Eugene Gronau November 20, 1945 ~&nbsp;March 3, 2024

Eugene’s life began on November 20, 1945, in Newton. He was the son of Alfred and Margaret (Rutschman) Gronau. Eugene was a graduate of Whitewater High School. He was a mechanic by trade and had owned the Standard Oil station in Newton for many years. In his later years, he worked as a rural mail courier in the Whitewater area making the rounds with his dog at his side. Eugene enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. He was always working on something, putting a wrench to an engine, generally with his beloved dog&nbsp;nearby. Eugene is survived by his sons Steve (Jenny) Gronau of Halstead, Evan (Megan) Gronau of Baldwin City, and Avery (Kacey) Gronau of Lawrence; grandchildren Sarah, Alyx, Ashley, Maggie and Garrison Gronau; great grandchildren Emma, Brantley, and Owen; his sister Sharon (Bill) Tolle of Wichita,&nbsp;sister-in-law Mari Gronau of Overland Park&nbsp;and his dog Rufus. Eugene passed away March 3, 2024, at Baldwin Health and Rehabilitation. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Tony Gronau and beloved dog Max. His family will gather with friends on Saturday March 9, 2024, at 10 a.m. for his Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to Evan Gronau for family expenses. Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater is serving the family. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Eugene at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>.&nbsp;

LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709651415303.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Eugene Gronau November 20, 1945 ~&nbsp;March 3, 2024 Eugene’s life began on November 20, 1945, in Newton. He was the son of Alfred and Margaret (Rutschman) Gronau. Eugene was a graduate of Whitewater High School. He was a mechanic by trade and had owned the Standard Oil station in Newton for many years. In his later years, he worked as a rural mail courier in the Whitewater area making the rounds with his dog at his side. Eugene enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. He was always working on something, putting a wrench to an engine, generally with his beloved dog&nbsp;nearby. Eugene is survived by his sons Steve (Jenny) Gronau of Halstead, Evan (Megan) Gronau of Baldwin City, and Avery (Kacey) Gronau of Lawrence; grandchildren Sarah, Alyx, Ashley, Maggie and Garrison Gronau; great grandchildren Emma, Brantley, and Owen; his sister Sharon (Bill) Tolle of Wichita,&nbsp;sister-in-law Mari Gronau of Overland Park&nbsp;and his dog Rufus. Eugene passed away March 3, 2024, at Baldwin Health and Rehabilitation. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Tony Gronau and beloved dog Max. His family will gather with friends on Saturday March 9, 2024, at 10 a.m. for his Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to Evan Gronau for family expenses. Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater is serving the family. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Eugene at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>.&nbsp;LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

Eugene Gronau

Gregory “Greg” Allen Davis September 20, 1953 ~&nbsp;February 28, 2024

Gregory “Greg” Allen Davis was born September 20, 1953 in Salina, Kansas the son of Willard and Mavis (Sandquist) Davis. He passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in Abilene.

Greg grew up in the Abilene area, graduated from Abilene High School, and received his Associates Degree from ColbyCommunity College. Greg was a mechanic his entire adult life and owner/operator of G &amp; D Service in Abilene until his retirement.

He enjoyed learning about the newest technology, watching western movies and shows, attending K-State football games, and watching all K-State sports, but his love was his children and grandchildren. He loved grilling for them and having them over for family dinners.

On February 1, 1975 he was united in marriage to Debbie Lady. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his father Willard of Abilene, daughters Erin Signer and her husband Brad of Abilene, Lauren Steinlage and her husband Jonathan of Abilene, son Lucas Davis and his wife Sophia of Scottsdale, Arizona, brothers Bruce Davis of Powhattan, Virginia, Lee Davis of Salina, Jeff Davis of Abilene, Terry Davis of Charlotte, North Carolina, sisters Cindy Neill of Emporia, Denise Neill of Phoenix, Arizona, Glenna Phillips of Salina, five grandchildren Kellen Signer, Aiden Davis, Korbin Davis, Adley Steinlage, and Isaac Steinlage. He was preceded in death by his mother Mavis, and brother Danny Davis.

Funeral services for Greg will be March 12, 2024 at Emmanuel Church in Abilene with Pastor Marc Riegel officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service at 9:00am, service at 10:00 am, and burial to follow. His final resting place will be in the Abilene Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Emmanuel Church or to Dickinson County Home Health and Hospice and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3 rd , Abilene, Kansas 67410. Friends may sign the register book at the funeral home during business hours.

<figure>
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 </figure>Gregory “Greg” Allen Davis September 20, 1953 ~&nbsp;February 28, 2024Gregory “Greg” Allen Davis was born September 20, 1953 in Salina, Kansas the son of Willard and Mavis (Sandquist) Davis. He passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in Abilene.Greg grew up in the Abilene area, graduated from Abilene High School, and received his Associates Degree from ColbyCommunity College. Greg was a mechanic his entire adult life and owner/operator of G &amp; D Service in Abilene until his retirement.He enjoyed learning about the newest technology, watching western movies and shows, attending K-State football games, and watching all K-State sports, but his love was his children and grandchildren. He loved grilling for them and having them over for family dinners.On February 1, 1975 he was united in marriage to Debbie Lady. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his father Willard of Abilene, daughters Erin Signer and her husband Brad of Abilene, Lauren Steinlage and her husband Jonathan of Abilene, son Lucas Davis and his wife Sophia of Scottsdale, Arizona, brothers Bruce Davis of Powhattan, Virginia, Lee Davis of Salina, Jeff Davis of Abilene, Terry Davis of Charlotte, North Carolina, sisters Cindy Neill of Emporia, Denise Neill of Phoenix, Arizona, Glenna Phillips of Salina, five grandchildren Kellen Signer, Aiden Davis, Korbin Davis, Adley Steinlage, and Isaac Steinlage. He was preceded in death by his mother Mavis, and brother Danny Davis.Funeral services for Greg will be March 12, 2024 at Emmanuel Church in Abilene with Pastor Marc Riegel officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service at 9:00am, service at 10:00 am, and burial to follow. His final resting place will be in the Abilene Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Emmanuel Church or to Dickinson County Home Health and Hospice and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3 rd , Abilene, Kansas 67410. Friends may sign the register book at the funeral home during business hours.LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

Gregory A. Davis

James L. “Jim” Frohardt July 14, 1943 ~&nbsp;March 3, 2024

James L. “Jim” Frohardt was born July 14, 1943 in Clay Center, Kansas the son of Emil Laverne and Myrtle Chamberlin Frohardt. Jim passed away March 3, 2024 at Stormont Vail Flint Hill campus in Junction City. Jim attended the Upland School and graduated from DCCHS with the class of 1961.

After graduation Jim worked for the Alida Coop, the City of Chapman in the capacity of a police officer and Chief of Police. Jim also served as long time Chapman Fire Chief as well as a member of Dickinson County Fire District #1. Jim operated the Frohardt Garage and farmed for many years.

Jim married Kathy Manbeck on October 4, 1964 in Chapman. Jim is survived by his wife Kathy of the home, his daughter Tina Frohardt of Chapman, his son Shawn Frohardt of Topeka and his loyal four-legged son Riley. Jim is also survived by his grandsons Joel Jordan of Junction City and Trent Jordan and his wife Stephanie of rural Chapman, his sister-in-law Vicki Rehm (Dean) of Abilene and nephew Chad Livingston (Michele) of Abilene, and Brian Livingston (Angie) of Olathe, KS and a niece Stacia Wiley (Darin) of Chapman as well as great nieces and nephew Kaylee Livingston, Tori and Jaxon Foy. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.

A family visitation will be held at the Londeen-Overlease Chapel 206 W. 5th street in Chapman Friday evening March 8th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The memorial service will be held Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapman United Methodist Church 426 Sheeran Chapman, KansasMemorials may be made in Jim’s honor to the Chapman Area Preservation Society (CAPS) or the Dickinson County Fire District #1 and may be sent in care of the Londeen-Overlease Funeral Chapel PO Box 411 Chapman, Kansas 67431.

<figure>
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 </figure>James L. “Jim” Frohardt July 14, 1943 ~&nbsp;March 3, 2024James L. “Jim” Frohardt was born July 14, 1943 in Clay Center, Kansas the son of Emil Laverne and Myrtle Chamberlin Frohardt. Jim passed away March 3, 2024 at Stormont Vail Flint Hill campus in Junction City. Jim attended the Upland School and graduated from DCCHS with the class of 1961.After graduation Jim worked for the Alida Coop, the City of Chapman in the capacity of a police officer and Chief of Police. Jim also served as long time Chapman Fire Chief as well as a member of Dickinson County Fire District #1. Jim operated the Frohardt Garage and farmed for many years.Jim married Kathy Manbeck on October 4, 1964 in Chapman. Jim is survived by his wife Kathy of the home, his daughter Tina Frohardt of Chapman, his son Shawn Frohardt of Topeka and his loyal four-legged son Riley. Jim is also survived by his grandsons Joel Jordan of Junction City and Trent Jordan and his wife Stephanie of rural Chapman, his sister-in-law Vicki Rehm (Dean) of Abilene and nephew Chad Livingston (Michele) of Abilene, and Brian Livingston (Angie) of Olathe, KS and a niece Stacia Wiley (Darin) of Chapman as well as great nieces and nephew Kaylee Livingston, Tori and Jaxon Foy. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.A family visitation will be held at the Londeen-Overlease Chapel 206 W. 5th street in Chapman Friday evening March 8th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The memorial service will be held Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapman United Methodist Church 426 Sheeran Chapman, KansasMemorials may be made in Jim’s honor to the Chapman Area Preservation Society (CAPS) or the Dickinson County Fire District #1 and may be sent in care of the Londeen-Overlease Funeral Chapel PO Box 411 Chapman, Kansas 67431.LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

James L. Frohardt

Martin Joseph Hauk November 11, 1950 ~ February 26, 2024

Martin Joseph Hauk, 73, passed away on February 26, 2024 at his home in Salina, KS.

