KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs' coordinators and safety Tyrann Mathieu fielded media questions today. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs' coordinators and safety Tyrann Mathieu fielded media questions today. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F809799649569739%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥Kansas City Chiefs' coordinators, Mathieu talk football Thursday

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor

The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team (3-4) will travel to Beloit (0-2) for part one of the annual Trojan War.

The Lady Trojans are coming off a hard fought battle against fourth ranked Clay Center on Tuesday.

“We did a really good job of attacking them and controlling the game for the first three quarters,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “But we had five straight unforced turnovers which really let them rip the game open late.”

A big win over a rival like Beloit would go a long way towards establishing momentum as the team heads to the Sterling Invitational next week.

“I think for the girls Beloit has always been a big rivalry game and they’re ready to play,” Smith said. “We also understand that after a loss like the one we just had we really want to go into our tournament with a win.”

Beloit has played in just two games this season, falling to 1-6 Ellsworth and 3-4 Hoisington. But the lack of Beloit’s 2020 experience creates its own unique challenges for SES.

“This is probably the most unprepared that we’ve been going into a game since the first game of the year since Beloit only has two games worth of film,” she said.

The Trojans of Beloit are led by Porsche Cooper, a six-foot senior who will challenge Southeast under the rim.&nbsp;

Cooper is averaging a double-double on the year with 14 points and 13 rebounds per game.

“This won’t be an easy game by any means,” Smith said. “Beloit lost a lot of pieces from last season and is probably still trying to find their identity but they’ve always been a good program and they’re very well coached.”

Tip off between SES and Beloit is scheduled for 6:00 from Beloit High School. You can listen live on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or watch the stream on Salina Post courtesy of Salina Ortho.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This game preview is brought to you by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This game preview is brought to you by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team (3-4) will travel to Beloit (0-2) for part one of the annual Trojan War.The Lady Trojans are coming off a hard fought battle against fourth ranked Clay Center on Tuesday.“We did a really good job of attacking them and controlling the game for the first three quarters,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “But we had five straight unforced turnovers which really let them rip the game open late.”A big win over a rival like Beloit would go a long way towards establishing momentum as the team heads to the Sterling Invitational next week.“I think for the girls Beloit has always been a big rivalry game and they’re ready to play,” Smith said. “We also understand that after a loss like the one we just had we really want to go into our tournament with a win.”Beloit has played in just two games this season, falling to 1-6 Ellsworth and 3-4 Hoisington. But the lack of Beloit’s 2020 experience creates its own unique challenges for SES.“This is probably the most unprepared that we’ve been going into a game since the first game of the year since Beloit only has two games worth of film,” she said.The Trojans of Beloit are led by Porsche Cooper, a six-foot senior who will challenge Southeast under the rim.&nbsp;Cooper is averaging a double-double on the year with 14 points and 13 rebounds per game.“This won’t be an easy game by any means,” Smith said. “Beloit lost a lot of pieces from last season and is probably still trying to find their identity but they’ve always been a good program and they’re very well coached.”Tip off between SES and Beloit is scheduled for 6:00 from Beloit High School. You can listen live on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) or watch the stream on Salina Post courtesy of Salina Ortho.

Lady Trojans travel to Beloit for game one of Trojan War

One time, Mama Hogan looked at me and said, “Christopher”—she had my attention when she said my full name— “I don’t ever want you to be a ‘been’ brother.” I said, “Huh?” She explained: “A coulda been, shoulda been, woulda been kind of person. You have an opportunity to change some things and make progress.”

Listen up, people. We’ve all been “been brothers” from time to time—wishing we’d done things differently or beating ourselves up for past mistakes. And there’s one area we carry a lot of regret: money. Maybe you’re looking at your financial situation and starting to get upset. You might be thinking,&nbsp;There’s got to be a better way than this.

Here’s the good news. The new year is like turning a blank page. If you wake up with breath in your lungs, you’ve got an opportunity to do a little bit better than the day before. All you’ve got to do is decide to change. To help you with a fresh start, here are five ways you can reset your money goals in 2021.

What do you want to accomplish by changing your money habits? Is this the year you finally become debt-free? Are you saving up for college for your kids? Are you getting serious about funding your dream retirement? Take some time to dream in high definition about your goals so you can have something concrete to work toward.

Get your bank statements out (even if it hurts to look at them), and take a long, hard look at where you’re spending money. When I finally got serious about controlling my money and making a budget, I went through all my bank statements and I asked myself:&nbsp;Where is my money actually going?&nbsp;Guess what? It was going to the grocery store—those places were getting rich off me. I was spending $1,2000 every single month on groceries! I wouldn’t have realized that if I’d just kept cruising along on autopilot, not paying attention to where I was spending my hard-earned income.

A zero-based budget is, hands down, the best way to budget. It’s a method of planning your spending at the beginning of every month so that your total income minus your total expenses equals zero. It means you give every dollar a job to do in the budget. And once you’ve made your budget, I want you to really pay attention and track your spending by keeping a record of your transactions throughout the month.

If you’ve got consumer debt, build up an emergency fund of $1,000 to act as a buffer between you and life. Once you’re out of debt, though, build that emergency fund up to have enough money in savings to cover a 3 to 6 months of expenses. That way, you can pay cash for life’s emergencies instead of turning to debt.

I like to tell people that building wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. Since it’s a long-term game, it’s important to track your progress along the way. I want you to visualize and celebrate the small wins so you stay fired up for the long haul. We have a great tool called Ramsey+ that will help you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/ramsey-plus" target="_blank">track your progress</a>—whether it’s getting out of debt, saving an emergency fund, or investing.

I believe in you. And I know you can make 2021 your best year yet!

Chris Hogan&nbsp;is a two-time No. 1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of&nbsp;The Chris Hogan Show. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, and the&nbsp;Rachael Ray Show.&nbsp;Since 2005, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, where he gives practical money advice on retirement, investing and building wealth. Follow Chris on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/chrishogan360" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrishogan360/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrishogan360" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisHogan360" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chrishogan360.com/" target="_blank">chrishogan360.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1598993777573.jpeg" alt="Chris Hogan" />
 <figcaption>Chris Hogan</figcaption>
 </figure>By CHRIS HOGANOne time, Mama Hogan looked at me and said, “Christopher”—she had my attention when she said my full name— “I don’t ever want you to be a ‘been’ brother.” I said, “Huh?” She explained: “A coulda been, shoulda been, woulda been kind of person. You have an opportunity to change some things and make progress.”Listen up, people. We’ve all been “been brothers” from time to time—wishing we’d done things differently or beating ourselves up for past mistakes. And there’s one area we carry a lot of regret: money. Maybe you’re looking at your financial situation and starting to get upset. You might be thinking,&nbsp;There’s got to be a better way than this.Here’s the good news. The new year is like turning a blank page. If you wake up with breath in your lungs, you’ve got an opportunity to do a little bit better than the day before. All you’ve got to do is decide to change. To help you with a fresh start, here are five ways you can reset your money goals in 2021.1. Start with the end in mindWhat do you want to accomplish by changing your money habits? Is this the year you finally become debt-free? Are you saving up for college for your kids? Are you getting serious about funding your dream retirement? Take some time to dream in high definition about your goals so you can have something concrete to work toward.2. Evaluate your spending habitsGet your bank statements out (even if it hurts to look at them), and take a long, hard look at where you’re spending money. When I finally got serious about controlling my money and making a budget, I went through all my bank statements and I asked myself:&nbsp;Where is my money actually going?&nbsp;Guess what? It was going to the grocery store—those places were getting rich off me. I was spending $1,2000 every single month on groceries! I wouldn’t have realized that if I’d just kept cruising along on autopilot, not paying attention to where I was spending my hard-earned income.3. Make a zero-based budgetA zero-based budget is, hands down, the best way to budget. It’s a method of planning your spending at the beginning of every month so that your total income minus your total expenses equals zero. It means you give every dollar a job to do in the budget. And once you’ve made your budget, I want you to really pay attention and track your spending by keeping a record of your transactions throughout the month.4. Beef up your emergency fundIf you’ve got consumer debt, build up an emergency fund of $1,000 to act as a buffer between you and life. Once you’re out of debt, though, build that emergency fund up to have enough money in savings to cover a 3 to 6 months of expenses. That way, you can pay cash for life’s emergencies instead of turning to debt.5. Track your progressI like to tell people that building wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. Since it’s a long-term game, it’s important to track your progress along the way. I want you to visualize and celebrate the small wins so you stay fired up for the long haul. We have a great tool called Ramsey+ that will help you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/ramsey-plus" target="_blank">track your progress</a>—whether it’s getting out of debt, saving an emergency fund, or investing.I believe in you. And I know you can make 2021 your best year yet!Chris Hogan&nbsp;is a two-time No. 1 national best-selling author, financial expert and host of&nbsp;The Chris Hogan Show. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, and the&nbsp;Rachael Ray Show.&nbsp;Since 2005, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, where he gives practical money advice on retirement, investing and building wealth. Follow Chris on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/chrishogan360" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrishogan360/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrishogan360" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisHogan360" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chrishogan360.com/" target="_blank">chrishogan360.com</a>.

