By MAX KAUTSCH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/20/dear-kris-kobach-please-read-this-open-letter-about-open-government-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Congratulations on your election as our state’s next attorney general.

I write this open letter in my capacity as the president of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/">Kansas Coalition for Open Government</a>.
 My purpose is to express my hope for establishing a working 
relationship between the coalition and your administration to achieve 
what I believe to be a shared goal: educating the public about the 
importance of transparency at all levels of Kansas government.

Transparency is vital. For example, it is how<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/08/23/overland-park-police-shooting-investigation/"> family members of crime victims learn</a> about what happened to their loved ones. A lack of transparency is why there was such an uproar over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/shocking-kansas-secures-no-jobs-100000436.html">unknowns about how taxpayer dollars were leveraged during the Panasonic plant negotiations</a>. Transparency is, at its heart, the ability of members of a democracy to challenge or verify what the government tells us.

As you know, the Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in 
promoting transparency in the state. Under Kansas law, the office is 
afforded more authority than any other entity to investigate and act on 
complaints made by members of the public that a public agency has 
violated the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0051_section/045_002_0051_k/">Kansas Open Records Act</a> or the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020b_section/075_043_0020b_k/">Kansas Open Meetings Act</a>,
 such as when an agency denies access to a record that should have been 
available or a has a meeting behind closed doors that should have been 
open.

Although county and district attorneys, as well as members of the public, have <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0022_section/045_002_0022_k/">authority to bring civil lawsuits</a> to enforce <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020a_section/075_043_0020a_k/">open government laws</a>,
 only the Attorney General’s Office has authority to enter into a 
“consent decree” with the offending agency or issue a “finding of 
violation” against such agency to resolve the complaint.

Your predecessor, who <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/documents/testimony/20150218_08.pdf">worked with legislators</a> to <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/hb2256/">pass the bill</a> conferring these additional powers on the office in 2015, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2016/02/01/ag-s-office-reorganizes-to-boost-open-government-enforcement">established an Open Government Enforcement Unit</a> within his office that was effectively the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt-falls-short-on-enforcing-open-records-law/">sole arbiter of open government law in this state</a> for the latter half of his tenure.

Now, Kansans have given you the responsibility to serve as the 
state’s primary enforcer of open government laws. With that 
responsibility comes broad investigatory and enforcement authority, 
including the ability to issue subpoenas to public agencies to enforce 
open meetings laws.

But I think we can agree that the most important component of effective open government law enforcement is education.

Your predecessor routinely offered open government <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/open-government/training">training sessions</a>
 for public employees and officials, the news media, and members of the 
public. Not only do such sessions help prevent public agencies from 
violating open government laws, but they also serve as a constructive 
way to resolve complaints because the office can order officials to 
remedy certain violations by attending.

To whatever extent the Attorney General’s Office under your 
leadership welcomes assistance in offering and developing such 
education, the coalition is happy to help. Our organization, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-1224557">501(c)(3) nonprofit</a>&nbsp;formed in 1999, has provided open government training sessions, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2018/08/01/ag-derek-schmidt-sunshine-coalition-to-offer-free-training-on-open-government-laws">sometimes in partnership with the office</a>, for more than two decades.

We offer a wide variety of open government education <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/resources/">resources on our website</a>, including <a target="_blank" href="https://kautschlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/open-govt-crash-course-2022.pdf">KORA and KOMA training slides</a> based largely on outlines of open government laws written by your predecessor.

Finally, for many years, the Attorney General’s Office and the Kansas
 Coalition for Open Government worked together to offer KORA and KOMA 
training. But that practice was suspended for a variety of reasons, not 
the least of which was your predecessor’s <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/15/kansas-ags-office-enforces-open-records-law-while-overlooking-key-piece/">selective application of the plain language</a>
 of KORA. It is my hope, despite past differences, that your 
administration recognizes the benefit of our shared history and would be
 willing to discuss how we might resume working together to serve the 
public interest during your term.

I can be reached at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:president@kcog.us">president@kcog.us</a>. I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to take office, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Max Kautsch, licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Nebraska, focuses his practice on First Amendment rights and open government law. He helps news media and members of the public assert rights of access to court proceedings, court records, and government agency documents. He serves as the legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, is president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, and is an adjunct professor at the University Kansas School of Law. Kautsch is also hotline counsel to both the Nebraska Press Association and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663086493444.jpeg" alt="Kautsch" />
 <figcaption>Kautsch</figcaption>
 </figure>By MAX KAUTSCH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/20/dear-kris-kobach-please-read-this-open-letter-about-open-government-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Dear attorney general-elect Kris Kobach:Congratulations on your election as our state’s next attorney general.I write this open letter in my capacity as the president of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/">Kansas Coalition for Open Government</a>.
 My purpose is to express my hope for establishing a working 
relationship between the coalition and your administration to achieve 
what I believe to be a shared goal: educating the public about the 
importance of transparency at all levels of Kansas government.Transparency is vital. For example, it is how<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/08/23/overland-park-police-shooting-investigation/"> family members of crime victims learn</a> about what happened to their loved ones. A lack of transparency is why there was such an uproar over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/shocking-kansas-secures-no-jobs-100000436.html">unknowns about how taxpayer dollars were leveraged during the Panasonic plant negotiations</a>. Transparency is, at its heart, the ability of members of a democracy to challenge or verify what the government tells us.As you know, the Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in 
promoting transparency in the state. Under Kansas law, the office is 
afforded more authority than any other entity to investigate and act on 
complaints made by members of the public that a public agency has 
violated the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0051_section/045_002_0051_k/">Kansas Open Records Act</a> or the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020b_section/075_043_0020b_k/">Kansas Open Meetings Act</a>,
 such as when an agency denies access to a record that should have been 
available or a has a meeting behind closed doors that should have been 
open.Although county and district attorneys, as well as members of the public, have <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0022_section/045_002_0022_k/">authority to bring civil lawsuits</a> to enforce <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020a_section/075_043_0020a_k/">open government laws</a>,
 only the Attorney General’s Office has authority to enter into a 
“consent decree” with the offending agency or issue a “finding of 
violation” against such agency to resolve the complaint.Your predecessor, who <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/documents/testimony/20150218_08.pdf">worked with legislators</a> to <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/hb2256/">pass the bill</a> conferring these additional powers on the office in 2015, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2016/02/01/ag-s-office-reorganizes-to-boost-open-government-enforcement">established an Open Government Enforcement Unit</a> within his office that was effectively the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt-falls-short-on-enforcing-open-records-law/">sole arbiter of open government law in this state</a> for the latter half of his tenure.Now, Kansans have given you the responsibility to serve as the 
state’s primary enforcer of open government laws. With that 
responsibility comes broad investigatory and enforcement authority, 
including the ability to issue subpoenas to public agencies to enforce 
open meetings laws.But I think we can agree that the most important component of effective open government law enforcement is education.Your predecessor routinely offered open government <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/open-government/training">training sessions</a>
 for public employees and officials, the news media, and members of the 
public. Not only do such sessions help prevent public agencies from 
violating open government laws, but they also serve as a constructive 
way to resolve complaints because the office can order officials to 
remedy certain violations by attending.To whatever extent the Attorney General’s Office under your 
leadership welcomes assistance in offering and developing such 
education, the coalition is happy to help. Our organization, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-1224557">501(c)(3) nonprofit</a>&nbsp;formed in 1999, has provided open government training sessions, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2018/08/01/ag-derek-schmidt-sunshine-coalition-to-offer-free-training-on-open-government-laws">sometimes in partnership with the office</a>, for more than two decades.We offer a wide variety of open government education <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/resources/">resources on our website</a>, including <a target="_blank" href="https://kautschlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/open-govt-crash-course-2022.pdf">KORA and KOMA training slides</a> based largely on outlines of open government laws written by your predecessor.Finally, for many years, the Attorney General’s Office and the Kansas
 Coalition for Open Government worked together to offer KORA and KOMA 
training. But that practice was suspended for a variety of reasons, not 
the least of which was your predecessor’s <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/15/kansas-ags-office-enforces-open-records-law-while-overlooking-key-piece/">selective application of the plain language</a>
 of KORA. It is my hope, despite past differences, that your 
administration recognizes the benefit of our shared history and would be
 willing to discuss how we might resume working together to serve the 
public interest during your term.I can be reached at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:president@kcog.us">president@kcog.us</a>. I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to take office, and I hope to hear from you soon.Max Kautsch, licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Nebraska, focuses his practice on First Amendment rights and open government law. He helps news media and members of the public assert rights of access to court proceedings, court records, and government agency documents. He serves as the legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, is president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, and is an adjunct professor at the University Kansas School of Law. Kautsch is also hotline counsel to both the Nebraska Press Association and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

Dear Kris Kobach: Please read this open letter about open government in Kansas

By BEN JENSEN Special to the Post

You may remember hearing about 
the Four County Fire back on Dec. 15, 2021. The fire devastated many
 acres in the counties of Ellis, Russell, Osborne and Rooks.

I remember the day vividly, despite being almost 200 
miles from those four counties. It was the strangest day I can recall in
 my entire life living in Kansas. In Manhattan, the tornado 
sirens blew in the middle of the afternoon as high winds tore roofs off 
buildings. The power went off and I could smell something burning. I 
thought at first it could be the beginning of an electrical fire. 
However, as I stepped outside, ashes were falling from the sky, and the 
air smelled of smoke.

Unfortunately, these powerful winds were occurring across the 
entirety of Kansas that day. Some wind gusts were measured at speeds of 
107 mph! This was even more frightening for western Kansas, especially 
around the Hays area, because the Kansas State Research Extension Center
 had not recorded any rainfall since Nov. 3. The area was vulnerable
 to anything that might spark a fire. Many locals concluded that the 
fire started from a spark of a broken power line in Ellis County. As it 
spread, the blaze left many people in the area wetting down their yards 
hoping to slow the fire before it took everything they had. The fire 
devastated the landscape, leaving many farmers, ranchers and other 
people fighting to save not only their lives but their livelihoods. The 
people in this area will never fully recover, but many believe it will 
take two to three years for the area to return to some sense of normal. 
It is important to remember that the Four County area still needs help! 
We must not forget how devastating this day was and that the recovery 
efforts have not ended.

Stephanie Dickerson, a multi-generational ranch owner in Paradise commented that, "Right now, the area is still in need of new 
fencing supplies and labor to recover the old fences and the debris from
 the fire."

The Four County Fire showed the Kansas Legislature a change was
 necessary for the future. In preparation for future wildfires, a bill 
passed allowing individuals to purchase fencing supplies without any 
sales tax at all. Another crucial thing to remember is that wildfires 
are hard to predict and can happen in any rural community. Insurance 
Commissioner Vicki Schmidt would like to remind people it is important 
to check your insurance plans to ensure you are covered for disasters 
like this wildfire.

On Dec. 15, rancher Chris Pelton had gotten a call that the fire 
was 7 miles southwest of Paradise and headed toward his land very 
quickly. He attempted to hold off the fires until his shop was engulfed 
in flames. Luckily, he made a quick escape but lost nearly all his 
buildings and many of his family possessions. He managed to save his 
dog, Archie, from his burning shed before he left for his own safety. 
Pelton remarked, "It was amazing to watch how people came to help with 
the recovery."

The fire did far more damage to soil than an average wildfire because
 it burned off the crop residue from many fields. This allowed powerful 
winds to blow the extremely dry topsoil away. Additionally, it took away
 people's lifelong family homes, fences, livestock and businesses. Many 
families had started these businesses from the ground up or maintained 
them for many generations.

This tragedy is significant to many people in these communities. It 
is evident they needed help and assistance in some way after this 
unpredictable and catastrophic event. An amazing saving grace effort 
came from people in the surrounding communities donating resources and 
traveling to the four counties to help with the wildfire recovery 
effort. The Kansas Livestock Foundation even managed to distribute two 
million dollars of funds to 91 Kansas applicants that were affected by 
the wildfire. The funds were donated by 2,100 generous contributors from
 41 states. Applicants lost more than 2,100 head of livestock and about 
750 miles of fencing.

