Salina Area Chamber of Commerce The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that it has been named the recipient of the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Engagement Award for 2023 from Network Kansas.&nbsp; Chamber staff noted that they are&nbsp;thrilled to be recognized for the “Project OPEN” outreach, which includes the Charlie Walker Pitch Challenge, Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, business training courses at Kansas State- Salina, and gap-loan funding access-- to a wide variety of entrepreneurs throughout our community and region.

Entrepreneurs that are interested in starting or expanding their business can find more information about Project OPEN by visiting <a href="http://www.projectopensalina.com">www.projectopensalina.com</a> or calling the chamber office at 785-827-9301.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687279063827.jpeg" alt="Salina Area Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Renee Duxler holds award. Photo Courtesy Salina Chamber" />
 <figcaption>Salina Area Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Renee Duxler holds award. Photo Courtesy Salina Chamber</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Area Chamber of Commerce The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that it has been named the recipient of the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Engagement Award for 2023 from Network Kansas.&nbsp; Chamber staff noted that they are&nbsp;thrilled to be recognized for the “Project OPEN” outreach, which includes the Charlie Walker Pitch Challenge, Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, business training courses at Kansas State- Salina, and gap-loan funding access-- to a wide variety of entrepreneurs throughout our community and region. Entrepreneurs that are interested in starting or expanding their business can find more information about Project OPEN by visiting <a href="http://www.projectopensalina.com">www.projectopensalina.com</a> or calling the chamber office at 785-827-9301.

Salina Chamber receives award for ‘Project Open’

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Tuesday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Aspire driven by Taylor G. Wilson, 24,&nbsp; Salina, was westbound on Kansas 140 approximately one mile east of 29th Road.

The car traveled into the north ditch and returned to the roadway. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled into the south ditch and rolled into a pasture.

EMS transported Wilson to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Tuesday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Aspire driven by Taylor G. Wilson, 24,&nbsp; Salina, was westbound on Kansas 140 approximately one mile east of 29th Road.The car traveled into the north ditch and returned to the roadway. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled into the south ditch and rolled into a pasture.EMS transported Wilson to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Salina woman hospitalized after rollover accident

BY Marsha Boswell Kansas Wheat Commission This is day two of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

Wheat harvest has been marching on for nearly two weeks in Cowley County, with numerous interruptions from rain, reported Kevin Kelly, general manager of Two Rivers Coop in Arkansas City. Harvest started in the area around June 7 and quality appears to be good with proteins in the 14 percent range.&nbsp;

Kelly said test weights are starting to decline slightly, due to most producers cutting their best fields first, but are still averaging 59 to 60 pounds per bushel. Overall, harvest results are dependent upon when the crop was planted — earlier-planted wheat has not fared as well as later-planted fields. While it was dry for a long period after the first of the year, the area did catch a few rains when the crop was filling, contributing to better-than-expected quality.&nbsp;

The co-op expects to take in about half the wheat of a five-year-average for wheat harvest, and harvest in the area is about 20 percent complete. Kelly said most of that will be processed domestically at U.S. flour mills, due to the need for bushels and a strong U.S. dollar that disincentivizes exports.&nbsp;

Just three counties to the west in Barber County, farmers are sending in quite a few samples, but moisture remains&nbsp;at 15 to 16percent, according to Sarah Dodge, grain merchandiser with Farmers Coop Equity Co., in Isabel and Medicine Lodge. Producers are hoping this week’s hot and windy weather will mean harvest will be in full swing soon.&nbsp;

While the Medicine Lodge area did receive close to an inch from every storm system that has come through in the last few weeks, the rain is too little, too late to help the wheat crop in the area. Farmers are now seeing weeds that have popped up in the fields. Spotty hail damage added insult to injury for some.

“A little damage goes a long way in this poor crop,” Dodge said.&nbsp;

Dodge reported the 10-year-average for the co-op’s intake is a little over three million bushels. Last year wasn’t even half and this year if the co-op sees one million bushels, it would be a welcome surprise. Still, some producers are hopeful for some decent fields left standing, with the best expected to average 35 to 50 bushels per acre. Most of that wheat is likely headed up to flour mills near Kansas City, but Dodge is holding out for quality data before contracting.&nbsp;

Spotty, scattered rains late in the season is also the drumbeat across Wilson County in southeast Kansas. Nicole Small, who farms near Neodesha, said the first measurable rain came in May, when parts of the area got up to 5.8 inches of rain, while farms just eight miles away are still rated in D4 (exceptional) drought.&nbsp;

Small and her family expect to cut 800 of the 1,000 acres they planted to wheat this year, noting that the wheat was planted into milo stalks and partially grazed due to a shortage of forage. Those who have received moisture are battling seeps in the field with standing water and green sucker heads that make harvest a slog.&nbsp;

They have cut 200 acres so far with results all over the board. Yields for their fields are around 45 bushels per acre with acceptable test weights, while some neighbors are reporting upwards of 60 bushels per acre and others much lower.&nbsp;

Variability will continue to be a theme for the 2023 Kansas wheat crop as harvest continues to expand out from the southern central and southeastern portions of the state.&nbsp;

The 2023 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates on Twitter, use #wheatharvest23. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCc0HjTPMHeFX0zYiyiYGmCnoD-v7xR4A3FYW39Dg_2XskVLCcz7Jgq3j0lmoPjNMQhkHlWLuRCjm-4OgVMVCucvXEEvHF4UnNkir3ZUUJ8Um&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCa_M2BEAzl1Wiv53pOSjeDpLQnUt_Bq1UZJ1InXm_MBDvCVDV2DZJiI7EZXR8n5Xb6bYN9-FkNNsV1azFegSKxfS1jEAmFZLYbTmOxFZjjA2&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Instagram</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCXFSGY1vWBTHxszlNn_ePzfILEkP0ijpSHJEFijTYez0t1qjTZHF5XeXgvwomgPSRd6fnBM2vfX7-VuEUVIjw6t5HD23N49oXRHVccPrlxVr&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687228672544.jpeg" alt="Kansas Wheat Harvest Day Two Image Courtesy Kansas Wheat Commission" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Wheat Harvest Day Two Image Courtesy Kansas Wheat Commission</figcaption>
 </figure> BY Marsha Boswell Kansas Wheat Commission This is day two of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.Wheat harvest has been marching on for nearly two weeks in Cowley County, with numerous interruptions from rain, reported Kevin Kelly, general manager of Two Rivers Coop in Arkansas City. Harvest started in the area around June 7 and quality appears to be good with proteins in the 14 percent range.&nbsp;Kelly said test weights are starting to decline slightly, due to most producers cutting their best fields first, but are still averaging 59 to 60 pounds per bushel. Overall, harvest results are dependent upon when the crop was planted — earlier-planted wheat has not fared as well as later-planted fields. While it was dry for a long period after the first of the year, the area did catch a few rains when the crop was filling, contributing to better-than-expected quality.&nbsp;The co-op expects to take in about half the wheat of a five-year-average for wheat harvest, and harvest in the area is about 20 percent complete. Kelly said most of that will be processed domestically at U.S. flour mills, due to the need for bushels and a strong U.S. dollar that disincentivizes exports.&nbsp;Just three counties to the west in Barber County, farmers are sending in quite a few samples, but moisture remains&nbsp;at 15 to 16percent, according to Sarah Dodge, grain merchandiser with Farmers Coop Equity Co., in Isabel and Medicine Lodge. Producers are hoping this week’s hot and windy weather will mean harvest will be in full swing soon.&nbsp;While the Medicine Lodge area did receive close to an inch from every storm system that has come through in the last few weeks, the rain is too little, too late to help the wheat crop in the area. Farmers are now seeing weeds that have popped up in the fields. Spotty hail damage added insult to injury for some.“A little damage goes a long way in this poor crop,” Dodge said.&nbsp;Dodge reported the 10-year-average for the co-op’s intake is a little over three million bushels. Last year wasn’t even half and this year if the co-op sees one million bushels, it would be a welcome surprise. Still, some producers are hopeful for some decent fields left standing, with the best expected to average 35 to 50 bushels per acre. Most of that wheat is likely headed up to flour mills near Kansas City, but Dodge is holding out for quality data before contracting.&nbsp;Spotty, scattered rains late in the season is also the drumbeat across Wilson County in southeast Kansas. Nicole Small, who farms near Neodesha, said the first measurable rain came in May, when parts of the area got up to 5.8 inches of rain, while farms just eight miles away are still rated in D4 (exceptional) drought.&nbsp;Small and her family expect to cut 800 of the 1,000 acres they planted to wheat this year, noting that the wheat was planted into milo stalks and partially grazed due to a shortage of forage. Those who have received moisture are battling seeps in the field with standing water and green sucker heads that make harvest a slog.&nbsp;They have cut 200 acres so far with results all over the board. Yields for their fields are around 45 bushels per acre with acceptable test weights, while some neighbors are reporting upwards of 60 bushels per acre and others much lower.&nbsp;Variability will continue to be a theme for the 2023 Kansas wheat crop as harvest continues to expand out from the southern central and southeastern portions of the state.&nbsp;The 2023 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates on Twitter, use #wheatharvest23. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCc0HjTPMHeFX0zYiyiYGmCnoD-v7xR4A3FYW39Dg_2XskVLCcz7Jgq3j0lmoPjNMQhkHlWLuRCjm-4OgVMVCucvXEEvHF4UnNkir3ZUUJ8Um&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCa_M2BEAzl1Wiv53pOSjeDpLQnUt_Bq1UZJ1InXm_MBDvCVDV2DZJiI7EZXR8n5Xb6bYN9-FkNNsV1azFegSKxfS1jEAmFZLYbTmOxFZjjA2&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Instagram</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001loZXyTepjcnKUHIn3r9KHoB-Oi6CbTLHjS-7viBnRlwnlt8bKJSuCXFSGY1vWBTHxszlNn_ePzfILEkP0ijpSHJEFijTYez0t1qjTZHF5XeXgvwomgPSRd6fnBM2vfX7-VuEUVIjw6t5HD23N49oXRHVccPrlxVr&amp;c=L-2tbRPlU5mO5m5Fze1RENk0YexR5JeqBcHiU4zlj_Y9V7_AcHIO2A==&amp;ch=f7IfhUv6c-5Kw4_jYczTrqH5dS6_PL3SeMTaiff7lRUtdPoxF4pcng==" target="_blank">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