HOGAN: Starting over; 5 ways to reset your money goals in 2021

A Missouri Farm Bureau spokesman says agricultural interests hope former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will have quite a bit of influence when he resumes his old job under President-elect Joe Biden.

Eric Bohl says it has been interesting to see Biden call on members of the former Obama Administration to join his team, saying Vilsack is a key appointment for agriculture.

“Secretary Vilsack had a little better understanding of rural America than I think a lot of the other people in that (Obama) administration did,” Bohl tells KFEQ Agriculture Director Dione Bertling.

 “He is the former governor of Iowa. He has worked in the ag industry for many years and seems to have a little bit better understanding about what is important for us, especially on the trade front.”

Bohl says trade is vital to agriculture and he hopes the Biden Administration will seek expanded trade opportunities.

Vilsack, the former Iowa governor, served all eight years under President Obama. Biden persuaded Vilsack, who is 70 years old, to leave a lucrative job in the private sector to return as the head of the USDA.

Bohl says it eases the concerns agriculture has about the incoming administration that Biden spent years as a senator before becoming Vice President and then winning the presidency.

“He will have a different approach than someone who is fresh out of governorship or someone who was like President Trump who had never served in government before,” according to Bohl. “Of course, his past experience is going to influence him. Now, exactly what that means, I don’t know if we can predict that. I think we’ll have to wait and see.”

Biden says he hopes the reports are true that Vilsack has a close relationship with Biden.

“He’s someone President-elect Biden really respects and listens to as a voice of rural states and rural reason,” Bohl says. “Unfortunately, there doesn’t look like there’s going to be a lot of other voices, rural state voices, that are in the cabinet.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA Missouri Farm Bureau spokesman says agricultural interests hope former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will have quite a bit of influence when he resumes his old job under President-elect Joe Biden.Eric Bohl says it has been interesting to see Biden call on members of the former Obama Administration to join his team, saying Vilsack is a key appointment for agriculture.“Secretary Vilsack had a little better understanding of rural America than I think a lot of the other people in that (Obama) administration did,” Bohl tells KFEQ Agriculture Director Dione Bertling. “He is the former governor of Iowa. He has worked in the ag industry for many years and seems to have a little bit better understanding about what is important for us, especially on the trade front.”Bohl says trade is vital to agriculture and he hopes the Biden Administration will seek expanded trade opportunities.Vilsack, the former Iowa governor, served all eight years under President Obama. Biden persuaded Vilsack, who is 70 years old, to leave a lucrative job in the private sector to return as the head of the USDA.Bohl says it eases the concerns agriculture has about the incoming administration that Biden spent years as a senator before becoming Vice President and then winning the presidency.“He will have a different approach than someone who is fresh out of governorship or someone who was like President Trump who had never served in government before,” according to Bohl. “Of course, his past experience is going to influence him. Now, exactly what that means, I don’t know if we can predict that. I think we’ll have to wait and see.”Biden says he hopes the reports are true that Vilsack has a close relationship with Biden.“He’s someone President-elect Biden really respects and listens to as a voice of rural states and rural reason,” Bohl says. “Unfortunately, there doesn’t look like there’s going to be a lot of other voices, rural state voices, that are in the cabinet.”

Choice of Vilsack eases concerns some farmers have about Biden administration

&nbsp; Tina Louise Rivera, 62, of Mcpherson, Kansas, passed away at 6:28 p.m., Monday, January 11th, 2021 suddenly, at McPherson Hospital . Tina was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 27, 1958, a daughter of Otis Norman and Muriel Louise (Jackson) Hubbard. Tina attended PS 55 grade school, Andrew Middle School, Bronx, New York Through the years Tina worked as a secretary for a law firm in New York, Disability Support as a direct staff care person, was a para at Washington Grade School and then retired from MCDS as a Job Coach Supervisor, all in McPherson, Kansas. Tina enjoyed cooking, loved her clients, was a good listener, a head strong individual, loved to talk and loved spending time with her friends and family, especially her granddaughter. Tina Louise Hubbard was in a bliss union with Horace Rodger Kirkland in Bronx, New York. This union was blessed with the birth of a son, D'sean Kirkland. Then Tina was united in marriage to Manuel E. Rivera on May 6, 2008 in McPherson, Kansas. The couple established their first home together in McPherson. She is survived by her husband Manny E. Rivera, of Mcpherson; her son, D'Sean and his wife Aisha Kirkland, of McPherson, Kansas; his siblings, Charlene Williams, of Bronx, New York, Norman Hubbard, of Bronx, New York, Karen Anderson, of Bronx, New York, Emanuel Roman and his wife Jessica, of San Diego, California, Carl Anderson and his wife Ebony, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Cory Anderson, of Bronx, New York, Crystal Smith, of Bronx, New York, Greg Anderson, of Upstate, New York, Sherise Anderson, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tasha Smith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gene Anderson and his wife Krystal, of Connecticut, New York and her mother-in-law, Anna Rivera Gomez and her husband Pedro, of McPherson, Kansas. She is also survived by granddaughter, Tianne Kirkland Tina was preceded in death by parents A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas with Pastor Jon Black officiating. Burial will be at McPherson Cemetery, McPherson, Kansas with Pastor James Hollis officiating. Memorials are to the Tina Rivera Memorial Fund and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home; 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson, Ks. 67460.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; Tina Louise Rivera, 62, of Mcpherson, Kansas, passed away at 6:28 p.m., Monday, January 11th, 2021 suddenly, at McPherson Hospital . Tina was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 27, 1958, a daughter of Otis Norman and Muriel Louise (Jackson) Hubbard. Tina attended PS 55 grade school, Andrew Middle School, Bronx, New York Through the years Tina worked as a secretary for a law firm in New York, Disability Support as a direct staff care person, was a para at Washington Grade School and then retired from MCDS as a Job Coach Supervisor, all in McPherson, Kansas. Tina enjoyed cooking, loved her clients, was a good listener, a head strong individual, loved to talk and loved spending time with her friends and family, especially her granddaughter. Tina Louise Hubbard was in a bliss union with Horace Rodger Kirkland in Bronx, New York. This union was blessed with the birth of a son, D'sean Kirkland. Then Tina was united in marriage to Manuel E. Rivera on May 6, 2008 in McPherson, Kansas. The couple established their first home together in McPherson. She is survived by her husband Manny E. Rivera, of Mcpherson; her son, D'Sean and his wife Aisha Kirkland, of McPherson, Kansas; his siblings, Charlene Williams, of Bronx, New York, Norman Hubbard, of Bronx, New York, Karen Anderson, of Bronx, New York, Emanuel Roman and his wife Jessica, of San Diego, California, Carl Anderson and his wife Ebony, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Cory Anderson, of Bronx, New York, Crystal Smith, of Bronx, New York, Greg Anderson, of Upstate, New York, Sherise Anderson, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Tasha Smith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gene Anderson and his wife Krystal, of Connecticut, New York and her mother-in-law, Anna Rivera Gomez and her husband Pedro, of McPherson, Kansas. She is also survived by granddaughter, Tianne Kirkland Tina was preceded in death by parents A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Glidden - Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas with Pastor Jon Black officiating. Burial will be at McPherson Cemetery, McPherson, Kansas with Pastor James Hollis officiating. Memorials are to the Tina Rivera Memorial Fund and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home; 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson, Ks. 67460.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tina Louise Rivera

LAWRENCE – Kansas women’s basketball (5-2, 1-1 Big 12) is slated to play its third Big 12 game of the season Thursday at 7 p.m. (CT) against the No. 21/20 Texas Longhorns (8-2, 2-1 Big 12) in the Frank Erwin Center. 

The game will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network and can also be heard on the Jayhawks Radio Network with Jimmy Chavez on the call.

The Jayhawks return to the court for the first time since their victory over New Mexico State last month in Allen Fieldhouse. KU earned the 78-59 win over the Aggies behind 14 points by Holly Kersgieter, while four other Jayhawks scored in double figures to end the non-conference slate for KU.

Kansas enters the contest ranked sixth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (33.0) and is second in the Big 12 behind No. 6/6 Baylor (34.1). The Jayhawks also rank in the top-25 (21st) in rebound margin, recording a 10.9 rebound per game advantage through seven games this season.