Let us not forget the wildfires on Dec. 15, 2021, which show us 
that no matter how much certainty we have in our future, it can all be 
taken away by events outside of our control. However, what took place 
after the storms and wildfires are what gives me hope for our future as a
 country. There are still so many caring people who will be kind and 
helpful to people who are fighting off the worst moments of their lives.
 Please, be thankful for everything you have. If this story affects you 
in any way, please never be afraid to give to somebody who truly needs 
help in the future. It could make all the difference in the world.

Ben Jensen is a a K-State graduate from Republic County. He was Sen. Elaine Bowers' legislative intern in 2021 and 2022 and now works for KCLY/KFRM as a farm broadcaster. Originally written in the spring of 2022. Republished with permission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662557646953.jpeg" alt="Ben Jensen" />
 <figcaption>Ben Jensen</figcaption>
 </figure>By BEN JENSEN Special to the PostYou may remember hearing about 
the Four County Fire back on Dec. 15, 2021. The fire devastated many
 acres in the counties of Ellis, Russell, Osborne and Rooks.I remember the day vividly, despite being almost 200 
miles from those four counties. It was the strangest day I can recall in
 my entire life living in Kansas. In Manhattan, the tornado 
sirens blew in the middle of the afternoon as high winds tore roofs off 
buildings. The power went off and I could smell something burning. I 
thought at first it could be the beginning of an electrical fire. 
However, as I stepped outside, ashes were falling from the sky, and the 
air smelled of smoke.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662563965448.jpeg" alt="A windmill stands alone against the burnt landscape off of Codell Road in northeast Ellis County. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A windmill stands alone against the burnt landscape off of Codell Road in northeast Ellis County. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, these powerful winds were occurring across the 
entirety of Kansas that day. Some wind gusts were measured at speeds of 
107 mph! This was even more frightening for western Kansas, especially 
around the Hays area, because the Kansas State Research Extension Center
 had not recorded any rainfall since Nov. 3. The area was vulnerable
 to anything that might spark a fire. Many locals concluded that the 
fire started from a spark of a broken power line in Ellis County. As it 
spread, the blaze left many people in the area wetting down their yards 
hoping to slow the fire before it took everything they had. The fire 
devastated the landscape, leaving many farmers, ranchers and other 
people fighting to save not only their lives but their livelihoods. The 
people in this area will never fully recover, but many believe it will 
take two to three years for the area to return to some sense of normal. 
It is important to remember that the Four County area still needs help! 
We must not forget how devastating this day was and that the recovery 
efforts have not ended.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662563931969.jpeg" alt="A child's toy is all that is left after a house in Paradise was burned to the ground Wednesday as high winds ripped through Russell County. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A child's toy is all that is left after a house in Paradise was burned to the ground Wednesday as high winds ripped through Russell County. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Stephanie Dickerson, a multi-generational ranch owner in Paradise commented that, "Right now, the area is still in need of new 
fencing supplies and labor to recover the old fences and the debris from
 the fire."The Four County Fire showed the Kansas Legislature a change was
 necessary for the future. In preparation for future wildfires, a bill 
passed allowing individuals to purchase fencing supplies without any 
sales tax at all. Another crucial thing to remember is that wildfires 
are hard to predict and can happen in any rural community. Insurance 
Commissioner Vicki Schmidt would like to remind people it is important 
to check your insurance plans to ensure you are covered for disasters 
like this wildfire.On Dec. 15, rancher Chris Pelton had gotten a call that the fire 
was 7 miles southwest of Paradise and headed toward his land very 
quickly. He attempted to hold off the fires until his shop was engulfed 
in flames. Luckily, he made a quick escape but lost nearly all his 
buildings and many of his family possessions. He managed to save his 
dog, Archie, from his burning shed before he left for his own safety. 
Pelton remarked, "It was amazing to watch how people came to help with 
the recovery."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662564035796.jpeg" alt="The burned-out shells of vehicles at a home in Paradise. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The burned-out shells of vehicles at a home in Paradise. CRISTINA JANNEY/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The fire did far more damage to soil than an average wildfire because
 it burned off the crop residue from many fields. This allowed powerful 
winds to blow the extremely dry topsoil away. Additionally, it took away
 people's lifelong family homes, fences, livestock and businesses. Many 
families had started these businesses from the ground up or maintained 
them for many generations.This tragedy is significant to many people in these communities. It 
is evident they needed help and assistance in some way after this 
unpredictable and catastrophic event. An amazing saving grace effort 
came from people in the surrounding communities donating resources and 
traveling to the four counties to help with the wildfire recovery 
effort. The Kansas Livestock Foundation even managed to distribute two 
million dollars of funds to 91 Kansas applicants that were affected by 
the wildfire. The funds were donated by 2,100 generous contributors from
 41 states. Applicants lost more than 2,100 head of livestock and about 
750 miles of fencing.Let us not forget the wildfires on Dec. 15, 2021, which show us 
that no matter how much certainty we have in our future, it can all be 
taken away by events outside of our control. However, what took place 
after the storms and wildfires are what gives me hope for our future as a
 country. There are still so many caring people who will be kind and 
helpful to people who are fighting off the worst moments of their lives.
 Please, be thankful for everything you have. If this story affects you 
in any way, please never be afraid to give to somebody who truly needs 
help in the future. It could make all the difference in the world.Ben Jensen is a a K-State graduate from Republic County. He was Sen. Elaine Bowers' legislative intern in 2021 and 2022 and now works for KCLY/KFRM as a farm broadcaster. Originally written in the spring of 2022. Republished with permission.

COLUMN: Remembering the Four County Fire

A recent article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fa91d092-6cdb-4d0f-a2ac-99514ef69f8c">published by the Kansas Reflector on August 12, 2022, and reprinted in multiple
newspapers,</a> detailed the Federal forfeiture and civil lawsuit involving Saint Francis Ministries
and a few of its former leaders. The article contained inaccurate statements about Saint Francis
Ministries, which could have been avoided had the news outlet taken the time to contact us for
comment.

The article suggests that millions of dollars were not properly accounted for; these statements
are false. The comments in the article lead the reader to an inaccurate understanding of the
situation. Over the past twenty-two months, the Saint Francis Ministries team has cooperated
with investigators, auditors, and state partners to ensure accurate accounting and complete
transparency. In summary, there are no unaccounted dollars as we continue to openly assist
and support government organizations with their inquiries.


The article also claims that Nebraska severed ties with Saint Francis over performance
concerns. This is also inaccurate. Both parties agreed to mutually terminate the contract.
Nebraska ended privatization in the state, and did not replace Saint Francis with another
contractor. Nebraska and Saint Francis continue a strong working relationship in providing
services for Nebraska children and families.


Thankfully, Saint Francis Ministries is financially sound. Our fiscal operations are healthy and
our systems are strong. This outcome is due to hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the entire
Saint Francis Ministries team. What has transpired in the past will not define our legacy. Saint
Francis Ministries has faithfully transformed lives for over 75 years and remains committed to
our mission of providing healing and hope to children and families. We serve more than 11,000
children and families, across six states, employing over 1,550 dedicated individuals. We are
proud of our work, and we will continue to rebuild trust with those we serve and the partners
who support our mission.


Alison Kossover
 Chief Administration Officer
Marketing &amp; Human Resources
 Saint Francis Ministries

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582642737344.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A recent article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/fa91d092-6cdb-4d0f-a2ac-99514ef69f8c">published by the Kansas Reflector on August 12, 2022, and reprinted in multiple
newspapers,</a> detailed the Federal forfeiture and civil lawsuit involving Saint Francis Ministries
and a few of its former leaders. The article contained inaccurate statements about Saint Francis
Ministries, which could have been avoided had the news outlet taken the time to contact us for
comment.
The article suggests that millions of dollars were not properly accounted for; these statements
are false. The comments in the article lead the reader to an inaccurate understanding of the
situation. Over the past twenty-two months, the Saint Francis Ministries team has cooperated
with investigators, auditors, and state partners to ensure accurate accounting and complete
transparency. In summary, there are no unaccounted dollars as we continue to openly assist
and support government organizations with their inquiries.
The article also claims that Nebraska severed ties with Saint Francis over performance
concerns. This is also inaccurate. Both parties agreed to mutually terminate the contract.
Nebraska ended privatization in the state, and did not replace Saint Francis with another
contractor. Nebraska and Saint Francis continue a strong working relationship in providing
services for Nebraska children and families.
Thankfully, Saint Francis Ministries is financially sound. Our fiscal operations are healthy and
our systems are strong. This outcome is due to hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the entire
Saint Francis Ministries team. What has transpired in the past will not define our legacy. Saint
Francis Ministries has faithfully transformed lives for over 75 years and remains committed to
our mission of providing healing and hope to children and families. We serve more than 11,000
children and families, across six states, employing over 1,550 dedicated individuals. We are
proud of our work, and we will continue to rebuild trust with those we serve and the partners
who support our mission.
Alison Kossover
 Chief Administration Officer
Marketing &amp; Human Resources
 Saint Francis Ministries

LETTER: Saint Francis Ministries misrepresented in recent story

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/19/early-signs-and-concerns-of-how-sports-gambling-apps-will-market-to-kansans/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Thursday’s announcement that sports betting <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/18/kansas-plans-sept-1-soft-launch-of-sports-wagering-for-start-of-football-season/">will begin Sept. 1</a>
 in Kansas edges the state closer to a brave new world for sports fans, 
whether supporting the Jayhawks, Chiefs, Wildcats, Shockers, Royals or 
Sporting KC.

When the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/12/kansas-governor-signs-law-legalizes-sports-betting/">approved sports gaming</a>
 earlier this year, it triggered a complex multibillion dollar marketing
 and technology machine that is already whirring to life, even in 
advance of the start date. And that machine will certainly change our 
state’s relationship with sports.

Some of these changes will be minor 
and cosmetic. However, other changes will alter how we watch games and, 
most radically, who we root for.

Here are my notes about how sports has already changed with gambling on the scene — along with a forecast of coming changes.

The visual landscape of watching 
sports — or even reading about them — will never be the same. Since the 
U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/us/politics/supreme-court-sports-betting-new-jersey.html">nationwide sports gambling in 2018</a>, betting odds have invaded every mainstream sports app.

On my phone, ESPN’s app offers a 
PickCenter, providing the run line, money line and over/under for the 
Royals game Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. You can also get 
“exclusive PickCenter analysis” with a subscription payment. CBS Sports 
and most other apps offer the same wagering details — sometimes on a 
homepage scoreboard that doesn’t require you even to click through to 
read about the game.

Like me, maybe you spent decades 
scanning the daily newspaper and the sports page, with its hundreds of 
lines of agate, displaying scores and betting lines. In most papers, 
betting information was relegated to a box on the outskirts of the page,
 signaling an uneasy yet conjoined relationship between sports 
journalism and gambling.

The paper sought to inform both your 
pure love affair with your favorite team and your begrudging habit of 
making a bet against that same team with a local bookie.

We should expect the same creeping 
presence of sports betting information when watching sports broadcasts 
too. In past NFL seasons, commentators coyly hinted at how a fourth 
quarter field goal might impact a teetering betting line. Those same 
play-by-play personalities, like Al Michaels of NBC, have acknowledged 
their increased liberation to be more direct.

“So what I would do through the years
 is I would come in the back door, sometimes I would come in the side 
door, and now I guess they’re allowing me to come in the front door, 
which is not as much fun as doing it subtly,” Michaels <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-entertainment-nfl-courts-sports-betting-ab511551c44d6bed4c929bfd02eda32a">told the Associated Press last year</a>.

In addition to this shift to verbal 
posture, the networks broadcasting the games will provide more gambling 
information in pregame shows, “<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-entertainment-nfl-courts-sports-betting-ab511551c44d6bed4c929bfd02eda32a">but only to help contextualize game analysis or a broader storyline</a>.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Looking to countries where sports 
betting has had decades to infiltrate the culture suggests how visually 
omnipresent sports gambling brand might become, and how much we might 
regret it eventually.

