LINDSBORG - Experience firsthand the working studios of area artists as well as Lindsborg's museums and galleries during the annual Lindsborg Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House on Dec. 3.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3 in multiple studios and galleries, and is sponsored by the Raymer Society for the Arts, the Lindsborg Arts Council, and the participating artists.

According to the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau, "There will be an abundance of art available in all mediums for anyone on your Christmas list or to purchase for yourself. Holiday treats will be served at many of the studios and galleries, and musicians will entertain as you browse and enjoy the artwork. A brochure will list the artists and provide a photo and brief bio, along with a map indicating their studio’s location."

The Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House brochure may be picked up at the Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main in Lindsborg and at participating studios. A sign will be placed at each studio for easy identification.

Artists participating in their working studios with their guest artists include the following.

●Small World Gallery, Jim and Kathy Richardson, Lee Becker, Maleta Forsberg and John Presley

●Bison Beads Jewelry, Dennis Flores and Noah Flores

●Erickson Valley Farms, Anna Erickson, Laura Hultquist

●Elizabeth Liljegren, in her studio with Meredith Gannon and Lori Martin-Price

●Main Street Galleria and Studio, Irene Nielson

●Lloyd Rohr will be sharing his studio with granddaughter, Zora Carver

Other galleries and retail spaces hosting artists and exhibitions include the following.

●The Red Barn Studio Museum, Sally Johnson

●Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, Amethyst Sankey and Pam Pendico, with George Jerkovic’s work on display

For more information, contact the Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main St. in Lindsborg, phone 785 227-2217, and via email at <a href="http://raymer@redbarnstudio.org">raymer@redbarnstudio.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669440861130.jpeg" alt="Artwork courtesy Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Artwork courtesy Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTLINDSBORG - Experience firsthand the working studios of area artists as well as Lindsborg's museums and galleries during the annual Lindsborg Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House on Dec. 3.The event is scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 3 in multiple studios and galleries, and is sponsored by the Raymer Society for the Arts, the Lindsborg Arts Council, and the participating artists.According to the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau, "There will be an abundance of art available in all mediums for anyone on your Christmas list or to purchase for yourself. Holiday treats will be served at many of the studios and galleries, and musicians will entertain as you browse and enjoy the artwork. A brochure will list the artists and provide a photo and brief bio, along with a map indicating their studio’s location."The Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House brochure may be picked up at the Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main in Lindsborg and at participating studios. A sign will be placed at each studio for easy identification.Artists participating in their working studios with their guest artists include the following.●Ron Michael●Small World Gallery, Jim and Kathy Richardson, Lee Becker, Maleta Forsberg and John Presley●Cal McNichols●Bison Beads Jewelry, Dennis Flores and Noah Flores●Erickson Valley Farms, Anna Erickson, Laura Hultquist●J.A. Miller Harp●Peggy Krehbiel●Liz King●Marsha Howe●Julie Unruh●Janie Tubbs●Elizabeth Liljegren, in her studio with Meredith Gannon and Lori Martin-Price●Main Street Galleria and Studio, Irene Nielson●Lloyd Rohr will be sharing his studio with granddaughter, Zora CarverOther galleries and retail spaces hosting artists and exhibitions include the following.●The Red Barn Studio Museum, Sally Johnson●Sandzén Gallery●Courtyard Gallery●Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center●David Mauk and Cheri Steffes●Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, Amethyst Sankey and Pam Pendico, with George Jerkovic’s work on displayFor more information, contact the Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main St. in Lindsborg, phone 785 227-2217, and via email at <a href="http://raymer@redbarnstudio.org">raymer@redbarnstudio.org</a>.

Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House in Lindsborg

A study just published Nov. 9, 2022 in&nbsp;The New England Journal of Medicine&nbsp;again provides evidence that masking requirements provided a very significant reduction in transmission of the strain of COVID-19 being transmitted at the time.

The study was possible in February 2022 when Massachusetts ended its statewide universal masking policy for public schools. The study involved 72 school districts with 294,084 students and 46,530 staff with data over 40 calendar weeks of the 2021–2022 school year, ending on June 15, 2022. While many districts ended the masking mandate, two school districts in the Boston and neighboring Chelsea districts continued masking requirements. Some other districts continued the masking requirement for various additional weeks, giving the researchers the ability to use “…a difference-in-differences analysis for staggered policy implementation to compare the incidence of Covid-19 among students and staff.”

They found that in “…the greater Boston area, the lifting of masking requirements was associated with an additional 44.9 Covid-19 cases per 1000 students and staff during the 15 weeks after the statewide masking policy was rescinded…which corresponded to an estimated 11,901 cases and to 29.4% of the cases in all districts during that time.”

While students attending school avoided the learning loss of online instruction, the added cases due to unmasking did contribute to lost learning. “Because persons who had a positive test for Covid-19 were instructed to isolate for at least 5 days, the additional cases translated to a minimum of approximately 17,500 missed school days for students and 6,500 missed school days for staff during the 15-week period.”

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia had instated universal masking policies in public schools during the 2021-2022 school year. A March poll conducted by POLITICO and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that over 40 percent of parents thought mask-wearing harmed their kids’ education. However, despite widespread opinions on social media, the researchers in this&nbsp;NEJM&nbsp;article point out that “…there is no clear existing evidence that masking inhibits learning or harms development.”

Any concerns with children who have breathing problems can be avoided by allowing them to go mask-free, while the surrounding students and staff are still masked and protecting them. “Source control” where the infected person is wearing a mask is the most important masking. “Wearer protection” is minor protection, while “universal masking” where both parties are wearing a mask is the most protective. This science was clearly documented in the June 25, 2021 issue of the journal&nbsp;Science: “Face masks effectively limit the probability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.”

Today, the schoolchildren of East Asia as well as adults on the streets of Tokyo and Shanghai and other Far East cities continue to wear face masks during this winter season. Long before this pandemic, they had always worn masks to protect others. It is the collectivist mindset of people in South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong, etc. Because of this, East Asia will have fewer deaths from COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other respiratory infections this winter than in the U.S. They care about those around them.

Face masks allowed East Asia to keep their students in school for nearly all of the time since March 2020. Their students have not seen the massive losses in education recently revealed by our NAEP scores. Face masks not only saved lives, they maintained their students’ progress.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sources: NEJM Mask survey “Lifting Universal Masking in Schools — Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff” by Tori L. Cowger, Eleanor J. Murray, Jaylen Clarke, Mary T. Bassett, Bisola O. Ojikutu, Sarimer M. Sánchez, Natalia Linos, and Kathryn T. Hall in The New England Journal of Medicine November 9, 2022 is at: https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Do-face-masks-interfere-with-language-development.aspx and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029" target="_blank">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029</a>

POLITICO and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health survey is described at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/about-40-of-parents-think-mask-wearing-harmed-their-kids-school-experience/" target="_blank">https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/about-40-of-parents-think-mask-wearing-harmed-their-kids-school-experience/</a>

Two studies showing no bad effects from face masking are at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. December 6, 2021&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html</a>

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Do masks delay speech and language development? Healthychildren.org, August 6, 2021 <a href="https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Do-face-masks-interfere-with-language-development.aspx" target="_blank">Face Masks for Children During COVID-19</a>