Kansas Wheat Harvest: Day Two

Salina Public Library Ah, summer! A magical time for school-aged kids to finally relax, enjoy more free time, maybe hit the swimming pool and…risk losing 20-to-27 percent of their reading and math skills from the recent school year.&nbsp;

Core reading skills are built in the early elementary years, where kids grow from phonetics and alphabetic recognition to decoding words and basic comprehension. While skill retention through regular practice is particularly critical for the Kindergarten through 3rd-grade set, whose foundational skills are still developing, it remains important for older elementary students as well. As kids grow into the “middle grades” (4th-6th grades), the acceleration of their learning actually levels off. They are still acquiring plenty of knowledge, but the intensity at which they are learning slows, as most are building upon previous learning. However, the risk of skill loss can increase for this age group, especially if any fundamental skills introduced in their early school years didn’t fully cement. In other words, if they don’t use it, they risk losing it.&nbsp;

But, when private tutors aren’t always feasible and seemingly endless commitments make long summer days seem short, how do you fit it all in? Here are a few suggestions:&nbsp;

Ahem, not to brag, but public libraries are a great place to start. We are known for the books, but we have many other engaging things to do…and we have air conditioning! With offerings in everything from crafts to robots to classes facilitated by a licensed teacher to online learning programs and take-and-make activities for the introverts, you are likely to find something to keep your little brainiacs active this summer. Not to mention the contests and prizes for kids participating in the Salina Public Library Summer Reading Program.

Grab a book, or two, or three. See&nbsp;What’s New&nbsp;at SPL. The Library has planned a summer full of learning fun! Check out a program on our&nbsp;Events Calendar&nbsp;and register.

 Pick up the Summer Learning Packets in the Technology Center available for grades K-8. The more packets completed the more prizes you could win.

If you know your child’s last measured reading level (if you don’t, your child’s teacher could help), you can find books your child can read confidently. There are also book-finding methods for reluctant readers and those not yet in school.&nbsp;

Leveled BooksSchool districts use different reading programs, so if you don’t know your child’s program, reach out to the school or last school year’s teacher. Chances are it is one of four most common programs:&nbsp; Guided Reading Level (GRL), Lexile Measures, Developmental Reading Assessment (DRL), or Accelerated Reader (AR). Ask a librarian for help or, for the more self-sufficient, use one of several downloadable book leveling apps or websites, such as Scholastic’s&nbsp;Book Wizard&nbsp;or Accelerated Reader’s&nbsp;Book Finder. Using an app on a portable device, you can scan book barcodes and view reading levels.

TestFinding the just-right book is as easy as picking a book and counting to five.1. Pick a book.2. Have your child read one page.3. Hold up one finger for every error and use the following chart:

2 – 3 = Just Right (challenging but can be read independently)

4 – 5 = Too Hard (can be read with a friend or adult)

The end goal of reading is comprehension. To help beginning or struggling readers, books with pictures or artwork help to bridge connections between the decoding of words and their meaning.&nbsp; For older kids apprehensive about reading, graphic novels often hit the mark for both practice and kids’ preference.

Bring your little ones to play and meet new friends at the beloved playspot in Youth Services at the Salina Public Library. If regular trips to the Library aren’t feasible, try to keep the kids off the electronics and into the outdoors as much as possible. Yes, this is easier said than done, yet worth trying (and putting up with any kid-sized objections). Creative play leads to better problem-solving abilities, social &amp; emotional skill building, and improved concentration and attention, amongst many more benefits.&nbsp;

Whatever this summer brings you and your kids, the Library is here to help!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634353835637.jpeg" alt="SPL Salina Public Library front building.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>SPL Salina Public Library front building.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Sarah WeisSalina Public Library Ah, summer! A magical time for school-aged kids to finally relax, enjoy more free time, maybe hit the swimming pool and…risk losing 20-to-27 percent of their reading and math skills from the recent school year.&nbsp;Core reading skills are built in the early elementary years, where kids grow from phonetics and alphabetic recognition to decoding words and basic comprehension. While skill retention through regular practice is particularly critical for the Kindergarten through 3rd-grade set, whose foundational skills are still developing, it remains important for older elementary students as well. As kids grow into the “middle grades” (4th-6th grades), the acceleration of their learning actually levels off. They are still acquiring plenty of knowledge, but the intensity at which they are learning slows, as most are building upon previous learning. However, the risk of skill loss can increase for this age group, especially if any fundamental skills introduced in their early school years didn’t fully cement. In other words, if they don’t use it, they risk losing it.&nbsp;But, when private tutors aren’t always feasible and seemingly endless commitments make long summer days seem short, how do you fit it all in? Here are a few suggestions:&nbsp;Use Your ResourcesAhem, not to brag, but public libraries are a great place to start. We are known for the books, but we have many other engaging things to do…and we have air conditioning! With offerings in everything from crafts to robots to classes facilitated by a licensed teacher to online learning programs and take-and-make activities for the introverts, you are likely to find something to keep your little brainiacs active this summer. Not to mention the contests and prizes for kids participating in the Salina Public Library Summer Reading Program.Grab a book, or two, or three. See&nbsp;What’s New&nbsp;at SPL. The Library has planned a summer full of learning fun! Check out a program on our&nbsp;Events Calendar&nbsp;and register. Pick up the Summer Learning Packets in the Technology Center available for grades K-8. The more packets completed the more prizes you could win.Level UpIf you know your child’s last measured reading level (if you don’t, your child’s teacher could help), you can find books your child can read confidently. There are also book-finding methods for reluctant readers and those not yet in school.&nbsp;Info to know:Leveled BooksSchool districts use different reading programs, so if you don’t know your child’s program, reach out to the school or last school year’s teacher. Chances are it is one of four most common programs:&nbsp; Guided Reading Level (GRL), Lexile Measures, Developmental Reading Assessment (DRL), or Accelerated Reader (AR). Ask a librarian for help or, for the more self-sufficient, use one of several downloadable book leveling apps or websites, such as Scholastic’s&nbsp;Book Wizard&nbsp;or Accelerated Reader’s&nbsp;Book Finder. Using an app on a portable device, you can scan book barcodes and view reading levels.Goldilocks TestFinding the just-right book is as easy as picking a book and counting to five.1. Pick a book.2. Have your child read one page.3. Hold up one finger for every error and use the following chart:0 – 1 = Too Easy (pleasure read)2 – 3 = Just Right (challenging but can be read independently)4 – 5 = Too Hard (can be read with a friend or adult)Picture it!The end goal of reading is comprehension. To help beginning or struggling readers, books with pictures or artwork help to bridge connections between the decoding of words and their meaning.&nbsp; For older kids apprehensive about reading, graphic novels often hit the mark for both practice and kids’ preference.Imagination StationBring your little ones to play and meet new friends at the beloved playspot in Youth Services at the Salina Public Library. If regular trips to the Library aren’t feasible, try to keep the kids off the electronics and into the outdoors as much as possible. Yes, this is easier said than done, yet worth trying (and putting up with any kid-sized objections). Creative play leads to better problem-solving abilities, social &amp; emotional skill building, and improved concentration and attention, amongst many more benefits.&nbsp;Whatever this summer brings you and your kids, the Library is here to help!&nbsp;

Use it or lose it, Salina Library shares tips for summertime learning

On June 20, 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.&nbsp;

In 1782, Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.&nbsp;

In 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state.

In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.&nbsp;

In 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in two days later to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.&nbsp;

In 1944, during World War II, Japanese naval forces retreated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea after suffering heavy losses to the victorious American fleet.&nbsp;

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act, which was designed to restrict the power of labor unions, but had his veto overriden by Congress. Gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, apparently at the order of mob associates.&nbsp;

In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction was ultimately overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).

In 1972, three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars, President Richard Nixon met at the White House with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman; the secretly made tape recording of this meeting ended up with the notorious 18 1/2-minute gap.&nbsp;

In 1974, the film noir “Chinatown,” starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, was released by Paramount Pictures.&nbsp;

In 1990, South African Black nationalist Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie, arrived in New York City for a ticker-tape parade in their honor as they began an eight-city U.S. tour.

In 2012, Republican-controlled House committee voted along party lines, 23-17, to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over Justice Department documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. (The full House voted in favor of the contempt citation eight days later.) Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. Painter and sketch artist LeRoy Neiman, best known for evoking the kinetic energy of the world’s biggest sporting and leisure events with bright quick strokes, died in New York at age 91.

In 2014, the Obama administration granted an array of new benefits to same-sex couples, including those living in states where gay marriage was against the law; the new measures ranged from Social Security and veterans benefits to work leave for caring for sick spouses.

In 2016, a divided U.S. Supreme Court bolstered police powers, ruling 5-3 that evidence of a crime in some cases may be used against a defendant even if the police did something wrong or illegal in obtaining it.

In 2017, a runoff election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff was held in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District; Handel was declared the winner with 52 percent of the vote to Ossoff’s 48. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e564f1c6b96a455a90a1666cd4bee9a3">resigned under pressure from investors and Uber’s board</a>. Rapper Prodigy, a member of the hardcore New York hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, died in Las Vegas at age 42.

In 2021, a tornado packing 140 mph winds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-environment-and-nature-606ad68e325f0074102786a17a1bcbcd">swept through communities in heavily populated suburban Chicago</a>, damaging more than 100 homes and causing multiple injuries. Jon Rahm birdied the last two holes to win the U.S. Open by one shot over Louis Oosthuizen at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-rochelle-walensky-222bc528985a897c2a2d6173cd3659a9">nation’s youngest children got their first chance at vaccines for COVID-19</a>. Roughly 18 million kids under 5 became eligible, and shots began at a few locations. Two Florida deputies were suspended for leaking news about actor and comedian Bob Saget’s death before his family was alerted. Clela Rorex, a former Colorado county clerk considered a pioneer in the gay rights movement for being the first public official to issue a same-sex marriage license in 1975, died at age 78.