Kansas continues its Texas road trip at TCU Sunday at 1 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Schollmaier Arena. The game will be broadcast on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+, and also available to listen live on the Jayhawk Radio Network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610587508247.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy kuathletics.com" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy kuathletics.com</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE – Kansas women’s basketball (5-2, 1-1 Big 12) is slated to play its third Big 12 game of the season Thursday at 7 p.m. (CT) against the No. 21/20 Texas Longhorns (8-2, 2-1 Big 12) in the Frank Erwin Center. The game will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network and can also be heard on the Jayhawks Radio Network with Jimmy Chavez on the call.The Jayhawks return to the court for the first time since their victory over New Mexico State last month in Allen Fieldhouse. KU earned the 78-59 win over the Aggies behind 14 points by Holly Kersgieter, while four other Jayhawks scored in double figures to end the non-conference slate for KU.Kansas enters the contest ranked sixth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (33.0) and is second in the Big 12 behind No. 6/6 Baylor (34.1). The Jayhawks also rank in the top-25 (21st) in rebound margin, recording a 10.9 rebound per game advantage through seven games this season.UP NEXTKansas continues its Texas road trip at TCU Sunday at 1 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Schollmaier Arena. The game will be broadcast on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+, and also available to listen live on the Jayhawk Radio Network.

KU women slated to play No. 21/20 Texas in Austin Thursday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid,&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill field media questions Wednesday. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid,&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill field media questions Wednesday. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F324387308992028%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥Chiefs' Reid, Mahomes, Kelce, and Hill talk football Wednesday

By RICH FELTS President of Kansas Farm Bureau The events that unfolded last week in Washington, D.C., will stain the fabric of our democracy for the rest of our days. The images of insurrection in the Capitol are as much our legacy now as putting a man on the moon. It’s a stark contrast of what happens when we choose to embrace what divides us rather than what unites us. There’s no doubt we all want the same things. We want the satisfaction from a good day’s work. We want a warm bed to sleep in. We all want safety and security for our friends and families. We all want our children to enjoy success greater than our own. While our opinions differ on the best way to achieve these goals, time and time again reaching consensus and moving forward together has proven to be the most effective option. In times of tragedy, like a death or natural disaster, we come together to mourn, recover and rebuild. In this moment, our national tragedy is manmade, but the solution is still unity and together we can mourn, recover and rebuild. I’m proud of the pragmatism Kansas Farm Bureau employs to advocate for the interest of farmers and ranchers. We have and will continue to work with leaders of all stripes to advance our grassroots policy and organizational goals. I must admit, I’d much rather work with leaders willing to tell hard, uncomfortable truths than ones who would placate me with promises that will never be realized. One of the best things we can do right now is demand truth from our elected representatives, no matter how unsavory it may be. We can overcome a difference of opinions, but we will be sunk by differing versions of reality. When our forefathers declared their independence at the birth of our nation, it’s said Benjamin Franklin said, “we must all hang together, or ... we shall all hang separately.” For nearly 250 years we’ve been strengthened by our unity and built one of the greatest societies of the world. For it to continue, we must choose to see the best in others. We must strive for consensus in areas where it’s obtainable, and we must continue debating in good faith in those were we can’t. Last week provided a compelling example. A few politicians entertained the idea the election results could be challenged. A mob stormed the Capitol in hopes of changing those results. In the end, the mob lost, and reality was certified. That result isn’t guaranteed in the future, and we now must choose if we want to continue on a path that will fray the fabric that holds us together or if we will rise to the occasion and let the stain fade as we have with other dark days in our history. As individuals, it’s our duty to listen to each other if we want to mend and heal our nation. If we do this together today, I can promise you tomorrow will be brighter in our United States.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610508042420.jpeg" alt="Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts. Photo courtesy KFB" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts. Photo courtesy KFB</figcaption>
 </figure>By RICH FELTS President of Kansas Farm Bureau The events that unfolded last week in Washington, D.C., will stain the fabric of our democracy for the rest of our days. The images of insurrection in the Capitol are as much our legacy now as putting a man on the moon. It’s a stark contrast of what happens when we choose to embrace what divides us rather than what unites us. There’s no doubt we all want the same things. We want the satisfaction from a good day’s work. We want a warm bed to sleep in. We all want safety and security for our friends and families. We all want our children to enjoy success greater than our own. While our opinions differ on the best way to achieve these goals, time and time again reaching consensus and moving forward together has proven to be the most effective option. In times of tragedy, like a death or natural disaster, we come together to mourn, recover and rebuild. In this moment, our national tragedy is manmade, but the solution is still unity and together we can mourn, recover and rebuild. I’m proud of the pragmatism Kansas Farm Bureau employs to advocate for the interest of farmers and ranchers. We have and will continue to work with leaders of all stripes to advance our grassroots policy and organizational goals. I must admit, I’d much rather work with leaders willing to tell hard, uncomfortable truths than ones who would placate me with promises that will never be realized. One of the best things we can do right now is demand truth from our elected representatives, no matter how unsavory it may be. We can overcome a difference of opinions, but we will be sunk by differing versions of reality. When our forefathers declared their independence at the birth of our nation, it’s said Benjamin Franklin said, “we must all hang together, or ... we shall all hang separately.” For nearly 250 years we’ve been strengthened by our unity and built one of the greatest societies of the world. For it to continue, we must choose to see the best in others. We must strive for consensus in areas where it’s obtainable, and we must continue debating in good faith in those were we can’t. Last week provided a compelling example. A few politicians entertained the idea the election results could be challenged. A mob stormed the Capitol in hopes of changing those results. In the end, the mob lost, and reality was certified. That result isn’t guaranteed in the future, and we now must choose if we want to continue on a path that will fray the fabric that holds us together or if we will rise to the occasion and let the stain fade as we have with other dark days in our history. As individuals, it’s our duty to listen to each other if we want to mend and heal our nation. If we do this together today, I can promise you tomorrow will be brighter in our United States."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: Strength of unity

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A Kansas woman was executed Wednesday for strangling an expectant mother in Missouri and cutting the baby from her womb, the first time in nearly seven decades that the U.S. government has put to death a female inmate.

Lisa Montgomery, 52, was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the 11th prisoner to receive a lethal injection there since July when President Donald Trump, an ardent supporter of capital punishment, resumed federal executions following 17 years without one.

As a curtain was raised in the execution chamber, Montgomery looked momentarily bewildered as she glanced at journalists peering at her from behind thick glass. As the execution process began, a woman standing over Montgomery’s shoulder leaned over, gently removed Montgomery’s face mask and asked her if she had any last words. “No,” Montgomery responded in a quiet, muffled voice. She said nothing else.

She tapped her fingers nervously for several seconds, a heart-shaped tattoo on her thumb, showed no signs of distress, and quickly closed her eyes. As the lethal injection began, Montgomery kept licking her lips and gasped briefly as pentobarbital, a lethal drug, entered her body through IVs on both arms. A few minutes later, her midsection throbbed for a moment, but quickly stopped.

Montgomery lay on a gurney in the pale-green execution chamber, her glasses on and her grayish brown hair spilling over a green medical pillow. At 1:30 a.m., an official in black gloves with a stethoscope walked into the room, listened to her heart and chest, then walked out. She was pronounced dead a minute later.

“The craven bloodlust of a failed administration was on full display tonight,” Montgomery’s attorney, Kelley Henry said in a statement. “Everyone who participated in the execution of Lisa Montgomery should feel shame.”

“The government stopped at nothing in its zeal to kill this damaged and delusional woman,” Henry said. “Lisa Montgomery’s execution was far from justice.”

It came after hours of legal wrangling before the Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution to move forward. Montgomery was the first of the final three federal inmates scheduled to die before next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who is expected to discontinue federal executions.

But a federal judge for the District of Columbia halted the scheduled executions later this week of Corey Johnson and Dustin Higgs in a ruling Tuesday. Johnson, convicted of killing seven people related to his drug trafficking in Virginia, and Higgs, convicted of ordering the murders of three women in Maryland, both tested positive for COVID-19 last month.

Montgomery killed 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in 2004. She used a rope to strangle Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then cut the baby girl from the womb with a kitchen knife. Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass the girl off as her own.

An appeals court granted Montgomery a stay of execution Tuesday, shortly after another appeals court lifted an Indiana judge’s ruling that found she was likely mentally ill and couldn’t comprehend she would be put to death. But both appeals were lifted, allowing the execution of the only female on federal death row to go forward.

As the only woman on federal death row, Montgomery had been held in a federal prison in Texas and was brought to Terre Haute on Monday night.

Montgomery’s legal team says she suffered “sexual torture,” including gang rapes, as a child, permanently scarring her emotionally and exacerbating mental-health issues that ran in her family.