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKA study just published Nov. 9, 2022 in&nbsp;The New England Journal of Medicine&nbsp;again provides evidence that masking requirements provided a very significant reduction in transmission of the strain of COVID-19 being transmitted at the time. The study was possible in February 2022 when Massachusetts ended its statewide universal masking policy for public schools. The study involved 72 school districts with 294,084 students and 46,530 staff with data over 40 calendar weeks of the 2021–2022 school year, ending on June 15, 2022. While many districts ended the masking mandate, two school districts in the Boston and neighboring Chelsea districts continued masking requirements. Some other districts continued the masking requirement for various additional weeks, giving the researchers the ability to use “…a difference-in-differences analysis for staggered policy implementation to compare the incidence of Covid-19 among students and staff.” They found that in “…the greater Boston area, the lifting of masking requirements was associated with an additional 44.9 Covid-19 cases per 1000 students and staff during the 15 weeks after the statewide masking policy was rescinded…which corresponded to an estimated 11,901 cases and to 29.4% of the cases in all districts during that time.” While students attending school avoided the learning loss of online instruction, the added cases due to unmasking did contribute to lost learning. “Because persons who had a positive test for Covid-19 were instructed to isolate for at least 5 days, the additional cases translated to a minimum of approximately 17,500 missed school days for students and 6,500 missed school days for staff during the 15-week period.” Seventeen states and the District of Columbia had instated universal masking policies in public schools during the 2021-2022 school year. A March poll conducted by POLITICO and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that over 40 percent of parents thought mask-wearing harmed their kids’ education. However, despite widespread opinions on social media, the researchers in this&nbsp;NEJM&nbsp;article point out that “…there is no clear existing evidence that masking inhibits learning or harms development.” Any concerns with children who have breathing problems can be avoided by allowing them to go mask-free, while the surrounding students and staff are still masked and protecting them. “Source control” where the infected person is wearing a mask is the most important masking. “Wearer protection” is minor protection, while “universal masking” where both parties are wearing a mask is the most protective. This science was clearly documented in the June 25, 2021 issue of the journal&nbsp;Science: “Face masks effectively limit the probability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.” Today, the schoolchildren of East Asia as well as adults on the streets of Tokyo and Shanghai and other Far East cities continue to wear face masks during this winter season. Long before this pandemic, they had always worn masks to protect others. It is the collectivist mindset of people in South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong, etc. Because of this, East Asia will have fewer deaths from COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other respiratory infections this winter than in the U.S. They care about those around them. Face masks allowed East Asia to keep their students in school for nearly all of the time since March 2020. Their students have not seen the massive losses in education recently revealed by our NAEP scores. Face masks not only saved lives, they maintained their students’ progress.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sources: NEJM Mask survey “Lifting Universal Masking in Schools — Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff” by Tori L. Cowger, Eleanor J. Murray, Jaylen Clarke, Mary T. Bassett, Bisola O. Ojikutu, Sarimer M. Sánchez, Natalia Linos, and Kathryn T. Hall in The New England Journal of Medicine November 9, 2022 is at: https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Do-face-masks-interfere-with-language-development.aspx and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029" target="_blank">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029</a> POLITICO and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health survey is described at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/about-40-of-parents-think-mask-wearing-harmed-their-kids-school-experience/" target="_blank">https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/about-40-of-parents-think-mask-wearing-harmed-their-kids-school-experience/</a> Two studies showing no bad effects from face masking are at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. December 6, 2021&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html</a> American Academy of Pediatrics, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Do masks delay speech and language development? Healthychildren.org, August 6, 2021 <a href="https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Do-face-masks-interfere-with-language-development.aspx" target="_blank">Face Masks for Children During COVID-19</a>John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

 ED. FRONTLINES: Face masks in schools reduced COVID-19

Les Lankhorst has been crooning his way into hearts for more than 20 years. This year he brings his acclaimed Holiday Show once again to Tumblweed, 5680 W. Old Highway 40, just west of Salina.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the show following.

Featuring Les and his talented family and friends, the show will include fun, laughs and lots of classic Christmas and holiday musical favorites.

The evening will start with a delicious traditional Christmas dinner including turkey, ham, stuffing and all the trimmings, and of course a fully stocked bar!

Tickets are limited, don't miss this chance to catch The Crooner -Les Lankhorst, his incredibly talented friends and family, and a few surprises in this family friendly holiday favorite! Order tickets at <a href="http://tumbleweedllc.com">tumbleweedllc.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669437864043.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Tumbleweed" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Tumbleweed</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTLes Lankhorst has been crooning his way into hearts for more than 20 years. This year he brings his acclaimed Holiday Show once again to Tumblweed, 5680 W. Old Highway 40, just west of Salina.Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the show following.Featuring Les and his talented family and friends, the show will include fun, laughs and lots of classic Christmas and holiday musical favorites.The evening will start with a delicious traditional Christmas dinner including turkey, ham, stuffing and all the trimmings, and of course a fully stocked bar! Tickets are limited, don't miss this chance to catch The Crooner -Les Lankhorst, his incredibly talented friends and family, and a few surprises in this family friendly holiday favorite! Order tickets at <a href="http://tumbleweedllc.com">tumbleweedllc.com</a>.

Les Lankhorst & Friends Christmas dinner, show Dec. 18

Numerous rain showers will develop and spread north across the region by this afternoon through tonight. The heaviest rainfall amounts of a half an inch to an inch are possible for areas along and east of the Kansas Turnpike.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669500794555.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceNumerous rain showers will develop and spread north across the region by this afternoon through tonight. The heaviest rainfall amounts of a half an inch to an inch are possible for areas along and east of the Kansas Turnpike.

Just enough to settle the dust: Rainfall forecast adjusted

Today is Saturday, Nov. 26, the 330th day of 2022. There are 35 days left in the year.

On Nov. 26, 1950, China entered the Korean War, launching a counteroffensive against soldiers from the United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea.

In 1825, the first college social fraternity, the Kappa Alpha Society, was formed at Union College in Schenectady, New York.

In 1864, English mathematician and writer Charles Dodgson presented a handwritten and illustrated manuscript, "Alice's Adventures Under Ground," to his 12-year-old friend Alice Pleasance Liddell; the book was later turned into "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," published under Dodgson's pen name, Lewis Carroll.

In 1883, former slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth died in Battle Creek, Michigan.

In 1917, the National Hockey League was founded in Montreal, succeeding the National Hockey Association.

In 1941, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull delivered a note to Japan's ambassador to the United States, Kichisaburo Nomura, setting forth U.S. demands for "lasting and extensive peace throughout the Pacific area." The same day, a Japanese naval task force consisting of six aircraft carriers left the Kuril Islands, headed toward Hawaii.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing, beginning Dec. 1.

In 1943, during World War II, the HMT Rohna, a British transport ship carrying American soldiers, was hit by a German missile off Algeria; 1,138 men were killed.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, told a federal court that she'd accidentally caused part of the 18-1/2-minute gap in a key Watergate tape.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed a commission headed by former Sen. John Tower to investigate his National Security Council staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.

In 2000, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified George W. Bush the winner over Al Gore in the state's presidential balloting by a 537-vote margin.

In 2008, teams of heavily armed Pakistani gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in Mumbai, India, leaving at least 166 people dead in a rampage lasting some 60 hours.

In 2020, Americans marked the Thanksgiving holiday amid the coronavirus pandemic, with many celebrations canceled or reduced; Zoom and FaceTime calls connected some families with those who didn't want to travel.

Ten years ago: Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly quit politics, saying in a surprise announcement, "I feel I have exhausted my political activity, which had never been a special object of desire for me." New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie announced that he would be seeking re-election, so he could continue to guide the state through a recovery from Superstorm Sandy.

Five years ago: Congressman John Conyers of Michigan gave up his leadership position as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, while denying allegations that he had sexually harassed female staff members. Amid allegations that he had groped women in the past, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken said he felt "embarrassed and ashamed," but that he looked forward to gradually regaining the trust of voters. (Franken announced less than two weeks later that he was resigning from Congress.)

One year ago: A World Health Organization panel classified a new COVID-19 variant as a highly transmissible virus of concern, and named it "omicron" under its Greek-letter system. The United States, Canada, Russia and a host of other countries joined the European Union in restricting travel for visitors from southern Africa. Stephen Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century, died at his Connecticut home at the age of 91.