Celebrity Birthdays: June 20, Actor Bonnie Bartlett (“St. Elsewhere,” ″Once and Again”) is 94. Actor James Tolkan (“Back to the Future” films) is 92. Musician Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is 81. Actor John McCook (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 79. Singer Anne Murray is 78. Home repair show host Bob Vila is 77. Classical pianist Andre Watts is 77. Actor Candy Clark (“American Graffiti”) is 76. Singer Lionel Richie is 74. Actor John Goodman is 71. Bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen, Chickenfoot) is 69. Bassist John Taylor of Duran Duran is 63. Keyboardist Mark degli Antoni (Soul Coughing) is 61. Guitarist Jerome Fontamillas of Switchfoot is 56. Bassist Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray is 56. Actor Nicole Kidman is 56. Singer Dan Tyminski of Alison Krauss and Union Station is 56. Actor Peter Paige (“Queer as Folk”) is 54. Actor Josh Lucas (“Sweet Home Alabama,” ″A Beautiful Mind”) is 52. Bassist Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson) is 52. Singer Chino Moreno is 50. Singer Amos Lee is 46. Actor Tika Sumpter (“The Have and the Have Nots”) is 43. Drummer Chris Thompson of The Eli Young Band is 43. Singer-actor Alisan Porter (“The Voice,” ″Curly Sue”) is 42. Keyboardist Chris Dudley of Underoath is 40. Singer Grace Potter of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is 40. Actor Mark Saul (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 38. Actor Dreama Walker (film’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” TV’s “Gossip Girl”) is 37. Actor Chris Mintz-Plasse (“Superbad”) is 34. Actor Maria Lark (TV’s “Medium”) is 26.

<h2>Today’s Highlight in History: </h2>On June 20, 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.&nbsp;<h2>On this date:&nbsp;</h2>In 1782, Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.&nbsp;In 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state.In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.&nbsp;In 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in two days later to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.&nbsp;In 1944, during World War II, Japanese naval forces retreated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea after suffering heavy losses to the victorious American fleet.&nbsp;In 1947, President Harry S. Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act, which was designed to restrict the power of labor unions, but had his veto overriden by Congress. Gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, apparently at the order of mob associates.&nbsp;In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction was ultimately overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).In 1972, three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars, President Richard Nixon met at the White House with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman; the secretly made tape recording of this meeting ended up with the notorious 18 1/2-minute gap.&nbsp;In 1974, the film noir “Chinatown,” starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, was released by Paramount Pictures.&nbsp;In 1990, South African Black nationalist Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie, arrived in New York City for a ticker-tape parade in their honor as they began an eight-city U.S. tour.In 2012, Republican-controlled House committee voted along party lines, 23-17, to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over Justice Department documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. (The full House voted in favor of the contempt citation eight days later.) Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. Painter and sketch artist LeRoy Neiman, best known for evoking the kinetic energy of the world’s biggest sporting and leisure events with bright quick strokes, died in New York at age 91.In 2014, the Obama administration granted an array of new benefits to same-sex couples, including those living in states where gay marriage was against the law; the new measures ranged from Social Security and veterans benefits to work leave for caring for sick spouses.In 2016, a divided U.S. Supreme Court bolstered police powers, ruling 5-3 that evidence of a crime in some cases may be used against a defendant even if the police did something wrong or illegal in obtaining it.In 2017, a runoff election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff was held in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District; Handel was declared the winner with 52 percent of the vote to Ossoff’s 48. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e564f1c6b96a455a90a1666cd4bee9a3">resigned under pressure from investors and Uber’s board</a>. Rapper Prodigy, a member of the hardcore New York hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, died in Las Vegas at age 42.In 2021, a tornado packing 140 mph winds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-environment-and-nature-606ad68e325f0074102786a17a1bcbcd">swept through communities in heavily populated suburban Chicago</a>, damaging more than 100 homes and causing multiple injuries. Jon Rahm birdied the last two holes to win the U.S. Open by one shot over Louis Oosthuizen at Torrey Pines in San Diego.In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-rochelle-walensky-222bc528985a897c2a2d6173cd3659a9">nation’s youngest children got their first chance at vaccines for COVID-19</a>. Roughly 18 million kids under 5 became eligible, and shots began at a few locations. Two Florida deputies were suspended for leaking news about actor and comedian Bob Saget’s death before his family was alerted. Clela Rorex, a former Colorado county clerk considered a pioneer in the gay rights movement for being the first public official to issue a same-sex marriage license in 1975, died at age 78.Celebrity Birthdays: June 20, Actor Bonnie Bartlett (“St. Elsewhere,” ″Once and Again”) is 94. Actor James Tolkan (“Back to the Future” films) is 92. Musician Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is 81. Actor John McCook (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 79. Singer Anne Murray is 78. Home repair show host Bob Vila is 77. Classical pianist Andre Watts is 77. Actor Candy Clark (“American Graffiti”) is 76. Singer Lionel Richie is 74. Actor John Goodman is 71. Bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen, Chickenfoot) is 69. Bassist John Taylor of Duran Duran is 63. Keyboardist Mark degli Antoni (Soul Coughing) is 61. Guitarist Jerome Fontamillas of Switchfoot is 56. Bassist Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray is 56. Actor Nicole Kidman is 56. Singer Dan Tyminski of Alison Krauss and Union Station is 56. Actor Peter Paige (“Queer as Folk”) is 54. Actor Josh Lucas (“Sweet Home Alabama,” ″A Beautiful Mind”) is 52. Bassist Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson) is 52. Singer Chino Moreno is 50. Singer Amos Lee is 46. Actor Tika Sumpter (“The Have and the Have Nots”) is 43. Drummer Chris Thompson of The Eli Young Band is 43. Singer-actor Alisan Porter (“The Voice,” ″Curly Sue”) is 42. Keyboardist Chris Dudley of Underoath is 40. Singer Grace Potter of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is 40. Actor Mark Saul (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 38. Actor Dreama Walker (film’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” TV’s “Gossip Girl”) is 37. Actor Chris Mintz-Plasse (“Superbad”) is 34. Actor Maria Lark (TV’s “Medium”) is 26.

On this day in history, June 20

JUNCTION CITY&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp;July 4th, 2023 marks the 47th year for the historical <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/schedule/freedom-fest-run/">Junction City Freedom Run</a>, which will take place as part of the <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/">Freedom Fest </a>celebration. <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/schedule/freedom-fest-run/">Registration</a> is now open for the 1-mile, 5K and 10K. This year's run will include an exciting new starting line with the celebratory finish remaining in Heritage Park. All races will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Race organizers are looking to set a new runner registration record and are committed to bringing together local community agencies to support such a well-honored Junction City tradition.

The Freedom Run is a 47-year Independence Day tradition, founded in the idea of community connections, where freedom is celebrated and honored. And in the spirit of continual improvement, the committee is thrilled to announce a new starting line in downtown Junction City as a way to improve the runner’s experience. “Forty-seven years is something to be proud of and we’re all in to keep this going for another 47 plus,” says Terrah Stroda, event coordinator. “This year, race leaders plan to celebrate the past and honor the future of this important event by encouraging both competition and fun.&nbsp; Runners of all ages and skills can participate in this festive community event.”

Not a runner and don’t want to participate in the race but would still like to get involved?&nbsp; Sign-up to be a traffic volunteer or gather a community group to man a water stop for the runners. If you’re interested in either opportunity, the sign-up forms can be found on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFestJC/">Freedom Run – Junction City Facebook page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687260700128.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JC/Little Apple PostJUNCTION CITY&nbsp; -&nbsp; &nbsp;July 4th, 2023 marks the 47th year for the historical <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/schedule/freedom-fest-run/">Junction City Freedom Run</a>, which will take place as part of the <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/">Freedom Fest </a>celebration. <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/schedule/freedom-fest-run/">Registration</a> is now open for the 1-mile, 5K and 10K. This year's run will include an exciting new starting line with the celebratory finish remaining in Heritage Park. All races will begin at 7:30 a.m.Race organizers are looking to set a new runner registration record and are committed to bringing together local community agencies to support such a well-honored Junction City tradition.The Freedom Run is a 47-year Independence Day tradition, founded in the idea of community connections, where freedom is celebrated and honored. And in the spirit of continual improvement, the committee is thrilled to announce a new starting line in downtown Junction City as a way to improve the runner’s experience. “Forty-seven years is something to be proud of and we’re all in to keep this going for another 47 plus,” says Terrah Stroda, event coordinator. “This year, race leaders plan to celebrate the past and honor the future of this important event by encouraging both competition and fun.&nbsp; Runners of all ages and skills can participate in this festive community event.”Not a runner and don’t want to participate in the race but would still like to get involved?&nbsp; Sign-up to be a traffic volunteer or gather a community group to man a water stop for the runners. If you’re interested in either opportunity, the sign-up forms can be found on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFestJC/">Freedom Run – Junction City Facebook page</a>.

Registration open for the 47th annual Junction City Freedom Run

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers to participate in the next Statewide Virtual Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“Our state is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth as companies are expanding, relocating and getting their start in Kansas,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Our&nbsp;KANSASWORKS teams are ready and able to assist jobseekers by helping them find employment opportunities in all skill and job levels.”

The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal also features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.

Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvODk0YjAxN2MtZDk5Yy00Y2U4LWE4MTYtY2VlMjRmZmFiOTNiL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWp1bmUtMjEsLTIwMjMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.WapoqHwXATdVkwIUmX0UT4ZU6KYqZGIGBq1A6DW_yQ8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

KANSASWORKS&nbsp;links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services&nbsp;KANSASWORKS&nbsp;is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc3dvcmtzLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.FO4WIf4bRHTd5rKH4_ksr2FAcSBPqBwUxczifUayVCA/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L29mZmljZXMvcGVyc29ubmVsLXNlcnZpY2VzL2pvYnMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.HqH0PXnAAa53OR66B5THoVVbyDqCqDPhjJFe0-WUVu8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">jobs.ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648050738991.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KDCTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers to participate in the next Statewide Virtual Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.“Our state is experiencing unprecedented levels of growth as companies are expanding, relocating and getting their start in Kansas,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said.&nbsp;“Our&nbsp;KANSASWORKS teams are ready and able to assist jobseekers by helping them find employment opportunities in all skill and job levels.”The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal also features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers, and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLnByZW1pZXJ2aXJ0dWFsLmNvbS9ldmVudHMvODk0YjAxN2MtZDk5Yy00Y2U4LWE4MTYtY2VlMjRmZmFiOTNiL2thbnNhc3dvcmtzLXZpcnR1YWwtc3RhdGV3aWRlLWpvYi1mYWlyLWp1bmUtMjEsLTIwMjMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.WapoqHwXATdVkwIUmX0UT4ZU6KYqZGIGBq1A6DW_yQ8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">here</a>.About&nbsp;KANSASWORKS:KANSASWORKS&nbsp;links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services&nbsp;KANSASWORKS&nbsp;is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmthbnNhc3dvcmtzLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.FO4WIf4bRHTd5rKH4_ksr2FAcSBPqBwUxczifUayVCA/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">KANSASWORKS.com.</a>&nbsp;State employment opportunities can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYWRtaW4ua3MuZ292L29mZmljZXMvcGVyc29ubmVsLXNlcnZpY2VzL2pvYnMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNjE1Ljc4Mjg2MTYxIn0.HqH0PXnAAa53OR66B5THoVVbyDqCqDPhjJFe0-WUVu8/s/1303161001/br/205753796661-l" target="_blank">jobs.ks.gov</a>.

KANSASWORKS to host statewide virtual job fair Wednesday

&nbsp;ELLSWORTH COUNTY —One eastbound lane on Interstate 70 just west of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly,_Kansas">Beverly</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carneiro,_Kansas">Carneiro</a>&nbsp;exit in Ellsworth County is closed due to buckling pavement, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Crews are working to repair the damage. "Help workers stay safe, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SlowDown?src=hashtag_click">#SlowDown</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoveOver?src=hashtag_click">#MoveOver</a> through the work zone." The KDOT reminded on social media.

&nbsp;As the temperatures increase, so will these, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

<a href="https://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/2021/08/when-pavement-buckles-kdot-crews-are.html?m=1">Click here for</a> information on pavement buckles.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687257888715.png" alt="Photo by KDOT Supervisor Tim Hays" />
 <figcaption>Photo by KDOT Supervisor Tim Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;ELLSWORTH COUNTY —One eastbound lane on Interstate 70 just west of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly,_Kansas">Beverly</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carneiro,_Kansas">Carneiro</a>&nbsp;exit in Ellsworth County is closed due to buckling pavement, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687258168732.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews are working to repair the damage. "Help workers stay safe, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SlowDown?src=hashtag_click">#SlowDown</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoveOver?src=hashtag_click">#MoveOver</a> through the work zone." The KDOT reminded on social media.&nbsp;As the temperatures increase, so will these, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.<a href="https://kansastransportation.blogspot.com/2021/08/when-pavement-buckles-kdot-crews-are.html?m=1">Click here for</a> information on pavement buckles.&nbsp;

1 lane of eastbound  I-70 in Ellsworth Co. closed due to buckling pavement

The transition from late spring to early summer was always my favorite growing up. The long, hot days meant different things over the course of my childhood, first afternoons at the pool, then evenings at ballfields and, eventually, days in a hayfield working with my grandparents. Hay season had a certain rhythm on the ranch. We encountered different obstacles each year, and every day was different. But there were similarities, too. For all the differences, the routines stayed largely the same. It started with swapping out the sections on the mower’s sickle bar. Each of the serrated triangles was secured with two bolts. The 14-foot bar held 56 sections and changing them was the easiest part of the job. Sliding the bar back into place between guard sections required a lot of hammering along with a few choice words. The mower was called a hydroswing because of the hydraulics used to “swing” it back and forth behind the tractor. After the cutting bar sliced off the prairie a few inches above the ground, a reel shuttled the grass to the center where it was promptly ejected from a chute through the back of the machine in a windrow. Mowing hay with the contraption was fairly easy when everything was in working order. Between the sickle sections, hydraulic pumps and other moving parts there were plenty of things that could go wrong. An O-ring on one of the pumps regularly wore out and had to be replaced. Going too fast over thick grass could clog the chute, requiring the operator to have to dig it out. By far the most common issue was a broken section, which would leave a narrow strip of uncut grass. If the section was on either side of the windrow, it was easy to spot. If it was buried under the foot-thick mound of hay however, it could take several rounds to discover. Replacing a broken section required cleaning the hay off the afflicted area while keeping an eye out for nearby critters. Then you’d remove two bolts on the guard plate followed by holding the section. With ample sunshine and the right amount of wind, you could cut hay by mid-morning, and it would be cured enough to bale by late afternoon. Under usual conditions, we allowed at least 24 hours between cutting and baling, ensuring the hay was dry. The curing process was critical because too much moisture can cause the hay to catch fire days or weeks after it’s baled and stored. Timing was a key element to the entire operation. We wanted enough hay cut and curing to keep the baler rolling, but we also didn’t want to have too much on the ground in case of rain. Not only would it delay the curing process, but a heavy rain would also require the extra step of raking the windrow to speed the drying process and preserve the quality of the hay. Each morning started the same. We’d refuel the tractors and inspect the hydroswing and baler, being sure to locate even the hard to reach grease fittings while saying unkind words about engineers. Once the sun was high enough to burn off the morning dew, we’d start cutting and baling and work until evening. The work was solitary. You could listen to the hum of machinery for hours without hearing a word until it was time to eat. The only other time we’d stop during the day was sometime in the afternoon. My grandmother would put some ice and a few cans of pop in a cooler and meet us in the field. The short break for a refreshing drink also offered the opportunity to compare notes about how everything was going, make plans for the next day or maybe continue a debate that arose during lunch. Some days we nursed those drinks, while other times we drank them quickly. Of all the hayfield routines, this brief break was my favorite. I learned a lot working in those fields, but some of the best education happened in those small conversations when we paused from harvesting hay.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687183475033.png" alt="Greg Doering, spent his youth working with his grandparents on the Double H Ranch in southeast Kansas. Prior to joining Kansas Farm Bureau as a writer and photographer, he spent 12 years working at community journalism at papers in the northern Flint Hills. When not in the office, Greg enjoys hunting, hiking and fishing. He and his wife live in Manhattan. Photo Courtesy KFB" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering, spent his youth working with his grandparents on the Double H Ranch in southeast Kansas. Prior to joining Kansas Farm Bureau as a writer and photographer, he spent 12 years working at community journalism at papers in the northern Flint Hills. When not in the office, Greg enjoys hunting, hiking and fishing. He and his wife live in Manhattan. Photo Courtesy KFB</figcaption>
 </figure>Greg DoeringKansas Farm BureauThe transition from late spring to early summer was always my favorite growing up. The long, hot days meant different things over the course of my childhood, first afternoons at the pool, then evenings at ballfields and, eventually, days in a hayfield working with my grandparents. Hay season had a certain rhythm on the ranch. We encountered different obstacles each year, and every day was different. But there were similarities, too. For all the differences, the routines stayed largely the same. It started with swapping out the sections on the mower’s sickle bar. Each of the serrated triangles was secured with two bolts. The 14-foot bar held 56 sections and changing them was the easiest part of the job. Sliding the bar back into place between guard sections required a lot of hammering along with a few choice words. The mower was called a hydroswing because of the hydraulics used to “swing” it back and forth behind the tractor. After the cutting bar sliced off the prairie a few inches above the ground, a reel shuttled the grass to the center where it was promptly ejected from a chute through the back of the machine in a windrow. Mowing hay with the contraption was fairly easy when everything was in working order. Between the sickle sections, hydraulic pumps and other moving parts there were plenty of things that could go wrong. An O-ring on one of the pumps regularly wore out and had to be replaced. Going too fast over thick grass could clog the chute, requiring the operator to have to dig it out. By far the most common issue was a broken section, which would leave a narrow strip of uncut grass. If the section was on either side of the windrow, it was easy to spot. If it was buried under the foot-thick mound of hay however, it could take several rounds to discover. Replacing a broken section required cleaning the hay off the afflicted area while keeping an eye out for nearby critters. Then you’d remove two bolts on the guard plate followed by holding the section. With ample sunshine and the right amount of wind, you could cut hay by mid-morning, and it would be cured enough to bale by late afternoon. Under usual conditions, we allowed at least 24 hours between cutting and baling, ensuring the hay was dry. The curing process was critical because too much moisture can cause the hay to catch fire days or weeks after it’s baled and stored. Timing was a key element to the entire operation. We wanted enough hay cut and curing to keep the baler rolling, but we also didn’t want to have too much on the ground in case of rain. Not only would it delay the curing process, but a heavy rain would also require the extra step of raking the windrow to speed the drying process and preserve the quality of the hay. Each morning started the same. We’d refuel the tractors and inspect the hydroswing and baler, being sure to locate even the hard to reach grease fittings while saying unkind words about engineers. Once the sun was high enough to burn off the morning dew, we’d start cutting and baling and work until evening. The work was solitary. You could listen to the hum of machinery for hours without hearing a word until it was time to eat. The only other time we’d stop during the day was sometime in the afternoon. My grandmother would put some ice and a few cans of pop in a cooler and meet us in the field. The short break for a refreshing drink also offered the opportunity to compare notes about how everything was going, make plans for the next day or maybe continue a debate that arose during lunch. Some days we nursed those drinks, while other times we drank them quickly. Of all the hayfield routines, this brief break was my favorite. I learned a lot working in those fields, but some of the best education happened in those small conversations when we paused from harvesting hay.