Martin was born on November 11, 1950 in Waukesha, WI to parents Joseph Martin and Gertrude (Zerbert) Hauk.

Martin was a Senior Airman in the Air Force.

Martin was working as a Pilot for Plane Masters/UPS.

Marty was an excellent motorcycle mechanic, but was not allowed to use any carpenter tools. He was a leader of the Romeo Riders and a member of the CMA Christian Motorcycle Club. He loved his family and friends but especially his daughter, Jessica.

Martin is survived by Daughter: Jessica Teramura of Waukesha, WI; Others: David Schwartztrauber (Friend/Caregiver) of Salina, KS, Joe Hauk (Brother) of WI, Marie Wells (Sister) of Warsaw, MO, 3 nieces, 2 great-nieces, 1 great-great-niece and 3 great-great-nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 8, 2024, 1:00 PM at Roselawn Memorial Heights Chapel in Salina, KS, with Pastor Doug Hamilton and David Schwartztrauber officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS. Military Honors will be provided by the VFW Post 1432 of Salina, KS. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/ or Tunnel to Towers at https://t2t.org/donate.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services, Online condolences can be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.

LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Martin Joseph Hauk November 11, 1950 ~ February 26, 2024 Martin Joseph Hauk, 73, passed away on February 26, 2024 at his home in Salina, KS.Martin was born on November 11, 1950 in Waukesha, WI to parents Joseph Martin and Gertrude (Zerbert) Hauk.Martin was a Senior Airman in the Air Force.Martin was working as a Pilot for Plane Masters/UPS.Marty was an excellent motorcycle mechanic, but was not allowed to use any carpenter tools. He was a leader of the Romeo Riders and a member of the CMA Christian Motorcycle Club. He loved his family and friends but especially his daughter, Jessica.He was preceded in death by his parents.Martin is survived by Daughter: Jessica Teramura of Waukesha, WI; Others: David Schwartztrauber (Friend/Caregiver) of Salina, KS, Joe Hauk (Brother) of WI, Marie Wells (Sister) of Warsaw, MO, 3 nieces, 2 great-nieces, 1 great-great-niece and 3 great-great-nephews.Funeral services will be held Friday, March 8, 2024, 1:00 PM at Roselawn Memorial Heights Chapel in Salina, KS, with Pastor Doug Hamilton and David Schwartztrauber officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS. Military Honors will be provided by the VFW Post 1432 of Salina, KS. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/ or Tunnel to Towers at https://t2t.org/donate.Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services, Online condolences can be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1d52bf0-dfb8-46b3-bf9b-981f91a83dbe">🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

Martin J. Hauk

On this episode of King in the Community, Nate King hears an update from Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith-Hanes.&nbsp;

Listen in and hear about a range of local issues impacting Saline County. From the challenges faced with the new jail building, including heating and plumbing issues, to the allocation of ARPA funding for rural fire districts, Phil provides valuable insights into the current state of affairs in Saline County. 

We also touch on the importance of wildfire prevention, the shortage of prosecutors in the area, and the presidential preference primary in Kansas. 

All of this and more on <a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/">King in the Community</a>.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Phil Smith-Hanes, Saline County Administrator" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=fjgnd-159a112-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of King in the Community, Nate King hears an update from Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith-Hanes.&nbsp;Listen in and hear about a range of local issues impacting Saline County. From the challenges faced with the new jail building, including heating and plumbing issues, to the allocation of ARPA funding for rural fire districts, Phil provides valuable insights into the current state of affairs in Saline County. We also touch on the importance of wildfire prevention, the shortage of prosecutors in the area, and the presidential preference primary in Kansas. All of this and more on <a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/">King in the Community</a>.&nbsp;<h2>More episodes of King in the Community</h2><div><iframe title="King in the Community" allowtransparency="true" height="315" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:315px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=skmut-558a99-pbblog-playlist&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&order=episodic&limit=10&filter=all&ss=a713390a017602015775e868a2cf26b0&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

🎙King in the Community: Saline County Admin. Phil Smith-Hanes

The Salina Fire Department in Salina, Kansas, has received Reaccredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. The Salina Fire Department is one of more than 300 agencies to achieve Internationally Accredited agency status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE)

The Salina Fire Department is one of a handful of agencies in Kansas with Accredited Agency Status. CFAI is dedicated to assisting fire and emergency service agencies worldwide in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation to provide continuous quality improvement and enhance service delivery to their communities.&nbsp; The CFAI process provides an agency with an improvement model to assess its service delivery and performance internally. Then, it works with a team of peers from other agencies to verify and validate their completed self-assessment.

Listen More: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c14c2f3e-49cf-4d68-a9ff-d63b936a3438">King in the Community: Saline Fire Update with Chief Tony Sneidar</a>

The Salina Fire Department's Reaccredited Agency status demonstrates its commitment to providing our community with the highest quality of service.

SFD also uses the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of this agency and locate areas where it can improve the quality of the services it provides.&nbsp; The successful reaccreditation process is a testament to the collaborative spirit and mutual support that characterizes Salina's approach to excellence and improvement. The invaluable support from other city agencies was a cornerstone of SFD’s success, demonstrating a collective commitment to upholding the highest standards. Equally crucial was the unwavering support from the city manager’s office, whose leadership and endorsement of the process were instrumental in navigating the complexities of accreditation. This synergy not only propelled the SFD towards its goal but also reinforced the foundation of interagency cooperation and leadership support that is vital for achieving such significant milestones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576278537018.jpeg" alt="salina fire department logo.jpg" />
 <figcaption>salina fire department logo.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted by SFD The Salina Fire Department in Salina, Kansas, has received Reaccredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program. The Salina Fire Department is one of more than 300 agencies to achieve Internationally Accredited agency status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE)The Salina Fire Department is one of a handful of agencies in Kansas with Accredited Agency Status. CFAI is dedicated to assisting fire and emergency service agencies worldwide in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation to provide continuous quality improvement and enhance service delivery to their communities.&nbsp; The CFAI process provides an agency with an improvement model to assess its service delivery and performance internally. Then, it works with a team of peers from other agencies to verify and validate their completed self-assessment.Listen More: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c14c2f3e-49cf-4d68-a9ff-d63b936a3438">King in the Community: Saline Fire Update with Chief Tony Sneidar</a>The Salina Fire Department's Reaccredited Agency status demonstrates its commitment to providing our community with the highest quality of service. SFD also uses the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of this agency and locate areas where it can improve the quality of the services it provides.&nbsp; The successful reaccreditation process is a testament to the collaborative spirit and mutual support that characterizes Salina's approach to excellence and improvement. The invaluable support from other city agencies was a cornerstone of SFD’s success, demonstrating a collective commitment to upholding the highest standards. Equally crucial was the unwavering support from the city manager’s office, whose leadership and endorsement of the process were instrumental in navigating the complexities of accreditation. This synergy not only propelled the SFD towards its goal but also reinforced the foundation of interagency cooperation and leadership support that is vital for achieving such significant milestones.

Salina Fire Department awarded international reaccreditation status

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Monday restored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to hold the Republican former president accountable for the Capitol riot.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-719">Click here to listen&nbsp;</a>to a replay of the Feb. 8, oral argument

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-719_19m2.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full Supreme Court decision

The justices ruled a day before the Super Tuesday primaries that states cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots. That power resides with Congress, the court wrote in an unsigned opinion.

The outcome ends efforts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">Colorado</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-illinois-primary-ballot-ruling-a9a4f343ee7cafef312d68e2633ddec4">Illinois</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">Maine</a>&nbsp;and elsewhere to kick Trump, the front-runner for his party’s nomination, off the ballot because of his attempts to undo his loss in the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, attack</a>&nbsp;on the Capitol.

Trump’s case was the first at the Supreme Court dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-supreme-court-colorado-7703a30566ce2588fb92bf22dd20c84d">a provision of the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;that was adopted after the Civil War to prevent former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office again.

Colorado’s Supreme Court, in a first-of-its-kind ruling, had decided that the provision, Section 3, could be applied to Trump, who that court found incited the Capitol attack. No court before had applied Section 3 to a presidential candidate.