Today's Birthdays: Impressionist Rich Little is 84. Singer Tina Turner is 83. Singer Jean Terrell is 78. Pop musician John McVie is 77. Actor Marianne Muellerleile is 74. Actor Scott Jacoby is 66. Actor Jamie Rose is 63. Country singer Linda Davis is 60. Actor Scott Adsit is 57. Blues singer-musician Bernard Allison is 57. Country singer-musician Steve Grisaffe is 57. Actor Kristin Bauer is 56. Actor Peter Facinelli is 49. Actor Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge is 48. DJ/record label executive DJ Khaled is 47. Actor Maia Campbell is 46. Country singer Joe Nichols is 46. Contemporary Christian musicians Anthony and Randy Armstrong (Red) are 44. Actor Jessica Bowman is 42. Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield is 41. Actor Jessica Camacho is 40. Rock musician Ben Wysocki (The Fray) is 38. Singer Lil Fizz is 37. MLB All-Star Matt Carpenter is 37. Actor-singer-TV personality Rita Ora is 32. Actor/singer Aubrey Peeples is 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Saturday, Nov. 26, the 330th day of 2022. There are 35 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Nov. 26, 1950, China entered the Korean War, launching a counteroffensive against soldiers from the United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea.On this date:In 1825, the first college social fraternity, the Kappa Alpha Society, was formed at Union College in Schenectady, New York.In 1864, English mathematician and writer Charles Dodgson presented a handwritten and illustrated manuscript, "Alice's Adventures Under Ground," to his 12-year-old friend Alice Pleasance Liddell; the book was later turned into "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," published under Dodgson's pen name, Lewis Carroll.In 1883, former slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth died in Battle Creek, Michigan.In 1917, the National Hockey League was founded in Montreal, succeeding the National Hockey Association.In 1941, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull delivered a note to Japan's ambassador to the United States, Kichisaburo Nomura, setting forth U.S. demands for "lasting and extensive peace throughout the Pacific area." The same day, a Japanese naval task force consisting of six aircraft carriers left the Kuril Islands, headed toward Hawaii.In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing, beginning Dec. 1.In 1943, during World War II, the HMT Rohna, a British transport ship carrying American soldiers, was hit by a German missile off Algeria; 1,138 men were killed.In 1973, President Richard Nixon's personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, told a federal court that she'd accidentally caused part of the 18-1/2-minute gap in a key Watergate tape.In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed a commission headed by former Sen. John Tower to investigate his National Security Council staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.In 2000, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified George W. Bush the winner over Al Gore in the state's presidential balloting by a 537-vote margin.In 2008, teams of heavily armed Pakistani gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in Mumbai, India, leaving at least 166 people dead in a rampage lasting some 60 hours.In 2020, Americans marked the Thanksgiving holiday amid the coronavirus pandemic, with many celebrations canceled or reduced; Zoom and FaceTime calls connected some families with those who didn't want to travel.Ten years ago: Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly quit politics, saying in a surprise announcement, "I feel I have exhausted my political activity, which had never been a special object of desire for me." New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie announced that he would be seeking re-election, so he could continue to guide the state through a recovery from Superstorm Sandy.Five years ago: Congressman John Conyers of Michigan gave up his leadership position as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, while denying allegations that he had sexually harassed female staff members. Amid allegations that he had groped women in the past, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken said he felt "embarrassed and ashamed," but that he looked forward to gradually regaining the trust of voters. (Franken announced less than two weeks later that he was resigning from Congress.)One year ago: A World Health Organization panel classified a new COVID-19 variant as a highly transmissible virus of concern, and named it "omicron" under its Greek-letter system. The United States, Canada, Russia and a host of other countries joined the European Union in restricting travel for visitors from southern Africa. Stephen Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century, died at his Connecticut home at the age of 91.Today's Birthdays: Impressionist Rich Little is 84. Singer Tina Turner is 83. Singer Jean Terrell is 78. Pop musician John McVie is 77. Actor Marianne Muellerleile is 74. Actor Scott Jacoby is 66. Actor Jamie Rose is 63. Country singer Linda Davis is 60. Actor Scott Adsit is 57. Blues singer-musician Bernard Allison is 57. Country singer-musician Steve Grisaffe is 57. Actor Kristin Bauer is 56. Actor Peter Facinelli is 49. Actor Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge is 48. DJ/record label executive DJ Khaled is 47. Actor Maia Campbell is 46. Country singer Joe Nichols is 46. Contemporary Christian musicians Anthony and Randy Armstrong (Red) are 44. Actor Jessica Bowman is 42. Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield is 41. Actor Jessica Camacho is 40. Rock musician Ben Wysocki (The Fray) is 38. Singer Lil Fizz is 37. MLB All-Star Matt Carpenter is 37. Actor-singer-TV personality Rita Ora is 32. Actor/singer Aubrey Peeples is 29.

Today in History - November 26

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

CLOUD COUNTY - A Cawker City man was injured in a single-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 81 Friday afternoon.

Cole C. Zobel, 76, of Cawker City, was northbound on U.S. 81 in a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria when the car entered the median, striking a drainage ditch, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. The car then went up onto the southbound inside shoulder and back into the median, coming to rest facing north.

The wreck occurred at approximately 4:42 p.m. Friday 14 miles south of Concordia on U.S. 81.

Zobel, who suffered suspected minor injuries, was transported to the North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia.

The car was removed from the scene by wrecker.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostCLOUD COUNTY - A Cawker City man was injured in a single-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 81 Friday afternoon.Cole C. Zobel, 76, of Cawker City, was northbound on U.S. 81 in a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria when the car entered the median, striking a drainage ditch, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. The car then went up onto the southbound inside shoulder and back into the median, coming to rest facing north.The wreck occurred at approximately 4:42 p.m. Friday 14 miles south of Concordia on U.S. 81.Zobel, who suffered suspected minor injuries, was transported to the North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia.The car was removed from the scene by wrecker.

Single-vehicle wreck injures Cawker City man south of Concordia

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstatesalina/">Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus Facebook page</a>:

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstatesalina/">Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus Facebook page</a>:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkstatesalina%2Fphotos%2Fa.419998324015%2F10159306573044016%2F&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="699" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Salina Airport's and K-State Salina's Candy Canes & Airplanes Dec. 3

MARION&nbsp;- A two-vehicle wreck just northwest of Marion resulted in the deaths of three people and injured two others Friday afternoon.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Charlotte S. Cole, 52, of Moundridge, was northbound on Kansas Highway 256 at the junction with U.S. Highway 56 when Cole pulled out in front of a westbound 2016 Ford Taurus driven by Rebecca R. Young of Broken Arrow, Okla. The Taurus struck the Grand Caravan on the passenger side, causing both vehicles to come to rest in the north ditch.

The wreck occurred at approximatelt 1:28 p.m. Friday.

Cole was killed in the crash. A passenger in the Grand Caravan, Jessica D. Schmidt, 19, of Fruitland, Idaho, was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she later died, according to information from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

A passenger in the Taurus, Wanda L. Richmond, 85, of Marion, also was killed in the crash. Young suffered suspected minor injuries. A second passenger in the Taurus, Ramona Richmond, 58, of Salina, suffered suspected serious injuries, the Kansas Highway Patrol noted. Both Young and Ramona Richmond were taken to Marion Hospital.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostMARION&nbsp;- A two-vehicle wreck just northwest of Marion resulted in the deaths of three people and injured two others Friday afternoon.According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Charlotte S. Cole, 52, of Moundridge, was northbound on Kansas Highway 256 at the junction with U.S. Highway 56 when Cole pulled out in front of a westbound 2016 Ford Taurus driven by Rebecca R. Young of Broken Arrow, Okla. The Taurus struck the Grand Caravan on the passenger side, causing both vehicles to come to rest in the north ditch.The wreck occurred at approximatelt 1:28 p.m. Friday.Cole was killed in the crash. A passenger in the Grand Caravan, Jessica D. Schmidt, 19, of Fruitland, Idaho, was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she later died, according to information from the Kansas Highway Patrol.A passenger in the Taurus, Wanda L. Richmond, 85, of Marion, also was killed in the crash. Young suffered suspected minor injuries. A second passenger in the Taurus, Ramona Richmond, 58, of Salina, suffered suspected serious injuries, the Kansas Highway Patrol noted. Both Young and Ramona Richmond were taken to Marion Hospital.All five women were properly restrained.

Marion County crash kills three, injures two Friday afternoon

Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau

Join the fun in Lindsborg and search for glass Dala horses! Each one is unique and numbered. Will you find one?

All will be hidden outdoors, on public property- no need for digging or destroying to find. What a great way to work off those Thanksgiving calories! Watch for many more to be hidden in the coming months, and there is only ONE unicorn Dala to be found.