At trial, prosecutors accused Montgomery of faking mental illness, noting that her killing of Stinnett was premeditated and included meticulous planning, including online research on how to perform a C-section.

Henry balked at that idea, citing extensive testing and brain scans that supported the diagnosis of mental illness. She said the issue at the core of the legal arguments are not whether she knew the killing was wrong in 2004 but whether she fully grasps why she is slated to be executed now.

U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon, who had halted Montgomery’s execution before the stay was overturned on appeal, cited defense experts who alleged Montgomery suffered from depression, borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Montgomery, the judge wrote, also suffered around the time of the killing from an extremely rare condition called pseudocyesis in which a woman’s false belief she is pregnant triggers hormonal and physical changes as if she were actually pregnant.

Montgomery also experiences delusions and hallucinations, believing God spoke with her through connect-the-dot puzzles, the judge said, citing defense experts. The government has acknowledged Montgomery’s mental issues but disputes that she can’t comprehend that she is scheduled for execution for killing another person because of them.

Details of the crime at times left jurors in tears during her trial.

Prosecutors told the jury Montgomery drove about 170 miles (274 kilometers) from her Melvern, Kansas, farmhouse to the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore under the guise of adopting a rat terrier puppy from Stinnett. She strangled Stinnett performing a crude cesarean and fleeing with the baby.

Prosecutors said Stinnett regained consciousness and tried to defend herself as Montgomery cut the baby girl from her womb. Later that day, Montgomery called her husband to pick her up in the parking lot of a Long John Silver’s in Topeka, Kansas, telling him she had delivered the baby earlier in the day at a nearby birthing center.

Montgomery was arrested the next day after showing off the premature infant, Victoria Jo, who is now 16 years old and hasn’t spoken publicly about the tragedy.

Prosecutors said the motive was that Montgomery’s ex-husband knew she had undergone a tubal ligation that made her sterile and planned to reveal she was lying about being pregnant in an effort to get custody of two of their four children. Needing a baby before a fast-approaching court date, Montgomery turned her focus on Stinnett, whom she had met at dog shows.

Anti-death penalty groups said Trump was pushing for executions prior to the November election in a cynical bid to burnish a reputation as a law-and-order leader.

The last woman executed by the federal government was Bonnie Brown Heady on Dec. 18, 1953, for the kidnapping and murder of a 6-year-old boy in Missouri.

The last woman executed by a state was Kelly Gissendaner, 47, on Sept. 30, 2015, in Georgia. She was convicted of murder in the 1997 slaying of her husband after she conspired with her lover, who stabbed Douglas Gissendaner to death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602895377835.png" alt="Lisa Montgomery, 52, was the 11th prisoner to receive a lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana since July." />
 <figcaption>Lisa Montgomery, 52, was the 11th prisoner to receive a lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana since July.</figcaption>
 </figure>TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A Kansas woman was executed Wednesday for strangling an expectant mother in Missouri and cutting the baby from her womb, the first time in nearly seven decades that the U.S. government has put to death a female inmate.Lisa Montgomery, 52, was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the 11th prisoner to receive a lethal injection there since July when President Donald Trump, an ardent supporter of capital punishment, resumed federal executions following 17 years without one.As a curtain was raised in the execution chamber, Montgomery looked momentarily bewildered as she glanced at journalists peering at her from behind thick glass. As the execution process began, a woman standing over Montgomery’s shoulder leaned over, gently removed Montgomery’s face mask and asked her if she had any last words. “No,” Montgomery responded in a quiet, muffled voice. She said nothing else.She tapped her fingers nervously for several seconds, a heart-shaped tattoo on her thumb, showed no signs of distress, and quickly closed her eyes. As the lethal injection began, Montgomery kept licking her lips and gasped briefly as pentobarbital, a lethal drug, entered her body through IVs on both arms. A few minutes later, her midsection throbbed for a moment, but quickly stopped.Montgomery lay on a gurney in the pale-green execution chamber, her glasses on and her grayish brown hair spilling over a green medical pillow. At 1:30 a.m., an official in black gloves with a stethoscope walked into the room, listened to her heart and chest, then walked out. She was pronounced dead a minute later.“The craven bloodlust of a failed administration was on full display tonight,” Montgomery’s attorney, Kelley Henry said in a statement. “Everyone who participated in the execution of Lisa Montgomery should feel shame.”“The government stopped at nothing in its zeal to kill this damaged and delusional woman,” Henry said. “Lisa Montgomery’s execution was far from justice.”It came after hours of legal wrangling before the Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution to move forward. Montgomery was the first of the final three federal inmates scheduled to die before next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who is expected to discontinue federal executions.But a federal judge for the District of Columbia halted the scheduled executions later this week of Corey Johnson and Dustin Higgs in a ruling Tuesday. Johnson, convicted of killing seven people related to his drug trafficking in Virginia, and Higgs, convicted of ordering the murders of three women in Maryland, both tested positive for COVID-19 last month.Montgomery killed 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in 2004. She used a rope to strangle Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then cut the baby girl from the womb with a kitchen knife. Montgomery took the child with her and attempted to pass the girl off as her own.An appeals court granted Montgomery a stay of execution Tuesday, shortly after another appeals court lifted an Indiana judge’s ruling that found she was likely mentally ill and couldn’t comprehend she would be put to death. But both appeals were lifted, allowing the execution of the only female on federal death row to go forward.As the only woman on federal death row, Montgomery had been held in a federal prison in Texas and was brought to Terre Haute on Monday night.Montgomery’s legal team says she suffered “sexual torture,” including gang rapes, as a child, permanently scarring her emotionally and exacerbating mental-health issues that ran in her family.At trial, prosecutors accused Montgomery of faking mental illness, noting that her killing of Stinnett was premeditated and included meticulous planning, including online research on how to perform a C-section.Henry balked at that idea, citing extensive testing and brain scans that supported the diagnosis of mental illness. She said the issue at the core of the legal arguments are not whether she knew the killing was wrong in 2004 but whether she fully grasps why she is slated to be executed now.U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon, who had halted Montgomery’s execution before the stay was overturned on appeal, cited defense experts who alleged Montgomery suffered from depression, borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Montgomery, the judge wrote, also suffered around the time of the killing from an extremely rare condition called pseudocyesis in which a woman’s false belief she is pregnant triggers hormonal and physical changes as if she were actually pregnant.Montgomery also experiences delusions and hallucinations, believing God spoke with her through connect-the-dot puzzles, the judge said, citing defense experts. The government has acknowledged Montgomery’s mental issues but disputes that she can’t comprehend that she is scheduled for execution for killing another person because of them.Details of the crime at times left jurors in tears during her trial.Prosecutors told the jury Montgomery drove about 170 miles (274 kilometers) from her Melvern, Kansas, farmhouse to the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore under the guise of adopting a rat terrier puppy from Stinnett. She strangled Stinnett performing a crude cesarean and fleeing with the baby.Prosecutors said Stinnett regained consciousness and tried to defend herself as Montgomery cut the baby girl from her womb. Later that day, Montgomery called her husband to pick her up in the parking lot of a Long John Silver’s in Topeka, Kansas, telling him she had delivered the baby earlier in the day at a nearby birthing center.Montgomery was arrested the next day after showing off the premature infant, Victoria Jo, who is now 16 years old and hasn’t spoken publicly about the tragedy.Prosecutors said the motive was that Montgomery’s ex-husband knew she had undergone a tubal ligation that made her sterile and planned to reveal she was lying about being pregnant in an effort to get custody of two of their four children. Needing a baby before a fast-approaching court date, Montgomery turned her focus on Stinnett, whom she had met at dog shows.Anti-death penalty groups said Trump was pushing for executions prior to the November election in a cynical bid to burnish a reputation as a law-and-order leader.The last woman executed by the federal government was Bonnie Brown Heady on Dec. 18, 1953, for the kidnapping and murder of a 6-year-old boy in Missouri.The last woman executed by a state was Kelly Gissendaner, 47, on Sept. 30, 2015, in Georgia. She was convicted of murder in the 1997 slaying of her husband after she conspired with her lover, who stabbed Douglas Gissendaner to death.___

Officials: No last words from Kan. woman before execution

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The following is the complete transcript of Governor Laura Kelly’s 2021 State of the State Address.&nbsp;

Typically, I would deliver the State of the State address to the legislature and the public from the House Chamber in the Capitol building.&nbsp;

And I would begin by looking out over all the familiar faces, constitutional officers, cabinet members, and my own family.&nbsp;

But, these aren't typical times. And while I can't see them, I am grateful that my husband, Ted Daughety, and daughters, Kathleen and Molly, are hosting a virtual watch party with members of my family across the country.