Some election observers have warned that a ruling requiring congressional action to implement Section 3 could leave the door open to a renewed fight over trying to use the provision to disqualify Trump in the event he wins the election. In one scenario, a Democratic-controlled Congress could try to reject certifying Trump’s election on Jan. 6, 2025, under the clause.

The issue then could return to the court, possibly in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis.

Both sides had requested fast work by the court, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-insurrection-trump-2024-election-397a481d2886b64bba06b24ff3d03f37">heard arguments</a>&nbsp;less than a month ago, on Feb. 8. The justices seemed poised then to rule in Trump's favor.

Trump had been kicked off the ballots in Colorado, Maine and Illinois, but all three rulings were on hold awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-719.html">The case</a>&nbsp;is the court’s most direct involvement in a presidential election since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2000/00-949">Bush v. Gore</a>, a decision delivered a quarter-century ago that effectively handed the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush. And it’s just one of several cases involving Trump directly or that could affect his chances of becoming president again, including a case scheduled for arguments in late April about whether he can be criminally prosecuted on election interference charges, including his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6 Capitol attack</a>. The timing of the high court's intervention has raised questions about whether Trump will be tried before the November election.

The arguments in February were the first time the high court had heard a case involving Section 3. The two-sentence provision, intended to keep some Confederates from holding office again, says that those who violate oaths to support the Constitution are barred from various positions including congressional offices or serving as presidential electors. But it does not specifically mention the presidency.

Conservative and liberal justices questioned the case against Trump. Their main concern was whether Congress must act before states can invoke the 14th Amendment. There also were questions about whether the president is covered by the provision.

The lawyers for Republican and independent voters who sued to remove Trump’s name from the Colorado ballot had argued that there is ample evidence that the events of Jan. 6 constituted an insurrection and that it was incited by Trump, who had exhorted a crowd of his supporters at a rally outside the White House to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-capitol-siege-media-e79eb5164613d6718e9f4502eb471f27">“fight like hell.”</a>&nbsp;They said it would be absurd to apply Section 3 to everything but the presidency or that Trump is somehow exempt. And the provision needs no enabling legislation, they argued.

Trump’s lawyers mounted several arguments for why the amendment can’t be used to keep him off the ballot. They contended the Jan. 6 riot wasn’t an insurrection and, even if it was, Trump did not go to the Capitol or join the rioters. The wording of the amendment also excludes the presidency and candidates running for president, they said. Even if all those arguments failed, they said, Congress must pass legislation to reinvigorate Section 3.

The case was decided by a court that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-14th-amendment-immunity-supreme-court-d3f001f66c5c3e85302b8772753ed769">three justices appointed by Trump</a>&nbsp;when he was president. They have considered many Trump-related cases in recent years, declining to embrace his bogus claims of fraud in the 2020 election and refusing to shield tax records from Congress and prosecutors in New York.

The 5-4 decision in Bush v. Gore case more than 23 years ago was the last time the court was so deeply involved in presidential politics. Justice Clarence Thomas is the only member of the court who was on the bench then. Thomas has ignored calls by some Democratic lawmakers to step aside from the Trump case because his wife, Ginni, supported Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results and attended the rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686700913232.png" alt="Trump had been kicked off the ballots in Colorado, Maine and Illinois,&nbsp;but all three rulings were on hold awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision. File photo&nbsp; Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Trump had been kicked off the ballots in Colorado, Maine and Illinois,&nbsp;but all three rulings were on hold awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision. File photo&nbsp; Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Monday restored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to hold the Republican former president accountable for the Capitol riot.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-719">Click here to listen&nbsp;</a>to a replay of the Feb. 8, oral argument<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-719_19m2.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full Supreme Court decision<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;I want to start by thanking the Supreme Court for its unanimous decision today. It was a very important decision, very well crafted. I think it will go a long way toward bringing our country together, which our country needs.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6cKLKALsWH">pic.twitter.com/6cKLKALsWH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1764710433548632240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709565854355.png" alt="Trump posted his reaction on his social media platform" />
 <figcaption>Trump posted his reaction on his social media platform</figcaption>
 </figure>The justices ruled a day before the Super Tuesday primaries that states cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots. That power resides with Congress, the court wrote in an unsigned opinion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709565729614.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>The outcome ends efforts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-d16dd8f354eeaf450558378c65fd79a2">Colorado</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-illinois-primary-ballot-ruling-a9a4f343ee7cafef312d68e2633ddec4">Illinois</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-presidential-ballot-election-insurrection-081fd38ce1f20be9b8423cb2f8c66dee">Maine</a>&nbsp;and elsewhere to kick Trump, the front-runner for his party’s nomination, off the ballot because of his attempts to undo his loss in the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6, 2021, attack</a>&nbsp;on the Capitol.Trump’s case was the first at the Supreme Court dealing with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-14th-amendment-insurrection-supreme-court-colorado-7703a30566ce2588fb92bf22dd20c84d">a provision of the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;that was adopted after the Civil War to prevent former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office again.Colorado’s Supreme Court, in a first-of-its-kind ruling, had decided that the provision, Section 3, could be applied to Trump, who that court found incited the Capitol attack. No court before had applied Section 3 to a presidential candidate.Some election observers have warned that a ruling requiring congressional action to implement Section 3 could leave the door open to a renewed fight over trying to use the provision to disqualify Trump in the event he wins the election. In one scenario, a Democratic-controlled Congress could try to reject certifying Trump’s election on Jan. 6, 2025, under the clause.The issue then could return to the court, possibly in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis.Both sides had requested fast work by the court, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-insurrection-trump-2024-election-397a481d2886b64bba06b24ff3d03f37">heard arguments</a>&nbsp;less than a month ago, on Feb. 8. The justices seemed poised then to rule in Trump's favor.Trump had been kicked off the ballots in Colorado, Maine and Illinois, but all three rulings were on hold awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-719.html">The case</a>&nbsp;is the court’s most direct involvement in a presidential election since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2000/00-949">Bush v. Gore</a>, a decision delivered a quarter-century ago that effectively handed the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush. And it’s just one of several cases involving Trump directly or that could affect his chances of becoming president again, including a case scheduled for arguments in late April about whether he can be criminally prosecuted on election interference charges, including his role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">the Jan. 6 Capitol attack</a>. The timing of the high court's intervention has raised questions about whether Trump will be tried before the November election.The arguments in February were the first time the high court had heard a case involving Section 3. The two-sentence provision, intended to keep some Confederates from holding office again, says that those who violate oaths to support the Constitution are barred from various positions including congressional offices or serving as presidential electors. But it does not specifically mention the presidency.Conservative and liberal justices questioned the case against Trump. Their main concern was whether Congress must act before states can invoke the 14th Amendment. There also were questions about whether the president is covered by the provision.The lawyers for Republican and independent voters who sued to remove Trump’s name from the Colorado ballot had argued that there is ample evidence that the events of Jan. 6 constituted an insurrection and that it was incited by Trump, who had exhorted a crowd of his supporters at a rally outside the White House to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-capitol-siege-media-e79eb5164613d6718e9f4502eb471f27">“fight like hell.”</a>&nbsp;They said it would be absurd to apply Section 3 to everything but the presidency or that Trump is somehow exempt. And the provision needs no enabling legislation, they argued.Trump’s lawyers mounted several arguments for why the amendment can’t be used to keep him off the ballot. They contended the Jan. 6 riot wasn’t an insurrection and, even if it was, Trump did not go to the Capitol or join the rioters. The wording of the amendment also excludes the presidency and candidates running for president, they said. Even if all those arguments failed, they said, Congress must pass legislation to reinvigorate Section 3.The case was decided by a court that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-14th-amendment-immunity-supreme-court-d3f001f66c5c3e85302b8772753ed769">three justices appointed by Trump</a>&nbsp;when he was president. They have considered many Trump-related cases in recent years, declining to embrace his bogus claims of fraud in the 2020 election and refusing to shield tax records from Congress and prosecutors in New York.The 5-4 decision in Bush v. Gore case more than 23 years ago was the last time the court was so deeply involved in presidential politics. Justice Clarence Thomas is the only member of the court who was on the bench then. Thomas has ignored calls by some Democratic lawmakers to step aside from the Trump case because his wife, Ginni, supported Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results and attended the rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters.___

🎧Unanimous decision: Supreme Court overturns Trump ballot ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appeared torn Wednesday about a challenge to a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/22-976">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argument

The high court is weighing whether the Trump administration followed federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault-style rifles in 2017. Many of the weapons were equipped with bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. More than 1,000 rounds were fired into the crowd in 11 minutes, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more.

The arguments largely focused on whether guns with a bump stock can be considered illegal machine guns under federal law. A Texas gun shop owner argues that bump stocks don't change the core function of a semi-automatic weapon enough to make it illegal. The Biden administration says bump stocks fall firmly under the legal definition of machine gun.

The latest gun case to come before the justices offers a fresh test for a court with a conservative supermajority to define the limits of gun restrictions in an era where mass shootings are prevalent.

Conservative justices raised questions about whether machine-gun laws dating to the 1930s apply to bump stocks and about the Justice Department's previous finding that the accessories were legal.