The search begins on Saturday. When you find one, be sure to snap a selfie and let the CVB know!&nbsp;#WildDalaSearch&nbsp;can be used for social media tags or call us at 888-227-2227 to share with us your find! And...finders keepers. Dalas are yours to take home and enjoy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669410668652.jpeg" alt="Glass Dala horses such as these are in Lindsborg for the finding beginning Saturday. Photo by Jim Richardson courtesy&nbsp;Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Glass Dala horses such as these are in Lindsborg for the finding beginning Saturday. Photo by Jim Richardson courtesy&nbsp;Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>Lindsborg Convention and Visitors BureauJoin the fun in Lindsborg and search for glass Dala horses! Each one is unique and numbered. Will you find one? All will be hidden outdoors, on public property- no need for digging or destroying to find. What a great way to work off those Thanksgiving calories! Watch for many more to be hidden in the coming months, and there is only ONE unicorn Dala to be found. The search begins on Saturday. When you find one, be sure to snap a selfie and let the CVB know!&nbsp;#WildDalaSearch&nbsp;can be used for social media tags or call us at 888-227-2227 to share with us your find! And...finders keepers. Dalas are yours to take home and enjoy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Glass Dalas for the finding in Lindsborg beginning Saturday

By NATE KING Salina Post

Three hundred and fifty community volunteers and church members braced frigid temperatures on&nbsp;Saturday to serve their community and bring a little Thanksgiving assistance to those in need. The Fifth&nbsp;Annual Ark Salina Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway brought a total of 600&nbsp;cars—some arriving as early as 5 a.m. to&nbsp;the Dean Evans Stadium,&nbsp;851 Markley Road,&nbsp;in Salina.&nbsp;

As cars entered the parking lot that morning, Ark Church Pastor and Salina native,&nbsp; John Huseman, began to pray with volunteers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It is more than just food," Huseman said. "It is more than just food. That is what we said as we all prayed together before we served. Because it is very true—we were so excited to be able to provide hope, love, kindness and food to people during this challenging time."&nbsp;&nbsp;

High gasoline and grocery prices are a challenge for many in the community, and families can't necessarily afford to spend more on the groceries around the holidays.&nbsp;

Families pulled out of the&nbsp;parking lot with more than $100 in groceries, including frozen chicken nuggets, bread, a bag of Idaho potatoes, frozen hamburger, peanut butter and jelly, corn, frozen pizzas, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We just felt that this was the most practical way to show the love of God. People in this town are hurting. Seeing families lined up so early in the morning was sobering - but we wanted to be a smile to help them start their day and greet them with love and understanding," Huseman said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Line leaders guided and organized the cars into a grid in the parking lot. Once the 15 food service teams were ready to place food in the vehicles, column after column of vehicles made their way through a tunnel of people waving and sharing messages of blessings and kindness.&nbsp;

One of the line leaders who helped out this year was Lori Hall, a member of The Ark Church. Hall and her husband Kelly, have helped with the Thanksgiving Grocery giveaway for five years. The colder temperatures they experienced this year reminded them of the first year that they held the event.&nbsp;

"Pastor&nbsp;John and his wife, Lindsey, had done this down in Texas and so they had a great plan as to how it would be implemented. That first year we had a blizzard," Hall said. "Being in November, it's going to be cold and that does not bother me at all because I live on a farm—but the need kept increasing and our church kept growing and so did the number of volunteers"&nbsp;

Back in 2017 the giveaway was held at Ace Hardware in Salina. With only 100 volunteers, the group helped merely half of the number of families they helped this year. Thanks to community interest and the need for more helpers during the holidays, the volunteer team continues to grow year after year.&nbsp;

"We have an amazing volunteer team. Our&nbsp;mission is to love our city and to serve our city," Hall said.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hall also voiced her awareness that no matter what your circumstance in life, everyone has a story.&nbsp;

"We don't judge&nbsp;people that make their way through the line, you know, we could all be in that car too at some point in our lives. It gives a perspective to a lot of people that have never been around those situations that there are a lot of people struggling and how we too have days, weeks, months where we struggle," Hall said.&nbsp;

Both Huseman and Hall said that they are trying to make every process of the event as enjoyable and uplifting as possible, one element of that is reducing the wait times families face before receiving food.

"This was the first year we had 15 cars at a time putting food in the cars," Huseman said.

The Ark Church of Salina has grown in recent years and the church's service team participates in serve days in July, mission trips and outreach. For more information about how you can volunteer with The Ark go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thearksalina.com/">https://www.thearksalina.com/</a>.

By NATE KING Salina PostThree hundred and fifty community volunteers and church members braced frigid temperatures on&nbsp;Saturday to serve their community and bring a little Thanksgiving assistance to those in need. The Fifth&nbsp;Annual Ark Salina Thanksgiving Grocery Giveaway brought a total of 600&nbsp;cars—some arriving as early as 5 a.m. to&nbsp;the Dean Evans Stadium,&nbsp;851 Markley Road,&nbsp;in Salina.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043179859.png" alt="Six hundred vehicles lined up at the Grocery Giveaway. Photos by Nate King/Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Six hundred vehicles lined up at the Grocery Giveaway. Photos by Nate King/Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>As cars entered the parking lot that morning, Ark Church Pastor and Salina native,&nbsp; John Huseman, began to pray with volunteers.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It is more than just food," Huseman said. "It is more than just food. That is what we said as we all prayed together before we served. Because it is very true—we were so excited to be able to provide hope, love, kindness and food to people during this challenging time."&nbsp;&nbsp;High gasoline and grocery prices are a challenge for many in the community, and families can't necessarily afford to spend more on the groceries around the holidays.&nbsp;Families pulled out of the&nbsp;parking lot with more than $100 in groceries, including frozen chicken nuggets, bread, a bag of Idaho potatoes, frozen hamburger, peanut butter and jelly, corn, frozen pizzas, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We just felt that this was the most practical way to show the love of God. People in this town are hurting. Seeing families lined up so early in the morning was sobering - but we wanted to be a smile to help them start their day and greet them with love and understanding," Huseman said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043303997.png" alt="Volunteers load food into a car." />
 <figcaption>Volunteers load food into a car.</figcaption>
 </figure>Line leaders guided and organized the cars into a grid in the parking lot. Once the 15 food service teams were ready to place food in the vehicles, column after column of vehicles made their way through a tunnel of people waving and sharing messages of blessings and kindness.&nbsp;One of the line leaders who helped out this year was Lori Hall, a member of The Ark Church. Hall and her husband Kelly, have helped with the Thanksgiving Grocery giveaway for five years. The colder temperatures they experienced this year reminded them of the first year that they held the event.&nbsp;"Pastor&nbsp;John and his wife, Lindsey, had done this down in Texas and so they had a great plan as to how it would be implemented. That first year we had a blizzard," Hall said. "Being in November, it's going to be cold and that does not bother me at all because I live on a farm—but the need kept increasing and our church kept growing and so did the number of volunteers"&nbsp;Back in 2017 the giveaway was held at Ace Hardware in Salina. With only 100 volunteers, the group helped merely half of the number of families they helped this year. Thanks to community interest and the need for more helpers during the holidays, the volunteer team continues to grow year after year.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669043332197.png" alt="Some of the Ark Church volunteers." />
 <figcaption>Some of the Ark Church volunteers.</figcaption>
 </figure>"We have an amazing volunteer team. Our&nbsp;mission is to love our city and to serve our city," Hall said.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hall also voiced her awareness that no matter what your circumstance in life, everyone has a story.&nbsp;"We don't judge&nbsp;people that make their way through the line, you know, we could all be in that car too at some point in our lives. It gives a perspective to a lot of people that have never been around those situations that there are a lot of people struggling and how we too have days, weeks, months where we struggle," Hall said.&nbsp;Both Huseman and Hall said that they are trying to make every process of the event as enjoyable and uplifting as possible, one element of that is reducing the wait times families face before receiving food."This was the first year we had 15 cars at a time putting food in the cars," Huseman said.The Ark Church of Salina has grown in recent years and the church's service team participates in serve days in July, mission trips and outreach. For more information about how you can volunteer with The Ark go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thearksalina.com/">https://www.thearksalina.com/</a>.

Loaves and fishes moment: Ark Church Salina Thanksgiving grocery giveaway 

Lawmakers offered concessions to lobbyists who showered them in campaign cash, whiskey and cigars

By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/sports-betting-lobbying-kansas.html">A New York Times investigation</a>&nbsp;into the gambling industry’s bare-knuckled lobbying efforts provides insight into concessions Kansas lawmakers provided when they legalized sports betting earlier this year.

Among the revelations from the report, published Sunday as part of a series on “a relentless nationwide campaign” to expand sports betting: Kansas lawmakers slashed an already generous tax rate from 20% to 10%, and exempted some bets from being taxed at all, before passing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_84_2022">the sports gambling package</a>&nbsp;after midnight in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/29/kansas-legislatures-late-night-surge-covers-sports-betting-budget-kpers-and-covid-19/">the final hours of the legislative session</a>.

The final vote came two days after a lobbying event that promised “something for everyone.” There, the New York Times documented how Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who helped orchestrate the sports gambling package, reveled in 30-year-old Irish whiskey while Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, secured an extra bag of pricey Honduras cigars. At the party, Pittman called it a “terrible” bill, but he voted in favor it anyway.

After the law took effect in September, Kansans wagered $350 million in the first two months — yielding just $271,000 in tax revenue.

Max Kautsch, president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, said the New York Times report “drives home the need for greater transparency in the legislative process.”

“Kansans should be disappointed to learn this holiday season that our leaders in Topeka are more interested in giving unprecedented tax breaks to the gambling industry than in meeting their fiduciary duties to be good stewards of public funds,” Kautsch said.