I know it's not just my family that has had to change our rituals and gatherings. We've all had to adjust. We've all had to get creative with problem solving. We have been forced to spend too much time apart, communicating virtually, instead of sharing moments in person, together.

So this won't be a typical State of the State address.

Instead of giving a speech to the legislature, I'm going to have a conversation with you - the people of Kansas - give you an update on where we are, what's next, and lay out a clear agenda that meets the moment we're living in.

In the weeks and months to come, we need to get every Kansan vaccinated. We need to get our economy moving. And we need to get all our kids back into the classroom.

We need to do it in a way that keeps our budget balanced. And with the sense of urgency and focus that Kansans deserve. We can not let political fights slow us down.

Tonight, I'll speak to each of these issues.

But before I continue - last week I ordered flags lowered to half-staff to remember the more than 3000 Kansans we've lost these past 10 months to Covid-19. I ask you to join me in pausing for a moment in honor of their memory.&nbsp;

To the families and loved ones of those we've lost, please know my heart is with you.&nbsp; The pain you're feeling is immeasurable … Here in Kansas, we're all neighbors, and we're all here to support you, in every way possible.

It's been a time of such loss for so many.

Critical time in the classroom for our children, lost.

The losses in our lives have been countless.

The way that Kansans have stepped up these past 10 months has been nothing short of heroic - from health care workers to first responders, teachers and parents, farmers and ranchers - the character of Kansas has been on full display.

And I want to commend the state and local officials who continue to work around the clock with the public health experts to make sure we're taking the right, aggressive, steps to slow the spread of the virus, while also balancing the need to keep the Kansas economy moving.&nbsp;

And now, after months of struggle and sacrifice, an end to this national nightmare is finally in sight.

Last week, my administration released the phases of our vaccination distribution plan.

We worked diligently for months, together with our federal and local partners, to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy.

While our state initially experienced a reporting lag of vaccines administered, the CDC vaccine tracker is now showing that Kansas is in the top tier for vaccines administered per capita. We are working as quickly as we can to safely, efficiently deliver the vaccine to all Kansans. Much of our ability to distribute the vaccine is dependent on the federal government getting the vaccine to us.

As of today, 84,555 Kansans have been vaccinated. And we will continue this coordinated effort so every Kansan can get vaccinated. My goal is to make sure that each of you know when and where you can get vaccinated in your county.

Like in other states, the first to receive vaccines have been those directly overseeing our COVID response efforts - hospital workers and long term care staff and residents.

We expect to be moving into the second phase before the end of this month, when we will begin vaccinating our seniors, because we know Kansans 65 and older are the biggest at-risk group.

Also in this category: essential frontline workers - these are our police, firefighters and other first responders, our teachers and childcare providers, our grocery store and meat packing plant workers.

As we continue our phased approach, we will add other priority groups including those living in congregate settings, those below the age of 65 with severe medical risks, and other essential workers. And then, hopefully, over the next few months, the rest of the general public. Again, this depends on how quickly the federal government gets the vaccine to Kansas.

But until then, it's imperative that everyone continue to do your part in slowing the spread of the virus - wear a mask, physically distance, and avoid mass gatherings.

We are not out of the woods here. Not by a long shot. Our hospitals are strained and this virus continues to kill our loved ones and our neighbors.

But, we *will* get through this crisis, with the vaccines.

There's been a lot of misinformation out there about the vaccines. Internet conspiracy theories. Complete nonsense. Make no mistake, the science behind the vaccines is solid.&nbsp;

And these vaccines are how we keep ourselves and our fellow Kansans healthy ... and ultimately, how we defeat this virus and move forward with our lives.

The latest information about distribution instructions and timelines will always be available at our website - kansasvaccine.gov.

So, if we've learned anything these past 10 months, it's that every Kansan deserves health care they can afford, good health care facilities near their homes, and for our rural neighbors and friends, more access to telehealth services.

That's why I'll continue to push, over and over again, for what 38 states across the country have done - to expand Medicaid to cover another 165,000 Kansans, to ensure that our rural hospitals remain open, and inject billions of dollars into our economy.

Access to vaccinations and good health care . . . It's the only way we'll truly put this nightmare behind us.

We've already taken a series of strategic steps to keep our economy open. But open isn't good enough. We need to make sure it's growing, with Kansans not just getting back to their old jobs, but also finding new, better-paying jobs.

We are set to launch the Framework for Growth - a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that the Kansas economy continues to thrive and that our most valuable resource -- our young people -- have exciting career opportunities right here at home.

Let me briefly speak to five areas of economic growth that we've focused on: small businesses, infrastructure, new job creation, agriculture, and broadband.

No doubt, this has been a challenging period for small business owners, with so many having to adapt in different ways to the virus. And a very difficult time for anyone who works in a small business.

Small businesses, as we know, aren't just workplaces, they're the heart beat of Main Street in so many Kansas communities. Familiar, friendly faces behind the counter. These folks are our neighbors, our friends.

We have been able to help nearly 3,000 small businesses across the state with grants for payroll and other expenses. But we know more must be done.

That's why I'm pleased about the resurrection of the Kansas Main Street Program and the launch of the Main Street Affiliate Community program. These programs provide funding and technical assistance to help transform and strengthen rural downtowns.

I know for many small business owners, these past few months have been filled with anxiety and heartache – and you're just trying to do right by your employees and customers.

I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to protect small businesses and the Kansans they employ.

But it's not enough to simply save the jobs and businesses that exist. An obvious area for job growth is to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.

I'm proud that Democrats and Republicans came together last year to pass a 10-year infrastructure plan - it's a strategic, practical approach that allows us to prioritize the most urgently needed projects.

As we speak, more than 160 state highway and local road projects are under construction or about to be. And another 230 projects have been awarded for future construction. That's better roads, better bridges, walking and biking paths. A more modern transportation infrastructure from top to bottom – and that's a lot of jobs.

We know this pandemic has put too many Kansans out of work, and I know some Kansans have had difficulty getting their unemployment benefits.

The fact is, the volume of benefit applications absolutely overwhelmed our unemployment system. I want you to know we've fixed many of the immediate problems and more Kansas have received unemployment benefits since the pandemic started ten months ago, than in the eight previous years combined.

To be prepared, should we ever be confronted with a health and economic crisis as staggering as this pandemic, we've committed 37.5 million dollars in this year's budget to update old IT systems that have been neglected for decades.

While it's imperative that we modernize our IT systems, what's more important is making sure unemployed Kansans can get back to work.

So we're moving quickly to bring new jobs to Kansas communities, big and small.

We've announced projects like Urban Outfitters' new distribution center at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County that will create 2,000 new jobs and invest over 350 million dollars in Kansas.

And Schwan's Company's expansion to its facility in Salina.&nbsp; When the project is complete, Salina's location will be home to the largest frozen pizza production facility in the world - and bring 225 good jobs to the community.

Over these past two years, we've recruited dozens of new businesses and helped create more than 20,000 jobs; that's pumped more than 3 billion dollars into our local economies.

Including into our farming and agriculture communities.

Where, in typical Kansas fashion, Kansas farmers and ranchers have stepped up, even during those first, very scary days of COVID-19, and kept doing their jobs. They knew, pandemic or no pandemic, people need food.

My Administration partnered with local and federal officials to make sure we kept these critical food supply chain workers safe and kept production online. The entire nation, and the entire world owes these Kansans a huge debt of gratitude.

At the state level, we invested 12 million dollars to increase the capacity of the state's food supply system all across Kansas.

And, as my friends in Agriculture may remember, I was the first Democratic governor to publicly support the USMCA, the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

I will always support our agricultural employers and workers because we all know that agriculture built Kansas, and it will be a driving force in rebuilding our economy as we emerge from this pandemic.

And agriculture is one of many industries increasingly relying on high speed internet to meet the demands of their customers and for their day to day operations.

In fact, in today's economy, businesses small and large depend upon broadband - both because this pandemic has required many of us to work remotely, and because of the broader shift we have seen from retail to etail commerce.

It's an issue my administration has treated with the urgency it mandates.

I signed an Executive Order establishing Kansas's first Office of Broadband Development - and through it, we've distributed nearly 50 million dollars in Connectivity Emergency Response Grants, to communities like Spring Hill, Valley Center, Dodge City, Topeka, Derby and others.

We have to keep pushing on this issue. It needs to be a bi-partisan push.

Because access to high speed internet will be a game changer for these communities. It's a tool to recruit new businesses and keep existing ones from leaving.

It's also a tool to provide care through telehealth services to rural and underserved Kansans.