The English Premier League is arguably the top soccer league in the world in a country that has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/betting-gambling-shirt-sponsorship-soccer-football-cricket-rugby-ban-caytoo/">long allowed sports gambling</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/14/gambling-review-delay-lets-premier-league-football-clubs-strike-sponsorship-deals">Forty percent of teams in the league</a>
 have agreements with sports gambling companies to provide an 
advertising image on the front of the team’s uniform. This summer, the 
league looked <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/voluntary-ban-on-betting-shirt-sponsors-to-be-agreed-by-premier-league-clubs-58nqb9mqz">poised to ban</a> such ads on the front of shirts, but energy for the <a target="_blank" href="https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-accused-tokenism-ban-gambling-shirt-sponsors-1793534">prohibition</a> has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/14/gambling-review-delay-lets-premier-league-football-clubs-strike-sponsorship-deals">stalled</a>.

More North American sports teams are including advertising on their jerseys, in big or small ways. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usbets.com/sportsbook-advertising-jerseys-america/">Washington Capitals signed a deal</a>
 with Caesars Sportsbook last year to include a 3-by-3.5 inch patch on 
their jerseys. So, don’t be surprised to see a FanDuel logo on the chest
 of your favorite player during an upcoming season.

The tension is clear. How can a 
player try his hardest to win while he wears an ad for a site where 
hundreds of people financially invest in his losing?

The line between journalism and betting advertising

Publications constantly allow 
advertisers to blur the line between advertising from a paid sponsor and
 the journalism from their staff members. That line is particularly hazy
 these days on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/">sports web page of the Kansas City Star</a>. The most prominent real estate on the page in the top left quadrant is dedicated to a module labeled “Betting.”&nbsp;

The packaging of that content uses the same fonts, story structures and provides <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/profile/257676073">bylines</a> for the writers. However, the content is sponsored.

“We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of our links,” <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/betting/article261739482.html">the page explains</a>. “The newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.”

What follows that warning is a 
promotional blitz for each of the companies that will offer sports 
gambling in Kansas: DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, 
FanDuel, BetRivers and PointsBet. While headlines for each post promise a
 “review,” the writer from Gambling.com gushes about the features 
without ever considering a critique.

In the final words of these reviews 
(some of them stretching more than 3,000 words), there is the same 
cut-and-paste warning about “responsible gambling.”

The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/sports/">Wichita Eagle’s sports home page</a>
 does not display the betting content in the same prominent way, 
although the same “reviews” are there for readers. Both publications are
 owned by the same parent company and use the same website template.

Aside from sports media, Kansans 
should prepare for their fellow fans to act differently during games. 
The never-ending buffet of betting options for any particular game might
 create perverse rooting incentives for the fan sitting next to you at 
the bar.

Imagine that you are sitting next to 
your buddy, a rabid Kansas City Chiefs fan decked out in his Patrick 
Mahomes replica jersey as he crushes some chicken wings. By betting on 
the “under” for a game, he will be hoping for a low-scoring game. So, 
don’t be surprised if he is rooting for the Chiefs to take a knee, 
rather than for Mahomes to throw another touchdown pass, if the game is 
already secured for the Chiefs.

Of course, many fans are familiar 
with this from years of fantasy sports and illegal gambling. But 
legalized gambling promises to send many more fans to check their phones
 at the end of the game and consider which is more precious: their $500 
wager or their coveted team.

In the mail this week, I received a 
glitzy brochure from DraftKings VIP, promising “enhanced promotional 
offers,” “invitations to private events” and “a dedicated host.” The 
cover of the advertisement featured a map of Kansas with a clutch of 
sunflowers blooming awkwardly in the northwest corner of the state 
(Hello, St. Francis!).&nbsp;

The message of the black-and-bronze 
advertisement is clear: While gambling will be as easy as downloading an
 app, I can have an exclusive, swanky experience (through the phone?). 
This appeal might be useful for separating DraftKings VIP from the other
 gambling providers. However, the implicit message is that spending more
 (“Qualified Dynasty members”) will bring benefits.

Such marketing creates a slippery 
slope toward irresponsible gambling, even before the start of online 
wagering has been announced.

Of course, all of these dominoes of 
sports, culture, advertising and journalism were long ago set in motion.
 What’s coming into sharper focus now is how it will affect Kansans as 
we cheer from our couches — perhaps with a sports gambling app on the 
phone in our hand.

Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660921289041.png" alt="This mailing from DraftKings, which is arriving at Kansas mailboxes this week, is one sign of the marketing blitzes on the way with the Sept. 1 start of sports gambling in Kansas. (Eric Thomas)" />
 <figcaption>This mailing from DraftKings, which is arriving at Kansas mailboxes this week, is one sign of the marketing blitzes on the way with the Sept. 1 start of sports gambling in Kansas. (Eric Thomas)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/19/early-signs-and-concerns-of-how-sports-gambling-apps-will-market-to-kansans/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Thursday’s announcement that sports betting <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/18/kansas-plans-sept-1-soft-launch-of-sports-wagering-for-start-of-football-season/">will begin Sept. 1</a>
 in Kansas edges the state closer to a brave new world for sports fans, 
whether supporting the Jayhawks, Chiefs, Wildcats, Shockers, Royals or 
Sporting KC.When the Kansas Legislature <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/12/kansas-governor-signs-law-legalizes-sports-betting/">approved sports gaming</a>
 earlier this year, it triggered a complex multibillion dollar marketing
 and technology machine that is already whirring to life, even in 
advance of the start date. And that machine will certainly change our 
state’s relationship with sports.Some of these changes will be minor 
and cosmetic. However, other changes will alter how we watch games and, 
most radically, who we root for.Here are my notes about how sports has already changed with gambling on the scene — along with a forecast of coming changes.<h2>Signs of betting in new places</h2>The visual landscape of watching 
sports — or even reading about them — will never be the same. Since the 
U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/us/politics/supreme-court-sports-betting-new-jersey.html">nationwide sports gambling in 2018</a>, betting odds have invaded every mainstream sports app.On my phone, ESPN’s app offers a 
PickCenter, providing the run line, money line and over/under for the 
Royals game Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. You can also get 
“exclusive PickCenter analysis” with a subscription payment. CBS Sports 
and most other apps offer the same wagering details — sometimes on a 
homepage scoreboard that doesn’t require you even to click through to 
read about the game.Like me, maybe you spent decades 
scanning the daily newspaper and the sports page, with its hundreds of 
lines of agate, displaying scores and betting lines. In most papers, 
betting information was relegated to a box on the outskirts of the page,
 signaling an uneasy yet conjoined relationship between sports 
journalism and gambling.The paper sought to inform both your 
pure love affair with your favorite team and your begrudging habit of 
making a bet against that same team with a local bookie.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>We should expect the same creeping 
presence of sports betting information when watching sports broadcasts 
too. In past NFL seasons, commentators coyly hinted at how a fourth 
quarter field goal might impact a teetering betting line. Those same 
play-by-play personalities, like Al Michaels of NBC, have acknowledged 
their increased liberation to be more direct.“So what I would do through the years
 is I would come in the back door, sometimes I would come in the side 
door, and now I guess they’re allowing me to come in the front door, 
which is not as much fun as doing it subtly,” Michaels <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-entertainment-nfl-courts-sports-betting-ab511551c44d6bed4c929bfd02eda32a">told the Associated Press last year</a>.In addition to this shift to verbal 
posture, the networks broadcasting the games will provide more gambling 
information in pregame shows, “<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-entertainment-nfl-courts-sports-betting-ab511551c44d6bed4c929bfd02eda32a">but only to help contextualize game analysis or a broader storyline</a>.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Looking to countries where sports 
betting has had decades to infiltrate the culture suggests how visually 
omnipresent sports gambling brand might become, and how much we might 
regret it eventually.The English Premier League is arguably the top soccer league in the world in a country that has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/betting-gambling-shirt-sponsorship-soccer-football-cricket-rugby-ban-caytoo/">long allowed sports gambling</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/14/gambling-review-delay-lets-premier-league-football-clubs-strike-sponsorship-deals">Forty percent of teams in the league</a>
 have agreements with sports gambling companies to provide an 
advertising image on the front of the team’s uniform. This summer, the 
league looked <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/voluntary-ban-on-betting-shirt-sponsors-to-be-agreed-by-premier-league-clubs-58nqb9mqz">poised to ban</a> such ads on the front of shirts, but energy for the <a target="_blank" href="https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league-accused-tokenism-ban-gambling-shirt-sponsors-1793534">prohibition</a> has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/14/gambling-review-delay-lets-premier-league-football-clubs-strike-sponsorship-deals">stalled</a>.More North American sports teams are including advertising on their jerseys, in big or small ways. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usbets.com/sportsbook-advertising-jerseys-america/">Washington Capitals signed a deal</a>
 with Caesars Sportsbook last year to include a 3-by-3.5 inch patch on 
their jerseys. So, don’t be surprised to see a FanDuel logo on the chest
 of your favorite player during an upcoming season.The tension is clear. How can a 
player try his hardest to win while he wears an ad for a site where 
hundreds of people financially invest in his losing?<h2>The line between journalism and betting advertising</h2>Publications constantly allow 
advertisers to blur the line between advertising from a paid sponsor and
 the journalism from their staff members. That line is particularly hazy
 these days on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/">sports web page of the Kansas City Star</a>. The most prominent real estate on the page in the top left quadrant is dedicated to a module labeled “Betting.”&nbsp;The packaging of that content uses the same fonts, story structures and provides <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/profile/257676073">bylines</a> for the writers. However, the content is sponsored.“We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of our links,” <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/betting/article261739482.html">the page explains</a>. “The newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.”What follows that warning is a 
promotional blitz for each of the companies that will offer sports 
gambling in Kansas: DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET, 
FanDuel, BetRivers and PointsBet. While headlines for each post promise a
 “review,” the writer from Gambling.com gushes about the features 
without ever considering a critique.In the final words of these reviews 
(some of them stretching more than 3,000 words), there is the same 
cut-and-paste warning about “responsible gambling.”The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansas.com/sports/">Wichita Eagle’s sports home page</a>
 does not display the betting content in the same prominent way, 
although the same “reviews” are there for readers. Both publications are
 owned by the same parent company and use the same website template.<h2>Chatter during games</h2>Aside from sports media, Kansans 
should prepare for their fellow fans to act differently during games. 
The never-ending buffet of betting options for any particular game might
 create perverse rooting incentives for the fan sitting next to you at 
the bar.Imagine that you are sitting next to 
your buddy, a rabid Kansas City Chiefs fan decked out in his Patrick 
Mahomes replica jersey as he crushes some chicken wings. By betting on 
the “under” for a game, he will be hoping for a low-scoring game. So, 
don’t be surprised if he is rooting for the Chiefs to take a knee, 
rather than for Mahomes to throw another touchdown pass, if the game is 
already secured for the Chiefs.Sports gambling muddies our fandom.Of course, many fans are familiar 
with this from years of fantasy sports and illegal gambling. But 
legalized gambling promises to send many more fans to check their phones
 at the end of the game and consider which is more precious: their $500 
wager or their coveted team.<h2>Enticing VIP packaging&nbsp;</h2>In the mail this week, I received a 
glitzy brochure from DraftKings VIP, promising “enhanced promotional 
offers,” “invitations to private events” and “a dedicated host.” The 
cover of the advertisement featured a map of Kansas with a clutch of 
sunflowers blooming awkwardly in the northwest corner of the state 
(Hello, St. Francis!).&nbsp;The message of the black-and-bronze 
advertisement is clear: While gambling will be as easy as downloading an
 app, I can have an exclusive, swanky experience (through the phone?). 
This appeal might be useful for separating DraftKings VIP from the other
 gambling providers. However, the implicit message is that spending more
 (“Qualified Dynasty members”) will bring benefits.Such marketing creates a slippery 
slope toward irresponsible gambling, even before the start of online 
wagering has been announced.Of course, all of these dominoes of 
sports, culture, advertising and journalism were long ago set in motion.
 What’s coming into sharper focus now is how it will affect Kansans as 
we cheer from our couches — perhaps with a sports gambling app on the 
phone in our hand.Eric Thomas directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, a nonprofit that supports student journalism throughout the state. He also teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.&nbsp;

OPINION: Early signs, and concerns, of how sports gambling apps will market to Kansans

By HUASCAR MEDINA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/23/kansas-exhibit-unites-worlds-of-artistry-and-family-into-a-big-hearted-whole/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

“Making It Work” is currently on display at the <a target="_blank" href="https://lawrenceartscenter.org/">Lawrence Arts Center</a>.
 The exhibit takes a deeper look into the generative processes of 
artists as parents and how familial bonds inform their work.&nbsp; The featured artists include <a target="_blank" href="https://pilaraguero.com/">Pilar Agüero-Esparza</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://albertoaguilar.org/">Alberto Aguilar</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.christadonner.com/">Christa Donner</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lisehallerbaggesen.org/">Lise Haller Baggesen</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cararomerophotography.com/home">Cara Romero</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://blacklunchtable.com/about/founders/">Jina Valentine</a>.

