
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann sees China as a risk to the security of the United States.

"I just think we have to realize that China is not our friend," Mann said. "They are our adversary. You look at what they are doing around the world, you look at how they are unabashedly promoting their interests, you look at their human rights abuses, I think we've got to acknowledge that really, for the rest of this century, the debt and China are our two big adversaries."

That doesn't mean we still shouldn't sell them food and they shouldn't sell us other products, but it's a balance that bears watching and that China hasn't kept its end of the bargain.

"Really, I'm frustrated to see that the phase one China trade deal has now transitioned to phase two," Mann said. "You look back over the last two years and they were short $16 billion on their commitments to buy our ag products. There's got to be accountability there. There also has to be accountability on the intellectual property that they steal and some of the things that they are doing on the world stage."

Mann doesn't have answers for why China didn't spend what they said they would, especially since the weak dollar has made overseas exports, of grain in particular, more competitive.

"That's the question that we're asking," Mann said. "We've been raising this on the floor. We've been raising this at committee. That's exactly the question we're asking. What is the administration's plan to work to make up that difference? Every indication is that as China's economy transforms, they are moving toward commercial hog operations, confined hog feeding, which is a good thing for us, which means they are going to need more sorghum and other commodities that we grow here, but why they've not met their commitments. Those are the questions we're asking right now to try to get to the bottom of it."

Mann opposed the COMPETES Act that passed the House earlier this month due, at least in part, to those concerns about concessions to China.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611747599085.png" alt="Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann" />
 <figcaption>Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann sees China as a risk to the security of the United States."I just think we have to realize that China is not our friend," Mann said. "They are our adversary. You look at what they are doing around the world, you look at how they are unabashedly promoting their interests, you look at their human rights abuses, I think we've got to acknowledge that really, for the rest of this century, the debt and China are our two big adversaries."That doesn't mean we still shouldn't sell them food and they shouldn't sell us other products, but it's a balance that bears watching and that China hasn't kept its end of the bargain."Really, I'm frustrated to see that the phase one China trade deal has now transitioned to phase two," Mann said. "You look back over the last two years and they were short $16 billion on their commitments to buy our ag products. There's got to be accountability there. There also has to be accountability on the intellectual property that they steal and some of the things that they are doing on the world stage."Mann doesn't have answers for why China didn't spend what they said they would, especially since the weak dollar has made overseas exports, of grain in particular, more competitive."That's the question that we're asking," Mann said. "We've been raising this on the floor. We've been raising this at committee. That's exactly the question we're asking. What is the administration's plan to work to make up that difference? Every indication is that as China's economy transforms, they are moving toward commercial hog operations, confined hog feeding, which is a good thing for us, which means they are going to need more sorghum and other commodities that we grow here, but why they've not met their commitments. Those are the questions we're asking right now to try to get to the bottom of it."Mann opposed the COMPETES Act that passed the House earlier this month due, at least in part, to those concerns about concessions to China.

Kan. First District Congressman: China is not our friend

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are close to authorizing more than $1 billion in state incentives in hopes of attracting an undisclosed, $4 billion project from an unnamed company.

The Republican-controlled House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220208153724_561436/" target="_blank">voted 80-41</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_04_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would set up a new program within the state Department of Commerce to offer such a big package of incentives to a single company this year and another firm again in 2023. The GOP-controlled Senate expects to vote on the measure Wednesday, and its approval would send it to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

The bill also would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-15b9bbc969b7a90b3191bcab9a337dc5">cut the state’s corporate income tax</a>&nbsp;by a half-percentage point with each deal.

Kelly pushed for a new incentives program in hopes of luring the $4 billion project to Kansas. Officials have said Kansas is competing with another state and that the company expects to make a decision on the site for its project within three weeks.

Lawmakers in both parties remained frustrated that details about the company or its proposed project haven’t been disclosed publicly.