The sports gambling package exemplifies transparency concerns with the last-minute avalanche of bills the Legislature passes in the closing days of the session, often with unvetted policy provisions inserted under pressure from dark interests.

Kansas Reflector&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/08/analysis-how-the-kansas-legislature-avoids-public-scrutiny-by-hiding-in-darkness/">previously reported on this practice</a>, which is designed to avoid public scrutiny.

“Perhaps if Rep. Barker and his allies feared that their constituents would learn about these acts against the public interest in real time,” Kautsch said, “rather than months later as the result of a nationwide investigative report that chose to kick off an article totaling thousands upon thousands of words with an anecdote about whiskey and cigars in the Kansas Statehouse, they would think twice before leaving us with lumps of coal each legislative session.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/2022-04-26-cigar-event-flyer-tues-tonight/ee93458fdc07e769/full.pdf">The flyer</a>&nbsp;for an April 26 lobbying event invited all 165 legislators and special guests to enjoy prime rib, seafood, desserts, wine, craft beer, fine cigars, classic cars, single malt scotch and single barrel bourbon.

Twenty-one lobbyists sponsored the event, titled Cigars, Cars and Bars, at M&amp;D Classic Car Storage, a few blocks north of the Statehouse on Kansas Avenue.

A New York Times reporter and photographer found Barker with Redbreast Irish whiskey and a Don Tomas cigar from Honduras.

“They keep a special bottle for me up there — they know I like it,” Barker told the Times. “I’m in my element when I have a whiskey and a cigar.”

John Federico, a powerful lobbyist who cosponsored the gathering, told the Times it was a social event and not a lobbying event.

Kansas law provides ample wiggle room for lobbyists and lawmakers — and makes it virtually impossible for journalists or the public to document the influence of such an event.

When every lawmaker is invited, lobbyists don’t need to itemize the costs on expense reports with the state ethics commission. Rules that restrict gifts to lawmakers provide exemptions for food and beverage.

And while Kansas law forbids gifts that cost more than $40, the cost of a gift can be split evenly among cosponsors to push it below the legal limit. A group of 10 lobbyists, for example, could provide a $300 gift — such as an expensive bottle of whiskey — to a legislator without violating the law.

Additionally, if the cost of a lobbying expense is less than $2 for a legislator, it doesn’t have to be reported. For an event with 165 legislators and 21 sponsors, the threshold would be $6,930.

The gambling industry’s fingerprints were on nearly every page of the 50-page sports gambling bill, the New York Times reported.

Barker and other legislative leaders agreed to cut in half the planned 20% tax rate — already substantially lower than the tax rate in other states. The bill also allows gambling companies to deduct “free bets” and other promotions from their taxable income.

None of the $271,000 in taxes the state collected on the first $350 million in bets will be used to fight gambling addiction.

Instead, lawmakers agreed to set aside most of the revenue for the construction of a sports facility. The questionable idea to lure the Kansas City Chiefs across state lines came from real estate developers who own 400 acres of land near the NASCAR racetrack, Sporting Kansas City soccer stadium and Hollywood Casino on the west edge of Kansas City.

The sports gambling package ensured casinos would get a cut of the action and expanded where sports betting is allowed, including at the racetrack and soccer stadium.

Barker wasn’t shy about inserting provisions that benefited lobbyists, including Federico, whose clients include Sporting Kansas City.

“John’s a good guy,” Barker told the Times. “I made sure they had something in our bill.”

Hollywood Casino funneled more than $60,000 in donations to campaign accounts, the Times found. Another $150,000 came from other casinos, lawyers and lobbyists.

Donors used networks of shell companies to skirt campaign finance laws that limit the amount of money a single candidate can receive, the New York Times reported.

The cigars at the April 26 “social event” were so expensive, legislators could only take three.

Pittman dispatched an aide to secure more.

“I have a little scam going on here,” Pittman joked to a New York Times reporter.

He acknowledged problems with the gambling package.

“The fact is, we’re not making that much money,” Pittman said. “It looks terrible.”

Two days later, Pittman’s “yes” vote helped the Senate pass the bill with the minimum number of votes required.

“Kansans are already betting on sports,” Pittman said during the Senate debate. “Many do it on illegal platforms that take money out of the state. Sports betting is not for everyone. This is just another avenue for avid players.”

Lawmakers were forced to consider votes on a wide array of legislation in the final two days of the session, including bills that had undergone rapid transformation. The official explanations provided to lawmakers seldom reveal the true effect of these last-minute, late-night deals, let alone the influence behind them.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/29/kansas-legislatures-late-night-surge-covers-sports-betting-budget-kpers-and-covid-19/">The final hours of the session</a>&nbsp;also included votes on the state budget, a $1.1 billion investment in the state pension system and a law that would have banned any state or local government official from imposing a mask mandate in response to an infectious disease outbreak.

During the debate on sports gambling, opponents raised concerns about gambling addiction, the paltry amount of state tax revenue generated and the decision to set aside most of that cash for a special fund to attract the Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas.

“We will destroy people’s lives,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson. “We don’t know their names right now. We don’t know what they look like. But we do know that will happen.”

Sherman Smith is the 2021 and 2022 Kansas Press Association’s journalist of the year. He has written award-winning news stories about the instability of the Kansas foster care system, misconduct by government officials, sexual abuse, technology, education, and the Legislature. He previously spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is a lifelong Kansan.