And it's a tool for our children and their education. This pandemic has taught us that learning remotely is difficult enough, but to do it without reliable internet is impossible.

It's been a long 10 months for our children, their parents … and perhaps especially for their teachers ... many of whom are juggling the teaching of our children while also looking after their own.

I can't say enough about the job that Kansas teachers have done throughout this pandemic.

Teaching under less-than-ideal circumstances, but never wavering in their commitment to our children.

Stepping up under tough conditions is nothing new for Kansas teachers. They've been doing it for years.&nbsp;

Remember, when we took office two years ago, the state was still reeling from a disastrous tax experiment that absolutely crushed our public schools, even forcing some to go to 4-day school weeks.

We fixed our public schools once already - bringing Republicans and Democrats together to constitutionally fund education for the first time in many years.

And now that the pandemic has created a new set of challenges - I want you to know that we're going to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible, and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our kids back on track.

From day one, I pledged to Kansans that we'd never return to those days of broken budgets and fiscal irresponsibility.

That's why I'm committed to closing the Bank of KDOT by 2023. Past Administrations have used these critical highway construction dollars as a slush fund for their ideological experiments - which undermined opportunities for infrastructure investments and economic growth.

Once again, we brought Democrats and Republicans together to balance the budget and constitutionally fund our schools - all without a tax increase. In fact, because we prioritized wisely and found new efficiencies, I'm proud to report that even during this pandemic, the state will close out this fiscal year with a projected 600 million dollar ending balance.

But we must remain vigilant. We're just a few years removed from the Brownback tax experiment, and it seems as though some of my colleagues in the Legislature have already forgotten just how devasting that experiment was to our economy, our schools, and our future.

The tough, pragmatic budget choices we have made to this point have given us flexibility to protect our core services - like education, infrastructure, and economic development tools -&nbsp;&nbsp; from COVID-related cuts, and have been an historically potent tool we have to recruit businesses to Kansas.

As we recover from the economic damage caused by effects of this virus, we must continue to prioritize strategic and inclusive economic policies, not Brownback 2.0 tax cuts.

Each year in this speech, and almost every day in between, I call for bi-partisanship. To work together, Democrats and Republicans have to do what's best for Kansas. To be better than what we see in Washington.

In light of the destruction, violence, and sedition that took place at the United States Capitol last week, we can't simply treat this like any other moment. That would be an insult to Kansans - and all they've seen these past 10 days and all they've experienced these past 10 months in their own lives.&nbsp;

This year, working together isn't simply something I want - it's something we owe to the people of Kansas.

This year, as leaders, we must commit ourselves to set an example. In how we conduct ourselves. In the things we say to each other, what we post on social media, in what we tell people back home in our communities.

This year, we must show Kansans that, even when we stand on opposite sides of the aisle, we still always share a common bond as Kansans and Americans.

And right now, that means doing whatever it takes to get Kansans back to work, back to school - and back to a place where we treat each other with respect and dignity.