“Intuitively, I am entirely sympathetic to your argument,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett, “I think the question is, why didn't Congress pass that legislation to make this cover it more clearly?”

Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that bump stocks would fall under laws aimed at Prohibition-era violence from gangsters such as Al Capone. “This is in the heartland of what they were concerned about, which is anything that takes just a little human action to produce more than one shot,” Justice Elena Kagan said.

Federal appeals courts have been divided over the bump stock rule.

A different case at the court challenges a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>, stemming from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">landmark 2022 decision</a>&nbsp;in which the six-justice conservative majority expanded gun rights.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stock</a>&nbsp;case is not directly about the Second Amendment. Instead, the plaintiffs argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority in imposing the ban. The agency had previously decided bump stocks should not be classified as machine guns and therefore not be banned.

Marisa Marano, 42, survived the shooting at the show she attended with her sister, but struggles with the lasting effects on her life and and community. “I will never forget the sound of a machine gun firing into the crowd that night as Gina and I ran for our lives,” said Marano, who is now a volunteer for the group Moms Demand Action and hopes the Supreme Court upholds the ban.

Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter's stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire rapidly.

They were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn't transform semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. The agency revisited the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump's urging</a>&nbsp;after the Las Vegas shooting and reversed that decision.

The plaintiffs argue that rifles with bump stocks are different from machine guns because the shooter still must exert pressure on the weapon to keep the rapid fire going and the trigger keeps moving.

“It’s still one shot per function of the trigger, even though the shots are coming out of the barrel a lot faster than they were before,” said attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell, who argued on behalf of Texas gun shop owner and Army veteran Michael Cargill.

Government lawyers pointed out that traditional machine guns also require pressure from the shooter. They argue bump stocks fall under the legal definition of machine guns because the shooter's finger stays still while the gun fires hundreds of rounds per minute.

Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general, said that the ATF's previous findings were less in-depth than the review it undertook under Trump.

“After the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest shooting in our nation’s history, I think it would have been irresponsible for the ATF not to take another look at this prior interpretation,” he said.

There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.

A panel of three judges on the federal appeals court in Washington upheld the ban, finding that “a bump stock is a self-regulating mechanism that allows a shooter to shoot more than one shot through a single pull of the trigger.” But the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-orleans-texas-state-government-b5990ed60ebb617055cc8d5c36a84050">invalidated the ban</a>, finding that the definition of machine guns under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act does not apply to bump stocks.

The Supreme Court took up an appeal of the 5th Circuit’s decision.

The case also comes at a time when the 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-chevron-regulations-environment-fish-e0c83212c892887860f7800c1ae1e02b">powers of federal agencies.</a>&nbsp;This term, the justices also are weighing challenges to aspects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appeared torn Wednesday about a challenge to a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/22-976">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argumentThe high court is weighing whether the Trump administration followed federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault-style rifles in 2017. Many of the weapons were equipped with bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. More than 1,000 rounds were fired into the crowd in 11 minutes, killing 60 people and injuring hundreds more.The arguments largely focused on whether guns with a bump stock can be considered illegal machine guns under federal law. A Texas gun shop owner argues that bump stocks don't change the core function of a semi-automatic weapon enough to make it illegal. The Biden administration says bump stocks fall firmly under the legal definition of machine gun.The latest gun case to come before the justices offers a fresh test for a court with a conservative supermajority to define the limits of gun restrictions in an era where mass shootings are prevalent.Conservative justices raised questions about whether machine-gun laws dating to the 1930s apply to bump stocks and about the Justice Department's previous finding that the accessories were legal.“Intuitively, I am entirely sympathetic to your argument,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett, “I think the question is, why didn't Congress pass that legislation to make this cover it more clearly?”Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that bump stocks would fall under laws aimed at Prohibition-era violence from gangsters such as Al Capone. “This is in the heartland of what they were concerned about, which is anything that takes just a little human action to produce more than one shot,” Justice Elena Kagan said.Federal appeals courts have been divided over the bump stock rule.A different case at the court challenges a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>, stemming from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">landmark 2022 decision</a>&nbsp;in which the six-justice conservative majority expanded gun rights.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stock</a>&nbsp;case is not directly about the Second Amendment. Instead, the plaintiffs argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority in imposing the ban. The agency had previously decided bump stocks should not be classified as machine guns and therefore not be banned.That changed after Las Vegas.Marisa Marano, 42, survived the shooting at the show she attended with her sister, but struggles with the lasting effects on her life and and community. “I will never forget the sound of a machine gun firing into the crowd that night as Gina and I ran for our lives,” said Marano, who is now a volunteer for the group Moms Demand Action and hopes the Supreme Court upholds the ban.Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter's stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire rapidly.They were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn't transform semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. The agency revisited the issue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump's urging</a>&nbsp;after the Las Vegas shooting and reversed that decision.The plaintiffs argue that rifles with bump stocks are different from machine guns because the shooter still must exert pressure on the weapon to keep the rapid fire going and the trigger keeps moving.“It’s still one shot per function of the trigger, even though the shots are coming out of the barrel a lot faster than they were before,” said attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell, who argued on behalf of Texas gun shop owner and Army veteran Michael Cargill.Government lawyers pointed out that traditional machine guns also require pressure from the shooter. They argue bump stocks fall under the legal definition of machine guns because the shooter's finger stays still while the gun fires hundreds of rounds per minute.Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general, said that the ATF's previous findings were less in-depth than the review it undertook under Trump.“After the Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest shooting in our nation’s history, I think it would have been irresponsible for the ATF not to take another look at this prior interpretation,” he said.There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.A panel of three judges on the federal appeals court in Washington upheld the ban, finding that “a bump stock is a self-regulating mechanism that allows a shooter to shoot more than one shot through a single pull of the trigger.” But the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-orleans-texas-state-government-b5990ed60ebb617055cc8d5c36a84050">invalidated the ban</a>, finding that the definition of machine guns under the National Firearms Act and Gun Control Act does not apply to bump stocks.The Supreme Court took up an appeal of the 5th Circuit’s decision.The case also comes at a time when the 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-chevron-regulations-environment-fish-e0c83212c892887860f7800c1ae1e02b">powers of federal agencies.</a>&nbsp;This term, the justices also are weighing challenges to aspects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission.A decision is expected by early summer.

🎧 Supreme Court appears torn over challenge to gun 'bump stocks'

Patricia “Pat” (McFarland) Crocker November 2, 1935 ~ February 24, 2024

Patricia “Pat” (McFarland) Crocker, 88, of Salina, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Pinnacle Park Healthcare and Rehab, Salina, surrounded by her children.

She was born November 2, 1935 in Solomon, Kansas to the late Virgil and Blanche (Liby) McFarland.

Pat enjoyed reading, watching crime TV shows and listening to 50’s and 60’s music, camping, bowling, watching her loved one’s race cars and motorcycles and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years Rolland “Slim” Crocker, brother: Clayton McFarland and stepson: Rolland Crocker.

Pat is survived by her brothers: Richard (Brenda) McFarland of Virginia and Virgil (Michael) McFarland of California; Children: Becky Tappendick, Cindy Bonnville and Stacey (David Smith) Martin all of Salina, Tobey (Bill) Hemmy of New Cambria, Penny Bonnville of Missouri, Mike (Ray) Hutson-Post of Wichita and Jeff (Jen) Crocker of California; Bonus Children: Gil (Jody) Crocker of Salina, Art Crocker of Marion, Cindy (Rich) Ingermanson of Solomon, and Alean (Damon) Gray of Washington; 26 grandchildren; many great and great-great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions may be sent to Alzheimers Foundation of America; 3228th Ave., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or go to alzfdn.org.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services. Online condolences may be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24b0a8be-0bef-43ac-8440-73935b0b99e6">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Belle Springs Creamery - Vol. 31</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709395650318.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Patricia “Pat” (McFarland) Crocker November 2, 1935 ~ February 24, 2024 Patricia “Pat” (McFarland) Crocker, 88, of Salina, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Pinnacle Park Healthcare and Rehab, Salina, surrounded by her children.She was born November 2, 1935 in Solomon, Kansas to the late Virgil and Blanche (Liby) McFarland.Pat enjoyed reading, watching crime TV shows and listening to 50’s and 60’s music, camping, bowling, watching her loved one’s race cars and motorcycles and spending time with her family.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years Rolland “Slim” Crocker, brother: Clayton McFarland and stepson: Rolland Crocker.Pat is survived by her brothers: Richard (Brenda) McFarland of Virginia and Virgil (Michael) McFarland of California; Children: Becky Tappendick, Cindy Bonnville and Stacey (David Smith) Martin all of Salina, Tobey (Bill) Hemmy of New Cambria, Penny Bonnville of Missouri, Mike (Ray) Hutson-Post of Wichita and Jeff (Jen) Crocker of California; Bonus Children: Gil (Jody) Crocker of Salina, Art Crocker of Marion, Cindy (Rich) Ingermanson of Solomon, and Alean (Damon) Gray of Washington; 26 grandchildren; many great and great-great-grandchildren.A private memorial service will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions may be sent to Alzheimers Foundation of America; 3228th Ave., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 or go to alzfdn.org.Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services. Online condolences may be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24b0a8be-0bef-43ac-8440-73935b0b99e6">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Belle Springs Creamery - Vol. 31</a>

Patricia Crocker

Doctor, politicians defend legislation viewed as a shield against child abuse

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas House Rep. Brenda Landwehr kicked the first person out of Thursday’s hearing on anti-transgender legislation for cradling a protest sign in the room.

Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, bounced someone from the second row about 45 minutes later during questioning of proponents of legislation sharply restricting access by minors to gender-affirming medical care.

At the outset, she had warned the standing-room-only crowd that outbursts of any kind would be unacceptable and offenders would be asked to leave or be escorted out by uniformed officers of the Capitol Police.

“I said no talking, no disruption, and I meant it,” Landwehr said. “I think I was pretty plain.”

During questioning of a teacher opposed to intrusion of legislators into personal lives of school children, Landwehr warned the witness not to speak over her because “if you’re talking, you’re not listening.” Near conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Landwehr slapped her gavel to declare Lawrence transgender activist Iridescent Riffel out of order for asserting a vote in favor of anti-transgender bills meant the blood of children would “be on your hands.”

Landwehr didn’t hesitate to issue the expulsion order: “Please leave the room or we will escort you out.”

Mingled with those moments during the 100-minute hearing were insights from proponents and opponents of House legislation designed to curtail access by under-18 Kansans to transgender health services and medical interventions. The committee didn’t take action on the two bills subject to the House hearing.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/29/a-kansas-senator-heard-debate-on-an-anti-trans-bill-after-short-notice-for-the-public-to-prepare/">companion hearing on transgender legislation was conducted Thursday</a>&nbsp;in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Eudora Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, who serves as chair of the committee, said her desire was to “protect the children” in Kansas from medical professionals extending gender-affirming care to people under 18. Access to treatment, even if supported by parents, should be denied until the patient was an adult, she said.

Retired Nebraska physician Ivan Abdouch treated transgender individuals from Midwest states for 30 years. He said he typically didn’t appreciate government regulation of medicine, but intervention was required to protect young Kansans from gender-affirming care.

He urged the House committee to get behind legislation that would deny gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18. House Bill 2791 would characterize treatment of minor patients whose gender identity was inconsistent with sex at birth as a form of child abuse. It would authorize lawsuits against doctors or nurses who violated the proposed statute, which must still run the gauntlet in the House and Senate and deal with a likely veto by Gov. Laura Kelly.

“How can we determine with certainty the gender trajectory of a child or adolescent for their lifetime? We can’t. No one can,”‘ Abdouch said. “What are potential consequences of erroneous medical or surgical treatment? Unjustifiable, irreversible harm with lifelong effects.”

To the contrary, Wichita marriage and family therapist Asher Wickell said he was alarmed by consideration of a bill denying health care to minors. He said it was an outrage to stop state-funded insurance from covering such care and to set the stage for medical providers to be sued for caring for all their patients. He said the legislation conflicted with standards and recommendations of major medical and mental health professional associations.

“Its sweeping, intrusive demands are reckless and dangerous in their disregard for the safety and well-being of Kansas’ children and families,” Wickell said. “Simultaneously, the bill creates unresolvable legal and ethical dilemmas for mental health providers, threatening to exacerbate the profound mental health shortfalls already impacting our state.”

The majority of people offering testimony to the House committee on HB 2791 were opposed to the legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas but not in Kansas.

Bryce, who compared transgender surgery to the practice of treating depression by performing a lobotomy, told the House committee it was imperative the state forbid tax dollars from be used for “futile and unsafe gender-transition of children.” He said it was important state statute prohibit health professionals from advocating medical or surgical transitioning of a child at facilities receiving state support for treatment of psychological disorders.

He said Kansas should “move forward with what other civilized western cultures are doing” and forbid psychological treatment with “disturbing side effects” or medical intervention leaving individuals “barren or with permanently disfigured genitalia.”

Kansas Catholic Conference policy specialist Lucrecia Nold, speaking on behalf of Catholic bishops in Kansas, said the act of manipulating distinctions between men and women interfered with God’s will. Christians find identity in God through Scripture and tradition, she said. She said “divine gifts” of differences between males and females had to be nurtured in children and not subjected to assaults by those touting gender ideology.

“Allowing a person, especially a child, to participate in gender reassignment surgery or gender altering medication would be a disserve to them,” Nold said.

Jaelynn Abegg, a transgender woman from Wichita, and Anthony Alvarez, a 19-year-old transgender man and honor student at the University of Kansas, opposed the bill. Both urged legislators to consider benefits of gender-affirming care for the estimated 2,100 transgender children aged 13 to 17 in Kansas.

Their testimony made clear young Kansans would suffer or thrive based on decisions on a bill undermining the right of patients to make their own medical choices. Under the House measure, state lawmakers would weaken the concept of informed consent&nbsp; — an essential part of health care decisions that should be in the hands of patients, parents or guardians and physicians.

“Bills like HB 2791 clearly communicate this committee’s message that transgender people are not welcome here,” Abegg said. “As anti-trans bill after anti-trans bill works its way through the Legislature and to the governor’s desk, Kansas has earned a negative, high-risk or unsafe rating for gender identity policy.”

Alvarez, who has lived in Kansas for a decade, said he struggled as a child with intense anger and depression. He said that at age 15 he was was able to put a name — transgender — to discomfort that overshadowed his life. His parents were skeptical and felt out of their depth, he said. They all sought guidance from medical professionals, Alvarez said. That guidance led at age 16 to his transition as a minor in the state of Kansas.

“I was fortunate to have open-minded parents and an accepting school surrounding me when I began this process and, since then, I have grown into a young man my parents and I are proud of,” Alvarez said. “It pains me to think that the support systems that made me who I am today could be denied to other young Kansans by bills like this one. I used to believe that I would never be happy, but now I wake up every day excited and can see my future clearly — a future I hope is in the state of Kansas.”

The ACLU of Kansas raised questions about the bill’s potential violation of the Kansas Constitution, particularly the state Bill of Rights’ provision on bodily autonomy relied upon by the Kansas Supreme Court to affirm constitutional protection of abortion rights in Kansas.

Landwehr, the chairwoman of the House health committee, included in the Thursday agenda a brief hearing on a separate bill that would prohibit gender transition surgery for minors in Kansas.

Landwehr, who introduced House Bill 2792, said Kansas should make violation of the proposed ban of transgender surgery on minors an ethics infraction under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which could place professional licenses in jeopardy.

Her bill would require transgender care services and treatments in Kansas be conducted according to clinical practice guidelines specified in Wylie Hembree, a physician who died in 2022 after authoring the guide on gender care.

Kristen Satterwhite, an Overland Park mother of a 15-year-old transgender boy, said her son came out as transgender at 13. She opposed legislation forbidding gender transition surgery on minors because those decisions should be made by professionals in the field and the family involved.

“No one else,” she said. “I honestly resent that I had to take time away from my family and my responsibilities today to share my child’s private medical history with all of you, but I am very concerned that this bill will disrupt the care that we have worked so hard to secure.”