The show “brings together six 
contemporary U.S. artists who are artists and parents who make that 
relationship visible in their work,” said Maria Velasco, a professor at the University of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://art.ku.edu/">Department of Visual Art</a>, along with being a mother and artist herself.
 “It is part of their dynamic, their conception and their making. So 
from that point of view, it is really unique. Because we’re used to 
having to choose between one or the other. The culture tells us that you
 must be one or the other. That if you are a good parent you can’t be a 
good artist and if you are a good artist you can’t be a parent. So you 
really have to challenge that belief. And still deal with the 
difficulties in existing in that kind of juncture.”&nbsp;

The show was co-curated by Velasco and Rachel Epp Buller, professor of visual arts and design at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bethelks.edu/">Bethel College</a>.&nbsp;

When asked about the artists chosen, 
Velasco said that, “For us, from the beginning, the choice was based on 
what we call generative practices, which are ways in which we look at 
processes, collaboration, conversations, activities that may take place 
normally internally, in terms of the making of the work, but also with 
the existing community.&nbsp;

“We were looking at how those 
processes materialize into some kind of work. It’s not so much the 
old-fashioned way of making work, where you are thinking about an object
 on the wall that is self contained. This is looking at how we make work
 from a different platform to begin with.”

Featured artist Agüero-Esparza presents a
 wall installation with three-dimensional elements in acrylic and wood 
titled: “Multicultural Crayon: White, Apricot, Peach, Tan, Mahogany, 
Burnt Sienna, Sepia, Black — What Color Are You?” This piece converses 
with another piece, “Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” Both include 
casts of her daughter’s feet at different ages. At age 10, the 
conversation is about skin tone. The artist uses a crayon skin tone 
color palette to have discussions about race.&nbsp;

This conversation began with her 
daughter coming home after school, asking why people don’t identify with
 the peach color that most white people consider skin color. Agüero-Esparza also connects this work with her upbringing in Mexico. Her family had a shoe shop that made huaraches. The tint of the leather strands are represented in the base of the casted feet, dancing at age 17.&nbsp;

“Since an early age, she (Agüero-Esparza) has
 been involved in seeing and being a part of that process,” Velasco 
said. “That process is stripes of leather that are tinted in different 
forms and has carried that stylistic choice in her work. The story 
behind this work is intergenerational. A story she is having with her 
parents and her daughter. When you become a parent that lineage becomes 
so apparent.”&nbsp;

Donner’s interactive piece, “A Portal
 Is Opening,” is also an intergenerational work in which the viewer is 
projected into the future. It has a QR code and map that will send you 
to a spot in South Park by a bench, where you can listen to a letter 
that a child from 2226 telling us about extinction and species that have
 disappeared.

&nbsp;“This is a conversation on 
sustainability and how unaware we are of the damage that we are 
creating. The fact that our children will inherit that world and life 
doesn’t stop when we stop. Having kids makes that more obvious than 
ever.” Velasco said. “We are connecting with a child from the future. It
 makes obvious these political issues in a poetic way. The piece is 
narrated by the daughter of the artist. It is a way of collaborating 
with your kids.”&nbsp;

Velasco continued: “It is not just a 
sentimental or cute thing. You are having a conversation with a 
legitimate human being that is a small person, because of course, it’s 
cute because kids are cute, but that is not what the point is. But when 
you are engaged as a parent who is also an artist, and you are having 
conversations with your kids that are very serious like this one about 
race, sustainability or others.”

Another conversation presented in the show addresses racial violence against Black men. It’s titled “Testimony.”

Valentine was inspired by her 
inability to process the news about the shooting deaths of young Black 
men. The piece is difficult to absorb. It includes excerpts of news 
reports about the deaths of Black sons. You can only read a little bit 
at a time. In this work, Valentine used an ink that eats the paper away.
 Possibly she’s commenting about erasure, whitewashing, or an attempt to
 remove a reality that should not have taken place. Perhaps she is 
facilitating time being pressed forward, to a point where these stories 
may not exist.&nbsp;

Baggesens describes her work 
“Mothernism” as “a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book 
dedicated to staking out and making speakable the “mother-shaped hole in
 contemporary art discourse.”&nbsp;

In this created space, you can listen
 to music and read books that Baggesens has selected. The place projects
 a sense of sanctuary, contemplation and isolation all at once.&nbsp;

The familial bonds displayed 
throughout this show magnify the works of all these artists. Each one 
creates simultaneously as an artist and parent. There is no delineation 
in the work that has to be done and the conversations that need to be 
had. Creating art that addresses issues affecting both parents and 
children is not only good parenting, but important artistry. “Making it 
work” exemplifies the power of artists as parents with real profundity.&nbsp;

“Making It Work” will run until July 
30. A curator’s INSIGHT Art Talk will occur July 28, at 7 p.m.. This 
will include a presentation of Epp Buller’s book “<a target="_blank" href="https://demeterpress.org/books/inappropriate-bodies-art-design-and-maternity/">Inappropriate Bodies: Art, Design, Maternity”</a> and the first local screening of Velasco’s award-winning documentary “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mariavelascostudio.com/all-of-me-artistsmothers">All of Me: Artists+Mothers</a>.”

A closing reception will be held July 29 at the Lawrence Arts Center from 5 to 9 p.m.

Huascar Media — the Kansas poet laureate — is a poet, writer, and performer who lives in Topeka. He works as a freelance copywriter and as the literary editor for seveneightfive magazine, publishing stories that spotlight literary and artistic events in northeast Kansas. His poems can be found in his collection "How to Hang the Moon" and "Un Mango Grows in Kansas." He is the winner of ARTSConnect’s 2018 Arty Award for Literary Art.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602054729.png" alt="“Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” by Pilar Agüero-Esparza (front) and “Testimony” by Jina Valentine are both part of the “Making It Work” exhibit currently on display at the Lawrence Arts Center. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>“Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” by Pilar Agüero-Esparza (front) and “Testimony” by Jina Valentine are both part of the “Making It Work” exhibit currently on display at the Lawrence Arts Center. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By HUASCAR MEDINA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/23/kansas-exhibit-unites-worlds-of-artistry-and-family-into-a-big-hearted-whole/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>“Making It Work” is currently on display at the <a target="_blank" href="https://lawrenceartscenter.org/">Lawrence Arts Center</a>.
 The exhibit takes a deeper look into the generative processes of 
artists as parents and how familial bonds inform their work.&nbsp; The featured artists include <a target="_blank" href="https://pilaraguero.com/">Pilar Agüero-Esparza</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://albertoaguilar.org/">Alberto Aguilar</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.christadonner.com/">Christa Donner</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lisehallerbaggesen.org/">Lise Haller Baggesen</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cararomerophotography.com/home">Cara Romero</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://blacklunchtable.com/about/founders/">Jina Valentine</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The show “brings together six 
contemporary U.S. artists who are artists and parents who make that 
relationship visible in their work,” said Maria Velasco, a professor at the University of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://art.ku.edu/">Department of Visual Art</a>, along with being a mother and artist herself.
 “It is part of their dynamic, their conception and their making. So 
from that point of view, it is really unique. Because we’re used to 
having to choose between one or the other. The culture tells us that you
 must be one or the other. That if you are a good parent you can’t be a 
good artist and if you are a good artist you can’t be a parent. So you 
really have to challenge that belief. And still deal with the 
difficulties in existing in that kind of juncture.”&nbsp;The show was co-curated by Velasco and Rachel Epp Buller, professor of visual arts and design at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bethelks.edu/">Bethel College</a>.&nbsp;When asked about the artists chosen, 
Velasco said that, “For us, from the beginning, the choice was based on 
what we call generative practices, which are ways in which we look at 
processes, collaboration, conversations, activities that may take place 
normally internally, in terms of the making of the work, but also with 
the existing community.&nbsp;“We were looking at how those 
processes materialize into some kind of work. It’s not so much the 
old-fashioned way of making work, where you are thinking about an object
 on the wall that is self contained. This is looking at how we make work
 from a different platform to begin with.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602124523.jpeg" alt="In this closeup from “Testimony,” by Jina Valentine, you can see how excerpts from newspapers are written in an iron gall ink that eats away at the paper. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>In this closeup from “Testimony,” by Jina Valentine, you can see how excerpts from newspapers are written in an iron gall ink that eats away at the paper. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Featured artist Agüero-Esparza presents a
 wall installation with three-dimensional elements in acrylic and wood 
titled: “Multicultural Crayon: White, Apricot, Peach, Tan, Mahogany, 
Burnt Sienna, Sepia, Black — What Color Are You?” This piece converses 
with another piece, “Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” Both include 
casts of her daughter’s feet at different ages. At age 10, the 
conversation is about skin tone. The artist uses a crayon skin tone 
color palette to have discussions about race.&nbsp;This conversation began with her 
daughter coming home after school, asking why people don’t identify with
 the peach color that most white people consider skin color. Agüero-Esparza also connects this work with her upbringing in Mexico. Her family had a shoe shop that made huaraches. The tint of the leather strands are represented in the base of the casted feet, dancing at age 17.&nbsp;“Since an early age, she (Agüero-Esparza) has
 been involved in seeing and being a part of that process,” Velasco 
said. “That process is stripes of leather that are tinted in different 
forms and has carried that stylistic choice in her work. The story 
behind this work is intergenerational. A story she is having with her 
parents and her daughter. When you become a parent that lineage becomes 
so apparent.”&nbsp;Donner’s interactive piece, “A Portal
 Is Opening,” is also an intergenerational work in which the viewer is 
projected into the future. It has a QR code and map that will send you 
to a spot in South Park by a bench, where you can listen to a letter 
that a child from 2226 telling us about extinction and species that have
 disappeared.&nbsp;“This is a conversation on 
sustainability and how unaware we are of the damage that we are 
creating. The fact that our children will inherit that world and life 
doesn’t stop when we stop. Having kids makes that more obvious than 
ever.” Velasco said. “We are connecting with a child from the future. It
 makes obvious these political issues in a poetic way. The piece is 
narrated by the daughter of the artist. It is a way of collaborating 
with your kids.”&nbsp;Velasco continued: “It is not just a 
sentimental or cute thing. You are having a conversation with a 
legitimate human being that is a small person, because of course, it’s 
cute because kids are cute, but that is not what the point is. But when 
you are engaged as a parent who is also an artist, and you are having 
conversations with your kids that are very serious like this one about 
race, sustainability or others.”Another conversation presented in the show addresses racial violence against Black men. It’s titled “Testimony.”Valentine was inspired by her 
inability to process the news about the shooting deaths of young Black 
men. The piece is difficult to absorb. It includes excerpts of news 
reports about the deaths of Black sons. You can only read a little bit 
at a time. In this work, Valentine used an ink that eats the paper away.
 Possibly she’s commenting about erasure, whitewashing, or an attempt to
 remove a reality that should not have taken place. Perhaps she is 
facilitating time being pressed forward, to a point where these stories 
may not exist.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602157042.png" alt=" “Mothernism,” by Lise Haller Baggesen, includes a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> “Mothernism,” by Lise Haller Baggesen, includes a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Baggesens describes her work 
“Mothernism” as “a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book 
dedicated to staking out and making speakable the “mother-shaped hole in
 contemporary art discourse.”&nbsp;In this created space, you can listen
 to music and read books that Baggesens has selected. The place projects
 a sense of sanctuary, contemplation and isolation all at once.&nbsp;The familial bonds displayed 
throughout this show magnify the works of all these artists. Each one 
creates simultaneously as an artist and parent. There is no delineation 
in the work that has to be done and the conversations that need to be 
had. Creating art that addresses issues affecting both parents and 
children is not only good parenting, but important artistry. “Making it 
work” exemplifies the power of artists as parents with real profundity.&nbsp;“Making It Work” will run until July 
30. A curator’s INSIGHT Art Talk will occur July 28, at 7 p.m.. This 
will include a presentation of Epp Buller’s book “<a target="_blank" href="https://demeterpress.org/books/inappropriate-bodies-art-design-and-maternity/">Inappropriate Bodies: Art, Design, Maternity”</a> and the first local screening of Velasco’s award-winning documentary “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mariavelascostudio.com/all-of-me-artistsmothers">All of Me: Artists+Mothers</a>.”A closing reception will be held July 29 at the Lawrence Arts Center from 5 to 9 p.m.Huascar Media — the Kansas poet laureate — is a poet, writer, and performer who lives in Topeka. He works as a freelance copywriter and as the literary editor for seveneightfive magazine, publishing stories that spotlight literary and artistic events in northeast Kansas. His poems can be found in his collection "How to Hang the Moon" and "Un Mango Grows in Kansas." He is the winner of ARTSConnect’s 2018 Arty Award for Literary Art.