INSIGHT KANSAS: harvesting hay

MANHATTAN — Despite a serious last-minute challenge, the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://bae.k-state.edu/student-organizations/tractor-team/index.html" target="_blank">Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team</a>&nbsp;took second place out of 22 teams from other universities at the 26th annual American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition in Peoria, Illinois, according to a media release from KSU. K-State's team has finished among the top two in this competition 18 times out of the 26 years the event has been held, but this year's success didn't come easy. Each team must perform multiple tasks for the competition, including a written design report, a formal design presentation and a series of performance events — a durability course, a maneuverability course and three tractor pulls. The K-State team completed the report and presentation according to plan, but the night before the first performance event, the main power shaft in the tractor's transmission snapped in two, requiring instant repairs in order to be used in the competition. "The team was clearly frustrated but quickly rose to the occasion and began formulating a plan to solve the problem," said Ed Brokesh, advisor for the team and assistant professor in the Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. The team made plans to temporarily repair the shaft for the events the following day, sacrificing the use of second gear in the process, while a new shaft was fabricated and installed in time for the final portion of the competition, the pulling events. Despite this obstacle, K-State's tractor finished second in the durability competition. During that competition, others on the team were dispatched to Chicago to purchase materials for the new shaft, which was built and installed in the hobby machine shop of a K-State alumnus. The new transmission was installed just in time for the final portion of the competition, the pulling event, and performed admirably with a fourth-place finish. "Every competition has its challenges, but for most teams, this type of setback would keep them from finishing the competition at all, much less taking second place," Brokesh said. "This level of resolve is part of why K-State has been so successful in this event over the years." In addition to Brokesh, team advisors are Ryan Zecha, biological and agricultural engineering alumnus, Eli Sheppard, research technologist for the department, and Dan Flippo, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering. Students on the Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team include: Jacob Porter, junior in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Beloit;&nbsp;Cale McCabe, 2023 graduate in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Buhler;&nbsp;Cole Stahlman, junior in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Concordia;&nbsp;Joseph Kueker, junior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Hesston;&nbsp;Hayden Pierce, 2023 graduate in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Hutchinson;&nbsp;William Delzeit, junior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Lenexa;&nbsp;Dalton Rizzo, junior in electrical engineering,&nbsp;Louisburg;&nbsp;Samuel Underwood, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Mankato;&nbsp;Taylor Schroeder, junior in biological systems engineering and agricultural economics,&nbsp;Riley;&nbsp;Braden Bramhall, junior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Vermillion. From out of state: Cole Marchy, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Ceres, California;&nbsp;Amar Pannu, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Patterson, California;&nbsp;Payton Renner, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Lee’s Summit, Missouri;&nbsp;John Trimmer, sophomore in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Maitland, Missouri;&nbsp;Micah Shonkwiler, sophomore in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;St. Joseph, Missouri;&nbsp;Noah Nevitt, senior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Lincoln, Nebraska;&nbsp;Aubrey Paulk, junior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Charlotte, Tennessee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687178411708.png" alt="Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Despite a serious last-minute challenge, the Kansas State University&nbsp;<a href="https://bae.k-state.edu/student-organizations/tractor-team/index.html" target="_blank">Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team</a>&nbsp;took second place out of 22 teams from other universities at the 26th annual American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition in Peoria, Illinois, according to a media release from KSU. K-State's team has finished among the top two in this competition 18 times out of the 26 years the event has been held, but this year's success didn't come easy. Each team must perform multiple tasks for the competition, including a written design report, a formal design presentation and a series of performance events — a durability course, a maneuverability course and three tractor pulls. The K-State team completed the report and presentation according to plan, but the night before the first performance event, the main power shaft in the tractor's transmission snapped in two, requiring instant repairs in order to be used in the competition. "The team was clearly frustrated but quickly rose to the occasion and began formulating a plan to solve the problem," said Ed Brokesh, advisor for the team and assistant professor in the Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. The team made plans to temporarily repair the shaft for the events the following day, sacrificing the use of second gear in the process, while a new shaft was fabricated and installed in time for the final portion of the competition, the pulling events. Despite this obstacle, K-State's tractor finished second in the durability competition. During that competition, others on the team were dispatched to Chicago to purchase materials for the new shaft, which was built and installed in the hobby machine shop of a K-State alumnus. The new transmission was installed just in time for the final portion of the competition, the pulling event, and performed admirably with a fourth-place finish. "Every competition has its challenges, but for most teams, this type of setback would keep them from finishing the competition at all, much less taking second place," Brokesh said. "This level of resolve is part of why K-State has been so successful in this event over the years." In addition to Brokesh, team advisors are Ryan Zecha, biological and agricultural engineering alumnus, Eli Sheppard, research technologist for the department, and Dan Flippo, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering. Students on the Helwig Farms Quarter-Scale Tractor Team include: Jacob Porter, junior in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Beloit;&nbsp;Cale McCabe, 2023 graduate in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Buhler;&nbsp;Cole Stahlman, junior in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Concordia;&nbsp;Joseph Kueker, junior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Hesston;&nbsp;Hayden Pierce, 2023 graduate in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Hutchinson;&nbsp;William Delzeit, junior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Lenexa;&nbsp;Dalton Rizzo, junior in electrical engineering,&nbsp;Louisburg;&nbsp;Samuel Underwood, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Mankato;&nbsp;Taylor Schroeder, junior in biological systems engineering and agricultural economics,&nbsp;Riley;&nbsp;Braden Bramhall, junior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Vermillion. From out of state: Cole Marchy, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Ceres, California;&nbsp;Amar Pannu, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Patterson, California;&nbsp;Payton Renner, 2023 graduate in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Lee’s Summit, Missouri;&nbsp;John Trimmer, sophomore in agricultural technology management,&nbsp;Maitland, Missouri;&nbsp;Micah Shonkwiler, sophomore in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;St. Joseph, Missouri;&nbsp;Noah Nevitt, senior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Lincoln, Nebraska;&nbsp;Aubrey Paulk, junior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;Charlotte, Tennessee.

K-State tractor team takes 2nd place at international competition

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over, and that all remaining slaves in Texas were free — an event celebrated to this day as “Juneteenth.”

In 1775, George Washington was commissioned by the Continental Congress as commander in chief of the Continental Army.

In 1910, the first-ever Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington. (The idea for the observance is credited to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd.)

In 1911, Pennsylvania became the first state to establish a motion picture censorship board.&nbsp;

In 1917, during World War I, King George V ordered the British royal family to dispense with German titles and surnames; the family took the name “Windsor.”&nbsp;

In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission was created; it replaced the Federal Radio Commission.

In 1944, during World War II, the two-day Battle of the Philippine Sea began, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans over the Japanese.

In 1953, Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, were executed at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York.&nbsp;

In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27, after surviving a lengthy filibuster.

In 1975, former Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park, Illinois; the killing has never been solved.&nbsp;

In 1986, University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, the first draft pick of the Boston Celtics, suffered a fatal cocaine-induced seizure.

In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring any public school teaching the theory of evolution to teach creation science as well.

In 2012, WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange took refuge at Ecuador’s Embassy in London, seeking to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced questioning about alleged sex crimes. (Sweden dropped its inquiry in May 2017; Assange remains in custody in Britain, where a judge has approved a U.S. request to extradite him so he can stand trial on espionage charges.)&nbsp;

In 2014, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California won election as House majority leader as Republicans shuffled their leadership in the wake of Rep. Eric Cantor’s primary defeat in Virginia.

In 2017, Otto Warmbier (WARM’-beer), a 22-year-old American college student released by North Korea in a coma after more than a year in captivity, died in a Cincinnati hospital.&nbsp;

In 2021, Eight children in a van from a youth home for abused or neglected children were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on a wet interstate in Alabama; they were among the 13 killed in the state as a tropical depression caused flash floods and tornadoes that destroyed dozens of homes

Actor Gena Rowlands is 93. Singer Spanky McFarlane of Spanky and Our Gang is 81. Actor Phylicia Rashad is 75. Singer Ann Wilson of Heart is 73. Keyboardist Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 70. Actor Kathleen Turner is 69. Country singer Doug Stone is 67. Singer Mark “Marty” DeBarge of DeBarge is 64. Singer-dancer Paula Abdul is 61. Actor Andy Lauer (“Caroline in the City”) is 60. Singer-guitarist Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe is 59. Actor Mia Sara (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) is 56. “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer is 54. Guitarist Brian “Head” Welch of Korn is 53. Actor Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”) is 51. Actor Robin Tunney is 51. Actor Bumper Robinson (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) is 49. Actor Poppy Montgomery (“Unforgettable,” ″Without a Trace”) is 48. Singer-banjoist Scott Avett of The Avett Brothers is 47. Actor Ryan Hurst (“The Walking Dead,” “Sons of Anarchy”) is 47. Actor Zoe Saldana is 45. Actor Neil Brown Jr. (“SEAL Team”) is 43. Actor Lauren Lee Smith (“CSI”) is 43. Singer Macklemore of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is 41. Actor Paul Dano is 39. Actor Giacomo Gianniotti (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 34. Actor Chuku Modu (“The Good Doctor”) is 33. Actor Atticus Shaffer (“The Middle”) is 25.