The above story is republished with permission from <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669389903445.jpeg" alt="Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who spearheaded legislation to the benefit of the sports gambling industry, appears during April 27, 2022, negotiations between the House and Senate. Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who spearheaded legislation to the benefit of the sports gambling industry, appears during April 27, 2022, negotiations between the House and Senate. Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lawmakers offered concessions to lobbyists who showered them in campaign cash, whiskey and cigars</h2>By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas ReflectorTOPEKA —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/business/sports-betting-lobbying-kansas.html">A New York Times investigation</a>&nbsp;into the gambling industry’s bare-knuckled lobbying efforts provides insight into concessions Kansas lawmakers provided when they legalized sports betting earlier this year.Among the revelations from the report, published Sunday as part of a series on “a relentless nationwide campaign” to expand sports betting: Kansas lawmakers slashed an already generous tax rate from 20% to 10%, and exempted some bets from being taxed at all, before passing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/summary_sb_84_2022">the sports gambling package</a>&nbsp;after midnight in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/29/kansas-legislatures-late-night-surge-covers-sports-betting-budget-kpers-and-covid-19/">the final hours of the legislative session</a>.The final vote came two days after a lobbying event that promised “something for everyone.” There, the New York Times documented how Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican who helped orchestrate the sports gambling package, reveled in 30-year-old Irish whiskey while Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat, secured an extra bag of pricey Honduras cigars. At the party, Pittman called it a “terrible” bill, but he voted in favor it anyway.After the law took effect in September, Kansans wagered $350 million in the first two months — yielding just $271,000 in tax revenue.Max Kautsch, president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, said the New York Times report “drives home the need for greater transparency in the legislative process.”“Kansans should be disappointed to learn this holiday season that our leaders in Topeka are more interested in giving unprecedented tax breaks to the gambling industry than in meeting their fiduciary duties to be good stewards of public funds,” Kautsch said.The sports gambling package exemplifies transparency concerns with the last-minute avalanche of bills the Legislature passes in the closing days of the session, often with unvetted policy provisions inserted under pressure from dark interests.Kansas Reflector&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/08/analysis-how-the-kansas-legislature-avoids-public-scrutiny-by-hiding-in-darkness/">previously reported on this practice</a>, which is designed to avoid public scrutiny.“Perhaps if Rep. Barker and his allies feared that their constituents would learn about these acts against the public interest in real time,” Kautsch said, “rather than months later as the result of a nationwide investigative report that chose to kick off an article totaling thousands upon thousands of words with an anecdote about whiskey and cigars in the Kansas Statehouse, they would think twice before leaving us with lumps of coal each legislative session.”<h2>Lobbying rules</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/2022-04-26-cigar-event-flyer-tues-tonight/ee93458fdc07e769/full.pdf">The flyer</a>&nbsp;for an April 26 lobbying event invited all 165 legislators and special guests to enjoy prime rib, seafood, desserts, wine, craft beer, fine cigars, classic cars, single malt scotch and single barrel bourbon.Twenty-one lobbyists sponsored the event, titled Cigars, Cars and Bars, at M&amp;D Classic Car Storage, a few blocks north of the Statehouse on Kansas Avenue.A New York Times reporter and photographer found Barker with Redbreast Irish whiskey and a Don Tomas cigar from Honduras.“They keep a special bottle for me up there — they know I like it,” Barker told the Times. “I’m in my element when I have a whiskey and a cigar.”John Federico, a powerful lobbyist who cosponsored the gathering, told the Times it was a social event and not a lobbying event.Kansas law provides ample wiggle room for lobbyists and lawmakers — and makes it virtually impossible for journalists or the public to document the influence of such an event.When every lawmaker is invited, lobbyists don’t need to itemize the costs on expense reports with the state ethics commission. Rules that restrict gifts to lawmakers provide exemptions for food and beverage.And while Kansas law forbids gifts that cost more than $40, the cost of a gift can be split evenly among cosponsors to push it below the legal limit. A group of 10 lobbyists, for example, could provide a $300 gift — such as an expensive bottle of whiskey — to a legislator without violating the law.Additionally, if the cost of a lobbying expense is less than $2 for a legislator, it doesn’t have to be reported. For an event with 165 legislators and 21 sponsors, the threshold would be $6,930.<h2>Hitting the jackpot</h2>The gambling industry’s fingerprints were on nearly every page of the 50-page sports gambling bill, the New York Times reported.Barker and other legislative leaders agreed to cut in half the planned 20% tax rate — already substantially lower than the tax rate in other states. The bill also allows gambling companies to deduct “free bets” and other promotions from their taxable income.None of the $271,000 in taxes the state collected on the first $350 million in bets will be used to fight gambling addiction.Instead, lawmakers agreed to set aside most of the revenue for the construction of a sports facility. The questionable idea to lure the Kansas City Chiefs across state lines came from real estate developers who own 400 acres of land near the NASCAR racetrack, Sporting Kansas City soccer stadium and Hollywood Casino on the west edge of Kansas City.The sports gambling package ensured casinos would get a cut of the action and expanded where sports betting is allowed, including at the racetrack and soccer stadium.Barker wasn’t shy about inserting provisions that benefited lobbyists, including Federico, whose clients include Sporting Kansas City.“John’s a good guy,” Barker told the Times. “I made sure they had something in our bill.”Hollywood Casino funneled more than $60,000 in donations to campaign accounts, the Times found. Another $150,000 came from other casinos, lawyers and lobbyists.Donors used networks of shell companies to skirt campaign finance laws that limit the amount of money a single candidate can receive, the New York Times reported.<h2>Cover of darkness</h2>The cigars at the April 26 “social event” were so expensive, legislators could only take three.Pittman dispatched an aide to secure more.“I have a little scam going on here,” Pittman joked to a New York Times reporter.He acknowledged problems with the gambling package.“The fact is, we’re not making that much money,” Pittman said. “It looks terrible.”Two days later, Pittman’s “yes” vote helped the Senate pass the bill with the minimum number of votes required.“Kansans are already betting on sports,” Pittman said during the Senate debate. “Many do it on illegal platforms that take money out of the state. Sports betting is not for everyone. This is just another avenue for avid players.”Lawmakers were forced to consider votes on a wide array of legislation in the final two days of the session, including bills that had undergone rapid transformation. The official explanations provided to lawmakers seldom reveal the true effect of these last-minute, late-night deals, let alone the influence behind them.<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/29/kansas-legislatures-late-night-surge-covers-sports-betting-budget-kpers-and-covid-19/">The final hours of the session</a>&nbsp;also included votes on the state budget, a $1.1 billion investment in the state pension system and a law that would have banned any state or local government official from imposing a mask mandate in response to an infectious disease outbreak.During the debate on sports gambling, opponents raised concerns about gambling addiction, the paltry amount of state tax revenue generated and the decision to set aside most of that cash for a special fund to attract the Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas.“We will destroy people’s lives,” said Sen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson. “We don’t know their names right now. We don’t know what they look like. But we do know that will happen.”Sherman Smith is the 2021 and 2022 Kansas Press Association’s journalist of the year. He has written award-winning news stories about the instability of the Kansas foster care system, misconduct by government officials, sexual abuse, technology, education, and the Legislature. He previously spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He is a lifelong Kansan.The above story is republished with permission from <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

NY Times probe shows how sports gambling industry exploited KS legislators

Here is the forecast rainfall for Saturday through early on Sunday. 

The potential exists for a half an inch to an inch of rainfall for areas along and east of the Kansas Turnpike. The heaviest rainfall will occur Saturday afternoon.

National Weather ServiceHere is the forecast rainfall for Saturday through early on Sunday. The potential exists for a half an inch to an inch of rainfall for areas along and east of the Kansas Turnpike. The heaviest rainfall will occur Saturday afternoon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669388039109.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

NWS: Chance for rain in the area this weekend

On Friday, two unknown individuals committed a vehicle burglary and theft in the parking lot of Target, 2939 Market Place in Salina. 

The victim reported more than $400 worth of property was stolen from their vehicle while they were inside shopping. After reviewing surveillance video, officers could see the burglary suspects shoplifting property from inside the store as well. 

The suspects left the scene in a silver four-door passenger car.

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Scheppelmann, case 2022-34486.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669384373520.jpeg" alt="Photos courtesy Crimestoppers" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Crimestoppers</figcaption>
 </figure>CrimestoppersOn Friday, two unknown individuals committed a vehicle burglary and theft in the parking lot of Target, 2939 Market Place in Salina. The victim reported more than $400 worth of property was stolen from their vehicle while they were inside shopping. After reviewing surveillance video, officers could see the burglary suspects shoplifting property from inside the store as well. The suspects left the scene in a silver four-door passenger car.If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Scheppelmann, case 2022-34486.

Crimestoppers seeks tips about vehicle burglary,  shoplifting at Salina store

My mom took out a Parent PLUS loan in 2009 to help pay for my college education. I also took out $70,000 in student loans myself. My mom never made a payment on the loan she took out for me, and now the amount due on the Parent PLUS loan has ballooned to $100,000. She recently told me in her mind it was my loan in her name, and I should be the one to make the payments after I became financially stable. Thankfully I just got a new job making $140,000 a year. With this I can finally make a dent in my own loans, but she asks me every week if I’m going to pay the Parent PLUS loan. My mom is a nurse practitioner, so she makes good money, but she recently financed two new luxury cars within 24 hours of each other—one for work and one for church. She also has loans out from borrowing on her 401(k) and credit card debt. Should I take over the Parent PLUS loan under my name?&nbsp;

Wait, are you serious? Your mom has a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car? I’ve never heard of such a thing. But hey, I’m going to talk to my wife about this. I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;I needed another car, I just didn’t know I needed a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car. Oh, my goodness!

Ok, here’s the deal. If you had an agreement with your mom, or promised at any time to pay back the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/what-is-a-parent-plus-loan" target="_blank">Parent PLUS Loan</a>&nbsp;when you were able, you should cover it. But that’s not what you told me. It sounds like your mom has a good heart and was just trying to help, but she did it in a dumb way. From what you told me, she’s done a lot of dumb things with money.

Under no circumstances do you take the loan back under your name. In fact, I’m not certain you can even do that with a Parent PLUS Loan. You need to get&nbsp;your&nbsp;debt cleaned up first before trying to help her. If you choose to be a bigger help after that, you need to start things by having a serious conversation with your mom. She needs to hear that she’s being absolutely silly with her money. Let her know you’re willing to help because the loan was for your benefit. But make sure she understands you won’t pay it all, and you won’t do it while she’s making two luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-car-payments" target="_blank">car payments</a>—including one on a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car. That’s ridiculous.