KS poet laureate: Exhibit unites worlds of artistry, family

By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/03/screaming-on-the-sidelines-confessions-of-a-semi-reformed-sports-dad-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Any parent who has a child playing sports has a story like this.

This weekend we were watching the 
closing minutes of a soccer game before my son was taking the field with
 his team. The game was between teams of 18-year-olds in a tournament, 
and clearly something contentious had happened earlier.

The coaches were jawing at the 
referee. The players seemed more focused on pushing each other around 
than winning the ball or scoring goals. It was tense, but also lazy, 
soccer. My wife and I watched the feisty grind to pass time.

As a loose ball skittered into a 
dangerous area, a defender lost track of the forward he was marking. 
Once he relocated him, it was too late to do anything but foul him. The 
defender brought his opponent down in a dangerous rugby tackle, 
maliciously hooking the forward’s legs as they rolled on the ground. The
 forward sprung up from the tackle, prepared for a fight. And he got 
it.&nbsp;

The goalkeeper rushed forward and blindsided him with a shove.&nbsp;

What followed was a predictable 
shower of yellow cards and red cards, eventually sending off three 
players. That’s where the drama should have ended. As someone who didn’t
 care a bit about which team won, I judged that the referee had done his
 job. Tempers subsided.

But then, the dad from the sidelines piped up.

“That’s just terrible,” he said to the referee. “How can you do that to my son? You are just terrible!”

The ref spun on his heels and asked, rhetorically he hoped, “Do you want to leave too?”

“You should be parking cars!” the dad shouted. “You are awful. You should be parking cars!”

If I printed here the number of times
 the dad mentioned the referee’s acumen with storing automobiles, you 
wouldn’t believe it. It was his furious public mantra. Over and over, 
louder and louder, with “parking cars!”

A field marshal arrived. More 
shouting, plus an escort to the parking lot (fittingly) for the dad. 
After five minutes, the game resumed.

This story is just this weekend’s 
installment from our experience watching parent madness in youth soccer.
 We’ve seen parents ejected. Parents mouthing at opposing 12-year-olds 
while they are playing. One parent glowered over a referee as he stalked
 after him, saying, “I’m gonna kick your a**.”

Years ago, while photographing a 
football game, I saw a referee call off the rest of the game after a 
parent stormed onto the field on the opening kickoff! Just one play was 
the entirety of a game. Thanks to one parent.

I write these words with full 
understanding of how unreasonable I have been. My family even has a meme
 of something I once said to a teenage ref — during a soccer game for 
10-year-olds — after his call led to a goal.&nbsp;

I screamed, “That’s on you, sir!” with a toxic blend of accusation and mocking respect.

I have found it difficult to be the 
good sports parent that I hope to be. We want our kids to win. We want 
them to compete fairly. And we get particularly livid when we feel 
missed calls put them at risk of injury. There are reasons behind the 
madness festering in the folding chair on the sidelines.

This year, I made a promise to my 
son. I would stop coaching him from the sidelines. We pay a coach who is
 far more talented than me for that. I would also stop screaming at the 
refs.

At the outset of my promise, I kept 
score using a note on my phone. Each game that I avoided coaching my kid
 or the ref earned me a tally. It helped me see that I was making 
progress.

And it worked — mostly. I made it 
through a season with dozens of games without coaching my boy. My wife 
only occasionally has to reach over with a calming hand on my forearm to
 remind me of my silliness toward officials.

The irony is that my son is now 
reffing games. What would I think if I saw a dad yelling at my son that 
he is awful or that he had ruined a family’s weekend by failing to raise
 an offside flag?

Sports leagues <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/06/youth-sports-referees-quitting-shortage-sports-officials-quit/">struggle to fill officiating slots</a>.
 We have an insatiable appetite for youth sports that requires hundreds 
of referees for games every weekend: Baseball, soccer, basketball and 
volleyball run essentially year-round. Yet our ferocity towards 
officials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/sports/referee-shortage-youth-sports.html">repels so many potential young refs</a>. One <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/youreoffside">social media account</a> documents the nationwide problems of parents who yell during youth sports.

As I work to be more reasonable, I 
have realized the biggest reward for being a sane parent comes on the 
ride home after the game. You might think “venting” toward the ref about
 a missed offsides call or a questionable foul would have left me 
feeling relieved.

But the truth is, time after time, I 
felt ashamed. My focus was on how I embarrassed myself, wishing I could 
take it back, rather than on the truly incredible thing: My son was 
playing soccer — a far more elegant brand of soccer than any soccer I 
ever played — with a gaggle of friends he loves and a coach he admires.

That is my goal these days: to shut 
up with my negativity on the sidelines so that after the game I can 
return home with a light heart, and do an incredible job of parking my 
car.

<a target="_blank" href="https://journalism.ku.edu/eric-thomas">Eric Thomas</a>&nbsp;directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654266244855.png" alt="A foul? Not a foul? Youth sports games can turn parents into abusive maniacs rather than supportive fans, writes our columnist. (Eric Thomas)" />
 <figcaption>A foul? Not a foul? Youth sports games can turn parents into abusive maniacs rather than supportive fans, writes our columnist. (Eric Thomas)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC THOMAS <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/03/screaming-on-the-sidelines-confessions-of-a-semi-reformed-sports-dad-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Any parent who has a child playing sports has a story like this.This weekend we were watching the 
closing minutes of a soccer game before my son was taking the field with
 his team. The game was between teams of 18-year-olds in a tournament, 
and clearly something contentious had happened earlier.The coaches were jawing at the 
referee. The players seemed more focused on pushing each other around 
than winning the ball or scoring goals. It was tense, but also lazy, 
soccer. My wife and I watched the feisty grind to pass time.But then chaos broke out.As a loose ball skittered into a 
dangerous area, a defender lost track of the forward he was marking. 
Once he relocated him, it was too late to do anything but foul him. The 
defender brought his opponent down in a dangerous rugby tackle, 
maliciously hooking the forward’s legs as they rolled on the ground. The
 forward sprung up from the tackle, prepared for a fight. And he got 
it.&nbsp;The goalkeeper rushed forward and blindsided him with a shove.&nbsp;What followed was a predictable 
shower of yellow cards and red cards, eventually sending off three 
players. That’s where the drama should have ended. As someone who didn’t
 care a bit about which team won, I judged that the referee had done his
 job. Tempers subsided.But then, the dad from the sidelines piped up.“That’s just terrible,” he said to the referee. “How can you do that to my son? You are just terrible!”The ref spun on his heels and asked, rhetorically he hoped, “Do you want to leave too?”“You should be parking cars!” the dad shouted. “You are awful. You should be parking cars!”If I printed here the number of times
 the dad mentioned the referee’s acumen with storing automobiles, you 
wouldn’t believe it. It was his furious public mantra. Over and over, 
louder and louder, with “parking cars!”A field marshal arrived. More 
shouting, plus an escort to the parking lot (fittingly) for the dad. 
After five minutes, the game resumed.This story is just this weekend’s 
installment from our experience watching parent madness in youth soccer.
 We’ve seen parents ejected. Parents mouthing at opposing 12-year-olds 
while they are playing. One parent glowered over a referee as he stalked
 after him, saying, “I’m gonna kick your a**.”Years ago, while photographing a 
football game, I saw a referee call off the rest of the game after a 
parent stormed onto the field on the opening kickoff! Just one play was 
the entirety of a game. Thanks to one parent.I write these words with full 
understanding of how unreasonable I have been. My family even has a meme
 of something I once said to a teenage ref — during a soccer game for 
10-year-olds — after his call led to a goal.&nbsp;I screamed, “That’s on you, sir!” with a toxic blend of accusation and mocking respect.I have found it difficult to be the 
good sports parent that I hope to be. We want our kids to win. We want 
them to compete fairly. And we get particularly livid when we feel 
missed calls put them at risk of injury. There are reasons behind the 
madness festering in the folding chair on the sidelines.But it’s madness still.This year, I made a promise to my 
son. I would stop coaching him from the sidelines. We pay a coach who is
 far more talented than me for that. I would also stop screaming at the 
refs.At the outset of my promise, I kept 
score using a note on my phone. Each game that I avoided coaching my kid
 or the ref earned me a tally. It helped me see that I was making 
progress.And it worked — mostly. I made it 
through a season with dozens of games without coaching my boy. My wife 
only occasionally has to reach over with a calming hand on my forearm to
 remind me of my silliness toward officials.The irony is that my son is now 
reffing games. What would I think if I saw a dad yelling at my son that 
he is awful or that he had ruined a family’s weekend by failing to raise
 an offside flag?Sports leagues <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/12/06/youth-sports-referees-quitting-shortage-sports-officials-quit/">struggle to fill officiating slots</a>.
 We have an insatiable appetite for youth sports that requires hundreds 
of referees for games every weekend: Baseball, soccer, basketball and 
volleyball run essentially year-round. Yet our ferocity towards 
officials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/21/sports/referee-shortage-youth-sports.html">repels so many potential young refs</a>. One <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/youreoffside">social media account</a> documents the nationwide problems of parents who yell during youth sports.As I work to be more reasonable, I 
have realized the biggest reward for being a sane parent comes on the 
ride home after the game. You might think “venting” toward the ref about
 a missed offsides call or a questionable foul would have left me 
feeling relieved.But the truth is, time after time, I 
felt ashamed. My focus was on how I embarrassed myself, wishing I could 
take it back, rather than on the truly incredible thing: My son was 
playing soccer — a far more elegant brand of soccer than any soccer I 
ever played — with a gaggle of friends he loves and a coach he admires.That is my goal these days: to shut 
up with my negativity on the sidelines so that after the game I can 
return home with a light heart, and do an incredible job of parking my 
car.<a target="_blank" href="https://journalism.ku.edu/eric-thomas">Eric Thomas</a>&nbsp;directs the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas.

Screaming on the sidelines: Confessions of a semi-reformed sports dad

By DEREK SCHMIDT Kansas Attorney General

Every year during the first week of March the Federal Trade Commission observes National Consumer Protection Week. The Kansas Attorney General’s office with our&nbsp;In Your Corner Kansas&nbsp;campaign focuses year-round on protecting consumers from scams and rip-offs, but during this week in particular we remind Kansans to be diligent and to keep yourself and your personal information safe.

One of the ways we do that is to share some of the most common scams reported to our office over the past year. This year’s list is punctuated by the prominence of two classic scams that unfortunately have appeared on our lists all-too frequently over the past decade. These, of course, are those scams where crooks and fraudsters attempt to steal the finances and or identities of Kansans by offering unsolicited help in securing a government benefit or navigating bureaucratic red tape.

Here are the top five scams ranked in order&nbsp;for 2021 based on the number of complaints filed with our Consumer Protection Division, with the most-frequent listed first:

Consumers have reported receiving calls from insurance companies and government agencies offering to help them navigate the process to receive health care coverage. The callers say they need certain pieces of personal data, such as bank account information or Social Security numbers, to get you enrolled in a coverage plan. Or they will need the information because the insurance company no longer takes checks and needs to arrange for an automatic bank draft. Remember, never give your bank account information over the phone, because you don’t know who is on the other end of the line.