<h2>Today’s Highlight in History: </h2>On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over, and that all remaining slaves in Texas were free — an event celebrated to this day as “Juneteenth.”<h2>On this date:&nbsp;</h2>In 1775, George Washington was commissioned by the Continental Congress as commander in chief of the Continental Army.In 1910, the first-ever Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington. (The idea for the observance is credited to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd.)In 1911, Pennsylvania became the first state to establish a motion picture censorship board.&nbsp; In 1917, during World War I, King George V ordered the British royal family to dispense with German titles and surnames; the family took the name “Windsor.”&nbsp;In 1934, the Federal Communications Commission was created; it replaced the Federal Radio Commission.In 1944, during World War II, the two-day Battle of the Philippine Sea began, resulting in a decisive victory for the Americans over the Japanese.In 1953, Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, were executed at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York.&nbsp;In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27, after surviving a lengthy filibuster. In 1975, former Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park, Illinois; the killing has never been solved.&nbsp;In 1986, University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, the first draft pick of the Boston Celtics, suffered a fatal cocaine-induced seizure.In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring any public school teaching the theory of evolution to teach creation science as well.In 2012, WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange took refuge at Ecuador’s Embassy in London, seeking to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced questioning about alleged sex crimes. (Sweden dropped its inquiry in May 2017; Assange remains in custody in Britain, where a judge has approved a U.S. request to extradite him so he can stand trial on espionage charges.)&nbsp;In 2014, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California won election as House majority leader as Republicans shuffled their leadership in the wake of Rep. Eric Cantor’s primary defeat in Virginia. In 2017, Otto Warmbier (WARM’-beer), a 22-year-old American college student released by North Korea in a coma after more than a year in captivity, died in a Cincinnati hospital.&nbsp;In 2021, Eight children in a van from a youth home for abused or neglected children were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on a wet interstate in Alabama; they were among the 13 killed in the state as a tropical depression caused flash floods and tornadoes that destroyed dozens of homesCelebrity Birthdays:Actor Gena Rowlands is 93. Singer Spanky McFarlane of Spanky and Our Gang is 81. Actor Phylicia Rashad is 75. Singer Ann Wilson of Heart is 73. Keyboardist Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 70. Actor Kathleen Turner is 69. Country singer Doug Stone is 67. Singer Mark “Marty” DeBarge of DeBarge is 64. Singer-dancer Paula Abdul is 61. Actor Andy Lauer (“Caroline in the City”) is 60. Singer-guitarist Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe is 59. Actor Mia Sara (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) is 56. “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer is 54. Guitarist Brian “Head” Welch of Korn is 53. Actor Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”) is 51. Actor Robin Tunney is 51. Actor Bumper Robinson (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) is 49. Actor Poppy Montgomery (“Unforgettable,” ″Without a Trace”) is 48. Singer-banjoist Scott Avett of The Avett Brothers is 47. Actor Ryan Hurst (“The Walking Dead,” “Sons of Anarchy”) is 47. Actor Zoe Saldana is 45. Actor Neil Brown Jr. (“SEAL Team”) is 43. Actor Lauren Lee Smith (“CSI”) is 43. Singer Macklemore of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is 41. Actor Paul Dano is 39. Actor Giacomo Gianniotti (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 34. Actor Chuku Modu (“The Good Doctor”) is 33. Actor Atticus Shaffer (“The Middle”) is 25.

On this day, June 19

NWS- Wichita&nbsp; A bit of a quieter pattern is expected to start off the week; however, there remains a low chance of storms across central Kansas Tuesday night. Temperatures will generally reside in the low to mid 90s during the afternoon hours each day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687184641013.jpeg" alt="NWS three day weather outlook through Wednesday. Photo Courtesy NWS Wichita" />
 <figcaption>NWS three day weather outlook through Wednesday. Photo Courtesy NWS Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure> NWS- Wichita&nbsp; A bit of a quieter pattern is expected to start off the week; however, there remains a low chance of storms across central Kansas Tuesday night. Temperatures will generally reside in the low to mid 90s during the afternoon hours each day.

NWS Wichita three day weather outlook

By SALINA POST Don't forget, Monday's Juneteenth federal holiday also means local government closings.

City of Salina and Saline County offices and facilities will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Additionlly, there will be no Salina City Commission meeting on Monday.

READ:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/699c2f60-8d6f-4cca-85c6-918b73f24003"> OCCK closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth</a>

Offices and facilities will resume regular hours on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655508034267.jpeg" alt="The Juneteenth flag.&nbsp;Image courtesy Pixabay " />
 <figcaption>The Juneteenth flag.&nbsp;Image courtesy Pixabay </figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POST Don't forget, Monday's Juneteenth federal holiday also means local government closings.City of Salina and Saline County offices and facilities will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Additionlly, there will be no Salina City Commission meeting on Monday.READ:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/699c2f60-8d6f-4cca-85c6-918b73f24003"> OCCK closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth</a>Offices and facilities will resume regular hours on Tuesday.<h2> </h2>

City, county offices closed Monday for Juneteenth

LAWRENCE — Any parent can tell you that work doesn’t stop when you leave the office and go home. Yet national and international economic statistics only consider the work that happens “at the market,” or outside the home — not caring for children, cooking, cleaning or caring for elders, tasks largely handled by women, in calculating economic statistics like gross domestic product. 

A new study from the University of Kansas argues for including such work, or “girly economics,” for a full understanding of work happening in the country to produce better labor statistics and equitable public policy.

Misty Heggeness saw firsthand how data often overlooked work in the home during her time with the U.S. Census Bureau. Now an associate professor of public affairs &amp; administration and associate research scientist with KU’s Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research, she has written a study about how care work at home has been traditionally overlooked, how it leads to incomplete economic statistics and how such numbers are necessary for good public policy. Heggeness presented the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20231108">paper</a>, titled “The Girly Economics of Care Work: Implications for Economic Statistics,” at the American Economic Association annual meeting in January, and it was published in the association’s Papers and Proceedings.

“Women are and have always been economic agents. If we were to collect information about economic activity in a broader sense, what we would find is women are more active than men,” Heggeness said. “The total amount of paid and unpaid economic activity show for people working full-time jobs, women engage in about one additional hour of economic activity per day.”

The study is linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2023/04/17/ku-researcher-leading-project-quantify-care-economy-make-stats-available-central-location">project</a>&nbsp;Heggeness has launched with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Care Board is an effort to gather existing data and statistics on the care economy and make them available in one online location with a dashboard to help researchers, policymakers and others find useful information. The project will generate new statistics on such economic data as well.&nbsp;

Heggeness cites an Institute for Women’s Policy Research study that found among working adults, women average one extra hour per day on unpaid household chores and care work than men. And while an hour per day may not seem significant, over the course of a year, that adds up to 249 additional hours, or 31 days of additional work by women. The consequences of excluding such data have been in place for decades. Heggeness points out that in 1953, the United Nations standardized a system of measurements to determine gross domestic product. One of the most widely used economic statistics in the world, GDP does not include work done inside the home.

The United States does, however, collect data on care work outside the home. Such data shows that roughly 14% of the U.S. labor force is engaged in teaching, janitorial and cleaning services, and child care. That represents 23.4 million people, more than the state of Florida. But with unpaid care work in the home, such as caring for children or other family members, confusion can reign during times of economic crisis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the additional stress on parents was widely reported. In addition to their full-time jobs, parents had to ensure kids could take part in online learning from home and saw other domestic tasks increase dramatically as well. 

The concern was that the additional stress would drive many parents, especially mothers, to leave the labor force. But a lack of reliable statistics on unpaid care work left both journalists and economists scrambling to determine just how much additional work was done and carried implications that women’s work in the formal sector of the economy was less important than men’s, Heggeness said.

“There are components about global and national history, whether intentional or not, that have been driven historically by men and that are determined by a monetized wage or price,” Heggeness said. “If we limit ourselves to that, we are blinding ourselves to the realities women contribute to the economy and keeping it going.”

After pointing out how unpaid care activities — what she calls the underbelly of the economy — are not included in official statistics, Heggeness wrote about the urgency of including such data, as the economy would not function without it. 

As a result, researchers, statisticians and economists cannot accurately track economic phenomena like a pandemic, growth or recessions without including all economic activity in primary measures. Similarly, it is difficult to measure how overworked or stressed care workers might be, and policymakers cannot develop effective policy to address such problems without a full slate of information, she wrote.

“To not generate statistics with depth and nuance now is an egregious flaw in the profession. We owe it to society and the generations that come after us to use the rich depth of cumulating administrative and real-time data on our economic lives both within and outside of our homes to generate a more complete picture of the modern caregiver and more accurately estimate their economic contributions to society,” Heggeness wrote.

 “With urgency, we must update national accounting systems and leading economic statistics to capture the modern realities of work, care and the economy and incorporate these statistics into mainstream views of our economy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685723197207.png" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE — Any parent can tell you that work doesn’t stop when you leave the office and go home. Yet national and international economic statistics only consider the work that happens “at the market,” or outside the home — not caring for children, cooking, cleaning or caring for elders, tasks largely handled by women, in calculating economic statistics like gross domestic product. A new study from the University of Kansas argues for including such work, or “girly economics,” for a full understanding of work happening in the country to produce better labor statistics and equitable public policy.Misty Heggeness saw firsthand how data often overlooked work in the home during her time with the U.S. Census Bureau. Now an associate professor of public affairs &amp; administration and associate research scientist with KU’s Institute for Policy &amp; Social Research, she has written a study about how care work at home has been traditionally overlooked, how it leads to incomplete economic statistics and how such numbers are necessary for good public policy. Heggeness presented the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20231108">paper</a>, titled “The Girly Economics of Care Work: Implications for Economic Statistics,” at the American Economic Association annual meeting in January, and it was published in the association’s Papers and Proceedings.“Women are and have always been economic agents. If we were to collect information about economic activity in a broader sense, what we would find is women are more active than men,” Heggeness said. “The total amount of paid and unpaid economic activity show for people working full-time jobs, women engage in about one additional hour of economic activity per day.”The study is linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.ku.edu/2023/04/17/ku-researcher-leading-project-quantify-care-economy-make-stats-available-central-location">project</a>&nbsp;Heggeness has launched with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Care Board is an effort to gather existing data and statistics on the care economy and make them available in one online location with a dashboard to help researchers, policymakers and others find useful information. The project will generate new statistics on such economic data as well.&nbsp;Heggeness cites an Institute for Women’s Policy Research study that found among working adults, women average one extra hour per day on unpaid household chores and care work than men. And while an hour per day may not seem significant, over the course of a year, that adds up to 249 additional hours, or 31 days of additional work by women. The consequences of excluding such data have been in place for decades. Heggeness points out that in 1953, the United Nations standardized a system of measurements to determine gross domestic product. One of the most widely used economic statistics in the world, GDP does not include work done inside the home.The United States does, however, collect data on care work outside the home. Such data shows that roughly 14% of the U.S. labor force is engaged in teaching, janitorial and cleaning services, and child care. That represents 23.4 million people, more than the state of Florida. But with unpaid care work in the home, such as caring for children or other family members, confusion can reign during times of economic crisis.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the additional stress on parents was widely reported. In addition to their full-time jobs, parents had to ensure kids could take part in online learning from home and saw other domestic tasks increase dramatically as well. The concern was that the additional stress would drive many parents, especially mothers, to leave the labor force. But a lack of reliable statistics on unpaid care work left both journalists and economists scrambling to determine just how much additional work was done and carried implications that women’s work in the formal sector of the economy was less important than men’s, Heggeness said.“There are components about global and national history, whether intentional or not, that have been driven historically by men and that are determined by a monetized wage or price,” Heggeness said. “If we limit ourselves to that, we are blinding ourselves to the realities women contribute to the economy and keeping it going.”After pointing out how unpaid care activities — what she calls the underbelly of the economy — are not included in official statistics, Heggeness wrote about the urgency of including such data, as the economy would not function without it. As a result, researchers, statisticians and economists cannot accurately track economic phenomena like a pandemic, growth or recessions without including all economic activity in primary measures. Similarly, it is difficult to measure how overworked or stressed care workers might be, and policymakers cannot develop effective policy to address such problems without a full slate of information, she wrote.“To not generate statistics with depth and nuance now is an egregious flaw in the profession. We owe it to society and the generations that come after us to use the rich depth of cumulating administrative and real-time data on our economic lives both within and outside of our homes to generate a more complete picture of the modern caregiver and more accurately estimate their economic contributions to society,” Heggeness wrote. “With urgency, we must update national accounting systems and leading economic statistics to capture the modern realities of work, care and the economy and incorporate these statistics into mainstream views of our economy.”