Offer to be her biggest cheerleader, and help her find a good financial coach—someone with the heart of a teacher. You might want to let her know you’ll match whatever she pays toward the loan, so it’ll feel like a team effort. But also make sure she understands if she pays nothing in any given month, you’ll match that, too.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648176857529.png" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,My mom took out a Parent PLUS loan in 2009 to help pay for my college education. I also took out $70,000 in student loans myself. My mom never made a payment on the loan she took out for me, and now the amount due on the Parent PLUS loan has ballooned to $100,000. She recently told me in her mind it was my loan in her name, and I should be the one to make the payments after I became financially stable. Thankfully I just got a new job making $140,000 a year. With this I can finally make a dent in my own loans, but she asks me every week if I’m going to pay the Parent PLUS loan. My mom is a nurse practitioner, so she makes good money, but she recently financed two new luxury cars within 24 hours of each other—one for work and one for church. She also has loans out from borrowing on her 401(k) and credit card debt. Should I take over the Parent PLUS loan under my name?&nbsp;TommyDear Tommy,Wait, are you serious? Your mom has a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car? I’ve never heard of such a thing. But hey, I’m going to talk to my wife about this. I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;I needed another car, I just didn’t know I needed a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car. Oh, my goodness!Ok, here’s the deal. If you had an agreement with your mom, or promised at any time to pay back the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/what-is-a-parent-plus-loan" target="_blank">Parent PLUS Loan</a>&nbsp;when you were able, you should cover it. But that’s not what you told me. It sounds like your mom has a good heart and was just trying to help, but she did it in a dumb way. From what you told me, she’s done a lot of dumb things with money.Under no circumstances do you take the loan back under your name. In fact, I’m not certain you can even do that with a Parent PLUS Loan. You need to get&nbsp;your&nbsp;debt cleaned up first before trying to help her. If you choose to be a bigger help after that, you need to start things by having a serious conversation with your mom. She needs to hear that she’s being absolutely silly with her money. Let her know you’re willing to help because the loan was for your benefit. But make sure she understands you won’t pay it all, and you won’t do it while she’s making two luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/the-truth-about-car-payments" target="_blank">car payments</a>—including one on a&nbsp;church&nbsp;car. That’s ridiculous.Offer to be her biggest cheerleader, and help her find a good financial coach—someone with the heart of a teacher. You might want to let her know you’ll match whatever she pays toward the loan, so it’ll feel like a team effort. But also make sure she understands if she pays nothing in any given month, you’ll match that, too.Good luck, Tommy!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dave

DAVE SAYS: A church car? You’ve got to be kidding!

Today is Friday, Nov. 25, the 329th day of 2022. There are 36 days left in the year.

On Nov. 25, 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to victorious revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at age 90.

In 1783, the British evacuated New York during the Revolutionary War.

In 1914, baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California.

In 1915, a new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, was founded by William Joseph Simmons.

In 1947, movie studio executives meeting in New York agreed to blacklist the "Hollywood Ten" who'd been cited for contempt of Congress the day before.

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a slight stroke.

In 1961, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, was commissioned.

In 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lighted an "eternal flame" at the gravesite.

In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.

In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.

In 2001, as the war in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America's first combat casualty of the conflict.

In 2002, President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head.

In 2009, Toyota said it would replace the gas pedals on 4 million vehicles in the United States because the pedals could get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration.

Ten years ago: Rioters stormed a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters building in northern Egypt on the third day of street battles following a power grab by President Mohammed Morsi. YouTube announced that "Gangnam Style" by South Korean rapper PSY had become the site's most viewed video to that time, with more than 805 million viewings.

Five years ago: On what was designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiate to combat violence and harassment against women in France and change what he described as France's sexist culture. A volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali rumbled to life, temporarily disrupting some international flights to the popular tourist destination. Veteran Hollywood actor Rance Howard, the father of director Ron Howard, died at the age of 89.

One year ago: France launched a plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all adults. A methane explosion in a coal mine in Siberia quickly filled the mine with toxic smoke; authorities said 46 miners and five rescuers were killed. Giant balloons once again wafted through miles of Manhattan as the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade returned in full, a year after being crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. Italy's government said National Geographic magazine's famed green-eyed "Afghan Girl," Sharbat Gulla, had arrived in Italy as part of the West's evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Kathryn Crosby is 89. Actor Christopher Riordan is 85. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 82. Singer Bob Lind is 80. Author, actor and economist Ben Stein is 78. Actor John Larroquette is 75. Actor Tracey Walter is 75. Movie director Jonathan Kaplan is 75. Author Charlaine Harris is 71. Retired MLB All-Star Bucky Dent is 71. Dance judge Bruno Tonioli (TV: "Dancing with the Stars") is 67. Singer Amy Grant is 62. Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is 59. Rock musician Eric Grossman (K's Choice) is 58. Rock musician Scott Mercado is 58. Rock singer-musician Tim Armstrong is 57. Actor Steve Harris is 57. Actor Billy Burke is 56. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 56. Rock musician Rodney Sheppard (Sugar Ray) is 56. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 54. Actor Jill Hennessy is 53. Actor Christina Applegate is 51. Actor Eddie Steeples is 49. Actor Kristian Nairn is 47. Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is 46. Actor Jill Flint is 45. Actor Jerry Ferrara is 43. Actor Joel Kinnaman is 43. Actor Valerie Azlynn is 42. Former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 41. Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager is 41. Actor Katie Cassidy is 36. Actor Stephanie Hsu is 32. Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Friday, Nov. 25, the 329th day of 2022. There are 36 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Nov. 25, 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to victorious revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at age 90.On this date:In 1783, the British evacuated New York during the Revolutionary War.In 1914, baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California.In 1915, a new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, was founded by William Joseph Simmons.In 1947, movie studio executives meeting in New York agreed to blacklist the "Hollywood Ten" who'd been cited for contempt of Congress the day before.In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a slight stroke.In 1961, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, was commissioned.In 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lighted an "eternal flame" at the gravesite.In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.In 2001, as the war in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America's first combat casualty of the conflict.In 2002, President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head.In 2009, Toyota said it would replace the gas pedals on 4 million vehicles in the United States because the pedals could get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration.Ten years ago: Rioters stormed a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters building in northern Egypt on the third day of street battles following a power grab by President Mohammed Morsi. YouTube announced that "Gangnam Style" by South Korean rapper PSY had become the site's most viewed video to that time, with more than 805 million viewings.Five years ago: On what was designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiate to combat violence and harassment against women in France and change what he described as France's sexist culture. A volcano on the Indonesian island of Bali rumbled to life, temporarily disrupting some international flights to the popular tourist destination. Veteran Hollywood actor Rance Howard, the father of director Ron Howard, died at the age of 89.One year ago: France launched a plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all adults. A methane explosion in a coal mine in Siberia quickly filled the mine with toxic smoke; authorities said 46 miners and five rescuers were killed. Giant balloons once again wafted through miles of Manhattan as the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade returned in full, a year after being crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. Italy's government said National Geographic magazine's famed green-eyed "Afghan Girl," Sharbat Gulla, had arrived in Italy as part of the West's evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country.Today's Birthdays: Actor Kathryn Crosby is 89. Actor Christopher Riordan is 85. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 82. Singer Bob Lind is 80. Author, actor and economist Ben Stein is 78. Actor John Larroquette is 75. Actor Tracey Walter is 75. Movie director Jonathan Kaplan is 75. Author Charlaine Harris is 71. Retired MLB All-Star Bucky Dent is 71. Dance judge Bruno Tonioli (TV: "Dancing with the Stars") is 67. Singer Amy Grant is 62. Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is 59. Rock musician Eric Grossman (K's Choice) is 58. Rock musician Scott Mercado is 58. Rock singer-musician Tim Armstrong is 57. Actor Steve Harris is 57. Actor Billy Burke is 56. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 56. Rock musician Rodney Sheppard (Sugar Ray) is 56. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 54. Actor Jill Hennessy is 53. Actor Christina Applegate is 51. Actor Eddie Steeples is 49. Actor Kristian Nairn is 47. Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is 46. Actor Jill Flint is 45. Actor Jerry Ferrara is 43. Actor Joel Kinnaman is 43. Actor Valerie Azlynn is 42. Former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 41. Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager is 41. Actor Katie Cassidy is 36. Actor Stephanie Hsu is 32. Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 31.

Today in History - November 25

Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau

ABILENE - For more than 50 years, Abilene’s Public Works Department has cut and installed cedar trees in yards along Buckeye Avenue and Northwest Third Street.

Residents and businesses are then encouraged to decorate the more than 200 trees for passersby to enjoy.

“Christmas Tree Lane is one of the great attributes that make Abilene, Abilene,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. “When people visit, they frequently comment about the tree-lined streets and enjoy seeing the lights and decorations.”

Christmas Tree Lane is scheduled to open Dec. 3.