We need to listen to public health experts. We need to listen to each other. We need to listen to the people of Kansas.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The following is the complete transcript of Governor Laura Kelly’s 2021 State of the State Address.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F1084745795339331%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Good evening.Typically, I would deliver the State of the State address to the legislature and the public from the House Chamber in the Capitol building.&nbsp;And I would begin by looking out over all the familiar faces, constitutional officers, cabinet members, and my own family.&nbsp;But, these aren't typical times. And while I can't see them, I am grateful that my husband, Ted Daughety, and daughters, Kathleen and Molly, are hosting a virtual watch party with members of my family across the country.I know it's not just my family that has had to change our rituals and gatherings. We've all had to adjust. We've all had to get creative with problem solving. We have been forced to spend too much time apart, communicating virtually, instead of sharing moments in person, together.So this won't be a typical State of the State address.Instead of giving a speech to the legislature, I'm going to have a conversation with you - the people of Kansas - give you an update on where we are, what's next, and lay out a clear agenda that meets the moment we're living in.In the weeks and months to come, we need to get every Kansan vaccinated. We need to get our economy moving. And we need to get all our kids back into the classroom.We need to do it in a way that keeps our budget balanced. And with the sense of urgency and focus that Kansans deserve. We can not let political fights slow us down.Tonight, I'll speak to each of these issues.But before I continue - last week I ordered flags lowered to half-staff to remember the more than 3000 Kansans we've lost these past 10 months to Covid-19. I ask you to join me in pausing for a moment in honor of their memory.&nbsp;To the families and loved ones of those we've lost, please know my heart is with you.&nbsp; The pain you're feeling is immeasurable … Here in Kansas, we're all neighbors, and we're all here to support you, in every way possible.It's been a time of such loss for so many.Too many precious lives lost.Businesses lost.Jobs lost.Critical time in the classroom for our children, lost.Lost moments with loved ones.The losses in our lives have been countless.But … we never lost hope.The way that Kansans have stepped up these past 10 months has been nothing short of heroic - from health care workers to first responders, teachers and parents, farmers and ranchers - the character of Kansas has been on full display.And I want to commend the state and local officials who continue to work around the clock with the public health experts to make sure we're taking the right, aggressive, steps to slow the spread of the virus, while also balancing the need to keep the Kansas economy moving.&nbsp;And now, after months of struggle and sacrifice, an end to this national nightmare is finally in sight.Last week, my administration released the phases of our vaccination distribution plan.We worked diligently for months, together with our federal and local partners, to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy.While our state initially experienced a reporting lag of vaccines administered, the CDC vaccine tracker is now showing that Kansas is in the top tier for vaccines administered per capita. We are working as quickly as we can to safely, efficiently deliver the vaccine to all Kansans. Much of our ability to distribute the vaccine is dependent on the federal government getting the vaccine to us.As of today, 84,555 Kansans have been vaccinated. And we will continue this coordinated effort so every Kansan can get vaccinated. My goal is to make sure that each of you know when and where you can get vaccinated in your county.Like in other states, the first to receive vaccines have been those directly overseeing our COVID response efforts - hospital workers and long term care staff and residents.We expect to be moving into the second phase before the end of this month, when we will begin vaccinating our seniors, because we know Kansans 65 and older are the biggest at-risk group.Also in this category: essential frontline workers - these are our police, firefighters and other first responders, our teachers and childcare providers, our grocery store and meat packing plant workers.As we continue our phased approach, we will add other priority groups including those living in congregate settings, those below the age of 65 with severe medical risks, and other essential workers. And then, hopefully, over the next few months, the rest of the general public. Again, this depends on how quickly the federal government gets the vaccine to Kansas.But until then, it's imperative that everyone continue to do your part in slowing the spread of the virus - wear a mask, physically distance, and avoid mass gatherings.We are not out of the woods here. Not by a long shot. Our hospitals are strained and this virus continues to kill our loved ones and our neighbors.But, we *will* get through this crisis, with the vaccines.There's been a lot of misinformation out there about the vaccines. Internet conspiracy theories. Complete nonsense. Make no mistake, the science behind the vaccines is solid.&nbsp;And these vaccines are how we keep ourselves and our fellow Kansans healthy ... and ultimately, how we defeat this virus and move forward with our lives.The latest information about distribution instructions and timelines will always be available at our website - kansasvaccine.gov.So, if we've learned anything these past 10 months, it's that every Kansan deserves health care they can afford, good health care facilities near their homes, and for our rural neighbors and friends, more access to telehealth services.That's why I'll continue to push, over and over again, for what 38 states across the country have done - to expand Medicaid to cover another 165,000 Kansans, to ensure that our rural hospitals remain open, and inject billions of dollars into our economy.Access to vaccinations and good health care . . . It's the only way we'll truly put this nightmare behind us.We've already taken a series of strategic steps to keep our economy open. But open isn't good enough. We need to make sure it's growing, with Kansans not just getting back to their old jobs, but also finding new, better-paying jobs.We are set to launch the Framework for Growth - a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that the Kansas economy continues to thrive and that our most valuable resource -- our young people -- have exciting career opportunities right here at home.Let me briefly speak to five areas of economic growth that we've focused on: small businesses, infrastructure, new job creation, agriculture, and broadband.First, small businesses.No doubt, this has been a challenging period for small business owners, with so many having to adapt in different ways to the virus. And a very difficult time for anyone who works in a small business.Small businesses, as we know, aren't just workplaces, they're the heart beat of Main Street in so many Kansas communities. Familiar, friendly faces behind the counter. These folks are our neighbors, our friends.We have been able to help nearly 3,000 small businesses across the state with grants for payroll and other expenses. But we know more must be done.That's why I'm pleased about the resurrection of the Kansas Main Street Program and the launch of the Main Street Affiliate Community program. These programs provide funding and technical assistance to help transform and strengthen rural downtowns.I know for many small business owners, these past few months have been filled with anxiety and heartache – and you're just trying to do right by your employees and customers.I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to protect small businesses and the Kansans they employ.But it's not enough to simply save the jobs and businesses that exist. An obvious area for job growth is to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.I'm proud that Democrats and Republicans came together last year to pass a 10-year infrastructure plan - it's a strategic, practical approach that allows us to prioritize the most urgently needed projects.As we speak, more than 160 state highway and local road projects are under construction or about to be. And another 230 projects have been awarded for future construction. That's better roads, better bridges, walking and biking paths. A more modern transportation infrastructure from top to bottom – and that's a lot of jobs.We know this pandemic has put too many Kansans out of work, and I know some Kansans have had difficulty getting their unemployment benefits.The fact is, the volume of benefit applications absolutely overwhelmed our unemployment system. I want you to know we've fixed many of the immediate problems and more Kansas have received unemployment benefits since the pandemic started ten months ago, than in the eight previous years combined.To be prepared, should we ever be confronted with a health and economic crisis as staggering as this pandemic, we've committed 37.5 million dollars in this year's budget to update old IT systems that have been neglected for decades.While it's imperative that we modernize our IT systems, what's more important is making sure unemployed Kansans can get back to work.So we're moving quickly to bring new jobs to Kansas communities, big and small.We've announced projects like Urban Outfitters' new distribution center at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County that will create 2,000 new jobs and invest over 350 million dollars in Kansas.And Schwan's Company's expansion to its facility in Salina.&nbsp; When the project is complete, Salina's location will be home to the largest frozen pizza production facility in the world - and bring 225 good jobs to the community.Over these past two years, we've recruited dozens of new businesses and helped create more than 20,000 jobs; that's pumped more than 3 billion dollars into our local economies.Including into our farming and agriculture communities.Where, in typical Kansas fashion, Kansas farmers and ranchers have stepped up, even during those first, very scary days of COVID-19, and kept doing their jobs. They knew, pandemic or no pandemic, people need food.My Administration partnered with local and federal officials to make sure we kept these critical food supply chain workers safe and kept production online. The entire nation, and the entire world owes these Kansans a huge debt of gratitude.At the state level, we invested 12 million dollars to increase the capacity of the state's food supply system all across Kansas.And, as my friends in Agriculture may remember, I was the first Democratic governor to publicly support the USMCA, the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.To me, this isn't about politics.I will always support our agricultural employers and workers because we all know that agriculture built Kansas, and it will be a driving force in rebuilding our economy as we emerge from this pandemic.And agriculture is one of many industries increasingly relying on high speed internet to meet the demands of their customers and for their day to day operations.In fact, in today's economy, businesses small and large depend upon broadband - both because this pandemic has required many of us to work remotely, and because of the broader shift we have seen from retail to etail commerce.It's an issue my administration has treated with the urgency it mandates.I signed an Executive Order establishing Kansas's first Office of Broadband Development - and through it, we've distributed nearly 50 million dollars in Connectivity Emergency Response Grants, to communities like Spring Hill, Valley Center, Dodge City, Topeka, Derby and others.We have to keep pushing on this issue. It needs to be a bi-partisan push.Because access to high speed internet will be a game changer for these communities. It's a tool to recruit new businesses and keep existing ones from leaving.It's also a tool to provide care through telehealth services to rural and underserved Kansans.And it's a tool for our children and their education. This pandemic has taught us that learning remotely is difficult enough, but to do it without reliable internet is impossible.It's been a long 10 months for our children, their parents … and perhaps especially for their teachers ... many of whom are juggling the teaching of our children while also looking after their own.I can't say enough about the job that Kansas teachers have done throughout this pandemic.Teaching under less-than-ideal circumstances, but never wavering in their commitment to our children.Stepping up under tough conditions is nothing new for Kansas teachers. They've been doing it for years.&nbsp;Remember, when we took office two years ago, the state was still reeling from a disastrous tax experiment that absolutely crushed our public schools, even forcing some to go to 4-day school weeks.We fixed our public schools once already - bringing Republicans and Democrats together to constitutionally fund education for the first time in many years.And now that the pandemic has created a new set of challenges - I want you to know that we're going to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible, and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our kids back on track.From day one, I pledged to Kansans that we'd never return to those days of broken budgets and fiscal irresponsibility.That's why I'm committed to closing the Bank of KDOT by 2023. Past Administrations have used these critical highway construction dollars as a slush fund for their ideological experiments - which undermined opportunities for infrastructure investments and economic growth.Once again, we brought Democrats and Republicans together to balance the budget and constitutionally fund our schools - all without a tax increase. In fact, because we prioritized wisely and found new efficiencies, I'm proud to report that even during this pandemic, the state will close out this fiscal year with a projected 600 million dollar ending balance.But we must remain vigilant. We're just a few years removed from the Brownback tax experiment, and it seems as though some of my colleagues in the Legislature have already forgotten just how devasting that experiment was to our economy, our schools, and our future.The tough, pragmatic budget choices we have made to this point have given us flexibility to protect our core services - like education, infrastructure, and economic development tools -&nbsp;&nbsp; from COVID-related cuts, and have been an historically potent tool we have to recruit businesses to Kansas.As we recover from the economic damage caused by effects of this virus, we must continue to prioritize strategic and inclusive economic policies, not Brownback 2.0 tax cuts.Each year in this speech, and almost every day in between, I call for bi-partisanship. To work together, Democrats and Republicans have to do what's best for Kansas. To be better than what we see in Washington.In light of the destruction, violence, and sedition that took place at the United States Capitol last week, we can't simply treat this like any other moment. That would be an insult to Kansans - and all they've seen these past 10 days and all they've experienced these past 10 months in their own lives.&nbsp;This isn't like any other moment.We're being tested like never before.This year, working together isn't simply something I want - it's something we owe to the people of Kansas.This year, as leaders, we must commit ourselves to set an example. In how we conduct ourselves. In the things we say to each other, what we post on social media, in what we tell people back home in our communities.This year, we must show Kansans that, even when we stand on opposite sides of the aisle, we still always share a common bond as Kansans and Americans.And right now, that means doing whatever it takes to get Kansans back to work, back to school - and back to a place where we treat each other with respect and dignity.We need to listen to public health experts. We need to listen to each other. We need to listen to the people of Kansas.And then we need to lock arms, not as politicians from one party or the other, but as Kansans.And in that spirit, I'd like to say a word about my friend - Senator Pat Roberts, who has retired after 40 years of elected service to our state.Pat was and remains famous, not only for his wit, but for his ability and willingness to work across the aisle.He and I are in different political parties, but we're united in our love for Kansas and its people.That's why he and I have been in such frequent contact about this pandemic, because we know that it's important for the state and federal government to work hand in hand. It's the right way to serve.As we tackle the challenges of these historically uncertain times in the weeks and months to come, let us all do it with leaders like Pat Roberts in mind.And let us always remember that our children and grandchildren are watching.These days, they're watching extra closely.The decisions we make, and the example we set, in the coming weeks and months will have a lasting impact on their lives. And on our beloved state of Kansas.This is a time like none other we've seen.Let's rise, together, to meet this moment.May God keep the people of Kansas healthy and on the road to prosperity.Thank you and good night.-------TOPEKA—&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly delivered the annual 2021 State of the State address&nbsp;&nbsp;virtually, to the people of Kansas.&nbsp;The governor will report to the Kansas Legislature and to the state her administration's priorities for the 2021 legislative session.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥  Governor's State of the State address

The fourth Salina Symphony Virtual Chamber Concert&nbsp;will feature the Salina Symphony Horn Quartet and Cello/Piano Duo.

The Salina Symphony will present a Virtual Chamber Concert on Jan. 24 at 4 p.m.&nbsp; The concert will be premiered and available for viewing on Facebook at no cost.

The horn quartet program will include several of Lowell Shaw’s “Fripperies,” Mozart’s “Overture to The Magic Flute” arranged by Dutschke and Lockwood, and “Theme and Variations from The Emperor Quartet” by Haydn, arranged by Lowell Shaw. The cello/piano duo will present “Sonata No. 3 in G Minor (originally for viola da gamba)” by J.S. Bach and “Divertimento” by Haydn.

Horn Quartet members include Taylor Ensminger, Kyle Hopkins, Karyn Schafer and Sharyn Worcester. The Cello/Piano Duo features Dr. David Littrell, cello, and Amanda Arrington, piano.

The series is generously sponsored by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Heritage Real Estate Advisors, and Salina Regional Health Center.