KU study argues 'girly economics' data necessary for full picture of economy

By SALINA POST Following are the sports programs and events scheduled for KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) this week.

Sunday PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp;9am PRN&nbsp; Ally 400 from Nashville Super Speedway Nashville, Tennessee at 5 p.m.

By SALINA POST Following are the sports programs and events scheduled for KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) this week.SaturdayMRN Nascar Live at 8 a.m.Sunday PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters&nbsp;9am PRN&nbsp; Ally 400 from Nashville Super Speedway Nashville, Tennessee at 5 p.m.

Sports on KINA this week

On June 18, 1983, astronaut Sally K. Ride became America’s first woman in space as she and four colleagues blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission.&nbsp;

In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War.

In 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain.

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte met defeat at Waterloo as British and Prussian troops defeated the French in Belgium.&nbsp;

In 1940, during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to conduct themselves in a manner that would prompt future generations to say, “This was their finest hour.” Charles de Gaulle delivered a speech on the BBC in which he rallied his countrymen after the fall of France to Nazi Germany.

In 1971, Southwest Airlines began operations, with flights between Dallas and San Antonio, and Dallas and Houston.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid I. Brezhnev signed the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna.

In 1986, 25 people were killed when a twin-engine plane and helicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.

In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Georgia v. McCollum, ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as a basis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.&nbsp;

In 2003, baseball Hall-of-Famer Larry Doby, who broke the American League’s color barrier in 1947, died in Montclair, New Jersey, at age 79.&nbsp;

In 2010, death row inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner died in a barrage of bullets as Utah carried out its first firing squad execution in 14 years. (Gardner had been sentenced to death for fatally shooting attorney Michael Burdell during a failed escape attempt from a Salt Lake City courthouse.)&nbsp;

In 2011, Clarence Clemons, the saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen’s life and music, died in Florida at age 69.&nbsp;

In 2012: Former baseball star Roger Clemens was acquitted in Washington, D.C. on all charges that he’d obstructed and lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. R.A. Dickey became the first major league pitcher in 24 years to throw consecutive one-hitters in the New York Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. (The previous pitcher to throw consecutive one-hitters was Dave Stieb for Toronto in September 1988.) Actor Victor Spinetti, 82, died in Wales; he had appeared in three 1960s Beatles films.

In 2017: Charleena Lyles, a 30-year-old Black mother of four, was shot and killed by two white Seattle police officers after she called 911 to report a burglary; authorities said Lyles had pulled a knife on the officers. Brooks Koepka closed with a 5-under 67 to win the U.S. Open for his first major championship.

In 2020, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants.

In 2021: Iranians voted in a presidential election that would bring a landslide victory to the country’s hard-line judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, the protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Raisi had already been sanctioned by the U.S., partly over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.

Musician Paul McCartney is 81. Actor Constance McCashin (“Knots Landing”) is 76. Actor Linda Thorson (“The Avengers”) is 76. Actor Carol Kane is 71. Actor Isabella Rossellini is 71. Actor Brian Benben (“Private Practice,” “Dream On”) is 67. Actor Andrea Evans (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 66. Singer Alison Moyet is 62. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses) is 60. Country singer-guitarist Tim Hunt (Yankee Grey) is 56. Singer Nathan Morris of Boyz II Men is 52. Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne is 50. Rapper Silkk The Shocker is 48. Actor Alana de la Garza (“Law and Order”) is 47. Country singer Blake Shelton is 47. Guitarist Steven Chen of Airborne Toxic Event is 45. Actor David Giuntoli (“Grimm”) is 43. Drummer Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots is 35. Actor-singer Renee Olstead (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Still Standing”) is 34. Actor Jacob Anderson (“Game of Thrones”) is 33. Actor Willa Holland (“Arrow”) is 32.

<h2>Today’s Highlight in History: </h2>On June 18, 1983, astronaut Sally K. Ride became America’s first woman in space as she and four colleagues blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission.&nbsp;<h2>On this date:&nbsp;</h2>In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War.In 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain.In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte met defeat at Waterloo as British and Prussian troops defeated the French in Belgium.&nbsp;In 1940, during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to conduct themselves in a manner that would prompt future generations to say, “This was their finest hour.” Charles de Gaulle delivered a speech on the BBC in which he rallied his countrymen after the fall of France to Nazi Germany.In 1971, Southwest Airlines began operations, with flights between Dallas and San Antonio, and Dallas and Houston.In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid I. Brezhnev signed the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna.In 1986, 25 people were killed when a twin-engine plane and helicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Georgia v. McCollum, ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as a basis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.&nbsp;In 2003, baseball Hall-of-Famer Larry Doby, who broke the American League’s color barrier in 1947, died in Montclair, New Jersey, at age 79.&nbsp;In 2010, death row inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner died in a barrage of bullets as Utah carried out its first firing squad execution in 14 years. (Gardner had been sentenced to death for fatally shooting attorney Michael Burdell during a failed escape attempt from a Salt Lake City courthouse.)&nbsp;In 2011, Clarence Clemons, the saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen’s life and music, died in Florida at age 69.&nbsp;In 2012: Former baseball star Roger Clemens was acquitted in Washington, D.C. on all charges that he’d obstructed and lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. R.A. Dickey became the first major league pitcher in 24 years to throw consecutive one-hitters in the New York Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. (The previous pitcher to throw consecutive one-hitters was Dave Stieb for Toronto in September 1988.) Actor Victor Spinetti, 82, died in Wales; he had appeared in three 1960s Beatles films. In 2017: Charleena Lyles, a 30-year-old Black mother of four, was shot and killed by two white Seattle police officers after she called 911 to report a burglary; authorities said Lyles had pulled a knife on the officers. Brooks Koepka closed with a 5-under 67 to win the U.S. Open for his first major championship. In 2020, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants.In 2021: Iranians voted in a presidential election that would bring a landslide victory to the country’s hard-line judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, the protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; Raisi had already been sanctioned by the U.S., partly over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.June 18 Birthdays: Musician Paul McCartney is 81. Actor Constance McCashin (“Knots Landing”) is 76. Actor Linda Thorson (“The Avengers”) is 76. Actor Carol Kane is 71. Actor Isabella Rossellini is 71. Actor Brian Benben (“Private Practice,” “Dream On”) is 67. Actor Andrea Evans (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 66. Singer Alison Moyet is 62. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses) is 60. Country singer-guitarist Tim Hunt (Yankee Grey) is 56. Singer Nathan Morris of Boyz II Men is 52. Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne is 50. Rapper Silkk The Shocker is 48. Actor Alana de la Garza (“Law and Order”) is 47. Country singer Blake Shelton is 47. Guitarist Steven Chen of Airborne Toxic Event is 45. Actor David Giuntoli (“Grimm”) is 43. Drummer Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots is 35. Actor-singer Renee Olstead (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Still Standing”) is 34. Actor Jacob Anderson (“Game of Thrones”) is 33. Actor Willa Holland (“Arrow”) is 32.

On this day in history, June 18

BY NATE KING Salina Post&nbsp;

On this episode of "King in the Community" I speak with Salina Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Renee Duxler, about the following topics:

●Duxler's Smoky River Festival reflections ●An update on the Chamber's<a href="https://www.salinakansas.org/legislative-advocacy.html"> legislative priorities</a>&nbsp;from the most recent legislative session ●Information about <a href="https://www.salinakansas.org/leadership-salina.html">LEAD Salina</a>&nbsp;coming in August ●Upcoming Chamber after hours <a href="https://web.salinakansas.org/events">events </a>and ribbon cuttings

<div><iframe title="Renee Duxler, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=p4amu-1433906-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=1b1b1b"></iframe></div>BY NATE KING Salina Post&nbsp;On this episode of "King in the Community" I speak with Salina Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Renee Duxler, about the following topics:●Duxler's Smoky River Festival reflections ●An update on the Chamber's<a href="https://www.salinakansas.org/legislative-advocacy.html"> legislative priorities</a>&nbsp;from the most recent legislative session ●Information about <a href="https://www.salinakansas.org/leadership-salina.html">LEAD Salina</a>&nbsp;coming in August ●Upcoming Chamber after hours <a href="https://web.salinakansas.org/events">events </a>and ribbon cuttings<h2>More "King in the Community" episodes</h2><div><iframe title="King in the Community" allowtransparency="true" height="315" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=skmut-558a99-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&order=episodic&limit=10&filter=all&ss=a713390a017602015775e868a2cf26b0&btn-skin=1b1b1b&size=315" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>

🎙 King in the Community Podcast: Renee Duxler, Salina Area Chamber

WASHINGTON, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Braun (R-IA) on June 8 introduced the bipartisan, bicameral&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;to improve the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Each senator is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.