Christmas Tree Lane is one of many holiday events scheduled in Abilene this year. See a full schedule of holiday events at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abilenekansas.org/Christmas" target="_blank">www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669352228848.jpeg" alt="Part of Abilene's 2021 Christmas Tree Lane. Photos courtesy&nbsp;Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Part of Abilene's 2021 Christmas Tree Lane. Photos courtesy&nbsp;Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>Abilene Convention and Visitor's BureauABILENE - For more than 50 years, Abilene’s Public Works Department has cut and installed cedar trees in yards along Buckeye Avenue and Northwest Third Street.Residents and businesses are then encouraged to decorate the more than 200 trees for passersby to enjoy.“Christmas Tree Lane is one of the great attributes that make Abilene, Abilene,” said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau director. “When people visit, they frequently comment about the tree-lined streets and enjoy seeing the lights and decorations.”Christmas Tree Lane is scheduled to open Dec. 3.Christmas Tree Lane is one of many holiday events scheduled in Abilene this year. See a full schedule of holiday events at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abilenekansas.org/Christmas" target="_blank">www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas</a>

Abilene preparing for Christmas Tree Lane

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Recent obituaries and service times

“Is that one of the people who owns this school?”

The question came from a serious-looking young man as I was starting my tour of Jardine Elementary School as part of Topeka USD 501’s Principal for a Day program. I assume it was a combination of my tie and jacket and a previous alert that some strangers would be visiting that raised his interest.

My guide Angela Pomeroy, who is principal every day, quickly responded: “Well, he is a taxpayer, so in a way he is.”

It was a great answer and reminded me that all of us really are the owners of our public schools. Like any good owner, we want to know how our investment is doing. Is it accomplishing what we want? What return are we getting? &nbsp;

Spending a few hours with Jardine staff and students gave me small glimpses into the management of one of our schools. What I saw was a different world from when I went to school in the sixties and seventies; even from when my kids were in school in the nineties and 2000’s, and I suspect, different from the experience of many other “owners.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK TALLMAN“Is that one of the people who owns this school?”The question came from a serious-looking young man as I was starting my tour of Jardine Elementary School as part of Topeka USD 501’s Principal for a Day program. I assume it was a combination of my tie and jacket and a previous alert that some strangers would be visiting that raised his interest.My guide Angela Pomeroy, who is principal every day, quickly responded: “Well, he is a taxpayer, so in a way he is.”It was a great answer and reminded me that all of us really are the owners of our public schools. Like any good owner, we want to know how our investment is doing. Is it accomplishing what we want? What return are we getting? &nbsp;Spending a few hours with Jardine staff and students gave me small glimpses into the management of one of our schools. What I saw was a different world from when I went to school in the sixties and seventies; even from when my kids were in school in the nineties and 2000’s, and I suspect, different from the experience of many other “owners.”Start with the nearly 700 students. “I have 176 special education students in this building,” said Principal Pomeroy. “That's 26% of my population, who have either a learning disability, an emotional disturbance, or some kind of instructional need that are behind. That's a fourth of my kids having diagnosed disabilities.“And then I have about 75 students whose English is their second language. That's another subgroup. This year, I'm the site for the Ukrainian refugees, so I currently have 13 children who only speak Russian or Ukrainian. That jumps the English Language Learners up to almost 100. So that's almost 300 of my almost 700 students that are already going to be behind the eight-ball due to language challenges or disabilities.”Jardine Elementary is also the location of the Jaguar Academy, a “Special Day School” for district students with extreme behaviors, which requires a one to three teacher to student ratio. The school has a state funded mental health intervention team that serves not only students but parents who don’t have the time, money or access for any other mental health service.I don’t remember everything about my time at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Hays, Kansas in the 1960’s, but I’m quite confident the number of special education students, ELL students and refugees from a war zone were zero, zero and zero. And while there certainly were children and families struggling, I don’t think there is much disagreement that depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, and social conflict are far worse than a generation or two ago. We didn’t have to lock the doors. Is a tornado drill as frightening to young minds as an active shooter drill?Yet Pomeroy says it is not so much the students that have changed as the society they are living in. “When we were kids,” she said (generously including me in her age range), “we played with other kids in the neighborhood, we had constant interaction with others and learned how to manage conflict. A lot more children had a parent at home to supervise, but we had to amuse ourselves because our parents didn’t see it as their role to entertain us and occupy our time. If we had a fight with our friends or a problem at school, we could just come home and shut it out.“Now, unless children have gone to preschool or have parents who can give them a lot of experiences, many kids come to school without having an interaction with other children or adults. They may have absent parents working multiple jobs, or others that try to meet every desire to keep them happy. Kids are constantly babysat, entertained, or distracted, by phones, tablets and TV screens. And because of social media, they are never disconnected.”Like so many other veteran educators I have spoken to, over her career Pomeroy has seen a spike in children who come to school struggling to get along with others, follow directions and simply focus on a topic for a longer time than a video clip – because they have never had to. COVID has made things worse.“I have some kindergarteners, I call them little COVID babies, because their parents really didn't leave their home, out of fear or otherwise, when these guys were three and four years old,” she said. “They're not eating in restaurants and being out at Target and having all the exposure to stimulus. Now they're in a school being expected to sit and follow rules and being around a ton of people. And they just can't do it.”When young children start behind, it is hard to ever catch up – it is hard to learn much more than a year of learning in a school year, especially if a child is battling other issues. In fact, Pomeroy notes, as students become aware that they are behind, it creates more problems. “When kids see they can't read like their classmates, they have an awareness now. They can see what their peers are doing that they can't. So, they would rather act up and be out of class and have avoidance behaviors than to be in trying to figure it out and get it going.”Compounding the challenge is that new Kansas standards, measured by state tests, are based on getting kids academically prepared for college. This is also vastly different from my childhood, when only about half the adult population graduated from high school and only about 15 percent had a four-year degree. In the workforce of the 1970’s, two-thirds of jobs required only a high school diploma or less; today two-thirds of jobs require more than a high school diploma. The percentage of Kansans with a four-year or more than doubled since I was in school but is still only 35 percent of adults over age 24. For a school like Jardine, where 60 percent of students are low income, many parents never attended any college. They feel ill-equipped to help their children prepare for more rigorous academic standards, and children may not see the need for college themselves.So, when we evaluate students based on how they do on measures like state tests, it is important to remember that students come to school less prepared, but expectations on what they are supposed to learn are much higher.These seemed like reasonable facts to me, but as an “owner,” I didn’t want just to accept excuses. I decided to compare my school to a similar private school in Topeka, because of arguments that public schools are failing to meet the needs of students who could do better in private schools.Through the Kansas State Department of Education’s school building report card website, I found a private, accredited school in Topeka that reported 65.8 percent of students as low-income last year, a little more than Jardine’s 61.3 percent. But that private school had just 6.6 percent of students with disabilities, compared to 21.8 percent at Jardine last year.Using state test scores as a measure, the private school had 41.9 percent of students at the lowest level in math, slightly worse than Jardine’s 39.3 percent. The private school had 43.7 percent of students in the lowest level in language arts, better than Jardine with 49.4. But Jardine had 21.8 percent of students at the highest two levels (on track for college) in math and 21.5 percent in language arts, better than the private school’s 10.5 percent in math and 18.4 in language arts.In other words, Jardine’s state test scores are equal to, if not better, than the most comparable private school in the area.That’s not a criticism of the private schools. It’s confirmation that the biggest challenges in education start with issues that students bring with them that the school can’t control but can only work to mitigate. It’s the challenge for both public and private schools of bringing more students to meet higher expectations than we have ever had in a society that supports learning less.Because if we are honest, we know schools in the past didn’t really produce more college-ready students who graduated and took their Shakespeare-reading, essay-writing, calculus-preforming skills off to work on farm, in factories, be stay-at-home moms. That fact is, we simply tolerated lower performance, kicked kids out for bad behavior, isolated students with special needs and accepted more dropouts because the economy and society said we could.But we can’t do that anymore. Kansas has set higher standards because more students will eventually need higher skills. There is no question students lost ground during COVID. Kansas is competing with other states that are stepping up their efforts and improving results.At Jardine, we talked about what the school is doing to get better results. That includes continuing efforts to help students with self-regulation to improve both behavior and focus; training teachers on better ways to deal with the multiple needs of students at different levels; adding after school programs to give students more time and support; working to meet more rigorous academic standards and exposing students to more postsecondary and career options at younger ages, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focus.I left hopeful because of the deep commitment, knowledge and focus I saw in Principal Pomeroy and her colleagues at Jardine Elementary. I’m sure they and their colleagues across Topeka had many other things they could have done in the two-plus hours they spent with me and 30 other “principals for a day.” But what I learned was invaluable. I would encourage all other districts to consider a program like this. Show the “owners” what is really going on in your schools. Answer their questions. Share your plans to help more students succeed.In addition to writing "The Tallman Education Report," Mark Tallman also serves as the associate executive director for advocacy for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kasb.org/">Kansas Association of School Boards</a>.

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