The scam artist may even “spoof” the caller ID so that it looks like it’s coming from a legitimate insurance company. Even if you think the call might be coming from your insurance company, it’s wise to tell them you’ll call back and hang up the phone. Then go look at your last bill and call the phone number printed on the statement. That way you’ll know you’re talking to your insurance company, not an imposter. Other scammers pretending to be from government health programs focusing on senior citizens are not trying to steal money but rather personal information that can be used to file for other government benefits, such as a false tax return. These government agencies will never ask you for personal information over the phone or by email. If Medicare or Medicaid really needs to get information from you, they will send you a letter requesting information. If you do receive a call, and think it might be from a legitimate agency, ask them to send you a letter detailing what information they need.

This one is a twist on the government imposter scam involving a robocall claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you that your benefits are about to end if you don’t take action. Rest assured, the real SSA will never call you to cut off your benefits and will never ask you to wire money, make payments via gift card, or send cash payments in order to continue your benefits. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not “press 1,” or any other number the robocall asks you to press. Like with all robocall scams, these scammers are after information. If you press anything on your phone, that lets the scammer know they have reached a working number and you’ll get more calls. Our best advice on this or any other robocall scam is to not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If you do answer, once you know it’s not someone you know, just hang up.

In this scam, the caller claims to be from a well-known computer company telling you they’ve detected a virus on your computer and offers to help you remove it by connecting remotely to your computer. But instead of trying to fix it, the scam artist is actually trying to install a virus to give them access to all your files and your personal information saved on the computer. The scammer may also be trying to hack into your machine to use it to send out spam emails from your account, or even to take over the camera and microphone to spy on you and try to obtain additional personal information. If your computer really does have a problem, take it to a reputable, local computer repair shop or call your computer manufacturer’s customer service number directly. Never give a stranger access to your computer over the phone.

The scam works like this: An individual makes a connection online through a social media site with their victim. Often the scammers are targeting those individuals who are new singles or individuals who have recently lost a spouse or partner. The scammer cultivates a relationship and then begins making overtures about wanting to come to Kansas to see their new companion. As the scammers develop more trust and deeper connections, they begin asking for items from the victims, such as money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the gifts do not exist and the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim’s money, and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.

Whether it’s a foreign lottery, sweepstakes or a government grant, scammers are still luring people to send money with the promise of a future “prize,” if only they will send in the money to pay for the taxes or processing fees now. We always remind consumers that the Kansas Lottery is the only legitimate, legally operating lottery in Kansas, and you should never have to pay money upfront to claim a prize.

More information on how to protect yourself from these and other scams is available on our consumer protection website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling our consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583409290272.jpeg" alt="Kansas AG Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas AG Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By DEREK SCHMIDT Kansas Attorney GeneralEvery year during the first week of March the Federal Trade Commission observes National Consumer Protection Week. The Kansas Attorney General’s office with our&nbsp;In Your Corner Kansas&nbsp;campaign focuses year-round on protecting consumers from scams and rip-offs, but during this week in particular we remind Kansans to be diligent and to keep yourself and your personal information safe.One of the ways we do that is to share some of the most common scams reported to our office over the past year. This year’s list is punctuated by the prominence of two classic scams that unfortunately have appeared on our lists all-too frequently over the past decade. These, of course, are those scams where crooks and fraudsters attempt to steal the finances and or identities of Kansans by offering unsolicited help in securing a government benefit or navigating bureaucratic red tape.Here are the top five scams ranked in order&nbsp;for 2021 based on the number of complaints filed with our Consumer Protection Division, with the most-frequent listed first:Medical Health Insurance ScamsConsumers have reported receiving calls from insurance companies and government agencies offering to help them navigate the process to receive health care coverage. The callers say they need certain pieces of personal data, such as bank account information or Social Security numbers, to get you enrolled in a coverage plan. Or they will need the information because the insurance company no longer takes checks and needs to arrange for an automatic bank draft. Remember, never give your bank account information over the phone, because you don’t know who is on the other end of the line.The scam artist may even “spoof” the caller ID so that it looks like it’s coming from a legitimate insurance company. Even if you think the call might be coming from your insurance company, it’s wise to tell them you’ll call back and hang up the phone. Then go look at your last bill and call the phone number printed on the statement. That way you’ll know you’re talking to your insurance company, not an imposter. Other scammers pretending to be from government health programs focusing on senior citizens are not trying to steal money but rather personal information that can be used to file for other government benefits, such as a false tax return. These government agencies will never ask you for personal information over the phone or by email. If Medicare or Medicaid really needs to get information from you, they will send you a letter requesting information. If you do receive a call, and think it might be from a legitimate agency, ask them to send you a letter detailing what information they need.Social Security ScamsThis one is a twist on the government imposter scam involving a robocall claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you that your benefits are about to end if you don’t take action. Rest assured, the real SSA will never call you to cut off your benefits and will never ask you to wire money, make payments via gift card, or send cash payments in order to continue your benefits. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not “press 1,” or any other number the robocall asks you to press. Like with all robocall scams, these scammers are after information. If you press anything on your phone, that lets the scammer know they have reached a working number and you’ll get more calls. Our best advice on this or any other robocall scam is to not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If you do answer, once you know it’s not someone you know, just hang up.Computer Repair ScamsIn this scam, the caller claims to be from a well-known computer company telling you they’ve detected a virus on your computer and offers to help you remove it by connecting remotely to your computer. But instead of trying to fix it, the scam artist is actually trying to install a virus to give them access to all your files and your personal information saved on the computer. The scammer may also be trying to hack into your machine to use it to send out spam emails from your account, or even to take over the camera and microphone to spy on you and try to obtain additional personal information. If your computer really does have a problem, take it to a reputable, local computer repair shop or call your computer manufacturer’s customer service number directly. Never give a stranger access to your computer over the phone.Sweetheart ScamsThe scam works like this: An individual makes a connection online through a social media site with their victim. Often the scammers are targeting those individuals who are new singles or individuals who have recently lost a spouse or partner. The scammer cultivates a relationship and then begins making overtures about wanting to come to Kansas to see their new companion. As the scammers develop more trust and deeper connections, they begin asking for items from the victims, such as money for airline tickets to travel to Kansas, funds to pay for customs for items for the victim, or other sums of money related to travel plans. In reality, the gifts do not exist and the scammer has no intention of coming to Kansas, just gaining access to the victim’s money, and perhaps even personal information that could result in identity theft and other serious issues.Lottery ScamsWhether it’s a foreign lottery, sweepstakes or a government grant, scammers are still luring people to send money with the promise of a future “prize,” if only they will send in the money to pay for the taxes or processing fees now. We always remind consumers that the Kansas Lottery is the only legitimate, legally operating lottery in Kansas, and you should never have to pay money upfront to claim a prize.More information on how to protect yourself from these and other scams is available on our consumer protection website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.inyourcornerkansas.org/">www.InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling our consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.&nbsp;

SCHMIDT: Avoid these most-common scams of 2021

By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.

Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.

In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;

As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;

The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;

He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.

Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”

Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life.

"I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.

Following his injury during WWII, he returned to Russell to find strength and healing for his badly maimed body. After receiving the Vice Presidential nomination and amid the highs and lows of three Presidential campaigns, Russell always provided him a solid and steady place to land. Following the death of his brother, Kenny, in 1993, he returned to Russell to say goodbye. In 1996, members of his hometown gathered with Sen. Dole to celebrate his birthday. Following his loss to President Clinton that year, the town welcomed him again. He was a national and world leader, but he would always be a boy from Russell, a son of the Kansas plains.&nbsp;

Russell Townsley, the former publisher of the Russell Daily News, wrote regarding Sen. Dole’s plan to make his announcement to run for president in 1987 from a stage in Russell, “Skeptics ask what can Bob Dole – or Russell – hope to gain from this public show and professionally staged rally. And this is where the skeptics find themselves travelling blind. There’s no need to look for ulterior motives, for there are none. Dole and his town gain from each other. While one draws on unseen reserves that have nurtured him from childhood, the other grows strong from the aura reflected from the image of leadership and stature borne by the other.”

During his Vice Presidential run, Sen. Dole said, “I want to re-emphasize: If I’ve done anything it’s because of people I’ve known up and down Main Street. And I can recall the time when I needed help, the people of Russell helped.” That same cigar box that was used to collect donations to pay for Bob’s medical expenses after WWII was again given to Sen. Dole when he announced his campaign for president in 1996. Each time, more and more Kansans supported their hero.&nbsp;

To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have shaped, treated and respected a man worthy of our admiration. Sadly, we say goodbye to one of our own.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638983174129.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618357296698.jpeg" alt="Moran" />
 <figcaption>Moran</figcaption>
 </figure>He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life."I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.Following his injury during WWII, he returned to Russell to find strength and healing for his badly maimed body. After receiving the Vice Presidential nomination and amid the highs and lows of three Presidential campaigns, Russell always provided him a solid and steady place to land. Following the death of his brother, Kenny, in 1993, he returned to Russell to say goodbye. In 1996, members of his hometown gathered with Sen. Dole to celebrate his birthday. Following his loss to President Clinton that year, the town welcomed him again. He was a national and world leader, but he would always be a boy from Russell, a son of the Kansas plains.&nbsp;Russell Townsley, the former publisher of the Russell Daily News, wrote regarding Sen. Dole’s plan to make his announcement to run for president in 1987 from a stage in Russell, “Skeptics ask what can Bob Dole – or Russell – hope to gain from this public show and professionally staged rally. And this is where the skeptics find themselves travelling blind. There’s no need to look for ulterior motives, for there are none. Dole and his town gain from each other. While one draws on unseen reserves that have nurtured him from childhood, the other grows strong from the aura reflected from the image of leadership and stature borne by the other.”During his Vice Presidential run, Sen. Dole said, “I want to re-emphasize: If I’ve done anything it’s because of people I’ve known up and down Main Street. And I can recall the time when I needed help, the people of Russell helped.” That same cigar box that was used to collect donations to pay for Bob’s medical expenses after WWII was again given to Sen. Dole when he announced his campaign for president in 1996. Each time, more and more Kansans supported their hero.&nbsp;To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have shaped, treated and respected a man worthy of our admiration. Sadly, we say goodbye to one of our own.

MORAN: The people of Russell, Kansas, helped shape Bob Dole

Reno County Commissioner&nbsp;Daniel Friesen penned an opinion column in support of being vaccinated against COVID-19. The column sparked a response (below) from State Sen. Mark Steffen. Courtesy <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>.

OPINION: Reno County commissioner makes case for the vaccine

By DANIEL P. FRIESEN Reno County Commissioner

If you look closely, I just got my first dose Wednesday of last week.
 Prior to my vaccination, like many, I had reservations about the 
vaccine - nothing specific, it just didn't seem worth it. I had Covid-19
 last year and generally felt my risk was low. Those are similar reasons
 I’ve heard from other people that have chosen not to get the vaccine.

However,
 I felt compelled to get the vaccine if as a county commissioner, I’m 
going to support our health department and local medical community’s 
plea for you to get it too. While I certainly have strong convictions on
 personal freedom and choice, I am also a very analytical person that 
seeks facts and information and have never found my decisions on 
Covid-19 policy to be driven politically.

The latest information I
 have from our local hospital is that resources are again tight (related
 to many factors including a shortage of nurses), and hospitalized covid
 patients are increasing again. The situation is significant enough that
 many Kansas hospitals are again full and deferring patients elsewhere. 
This was a surprise to me and a large factor in this open letter to our 
community.

I believe our local health professionals when they say 
people are showing up at the hospital with life threatening covid 
symptoms who didn’t even know they were at risk. They also say they are 
now actively seeing younger covid patients as the virus naturally moves 
towards a population that is less vaccinated.

It seems quite 
possible that the Covid virus is here for a long time to come, and most 
every person will encounter it at some point. It is also quite evident 
that the virus and its impact is wildly unpredictable. These factors all
 look like risks to me, especially to those most vulnerable. You should 
weigh those risks with the Reno County commission’s current position on 
mandates.

I would not expect Reno County to require masks, limit 
gatherings, or close businesses or schools through this next wave. We 
have the right tools at our disposal to individually handle this threat 
and weather the storm the best we can. Most every adult and adolescent 
has an opportunity to get a potentially life-saving vaccine, stay home 
when they are sick or vulnerable to sickness, and do other common sense 
measures like listening to their family physician.