The state of Kansas had no business mandating transgender care follow guidelines published in 2017 and making it illegal for physicians to provide patients the most up-to-date care available, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709323905207.png" alt=" Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, threw several people opposed to anti-transgender bills out of a Kansas House hearing Thursday for defying ground rules for decorum. The offenses ranged from holding a protest sign to testimony declaring legislators supporting health restrictions on transgender youth would have blood on their hands when teens died. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, threw several people opposed to anti-transgender bills out of a Kansas House hearing Thursday for defying ground rules for decorum. The offenses ranged from holding a protest sign to testimony declaring legislators supporting health restrictions on transgender youth would have blood on their hands when teens died. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Doctor, politicians defend legislation viewed as a shield against child abuse</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas House Rep. Brenda Landwehr kicked the first person out of Thursday’s hearing on anti-transgender legislation for cradling a protest sign in the room.Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, bounced someone from the second row about 45 minutes later during questioning of proponents of legislation sharply restricting access by minors to gender-affirming medical care.At the outset, she had warned the standing-room-only crowd that outbursts of any kind would be unacceptable and offenders would be asked to leave or be escorted out by uniformed officers of the Capitol Police.“I said no talking, no disruption, and I meant it,” Landwehr said. “I think I was pretty plain.”During questioning of a teacher opposed to intrusion of legislators into personal lives of school children, Landwehr warned the witness not to speak over her because “if you’re talking, you’re not listening.” Near conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Landwehr slapped her gavel to declare Lawrence transgender activist Iridescent Riffel out of order for asserting a vote in favor of anti-transgender bills meant the blood of children would “be on your hands.”Landwehr didn’t hesitate to issue the expulsion order: “Please leave the room or we will escort you out.”Mingled with those moments during the 100-minute hearing were insights from proponents and opponents of House legislation designed to curtail access by under-18 Kansans to transgender health services and medical interventions. The committee didn’t take action on the two bills subject to the House hearing.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/29/a-kansas-senator-heard-debate-on-an-anti-trans-bill-after-short-notice-for-the-public-to-prepare/">companion hearing on transgender legislation was conducted Thursday</a>&nbsp;in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Eudora Republican Sen. Beverly Gossage, who serves as chair of the committee, said her desire was to “protect the children” in Kansas from medical professionals extending gender-affirming care to people under 18. Access to treatment, even if supported by parents, should be denied until the patient was an adult, she said.<h2>Unjustifiable ‘harm’</h2>Retired Nebraska physician Ivan Abdouch treated transgender individuals from Midwest states for 30 years. He said he typically didn’t appreciate government regulation of medicine, but intervention was required to protect young Kansans from gender-affirming care.He urged the House committee to get behind legislation that would deny gender-affirming medical care for anyone under 18. House Bill 2791 would characterize treatment of minor patients whose gender identity was inconsistent with sex at birth as a form of child abuse. It would authorize lawsuits against doctors or nurses who violated the proposed statute, which must still run the gauntlet in the House and Senate and deal with a likely veto by Gov. Laura Kelly.“How can we determine with certainty the gender trajectory of a child or adolescent for their lifetime? We can’t. No one can,”‘ Abdouch said. “What are potential consequences of erroneous medical or surgical treatment? Unjustifiable, irreversible harm with lifelong effects.”To the contrary, Wichita marriage and family therapist Asher Wickell said he was alarmed by consideration of a bill denying health care to minors. He said it was an outrage to stop state-funded insurance from covering such care and to set the stage for medical providers to be sued for caring for all their patients. He said the legislation conflicted with standards and recommendations of major medical and mental health professional associations.“Its sweeping, intrusive demands are reckless and dangerous in their disregard for the safety and well-being of Kansas’ children and families,” Wickell said. “Simultaneously, the bill creates unresolvable legal and ethical dilemmas for mental health providers, threatening to exacerbate the profound mental health shortfalls already impacting our state.”<h2>Texas doctor, Kansas bill</h2>The majority of people offering testimony to the House committee on HB 2791 were opposed to the legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican and physician licensed to practice medicine in Texas but not in Kansas.Bryce, who compared transgender surgery to the practice of treating depression by performing a lobotomy, told the House committee it was imperative the state forbid tax dollars from be used for “futile and unsafe gender-transition of children.” He said it was important state statute prohibit health professionals from advocating medical or surgical transitioning of a child at facilities receiving state support for treatment of psychological disorders.He said Kansas should “move forward with what other civilized western cultures are doing” and forbid psychological treatment with “disturbing side effects” or medical intervention leaving individuals “barren or with permanently disfigured genitalia.”Kansas Catholic Conference policy specialist Lucrecia Nold, speaking on behalf of Catholic bishops in Kansas, said the act of manipulating distinctions between men and women interfered with God’s will. Christians find identity in God through Scripture and tradition, she said. She said “divine gifts” of differences between males and females had to be nurtured in children and not subjected to assaults by those touting gender ideology.“Allowing a person, especially a child, to participate in gender reassignment surgery or gender altering medication would be a disserve to them,” Nold said.<h2>Walk in my shoes</h2>Jaelynn Abegg, a transgender woman from Wichita, and Anthony Alvarez, a 19-year-old transgender man and honor student at the University of Kansas, opposed the bill. Both urged legislators to consider benefits of gender-affirming care for the estimated 2,100 transgender children aged 13 to 17 in Kansas.Their testimony made clear young Kansans would suffer or thrive based on decisions on a bill undermining the right of patients to make their own medical choices. Under the House measure, state lawmakers would weaken the concept of informed consent&nbsp; — an essential part of health care decisions that should be in the hands of patients, parents or guardians and physicians.“Bills like HB 2791 clearly communicate this committee’s message that transgender people are not welcome here,” Abegg said. “As anti-trans bill after anti-trans bill works its way through the Legislature and to the governor’s desk, Kansas has earned a negative, high-risk or unsafe rating for gender identity policy.”Alvarez, who has lived in Kansas for a decade, said he struggled as a child with intense anger and depression. He said that at age 15 he was was able to put a name — transgender — to discomfort that overshadowed his life. His parents were skeptical and felt out of their depth, he said. They all sought guidance from medical professionals, Alvarez said. That guidance led at age 16 to his transition as a minor in the state of Kansas.“I was fortunate to have open-minded parents and an accepting school surrounding me when I began this process and, since then, I have grown into a young man my parents and I are proud of,” Alvarez said. “It pains me to think that the support systems that made me who I am today could be denied to other young Kansans by bills like this one. I used to believe that I would never be happy, but now I wake up every day excited and can see my future clearly — a future I hope is in the state of Kansas.”The ACLU of Kansas raised questions about the bill’s potential violation of the Kansas Constitution, particularly the state Bill of Rights’ provision on bodily autonomy relied upon by the Kansas Supreme Court to affirm constitutional protection of abortion rights in Kansas.<h2>No minor surgery</h2>Landwehr, the chairwoman of the House health committee, included in the Thursday agenda a brief hearing on a separate bill that would prohibit gender transition surgery for minors in Kansas.Landwehr, who introduced House Bill 2792, said Kansas should make violation of the proposed ban of transgender surgery on minors an ethics infraction under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which could place professional licenses in jeopardy.Her bill would require transgender care services and treatments in Kansas be conducted according to clinical practice guidelines specified in Wylie Hembree, a physician who died in 2022 after authoring the guide on gender care.Kristen Satterwhite, an Overland Park mother of a 15-year-old transgender boy, said her son came out as transgender at 13. She opposed legislation forbidding gender transition surgery on minors because those decisions should be made by professionals in the field and the family involved.“No one else,” she said. “I honestly resent that I had to take time away from my family and my responsibilities today to share my child’s private medical history with all of you, but I am very concerned that this bill will disrupt the care that we have worked so hard to secure.”The state of Kansas had no business mandating transgender care follow guidelines published in 2017 and making it illegal for physicians to provide patients the most up-to-date care available, she said.

Critics of Kan. bills blocking transgender medical care to minors tossed from House hearing

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

With the exception of a few loyalists wearing purple and white on Thursday night, the entire state of Kansas counted Southeast of Saline out in their semifinal matchup with Hesston.

The three-time defending 3A state champs were the top seed in the bracket, came in with a pristine 17-3 record, and had already dominated Southeast once in a 49-32 season opener victory.

Some already had the Swathers penciled in for a final with Santa Fe Trail on Saturday.

“We haven’t been in this position for a few years where nobody expects us to win,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Nobody expected us to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the state but our guys didn’t listen to any of that, they believe they belong and that can be dangerous.”

This game was a dogfight right from the start, and Hesston delivered the first punch, taking a 12-3 lead off the starting line, but the Trojans battled back to cut the lead to two at the end of the first quarter.

Amidst a second-quarter run, with 3:31 remaining in the half Owen Bailey splashed a three from the left wing to give the Trojans their first lead since the opening minutes and Southeast slammed the gas to take a nine-point lead into the break.

“We knew at halftime that they weren’t going away,” Flax said. “It’s embedded in their program that those guys are winners but I thought we did a good job of staying the course and battling on every possession in the second half.”

Southeast tightened the screws defensively in the third quarter, holding Hesston to just three made field goals and extending their lead to ten, a lead they would hold on to win by at the final buzzer.

“We told the guys that every possession was going to be a battle and you have to win more of those than Hesston does,” Flax said. “We started off a little slow and a little soft but once we settled in man we competed and it was so fun to see those guys battle for four quarters.”

Six different Trojans recorded a bucket in the win, led by Gannon Jacobson (16), Owen Bailey (12), Daniel Kejr (9) and Omar Calzada (9).

On the other side Adrian Hernandez (14) and Jackson Fry (10) were the leading scorers for the Swathers, but it wasn’t enough as Hesston’s season draws to a close at 18-4.

The Trojans meanwhile, move to 13-9, and earn a date with Santa Fe Trail in the sub-state championship game on their own home floor this Saturday.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>With the exception of a few loyalists wearing purple and white on Thursday night, the entire state of Kansas counted Southeast of Saline out in their semifinal matchup with Hesston.The three-time defending 3A state champs were the top seed in the bracket, came in with a pristine 17-3 record, and had already dominated Southeast once in a 49-32 season opener victory.Some already had the Swathers penciled in for a final with Santa Fe Trail on Saturday.The Trojans had other plans.“We haven’t been in this position for a few years where nobody expects us to win,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Nobody expected us to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the state but our guys didn’t listen to any of that, they believe they belong and that can be dangerous.”This game was a dogfight right from the start, and Hesston delivered the first punch, taking a 12-3 lead off the starting line, but the Trojans battled back to cut the lead to two at the end of the first quarter.Amidst a second-quarter run, with 3:31 remaining in the half Owen Bailey splashed a three from the left wing to give the Trojans their first lead since the opening minutes and Southeast slammed the gas to take a nine-point lead into the break.“We knew at halftime that they weren’t going away,” Flax said. “It’s embedded in their program that those guys are winners but I thought we did a good job of staying the course and battling on every possession in the second half.”Southeast tightened the screws defensively in the third quarter, holding Hesston to just three made field goals and extending their lead to ten, a lead they would hold on to win by at the final buzzer.“We told the guys that every possession was going to be a battle and you have to win more of those than Hesston does,” Flax said. “We started off a little slow and a little soft but once we settled in man we competed and it was so fun to see those guys battle for four quarters.”Six different Trojans recorded a bucket in the win, led by Gannon Jacobson (16), Owen Bailey (12), Daniel Kejr (9) and Omar Calzada (9).On the other side Adrian Hernandez (14) and Jackson Fry (10) were the leading scorers for the Swathers, but it wasn’t enough as Hesston’s season draws to a close at 18-4.The Trojans meanwhile, move to 13-9, and earn a date with Santa Fe Trail in the sub-state championship game on their own home floor this Saturday.

