and October, to share with KanCare providers and members updates and information about the upcoming open enrollment period. KanCare is the state’s Medicaid program.

Staff members will be available to answer questions and accept feedback from attendees. All meetings are ADA compliant, and people with disabilities will have full access. Members’ family members are also welcome to attend. Members and providers received by mail advanced notification of these meetings.

SEPTEMBER MEETINGS

Tuesday, Sept. 4	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Marriott Corporate Hills 9100 Corporate Dr., Wichita
Wednesday, Sept. 5	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Kansas State University – Olathe 22201 W. Innovation Dr., Olathe
Thursday, Sept. 6	Providers 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.	Conference Call: Call 833-795-0476

OCTOBER MEETINGS     

Monday, Oct. 1	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Ramada Topeka Downtown, Jefferson Hall 420 SE 6th St., Topeka
Monday, Oct. 1	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Wichita Marriott, Corporate Hills Ballroom 9100 Corporate Hills Dr., Wichita
Tuesday, Oct. 2	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Kansas State University – Olathe 22201 W. Innovation Dr., Olathe
Tuesday, Oct. 2	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Dodge City Community College, Student Union Board Room 2501 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City
Wednesday, Oct. 3	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Holiday Inn Express 4011 Parkview Dr., Pittsburg
Wednesday, Oct. 3	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Fort Hays State University, Eagle Communications Hall 600 Park St., Hays
Monday, Oct. 8	Providers 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Members 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Conference Call: Call 833-795-0476

Former GOP Governor Graves Endorses Democrat Laura Kelly

Kevin Surbaugh

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Former Republican Governor Bill Graves on Tuesday formally endorsed Democrat Laura Kelly in the 2018 race for Kansas governor. His endorsement makes him the most prominent moderate Republican to make such an endorsement in this election cycle.
The endorsement, which came in a video that was tweeted by the Kelly campaign, stirred a lot of conversation among Republicans and Democrats alike. The video, which appeared to look like a television commercial, is for social media only, the Kelly campaign told the Gazette.

 pic.twitter.com/odwTMCEyb2

— Laura Kelly (@SenatorKelly) September 4, 2018

In his video statement, Graves said,

I have been a Republican my entire life and inherited that from my father in my mother Laura Kelly is the only Democrat I have ever endorsed for public office and the reason I'm doing that now is because I believe so much is at stake in the state of Kansas and it's going to take someone with some very capable leadership skills someone who is willing to work across the aisle and be part of solutions to problems with education problems with our health care system problems with the state's infrastructure problems with Public Safety Laura to me has all equalities all the capabilities that we're looking for to lead the state during this difficult time to reestablish the state to what it once was laura has integrity I know she'll bring Republicans and Democrats together to solve problems

Upon hearing the news Republican Senator Susan Wagle tweeted,

Bill Graves never governed as a Republican and spent his career undermining Republican candidates and values. This endorsement is far from news breaking.

Independent candidate Greg Orman seized upon the message that Graves said that, “Laura Kelly is the only Democrat I have ever endorsed for public office.”
The truth Orman said is, in 2016 Bill Graves endorsed the following four Democrats. Why the deception in the statement today?     

1. Adrienne Olejnik, District 51         https://twitter.com/i/status/796112654427443200     
2. Gerrett Morris, District 69         https://www.ksal.com/former-governors-make-endorsement/     
3. Don Shimkus, District 32         https://twitter.com/donshimkus?lang=en         
4. Tom Sawyer, District 95         https://www.tomsawyerforkansas.com/bill-graves-supports-tom

While Orman's statement may be accurate, the fact is that Kelly would be the first statewide candidate that Graves has endorsed. Graves is retired currently lives with his family in Northern Virginia.

Auto Transport Company Opens Scholarship to Kansas Students

Press Release

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Baldwin City, Kansas is the place to be for a chance to win the A-1 Auto Transport college scholarship this coming year. The company, one of the largest auto transport companies in the nation is based in California with offices in Kansas is offering their annual scholarship to students nationwide as a way of paying it forward to the public for supporting their business for more than twenty years.

Image courtesy A-1 Auto Transport

Award amounts of $250, $500 and $1000 are awarded in the spring each year to students who have shown initiative and dedication towards furthering their education by enrolling in an accredited college, university, vocational school or truck driving school. The only requirement other than being enrolled in an accredited school is that the student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. There are no age restrictions for entry.

To enter, students need to email their full name, contact information, name and contact information for their school, and a 1000 minimum word article focused on the auto transport industry to: scholarships@a1autotransport.com by the deadline for entry date of March 10, 2019.

Winners will be chosen by the A-1 Auto Transport Scholarship Committee at the end of March 2019 and the winners will be posted on the scholarship page on the company website as well as notified in person.

For more information about entry and to see entries and winners from the current school year, you can check the scholarship page at: https://www.a1autotransport.com/a-1-auto-transport-scholarship/.

The transportation and trucking industries are steadily growing and companies like A-1 Auto Transport are always looking for qualified drivers and logistics team members. With a tougher than ever workforce, a college education is vital in today’s job market and the company is working to make a difference to help guide students in the right direction.

According to Joe Webster, Director of Marketing and overseer of the scholarship program, “This is what entrepreneurship is all about and we work hard to help student’s, so they can be a great benefit to their local communities and bring something great to the table to keep companies like ours thriving well throughout the years.”

He went on to say, “This is our way of paying back those cities and local communities we have served over the years and showing our customers and the public that we care about their future.”

All award money will be sent directly to the school financial office as soon as winners have been determined for the 2019 school year.