Yet, my fear is
 that people in our community are going to die because they did not get 
the vaccine or our medical resources become overwhelmed. I continue to 
respect the decision of those who choose not to get it, but I recently 
have come to respectfully disagree with those who argue the potential 
risk of the vaccine outweighs the value.

There seems to be good 
local evidence that vaccinated individuals currently have a hugely 
better likelihood of surviving contracting covid. Specifically, greater 
than 99% of all hospitalizations and deaths related to Covid-19 in Reno 
County are unvaccinated and we have yet to lose one person who was 
vaccinated. Consider that when you consider your risks.

You can 
choose to believe me or not, parse my words, or find information that 
supports an argument against what I have laid out above. It really does 
not matter because at the end of the day, those decisions are your own 
to make, and I am simply hopeful you consider the risk to yourself, your
 loved ones and your community in whatever you decide.

Finally, two important specific notes. One, vaccines are <a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/search/">widely available to you today</a>.
 Two, if you are a registered nurse who has time, please consider 
offering your skills to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center - Kayla 
Orellana (620) 665-2227. They are in increasing need for your help as 
Covid patient counts continue to rise.

Commissioner Daniel 
Friesen is vice-chair of the Reno County Commission. He was elected last
 November and took office in early January of this year. Friesen was 
previously a third-term mayor of the City of Buhler, holding that 
position for 11 years before joining the Commission.

OPINION: State senator responds to county commissioner's column

By MARK STEFFEN Kansas State Senator

It was about the second, maybe third, day of the Covid virus debacle 
that I realized the politics behind the response. And, it continues. The
 Biden Administration is at war with Florida and Texas where Republican 
Governors place individual rights and a fact based understanding of the 
covid virus before inflated fear campaigns. A wide open southern border 
betrays the Democrat’s desire to fill the country with their kind of 
voters of which many are contagious with the Covid-19 virus. While Cuban
 refugees who are passionate for democracy remain ignored. More liberals
 spread throughout our nation are more important than containing the 
spread of their dreaded virus. Pure politics!

At the very core is 
the shot. It’s not a vaccine. It’s a medical procedure. The liberals 
brag and brag as to its efficacy. Yet, not a peep as to its pitfalls and
 they are plentiful. The CDC has a system to report vaccine 
complications. Its acronym is VAERS. Its on the CDC website. Do not fall
 for the liberal mainstream talking points. More deaths and 
complications are associated with this current shot than all other 
vaccinations in the several decade history of VAERS. Do the research!

A
 recent study by the renowned Cleveland Clinic of 50,000 people proved 
the robust nature of natural immunity. The shot just adds risks for 
complications. It is an affront to science to deny the worth of 
naturally acquired immunity. Do the research!

Recent studies out 
of the United Kingdom and Israel show a much different rate of infection
 after vaccination versus that reported by our overly enthusiastic 
Health Department. They to are guilty of fanning the flames of fear 
rather than talking to us in an adult manner. Fanning flames with 
misleading data points goes beyond enthusiasm and becomes blatantly off 
putting. Do the research!

Injecting our children with this mRNA 
shot is beyond bizarre. A report on the CDC website outlining their 
thought processes on recommending the shot clearly defines that 
vaccinated children experienced “more severe complications” than 
unvaccinated children. Never in the history of mankind has a society 
knowingly sacrificed children for the alleged benefit of adults. Please 
do your research!

It’s quite clear that the India (delta) variant 
is more contagious and correspondingly less deadly than the original 
Covid-19 virus. Early treatment remains key. Ivermectin and 
hydroxychloroquine are proven in multiple studies to be effective in 
preventing hospitalization and death. Yet, liberal academic medicine 
continues to shut down their use while promoting a brand new, unproven, 
hospital based IV infusion that is expensive and in short supply. This, 
to a medical doctor such as myself, is unforgiveable if not criminal. I 
won’t forgive my colleagues for this. Do the research.

I will 
leave the idiocy of masks for another time. And, if you want the shot, 
then by all means please get it. Just don’t be so condescending as to 
tell me what to do. Remember this, elected officials that feel a 
stronger need to “go along to get along” rather than advance the truth, 
are not leaders. They are politicians. My respect they do not gain.

For those of you intrigued enough to continue down this road of edification, look no further than <a href="https://rccft.org/">RCCFT.org</a> for all the studies referred to above.

Reno County Commissioner&nbsp;Daniel Friesen penned an opinion column in support of being vaccinated against COVID-19. The column sparked a response (below) from State Sen. Mark Steffen. Courtesy <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>.<h2>OPINION: Reno County commissioner makes case for the vaccine</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628158712566.jpeg" alt="Daniel Friesen" />
 <figcaption>Daniel Friesen</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANIEL P. FRIESEN Reno County CommissionerBelow is my vaccination card.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628158688655.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you look closely, I just got my first dose Wednesday of last week.
 Prior to my vaccination, like many, I had reservations about the 
vaccine - nothing specific, it just didn't seem worth it. I had Covid-19
 last year and generally felt my risk was low. Those are similar reasons
 I’ve heard from other people that have chosen not to get the vaccine.However,
 I felt compelled to get the vaccine if as a county commissioner, I’m 
going to support our health department and local medical community’s 
plea for you to get it too. While I certainly have strong convictions on
 personal freedom and choice, I am also a very analytical person that 
seeks facts and information and have never found my decisions on 
Covid-19 policy to be driven politically.The latest information I
 have from our local hospital is that resources are again tight (related
 to many factors including a shortage of nurses), and hospitalized covid
 patients are increasing again. The situation is significant enough that
 many Kansas hospitals are again full and deferring patients elsewhere. 
This was a surprise to me and a large factor in this open letter to our 
community.I believe our local health professionals when they say 
people are showing up at the hospital with life threatening covid 
symptoms who didn’t even know they were at risk. They also say they are 
now actively seeing younger covid patients as the virus naturally moves 
towards a population that is less vaccinated.It seems quite 
possible that the Covid virus is here for a long time to come, and most 
every person will encounter it at some point. It is also quite evident 
that the virus and its impact is wildly unpredictable. These factors all
 look like risks to me, especially to those most vulnerable. You should 
weigh those risks with the Reno County commission’s current position on 
mandates.I would not expect Reno County to require masks, limit 
gatherings, or close businesses or schools through this next wave. We 
have the right tools at our disposal to individually handle this threat 
and weather the storm the best we can. Most every adult and adolescent 
has an opportunity to get a potentially life-saving vaccine, stay home 
when they are sick or vulnerable to sickness, and do other common sense 
measures like listening to their family physician.Yet, my fear is
 that people in our community are going to die because they did not get 
the vaccine or our medical resources become overwhelmed. I continue to 
respect the decision of those who choose not to get it, but I recently 
have come to respectfully disagree with those who argue the potential 
risk of the vaccine outweighs the value.There seems to be good 
local evidence that vaccinated individuals currently have a hugely 
better likelihood of surviving contracting covid. Specifically, greater 
than 99% of all hospitalizations and deaths related to Covid-19 in Reno 
County are unvaccinated and we have yet to lose one person who was 
vaccinated. Consider that when you consider your risks.You can 
choose to believe me or not, parse my words, or find information that 
supports an argument against what I have laid out above. It really does 
not matter because at the end of the day, those decisions are your own 
to make, and I am simply hopeful you consider the risk to yourself, your
 loved ones and your community in whatever you decide.Finally, two important specific notes. One, vaccines are <a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/search/">widely available to you today</a>.
 Two, if you are a registered nurse who has time, please consider 
offering your skills to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center - Kayla 
Orellana (620) 665-2227. They are in increasing need for your help as 
Covid patient counts continue to rise.Commissioner Daniel 
Friesen is vice-chair of the Reno County Commission. He was elected last
 November and took office in early January of this year. Friesen was 
previously a third-term mayor of the City of Buhler, holding that 
position for 11 years before joining the Commission.-----------------<h2>OPINION: State senator responds to county commissioner's column</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611761226060.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mark Steffen&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mark Steffen&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK STEFFEN Kansas State SenatorIt was about the second, maybe third, day of the Covid virus debacle 
that I realized the politics behind the response. And, it continues. The
 Biden Administration is at war with Florida and Texas where Republican 
Governors place individual rights and a fact based understanding of the 
covid virus before inflated fear campaigns. A wide open southern border 
betrays the Democrat’s desire to fill the country with their kind of 
voters of which many are contagious with the Covid-19 virus. While Cuban
 refugees who are passionate for democracy remain ignored. More liberals
 spread throughout our nation are more important than containing the 
spread of their dreaded virus. Pure politics!At the very core is 
the shot. It’s not a vaccine. It’s a medical procedure. The liberals 
brag and brag as to its efficacy. Yet, not a peep as to its pitfalls and
 they are plentiful. The CDC has a system to report vaccine 
complications. Its acronym is VAERS. Its on the CDC website. Do not fall
 for the liberal mainstream talking points. More deaths and 
complications are associated with this current shot than all other 
vaccinations in the several decade history of VAERS. Do the research!A
 recent study by the renowned Cleveland Clinic of 50,000 people proved 
the robust nature of natural immunity. The shot just adds risks for 
complications. It is an affront to science to deny the worth of 
naturally acquired immunity. Do the research!Recent studies out 
of the United Kingdom and Israel show a much different rate of infection
 after vaccination versus that reported by our overly enthusiastic 
Health Department. They to are guilty of fanning the flames of fear 
rather than talking to us in an adult manner. Fanning flames with 
misleading data points goes beyond enthusiasm and becomes blatantly off 
putting. Do the research!Injecting our children with this mRNA 
shot is beyond bizarre. A report on the CDC website outlining their 
thought processes on recommending the shot clearly defines that 
vaccinated children experienced “more severe complications” than 
unvaccinated children. Never in the history of mankind has a society 
knowingly sacrificed children for the alleged benefit of adults. Please 
do your research!It’s quite clear that the India (delta) variant 
is more contagious and correspondingly less deadly than the original 
Covid-19 virus. Early treatment remains key. Ivermectin and 
hydroxychloroquine are proven in multiple studies to be effective in 
preventing hospitalization and death. Yet, liberal academic medicine 
continues to shut down their use while promoting a brand new, unproven, 
hospital based IV infusion that is expensive and in short supply. This, 
to a medical doctor such as myself, is unforgiveable if not criminal. I 
won’t forgive my colleagues for this. Do the research.I will 
leave the idiocy of masks for another time. And, if you want the shot, 
then by all means please get it. Just don’t be so condescending as to 
tell me what to do. Remember this, elected officials that feel a 
stronger need to “go along to get along” rather than advance the truth, 
are not leaders. They are politicians. My respect they do not gain.For those of you intrigued enough to continue down this road of edification, look no further than <a href="https://rccft.org/">RCCFT.org</a> for all the studies referred to above.

Dueling opinions on COVID-19 vaccine in Reno County

By JASON BERRYMAN Topeka West High School

To say the least, this school year in the teaching profession has been challenging.
 I believe many teachers would agree with that assessment, especially 
when working with remote students. From a perspective of teaching the 
arts, how to get supplies to students? How do students submit a jewelry 
assignment via Google Classroom? How to teach a lesson on Illustrator 
when students are working on Chromebooks?

Luckily, digital 
photography worked out easier for my students because most have access 
to a digital camera on their cell phones. But teaching remotely, and 
then in person (with only half a class in the morning and the other half
 in the afternoon), then remotely again, then completing the school year
 with most of the student body in person and a smaller number remotely —
 much of the details about photography have either been gleaned over or 
not covered.

Though the overall quality
 of student photography dipped a little, what drastically increased was 
students’ understanding of what they can (or cannot) accomplish with the
 camera on their cell phones and a few free photo-editing applications.

American photographer Chase Jarvis stated it best: “The best camera is the one that you have with you!”

Two portraits by Topeka 
West juniors Austin Schimmel and Lily Salazar precisely capture the 
daily life that we all have been living for over a year: masks! I can 
honestly say that in all my years of teaching I’ve never had students 
submit photos where half of the model’s face is covered by a cloth mask.

Still life images of clothes hanging in a closet and a softly lit potted plant were both created at home by senior Ella Teter and junior Nolan Noonan. These images are notable for their skill, composition, and the fact that both were captured with cell phone cameras while students were working remotely away from the high school.