Trojans Shock Swathers in Semifinal Upset

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — More than 1,000 child care providers and stakeholders from all 105 Kansas counties urged lawmakers to channel more money into the state’s overwhelmed child care programs.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=all">Child care data</a>&nbsp;in the state suggests only 46% of children in Kansas are receiving child care services, and that an additional 85,000 child care slots are needed to meet demand.&nbsp;

To alleviate some of the financial strain faced by providers, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly introduced a $56 million allocation as part of her proposed budget for<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-announces-fiscal-year-2025-budget/">&nbsp;fiscal year 2025</a>.&nbsp;The funding includes nearly $30 million for the construction of child care facilities and $5 million for a northwest Kansas pilot program seeking to test practices for public-private child care partnerships in rural areas.&nbsp;

Another $15 million will go toward workforce grants to support child care providers struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2025, the money would provide an estimated 3,500 child care organizations with $4,000 grants.

Child care providers and stakeholders signed onto a letter supporting the allocation, calling the move a critical economic development and one that would bolster struggling Kansas families.&nbsp;

“Too many Kansas families are struggling with the high costs of child care,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2024/02/27/file_attachments/2796444/Kansas%20Early%20Childhood%20Sign-On%20Letter.pdf">the letter reads</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Investing in early childhood programs included in the budget will make child care more affordable and more available in communities from Kansas City to Garden City. …We need to invest in early childhood education to make sure all Kansas kids get started on the right track.”&nbsp;

Lawmakers in the Republican-majority Legislature will go through budget items before sending the budget back to Kelly. If enacted, this allocation would be the largest single-year investment in early childhood care and education in Kansas history, according to the governor’s office.&nbsp;

“Early childhood providers are essential to preparing our children for lifelong success and know how critical it is to invest in our state’s early childhood system,” Kelly said in a Wednesday statement. “Legislators should listen to these experts and approve the crucial budget proposals needed to expand access to child care, support our working families and businesses, and grow our economy.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685738907816.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;File photo-Child care system slots may increase under new funding provisions.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;File photo-Child care system slots may increase under new funding provisions.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — More than 1,000 child care providers and stakeholders from all 105 Kansas counties urged lawmakers to channel more money into the state’s overwhelmed child care programs.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stage.worklifesystems.com/Kansas?county=all">Child care data</a>&nbsp;in the state suggests only 46% of children in Kansas are receiving child care services, and that an additional 85,000 child care slots are needed to meet demand.&nbsp;To alleviate some of the financial strain faced by providers, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly introduced a $56 million allocation as part of her proposed budget for<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-announces-fiscal-year-2025-budget/">&nbsp;fiscal year 2025</a>.&nbsp;The funding includes nearly $30 million for the construction of child care facilities and $5 million for a northwest Kansas pilot program seeking to test practices for public-private child care partnerships in rural areas.&nbsp;Another $15 million will go toward workforce grants to support child care providers struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2025, the money would provide an estimated 3,500 child care organizations with $4,000 grants.Child care providers and stakeholders signed onto a letter supporting the allocation, calling the move a critical economic development and one that would bolster struggling Kansas families.&nbsp;“Too many Kansas families are struggling with the high costs of child care,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2024/02/27/file_attachments/2796444/Kansas%20Early%20Childhood%20Sign-On%20Letter.pdf">the letter reads</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Investing in early childhood programs included in the budget will make child care more affordable and more available in communities from Kansas City to Garden City. …We need to invest in early childhood education to make sure all Kansas kids get started on the right track.”&nbsp;Lawmakers in the Republican-majority Legislature will go through budget items before sending the budget back to Kelly. If enacted, this allocation would be the largest single-year investment in early childhood care and education in Kansas history, according to the governor’s office.&nbsp;“Early childhood providers are essential to preparing our children for lifelong success and know how critical it is to invest in our state’s early childhood system,” Kelly said in a Wednesday statement. “Legislators should listen to these experts and approve the crucial budget proposals needed to expand access to child care, support our working families and businesses, and grow our economy.”&nbsp;

‘Families are struggling’: Kansas child care providers ask for funding increase

Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.910kina.com/">910AM 107.5 FM.</a>

Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KINA&amp;embedOpened=true&amp;embedOpenedApp=song&amp;embedOpenedSong=910683and6831076845683KINA&amp;embedOpenedArtist=&amp;embedOpenedAlbum=">here.</a>&nbsp;

9:05 a.m.&nbsp; Linn Exline, USD 305, Superintendent of Schools on the new USD 305 school safety video

9:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jenni Jones and Bill Taylor from Presbyterian Manner for a Villas update

10:05 a.m. Vickee Spicer, executive director of the Prairieland Market gives an update on the market's move to downtown Salina

10:30 a.m.&nbsp; Kelly Hall, Hall Contracting on good things they have done for the community and around the world

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625885773462.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTJoin 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.910kina.com/">910AM 107.5 FM.</a>Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KINA&amp;embedOpened=true&amp;embedOpenedApp=song&amp;embedOpenedSong=910683and6831076845683KINA&amp;embedOpenedArtist=&amp;embedOpenedAlbum=">here.</a>&nbsp;9:05 a.m.&nbsp; Linn Exline, USD 305, Superintendent of Schools on the new USD 305 school safety video9:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jenni Jones and Bill Taylor from Presbyterian Manner for a Villas update10:05 a.m. Vickee Spicer, executive director of the Prairieland Market gives an update on the market's move to downtown Salina10:30 a.m.&nbsp; Kelly Hall, Hall Contracting on good things they have done for the community and around the world

910KINA Saturday Morning Show Lineup

By NATE KING Salina Post

On Monday, Salina City commissioners entered an agreement with Kansas City-based firm&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wskfarch.com/firm-profile/">WSKF Architects&nbsp;</a>for design and professional services for the relocated Fire Station Four. The contract listed WSKF's service cost for Phase II at $629,120.

"The relocation and rebuilding of Fire Station Four has been included in the City's long-range capital improvement plan since 2014 or maybe even before then," said Jason Wood, Deputy City Manager.

Phase One of the project, completed by WSKF, includes:

● Schematic Design (selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment)

● Development approval services (survey, platting/zoning, drainage study)

During the meeting, commissioners agreed to move forward with Phase Two of the project to relocate and replace the firehouse currently located at 669 Briarcliffe Road to its new location at Crawford St. and Markley Road.

With the completion of Phase One, for $147,760, WSKF begins Phase Two, which includes the following key items:

● Architectural Design for design development

● Post Occupancy services, including warranty monitoring

The 2020 budget detailed an initial estimated project cost of about $5 million. In 2021, the city added the project to the 2022-2026 capital improvement plan at the same price. When city staff began creating the preliminary design, they recognized that due to the time that had passed since the original estimates, the project would be closer to $10 million.&nbsp;

Commissioner Hoppock said he felt "sticker shock" after seeing the increase in the overall project cost.

"Obviously, it's a little bit of a sticker shock as to where we were when we started," Hoppock said. "We can have a philosophical discussion about, would it [project costs] be more or would it be less in a year or two because of the demand for construction right now."

LISTEN MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c14c2f3e-49cf-4d68-a9ff-d63b936a3438">🎙King in the Community: Salina Fire update with Chief Tony Sneidar</a>

According to WSKF Architect Doug Boe, the project is estimated to cost $479 per square foot, which aligns with the cost per square foot of similar projects that WSKF has completed.&nbsp;

"The range for square footage is actually a real reasonable range from what we're seeing," Boe said. " It depends on which market. Kansas City runs a little higher, typically per square foot."

Boe said that in the post-pandemic world, rising construction costs over the past three years are starting to level out but not decreasing.&nbsp;

City of Salina documents note that Garden City recently approved the construction of a similar fire station for $465 per square foot.

Toward the end of 2023, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff and the Community Art and Design Committee began working with Fire Department leadership by establishing a site committee to advise on the possible locations of the new fire station and the functions of art and design elements.

The site committee members are neighborhood residents, project stakeholders, firefighters, a representative liaison from the Community Art &amp; Design Advisory Committee and architects with WSKF.