The final concert of the Listen Together Series is scheduled for Feb. 21. More information about the series can be found at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">www.salinasymphony.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610492921402.jpeg" alt="The Salina Symphony Horn Quartet. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony" />
 <figcaption>The Salina Symphony Horn Quartet. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony</figcaption>
 </figure>The fourth Salina Symphony Virtual Chamber Concert&nbsp;will feature the Salina Symphony Horn Quartet and Cello/Piano Duo.The Salina Symphony will present a Virtual Chamber Concert on Jan. 24 at 4 p.m.&nbsp; The concert will be premiered and available for viewing on Facebook at no cost.The horn quartet program will include several of Lowell Shaw’s “Fripperies,” Mozart’s “Overture to The Magic Flute” arranged by Dutschke and Lockwood, and “Theme and Variations from The Emperor Quartet” by Haydn, arranged by Lowell Shaw. The cello/piano duo will present “Sonata No. 3 in G Minor (originally for viola da gamba)” by J.S. Bach and “Divertimento” by Haydn.Horn Quartet members include Taylor Ensminger, Kyle Hopkins, Karyn Schafer and Sharyn Worcester. The Cello/Piano Duo features Dr. David Littrell, cello, and Amanda Arrington, piano.The series is generously sponsored by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Heritage Real Estate Advisors, and Salina Regional Health Center.The final concert of the Listen Together Series is scheduled for Feb. 21. More information about the series can be found at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">www.salinasymphony.org</a>.

Salina Symphony to present Virtual Chamber Concert

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid discusses the playoffs and playing the Browns this week. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid discusses the playoffs and playing the Browns this week. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F3936375176386902%2F&show_text=true&width=560" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM), your local Chiefs Radio Network stations.

🎥 Chiefs' Reid discusses playoffs, facing Browns

TOPEKA –&nbsp;&nbsp;As 2021 begins, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) offers 10 healthy habits to begin or to&nbsp;continue this new year!

Move more, sit less. Go for a walk, run, bike ride or try a new online fitness video this new year. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can lift your spirits, make you feel better and provide some helpful structure to your days. Benefits of regular physical activity include maintained weight, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, reduced high blood pressure and reduced arthritis pain. If you feel limited because of a chronic condition, consider participating in a&nbsp;Self-Management&nbsp;class such as Chronic Disease Self-Management, Walk With Ease or the National Diabetes Prevention Program.&nbsp;

Take a stretch break.&nbsp;If you are working from home, spending time watching tv or on the computer, it is important not to sit in the same place for too long and take a break from your screen. Get up and take a few minutes to&nbsp;stretch&nbsp;and move around every 30 minutes.

Eat the right foods.&nbsp;Good nutrition is key to good health. Everyone needs to get the right amount of healthy foods, like&nbsp;fruits&nbsp;and&nbsp;vegetables,&nbsp;lean protein, healthy fats and&nbsp;whole grains. Just remember fresh foods are healthier than processed, salty or sugary snacks. Learn more about how you can support the health and prosperity of Kansans by&nbsp;eating locally.

Rethink your drink.&nbsp;Skip high-sugar fruit juices, soda pop and alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and stay safe. Instead, prioritize drinking more water. You can even infuse your water with fruits, herbs and berries to switch it up each day. This simple change can reduce your risk of weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities and gout, a type of arthritis.

Quit smoking.&nbsp;You are never too old to quit. Benefits include: lowered risk for lung cancer and many other types of cancer; reduced risk for heart disease and stroke; reduced heart disease risk within 1 to 2 years of quitting; reduced respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and more money you will save. To get started, call the Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support. My Life, My Quit is a free resource available to Kansas teens to help them quit vaping. It is your life, and you should live it your way. Text "Start My Quit" to 855.891.9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on.&nbsp;My Life, My Quit website&nbsp;is always free and confidential, start your quit today.

Get screened for cancer.&nbsp;Regular screenings may find breast, cervical, colorectal (colon) and other cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best. Talk with your health care provider to see which ones you should have. Women, call Early Detection Works, 1-877-277-1368 to see if you qualify for support in paying for breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Keep kids healthy and safe -- talk to them about the dangers of vaping.&nbsp;Children develop their habits and behaviors at an early age and those habits can impact their life-long health. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey data, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among both high school and middle school youth. Vaping is putting young people at risk for developing lifelong nicotine addictions. My Life, My Quit is a free resource available to Kansas teens to help them quit vaping. It is your life, and you should live it your way. Text "Start My Quit" to 855.891.9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on.&nbsp;My Life, My Quit website&nbsp;is always free and confidential, start your quit today.

Get vaccinated.&nbsp;The best way to prevent common illnesses is to get and stay up-to-date on vaccinations. A complete immunization schedule for children and adults can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schedule.htm">http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schedule.htm</a>. For adolescent females, this includes getting vaccinated against HPV cancer.

Prioritize sleep. Make it your mission to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can be a risk factor for many long-lasting (chronic) diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and depression.

Maintain mental health.&nbsp;Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. While everybody has the blues, feels anxious or gets stressed at times, if you cannot shake these feelings, it is important to get help. Poor mental health increases the risk for long-lasting (chronic) physical conditions like heart disease, stroke and cancer. Our resiliency and ability to overcome adversity is key in creating and maintaining healthy habits. Learn more about the importance of&nbsp;building resiliency within your community.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;&nbsp;As 2021 begins, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) offers 10 healthy habits to begin or to&nbsp;continue this new year!Move more, sit less. Go for a walk, run, bike ride or try a new online fitness video this new year. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can lift your spirits, make you feel better and provide some helpful structure to your days. Benefits of regular physical activity include maintained weight, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, reduced high blood pressure and reduced arthritis pain. If you feel limited because of a chronic condition, consider participating in a&nbsp;Self-Management&nbsp;class such as Chronic Disease Self-Management, Walk With Ease or the National Diabetes Prevention Program.&nbsp;Take a stretch break.&nbsp;If you are working from home, spending time watching tv or on the computer, it is important not to sit in the same place for too long and take a break from your screen. Get up and take a few minutes to&nbsp;stretch&nbsp;and move around every 30 minutes.Eat the right foods.&nbsp;Good nutrition is key to good health. Everyone needs to get the right amount of healthy foods, like&nbsp;fruits&nbsp;and&nbsp;vegetables,&nbsp;lean protein, healthy fats and&nbsp;whole grains. Just remember fresh foods are healthier than processed, salty or sugary snacks. Learn more about how you can support the health and prosperity of Kansans by&nbsp;eating locally.Rethink your drink.&nbsp;Skip high-sugar fruit juices, soda pop and alcoholic drinks to reduce calories and stay safe. Instead, prioritize drinking more water. You can even infuse your water with fruits, herbs and berries to switch it up each day. This simple change can reduce your risk of weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities and gout, a type of arthritis.Quit smoking.&nbsp;You are never too old to quit. Benefits include: lowered risk for lung cancer and many other types of cancer; reduced risk for heart disease and stroke; reduced heart disease risk within 1 to 2 years of quitting; reduced respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and more money you will save. To get started, call the Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support. My Life, My Quit is a free resource available to Kansas teens to help them quit vaping. It is your life, and you should live it your way. Text "Start My Quit" to 855.891.9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on.&nbsp;My Life, My Quit website&nbsp;is always free and confidential, start your quit today.Get screened for cancer.&nbsp;Regular screenings may find breast, cervical, colorectal (colon) and other cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best. Talk with your health care provider to see which ones you should have. Women, call Early Detection Works, 1-877-277-1368 to see if you qualify for support in paying for breast and cervical cancer screenings.Keep kids healthy and safe -- talk to them about the dangers of vaping.&nbsp;Children develop their habits and behaviors at an early age and those habits can impact their life-long health. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey data, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among both high school and middle school youth. Vaping is putting young people at risk for developing lifelong nicotine addictions. My Life, My Quit is a free resource available to Kansas teens to help them quit vaping. It is your life, and you should live it your way. Text "Start My Quit" to 855.891.9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on.&nbsp;My Life, My Quit website&nbsp;is always free and confidential, start your quit today.Get vaccinated.&nbsp;The best way to prevent common illnesses is to get and stay up-to-date on vaccinations. A complete immunization schedule for children and adults can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schedule.htm">http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schedule.htm</a>. For adolescent females, this includes getting vaccinated against HPV cancer.Prioritize sleep. Make it your mission to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can be a risk factor for many long-lasting (chronic) diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and depression.Maintain mental health.&nbsp;Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. While everybody has the blues, feels anxious or gets stressed at times, if you cannot shake these feelings, it is important to get help. Poor mental health increases the risk for long-lasting (chronic) physical conditions like heart disease, stroke and cancer. Our resiliency and ability to overcome adversity is key in creating and maintaining healthy habits. Learn more about the importance of&nbsp;building resiliency within your community.