Lastly, I absolutely had to show off senior Taylor Reinert’s “Tiny Planet” image just for the fact that it is so cool. Taylor created the photograph by flying his unmanned aerial vehicle over the west edge of the Topeka West campus. He then captured a 360˚ panorama of the landscape using his cell phone (that he uses to also to control the UAV) camera. Lastly, using Adobe Photoshop, Tayler bent the panorama into a circle creating the tiny planet.

Every year, pandemic or not, I am always amazed by our students’ talent and creativity.

Jason Berryman teaches digital photography and chairs the art 
department at Topeka West High School. He shares student work on the <a href="https://twestphotosynthesis.blogspot.com/">Photosynthesis blog</a>. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/01/what-this-year-looked-like-through-the-lens-of-kansas-high-school-photography-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575701590.png" alt="Though this image was created for a specific project in Digital Photography 1, sophomore Jessica Fitzgerald's reflection in the broken mirror emanates a feeling of frustration even when photographing a self-portrait, says Topeka West High School digital photography teacher Jason Berryman. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Though this image was created for a specific project in Digital Photography 1, sophomore Jessica Fitzgerald's reflection in the broken mirror emanates a feeling of frustration even when photographing a self-portrait, says Topeka West High School digital photography teacher Jason Berryman. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON BERRYMAN Topeka West High SchoolTo say the least, this school year in the teaching profession has been challenging.
 I believe many teachers would agree with that assessment, especially 
when working with remote students. From a perspective of teaching the 
arts, how to get supplies to students? How do students submit a jewelry 
assignment via Google Classroom? How to teach a lesson on Illustrator 
when students are working on Chromebooks?Luckily, digital 
photography worked out easier for my students because most have access 
to a digital camera on their cell phones. But teaching remotely, and 
then in person (with only half a class in the morning and the other half
 in the afternoon), then remotely again, then completing the school year
 with most of the student body in person and a smaller number remotely —
 much of the details about photography have either been gleaned over or 
not covered.Though the overall quality
 of student photography dipped a little, what drastically increased was 
students’ understanding of what they can (or cannot) accomplish with the
 camera on their cell phones and a few free photo-editing applications.American photographer Chase Jarvis stated it best: “The best camera is the one that you have with you!”Two portraits by Topeka 
West juniors Austin Schimmel and Lily Salazar precisely capture the 
daily life that we all have been living for over a year: masks! I can 
honestly say that in all my years of teaching I’ve never had students 
submit photos where half of the model’s face is covered by a cloth mask.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575772141.png" alt="“Kick,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Austin Schimmel. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Kick,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Austin Schimmel. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575805666.png" alt="“Tallulah,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Lily Salazar. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Tallulah,” a photograph by Topeka West High School junior Lily Salazar. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Still life images of clothes hanging in a closet and a softly lit potted plant were both created at home by senior Ella Teter and junior Nolan Noonan. These images are notable for their skill, composition, and the fact that both were captured with cell phone cameras while students were working remotely away from the high school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575848665.png" alt="“Repetition,” by Topeka West High School senior Ella Teter. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Repetition,” by Topeka West High School senior Ella Teter. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575872246.png" alt="“Desklamp,” by Topeka West High School senior Nolan Noonan. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Desklamp,” by Topeka West High School senior Nolan Noonan. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Lastly, I absolutely had to show off senior Taylor Reinert’s “Tiny Planet” image just for the fact that it is so cool. Taylor created the photograph by flying his unmanned aerial vehicle over the west edge of the Topeka West campus. He then captured a 360˚ panorama of the landscape using his cell phone (that he uses to also to control the UAV) camera. Lastly, using Adobe Photoshop, Tayler bent the panorama into a circle creating the tiny planet.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622575913826.png" alt="“Tiny Planet,” by Topeka West High School senior Taylor Reinert. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>“Tiny Planet,” by Topeka West High School senior Taylor Reinert. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Every year, pandemic or not, I am always amazed by our students’ talent and creativity.Jason Berryman teaches digital photography and chairs the art 
department at Topeka West High School. He shares student work on the <a href="https://twestphotosynthesis.blogspot.com/">Photosynthesis blog</a>. Republished courtesy the <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/01/what-this-year-looked-like-through-the-lens-of-kansas-high-school-photography-students/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

What 2020 looked like through the lens of Kan. photography students

By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/17/after-finding-their-old-school-for-sale-on-ebay-a-kansas-community-goes-to-work-saving-its-stories/">Kansas Reflector</a>

I’m sorry to say, Kansas, that I’d never heard of the Frankfort Boys.

I now know these are 32 
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the small Marshall County 
town of Frankfort who were killed in World War II.

“This small rural town has
 the highest number of casualties compared to any town of similar size,”
 then-U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts said in 2006, <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/article/20120121/news/301219849">reading their names into the Congressional Record</a>.

In March 2012, then-Gov. 
Sam Brownback signed a bill designating a 10-mile stretch of K-99 
through Marshall County as the Frankfort Boys World War II Memorial 
Highway. The veteran who had petitioned the state to recognize his 
fallen brothers was Frank Benteman, whose sacrifices had earned him a 
Purple Heart and a Cross of Lorraine. He was 94 when he <a href="https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/wwii-veteran-frank-benteman-dies-his-legacy-honored-those-who-never-returned-to-kansas/">died last December</a>.

If the people still living
 in Frankfort are successful, there will someday be a courtyard in honor
 of these hometown boys at the flagpole in front of the place where they
 went to grade school.

Built in 1902-03 in the Renaissance style of architecture familiar on the prairie, <a href="http://www.frankfortdevelopmenttrust.com/home.html">Frankfort Grade School</a>
 was the educational home for nearly a century of Marshall County kids. 
And now, it’s a literal as well as symbolic example of what small towns 
around Kansas do to preserve their legacies.

“A lot of us have a very 
strong emotional connection to the building — it’s iconic for our 
community,” says Gayla Randel, who grew up in Frankfort and graduated 
from the school, as did her husband and their youngest child.

Frankfort’s official 
population is around 750, but Randel counts another 200 from the 
surrounding countryside as part of the community.

The school closed in 1997,
 then it went up for sale. A local family bought it and turned it into a
 bed and breakfast for hunters. That did well for a while, Randel says, 
and then a couple from Florida bought it but health concerns prevented 
them from doing anything with it.

“Somewhere around 2013, an
 alumni from the school district found this old grade school which was 
privately owned, and the owner had put the property up on eBay,” Randel 
says.

“So several of us started 
visiting, and we put a call out to the community,” she says. “We said, 
‘We don’t want to lose this building.’ ”

The owner was asking 
$24,000, but by then the building was so dilapidated it wasn’t really 
worth much. So the owner essentially gave it to the nonprofit started by
 about 20 people in Frankfort who began the arduous task of raising 
money and slowly repairing the damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621274903351.png" alt="The Frankfort School's class of 1913, in a photograph taken in 1910. (Courtesy of Butch Ewing, Derby, Kansas)" />
 <figcaption>The Frankfort School's class of 1913, in a photograph taken in 1910. (Courtesy of Butch Ewing, Derby, Kansas)</figcaption>
 </figure>By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/17/after-finding-their-old-school-for-sale-on-ebay-a-kansas-community-goes-to-work-saving-its-stories/">Kansas Reflector</a>I’m sorry to say, Kansas, that I’d never heard of the Frankfort Boys.I now know these are 32 
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the small Marshall County 
town of Frankfort who were killed in World War II.“This small rural town has
 the highest number of casualties compared to any town of similar size,”
 then-U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts said in 2006, <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/article/20120121/news/301219849">reading their names into the Congressional Record</a>.In March 2012, then-Gov. 
Sam Brownback signed a bill designating a 10-mile stretch of K-99 
through Marshall County as the Frankfort Boys World War II Memorial 
Highway. The veteran who had petitioned the state to recognize his 
fallen brothers was Frank Benteman, whose sacrifices had earned him a 
Purple Heart and a Cross of Lorraine. He was 94 when he <a href="https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/wwii-veteran-frank-benteman-dies-his-legacy-honored-those-who-never-returned-to-kansas/">died last December</a>.If the people still living
 in Frankfort are successful, there will someday be a courtyard in honor
 of these hometown boys at the flagpole in front of the place where they
 went to grade school.Built in 1902-03 in the Renaissance style of architecture familiar on the prairie, <a href="http://www.frankfortdevelopmenttrust.com/home.html">Frankfort Grade School</a>
 was the educational home for nearly a century of Marshall County kids. 
And now, it’s a literal as well as symbolic example of what small towns 
around Kansas do to preserve their legacies.“A lot of us have a very 
strong emotional connection to the building — it’s iconic for our 
community,” says Gayla Randel, who grew up in Frankfort and graduated 
from the school, as did her husband and their youngest child.Frankfort’s official 
population is around 750, but Randel counts another 200 from the 
surrounding countryside as part of the community.The school closed in 1997,
 then it went up for sale. A local family bought it and turned it into a
 bed and breakfast for hunters. That did well for a while, Randel says, 
and then a couple from Florida bought it but health concerns prevented 
them from doing anything with it.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621274976307.png" alt="A postcard depicts the Frankfort Grade School in Marshall County, Kansas. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>A postcard depicts the Frankfort Grade School in Marshall County, Kansas. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Somewhere around 2013, an
 alumni from the school district found this old grade school which was 
privately owned, and the owner had put the property up on eBay,” Randel 
says.“So several of us started 
visiting, and we put a call out to the community,” she says. “We said, 
‘We don’t want to lose this building.’ ”The owner was asking 
$24,000, but by then the building was so dilapidated it wasn’t really 
worth much. So the owner essentially gave it to the nonprofit started by
 about 20 people in Frankfort who began the arduous task of raising 
money and slowly repairing the damage.They had no idea what they would use it for and still don’t.“But it was too much of an icon to let it fall in,” Randel says.Early support came from <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/07/heres-something-all-kansans-can-agree-on-a-few-of-the-best-things-about-our-state/">Marci Penner</a> with the <a href="https://kansassampler.org/">Kansas Sampler Foundation</a>,
 who raised funds to help fix the front porch so they’d have a visible 
sign of progress. Preservation grants from the Kansas Historical Society
 have helped, too. Last week, Frankfort School was among 15 projects 
around the state receiving <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-laura-kelly-announces-15-historic-properties-recommended-for-nearly-500000-in-kansas-rural-preservation-grants/">a new round of those grants</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621275004962.png" alt="The Frankfort School as it appears on the Frankfort Development Trust’s website. (Frankfort Development Trust)" />
 <figcaption>The Frankfort School as it appears on the Frankfort Development Trust’s website. (Frankfort Development Trust)</figcaption>
 </figure>Raising money for this 
kind of project is hard in a small community, Randel says, because there
 aren’t the kind of matching grants available in larger towns with 
higher sales taxes or fully staffed economic development offices.“We don’t have any of that here,” she says. “Our fundraisers are breakfasts, dinners on Sundays, match day once a year.”But people have been 
generous. Even people who don’t live there anymore will send $10 or $20,
 saying they wish they could send more. And Randel estimates volunteers 
have contributed thousands of hours by now.Randel remembers how it 
was a rite of passage when you finally got old enough to attend classes 
on the second floor. She can still hear the echo of footsteps on the 
wooden stairways.“What I really enjoyed was
 having my own children go there,” she says. “I do remember going to 
kindergarten and how cool that was.”Both of her children went to kindergarten in same room she did.“In a small community, a 
school really creates a lot of emotion,” Randel says. “That’s where you 
first start to have relationships outside of your family.”They’re still a long way 
from opening the place to the public, even for people to just roam 
around and hear the real echoes. There’s still too much to repair. Right
 now, they’re raising money to replace the windows. That’ll cost 
$365,000. They’d welcome help from anyone.“My dad told me — he 
passed away this last year due to covid — and he always told me: There 
are people in the world who see their role is to be a steward and to 
pass things off to the next generation in the same shape or better than 
when you got there,” she says. “Then there are others who see things as&nbsp;
 a method of making money — they’re not necessarily looking at a 
legacy.”The people of Frankfort look at their stately old grade school as a legacy.“When children’s children come back,” Randel says, “they’ll still have the building and the stories will still be told.”C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch.

Opinion