“Access to childcare is a top priority for both families and employers in every corner of Kansas,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“With a few changes to the USDA’s Rural Development programs, which benefit our rural communities, we can build the necessary childcare infrastructure that puts our children on the right educational path and provides them with a strong foundation for the future.”

“Childcare is far too expensive and too hard to find for Ohio families, and parents in rural Ohio face unique challenges. Farm communities often lack enough transportation infrastructure and don’t have enough high-quality child-care providers, and rural parents are more likely to work non-traditional hours,”&nbsp;Senator Brown said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan steps to make childcare more affordable and accessible in rural communities."

“Access to childcare is essential, but for too many families living in rural places, it is out of reach,”&nbsp;Senator Smith said. “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive 50 miles to take their kids to childcare and from providers who are struggling to find and keep staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When I’m traveling across Iowa I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family," Senator Ernst said.&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to read the&nbsp;Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023.

The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.&nbsp;

The bill would also allow USDA to make awards through intermediaries such as, childcare resource and referral organizations, staffed family childcare networks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with demonstrated expertise in the childcare sector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686256056404.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Sen. MarshallWASHINGTON, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Braun (R-IA) on June 8 introduced the bipartisan, bicameral&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;to improve the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Each senator is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.“Access to childcare is a top priority for both families and employers in every corner of Kansas,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“With a few changes to the USDA’s Rural Development programs, which benefit our rural communities, we can build the necessary childcare infrastructure that puts our children on the right educational path and provides them with a strong foundation for the future.”“Childcare is far too expensive and too hard to find for Ohio families, and parents in rural Ohio face unique challenges. Farm communities often lack enough transportation infrastructure and don’t have enough high-quality child-care providers, and rural parents are more likely to work non-traditional hours,”&nbsp;Senator Brown said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan steps to make childcare more affordable and accessible in rural communities."“Access to childcare is essential, but for too many families living in rural places, it is out of reach,”&nbsp;Senator Smith said. “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive 50 miles to take their kids to childcare and from providers who are struggling to find and keep staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;“When I’m traveling across Iowa I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family," Senator Ernst said.&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Expanding-Childcare-Priority-Points-Bill.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to read the&nbsp;Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023.Background:The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.&nbsp;The bill would also allow USDA to make awards through intermediaries such as, childcare resource and referral organizations, staffed family childcare networks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with demonstrated expertise in the childcare sector.

Kansas Sen. Marshall leads bill to expand childcare in rural America 

BY ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD&nbsp;Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at WSU

Last year Kansas had suddenly found itself as the first test of public opinion on abortion in the new post-Roe&nbsp;world.

The constitutional amendment — the so called “Value Them Both” amendment — failed in a high-turnout election, with 59% of the state’s voters upholding the state’s legal protections for abortion.&nbsp;

The strength of the rejection was quite surprising, given the usual conservativeness of Kansas — Donald Trump had won the state in 2020 by nearly a 15 point margin, and both chambers of the state legislature had veto-proof Republican majorities.

After last August’s staggering turnout many questioned whether the issue of abortion would continue to mobilize Kansas voters even when it wasn’t directly on the ballot.

My colleague Brian Amos, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University, and I dug into this question in a soon-to-be-published study.

Using publicly available precinct-level election results and individual-level voter registration and history data we were able to find some answers.

We find that the August 2022 primary electorate was younger, more female, and less Republican, and comprised more first-time voters than the average years.&nbsp;

But these demographics were also more likely to skip voting altogether in November’s general election. Only about half of first-time voters from the primary showed up for the general.

The result was an older, more male, and more Republican electorate in November. It undoubtedly impacted the election results, especially in close races like for Attorney General.

However, overall, there was a larger portion of Democrats in the 2022 general electorate than in 2018. But there was also a larger number of Republicans.&nbsp;

Both sides increased their vote share at the expense of unaffiliated voters.

It’s impossible to know if these partisan shifts would have been even larger had there not been the amendment on the primary ballot.

In general, the November election was unable to fully mobilize those primary voters.

In fact, Douglas County, home to Lawrence and the University of Kansas, had lower turnout in the general election than in the primary. Which is nearly unheard of in election studies.

Despite these mixed results, our findings have major key implications for future elections.

First, abortion restrictions are a highly mobilizing issue even in a Republican dominated state like Kansas.&nbsp;

Women, and especially Gen Z women, turned out in droves to vote against the amendment and had a large role in deciding the election results.&nbsp;

The abortion issue even mobilized across party lines. A significant minority of Republican voters bucked the party line and voted against the amendment.

Second, public policies like abortion restrictions can create lasting civic identities.&nbsp;

The primary results show that young women can be a political force to be reckoned with. There is every reason to believe that pro-choice Gen Z women will continue to organize effectively in opposition to restrictive abortion laws.

However, not all civic identities are created equal and abortion is not always an effective policy for creating sustained civic participation.&nbsp;

Understandably, the mobilizing effect is limited when abortion is not directly on the ballot.&nbsp;

In August, those identities were highly salient because citizens could directly vote on the issue. Whereas in November, abortion was only one of many issues competing for voter attention.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633377761670.jpeg" alt="Alexandra Middlewood" />
 <figcaption>Alexandra Middlewood</figcaption>
 </figure>BY ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD&nbsp;Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at WSU Last year Kansas had suddenly found itself as the first test of public opinion on abortion in the new post-Roe&nbsp;world.The constitutional amendment — the so called “Value Them Both” amendment — failed in a high-turnout election, with 59% of the state’s voters upholding the state’s legal protections for abortion.&nbsp;The strength of the rejection was quite surprising, given the usual conservativeness of Kansas — Donald Trump had won the state in 2020 by nearly a 15 point margin, and both chambers of the state legislature had veto-proof Republican majorities.After last August’s staggering turnout many questioned whether the issue of abortion would continue to mobilize Kansas voters even when it wasn’t directly on the ballot.My colleague Brian Amos, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wichita State University, and I dug into this question in a soon-to-be-published study.Using publicly available precinct-level election results and individual-level voter registration and history data we were able to find some answers.We find that the August 2022 primary electorate was younger, more female, and less Republican, and comprised more first-time voters than the average years.&nbsp;But these demographics were also more likely to skip voting altogether in November’s general election. Only about half of first-time voters from the primary showed up for the general.The result was an older, more male, and more Republican electorate in November. It undoubtedly impacted the election results, especially in close races like for Attorney General.However, overall, there was a larger portion of Democrats in the 2022 general electorate than in 2018. But there was also a larger number of Republicans.&nbsp;Both sides increased their vote share at the expense of unaffiliated voters.It’s impossible to know if these partisan shifts would have been even larger had there not been the amendment on the primary ballot.In general, the November election was unable to fully mobilize those primary voters.In fact, Douglas County, home to Lawrence and the University of Kansas, had lower turnout in the general election than in the primary. Which is nearly unheard of in election studies.Despite these mixed results, our findings have major key implications for future elections.First, abortion restrictions are a highly mobilizing issue even in a Republican dominated state like Kansas.&nbsp;Women, and especially Gen Z women, turned out in droves to vote against the amendment and had a large role in deciding the election results.&nbsp;The abortion issue even mobilized across party lines. A significant minority of Republican voters bucked the party line and voted against the amendment.Second, public policies like abortion restrictions can create lasting civic identities.&nbsp;The primary results show that young women can be a political force to be reckoned with. There is every reason to believe that pro-choice Gen Z women will continue to organize effectively in opposition to restrictive abortion laws.However, not all civic identities are created equal and abortion is not always an effective policy for creating sustained civic participation.&nbsp;Understandably, the mobilizing effect is limited when abortion is not directly on the ballot.&nbsp;In August, those identities were highly salient because citizens could directly vote on the issue. Whereas in November, abortion was only one of many issues competing for voter attention.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Voter turnout, 2022 Abortion Referendum

TOPEKA – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in May. This is unchanged from 2.9% in April and an increase from 2.5% in May 2022.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,500 from April. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 over the month, while government increased by 700.

The jobless rate in Saline County is down slightly from 2.5 percent in April to 2.4 percent. Ellsworth and Dickinson County both saw a similar drop. The rate in Mitchell County, in north central Kansas, is among the lowest in Kansas at 1.8 percent.

“Kansas estimates for both monthly labor market surveys indicate little change in May,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows no significant change in job estimates over the month. While the survey of households indicates a small increase in employment, there was no change in the unemployment rate at 2.9%.”

Since May 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 31,800. This change is due to an increase of 26,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,200 government jobs. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686940508422.png" alt="May 2023 Kansas Department of Labor" />
 <figcaption>May 2023 Kansas Department of Labor</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9% in May. This is unchanged from 2.9% in April and an increase from 2.5% in May 2022.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,500 from April. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 over the month, while government increased by 700.The jobless rate in Saline County is down slightly from 2.5 percent in April to 2.4 percent. Ellsworth and Dickinson County both saw a similar drop. The rate in Mitchell County, in north central Kansas, is among the lowest in Kansas at 1.8 percent.“Kansas estimates for both monthly labor market surveys indicate little change in May,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows no significant change in job estimates over the month. While the survey of households indicates a small increase in employment, there was no change in the unemployment rate at 2.9%.”Since May 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 31,800. This change is due to an increase of 26,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,200 government jobs.

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