In an effort to keep costs at a reasonable level, in Dec. of 2023, the site committee determined that it could make design modifications to reduce the project's overall cost.&nbsp;

● Eliminating a display area for an antique fire truck

The reductions resulted in a schematic design and a construction cost of approximately $9.4 million. Wood provided reasons for why the site committee decided to make reductions to the training room.&nbsp;

"The city has many facilities that can host classroom-style training," Wood said. "It's not like training space out on a ladder or a tower or anything like that. So, for a million dollars, the city has a lot of other training places that we could go to for that."

LISTEN MORE:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://salinapost.com/posts/140e87e1-d32a-4194-a588-a1835fa6f5e9">🎙King in the Community: Salina Mayor, Bill Longbine</a>

In the 2024 budget, city finance office staff included debt financing for this $10 million, or $402,000 annually, project supported by the current property tax levy.

City staff also recommended to commissioners that an additional $1 million be added to the project to account for the increased cost, making the project's total cost $11 million.

Staff believes the current mill levy could finance the additional $1 million debt, $75,000 annually; however, if more levied property tax is needed, the annual cost of approximately $75,000 per year would be an additional .14 mills&nbsp;

In 2007, the City of Salina adopted a community art and design policy. This policy was last updated in 2019 and included guidelines for art and design elements for selected capital improvement projects.&nbsp;

"When we started with the community art design approach, there was a presumption that pretty much every project would get 5 percent of the project dedicated to the arts," said Mike Schrage, Salina City Manager. "There's been very few, and for quite some time, we've identified the fire station as kind of a community amenity that needs to show well, not to say that this design doesn't do that, but I think there was kind of a recognition of being selective about which projects to attach community art to."&nbsp;

Brad Anderson, executive director for Salina Arts and Humanities, informed commissioners about a stand-alone art option.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708725680505.jpeg" alt="Salina City Commission" />
 <figcaption>Salina City Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostOn Monday, Salina City commissioners entered an agreement with Kansas City-based firm&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wskfarch.com/firm-profile/">WSKF Architects&nbsp;</a>for design and professional services for the relocated Fire Station Four. The contract listed WSKF's service cost for Phase II at $629,120."The relocation and rebuilding of Fire Station Four has been included in the City's long-range capital improvement plan since 2014 or maybe even before then," said Jason Wood, Deputy City Manager.Phase One of the project, completed by WSKF, includes:● Space programming● Schematic Design (selection of furniture, fixtures and equipment)● Development approval services (survey, platting/zoning, drainage study)● Cost estimatesDuring the meeting, commissioners agreed to move forward with Phase Two of the project to relocate and replace the firehouse currently located at 669 Briarcliffe Road to its new location at Crawford St. and Markley Road.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709167550243.png" alt="Future location for Fire Station Four Image Courtesy WSKF" />
 <figcaption>Future location for Fire Station Four Image Courtesy WSKF</figcaption>
 </figure>With the completion of Phase One, for $147,760, WSKF begins Phase Two, which includes the following key items:● Architectural Design for design development● Construction Documents● Bidding/Negotiations of the project● Construction Administration● Post Occupancy services, including warranty monitoringThe 2020 budget detailed an initial estimated project cost of about $5 million. In 2021, the city added the project to the 2022-2026 capital improvement plan at the same price. When city staff began creating the preliminary design, they recognized that due to the time that had passed since the original estimates, the project would be closer to $10 million.&nbsp;Commissioner Hoppock said he felt "sticker shock" after seeing the increase in the overall project cost."Obviously, it's a little bit of a sticker shock as to where we were when we started," Hoppock said. "We can have a philosophical discussion about, would it [project costs] be more or would it be less in a year or two because of the demand for construction right now."LISTEN MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c14c2f3e-49cf-4d68-a9ff-d63b936a3438">🎙King in the Community: Salina Fire update with Chief Tony Sneidar</a>According to WSKF Architect Doug Boe, the project is estimated to cost $479 per square foot, which aligns with the cost per square foot of similar projects that WSKF has completed.&nbsp;"The range for square footage is actually a real reasonable range from what we're seeing," Boe said. " It depends on which market. Kansas City runs a little higher, typically per square foot."Boe said that in the post-pandemic world, rising construction costs over the past three years are starting to level out but not decreasing.&nbsp;City of Salina documents note that Garden City recently approved the construction of a similar fire station for $465 per square foot.Toward the end of 2023, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff and the Community Art and Design Committee began working with Fire Department leadership by establishing a site committee to advise on the possible locations of the new fire station and the functions of art and design elements.The site committee members are neighborhood residents, project stakeholders, firefighters, a representative liaison from the Community Art &amp; Design Advisory Committee and architects with WSKF.In an effort to keep costs at a reasonable level, in Dec. of 2023, the site committee determined that it could make design modifications to reduce the project's overall cost.&nbsp;Areas reduced in size include:● The classroom-style training room● Eliminating a display area for an antique fire truck● The data room● Some living spaceThe reductions resulted in a schematic design and a construction cost of approximately $9.4 million. Wood provided reasons for why the site committee decided to make reductions to the training room.&nbsp;"The city has many facilities that can host classroom-style training," Wood said. "It's not like training space out on a ladder or a tower or anything like that. So, for a million dollars, the city has a lot of other training places that we could go to for that."LISTEN MORE:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://salinapost.com/posts/140e87e1-d32a-4194-a588-a1835fa6f5e9">🎙King in the Community: Salina Mayor, Bill Longbine</a>In the 2024 budget, city finance office staff included debt financing for this $10 million, or $402,000 annually, project supported by the current property tax levy. City staff also recommended to commissioners that an additional $1 million be added to the project to account for the increased cost, making the project's total cost $11 million.Staff believes the current mill levy could finance the additional $1 million debt, $75,000 annually; however, if more levied property tax is needed, the annual cost of approximately $75,000 per year would be an additional .14 mills&nbsp;<h2>Possible public art at Fire Station Four</h2>In 2007, the City of Salina adopted a community art and design policy. This policy was last updated in 2019 and included guidelines for art and design elements for selected capital improvement projects.&nbsp;"When we started with the community art design approach, there was a presumption that pretty much every project would get 5 percent of the project dedicated to the arts," said Mike Schrage, Salina City Manager. "There's been very few, and for quite some time, we've identified the fire station as kind of a community amenity that needs to show well, not to say that this design doesn't do that, but I think there was kind of a recognition of being selective about which projects to attach community art to."&nbsp;Brad Anderson, executive director for Salina Arts and Humanities, informed commissioners about a stand-alone art option."In this process of discovery, with WSKF and with the site committee, being both respectful of limited budgets and so on, to put a $400,000 amount on there sounds exorbitant, especially when there are value engineering decisions that have been made," Anderson said. "This is meant to be an opportunity for you [commissioners] to make an informed decision of what percentage, if you choose to include any art and design component with this, that's your prerogative, and if so, to be able to let you know what a $400,000 component might mean, as opposed to something smaller."As the project continues into the subsequent phases, Anderson said with 4.5 percent of the overall budget, the site committee could provide commissioners with additional direction.&nbsp;"We'd be able to, with your direction, say we're really interested in a standalone 'beacon of peace' on the eastern edge of town," Anderson said.A standalone art piece isn't the only option available. Anderson said previous capital projects, like the Salina Fieldhouse, have integrated artwork into the overall project design.&nbsp;"We've been able to work very successfully with architects and designers over the years with a smaller budget," Anderson said. "The Fieldhouse as an example. I think we were allotted up to $170,000 or so we were able to help meet a need of the architects to create some shade for that building with an integrated piece of art and design that also served a function that was part of the budget for construction already."Salina Vice-Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz said although he is a fan of art, his mindset on this issue is more pragmatic.&nbsp;"This is a public safety facility. It's going to be a flagship facility for quite a while," Greg said. "I just would hate to see 10 years from now, we look back and forth on this [and decide] that we didn't do more. I like the art concept, and I'm not saying I'm completely against it — it's just that I feel my mindset is a little bit more pragmatic when it applies to a public safety department."Salina Fire Chief Tony Sneidar, who joined Monday's meeting via Zoom, said he and other Salina firefighters support the desire to include public art.&nbsp;"Arts and Humanities, the city folks, and the site committee that is involved in these discussions, as well as more than a couple of firefighters, one being myself and two others, we believe, as Mr. Anderson is right, this is going to be a gateway into Salina. We feel that it should be somewhat impactful to say, 'This is Salina' this isn't just the Salina Fire Department.""We're happy to have both the site committee and Crystal Hammerschmidt on our staff lead that effort with the architects and designers to say, 'City Commission is authorizing this amount of money with a desire for us to integrate art and design elements into the architecture of the facility that would make both citizens proud that firefighters to see their values reflected and for you all to give the direction you need in terms of your tolerance for the budget," Anderson said.&nbsp;Wood informed commissioners they could decide whether to approve the $11 million project and revisit the amount allocated for artwork later."All of this is going to have to come back to you [the commission] before final approval. I don't think there's any way we're going to sneak some art by you without it being brought back for your consideration," Schrage said.&nbsp;Salina City Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the project. According to a schedule provided by WSKF, construction will begin in the Fall of 2024 and be completed in early 2026.&nbsp;