Kelly’s version of the measure would have allowed more incentives over a shorter period of time. Republicans rewrote the bill to make it less generous, spread out the incentives over a longer time and require legislative leaders to sign off on a deal.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are close to authorizing more than $1 billion in state incentives in hopes of attracting an undisclosed, $4 billion project from an unnamed company.The Republican-controlled House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/vote_view/je_20220208153724_561436/" target="_blank">voted 80-41</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to approve&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/supp_note_sb347_04_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would set up a new program within the state Department of Commerce to offer such a big package of incentives to a single company this year and another firm again in 2023. The GOP-controlled Senate expects to vote on the measure Wednesday, and its approval would send it to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.The bill also would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-legislature-kansas-topeka-15b9bbc969b7a90b3191bcab9a337dc5">cut the state’s corporate income tax</a>&nbsp;by a half-percentage point with each deal.Kelly pushed for a new incentives program in hopes of luring the $4 billion project to Kansas. Officials have said Kansas is competing with another state and that the company expects to make a decision on the site for its project within three weeks.Lawmakers in both parties remained frustrated that details about the company or its proposed project haven’t been disclosed publicly.Kelly’s version of the measure would have allowed more incentives over a shorter period of time. Republicans rewrote the bill to make it less generous, spread out the incentives over a longer time and require legislative leaders to sign off on a deal.

Kansas plan for $1B-plus in breaks for project nears passage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force became the second military service to approve religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, granting requests from nine airmen to avoid the shots, officials said Tuesday.

The nine approved so far represent just a tiny fraction of the more than 6,400 requested by Air Force troops, and they come as other service members are challenging the lack of religious exemptions in court cases. The Marine Corps is the only other military service to grant any religious accommodations, allowing three so far. The Army and Navy have not approved any.

The services have come under criticism for their failure to grant religious exemptions, with members of Congress, the military and the public questioning if the review processes have been fair. All together, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious exemptions.

Military leaders have argued that religious exemptions to any of the many vaccines troops are required to get have been very rare over the years. Service members are required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they deploy.

A federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction last month, stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get the COVID vaccine.

Eight of the Air Force approvals came during the initial review process, and one was granted on appeal to senior Air Force leaders. So far, religious exemption requests from more than 3,200 airmen were denied, and another 3,200 are pending.

“The Department of the Air Force determined the service members’ accommodations could be supported with no impact to mission readiness,” the statement Tuesday said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have argued that the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. And all of the services have now either discharged personnel for refusing the vaccine, or put a system in place to do so.

The Marine Corps has discharged 469, the Air Force has discharged 179 and the Navy has discharged 118, according to data released in the last week. The number include active-duty personnel and entry-level recruits who were still in boot camp. The Army has issued more than 3,000 formal letters of reprimand, and fired six soldiers, but has not discharged anyone yet.

All the military services have said the exemption decisions are based not only on the individual request, but also on its impact on the unit, its mission and readiness, and the health and safety of other troops.

Those who get an exemption and are allowed to stay in the service may, however, see an impact on their jobs.

The Navy and the Marine Corps have said unvaccinated service members are not allowed to deploy out to sea on ships, where infections can more easily spread. Those who have approved exemptions — either medical, administrative or religious — are assigned to shore duties.

At least 97% of the troops in each service have gotten at least one shot.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force became the second military service to approve religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, granting requests from nine airmen to avoid the shots, officials said Tuesday.The nine approved so far represent just a tiny fraction of the more than 6,400 requested by Air Force troops, and they come as other service members are challenging the lack of religious exemptions in court cases. The Marine Corps is the only other military service to grant any religious accommodations, allowing three so far. The Army and Navy have not approved any.The services have come under criticism for their failure to grant religious exemptions, with members of Congress, the military and the public questioning if the review processes have been fair. All together, the services have received more than 14,000 requests for religious exemptions.Military leaders have argued that religious exemptions to any of the many vaccines troops are required to get have been very rare over the years. Service members are required to get as many as 17 different vaccines, depending on where they deploy.A federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction last month, stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get the COVID vaccine.Eight of the Air Force approvals came during the initial review process, and one was granted on appeal to senior Air Force leaders. So far, religious exemption requests from more than 3,200 airmen were denied, and another 3,200 are pending.“The Department of the Air Force determined the service members’ accommodations could be supported with no impact to mission readiness,” the statement Tuesday said.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and military leaders have argued that the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. And all of the services have now either discharged personnel for refusing the vaccine, or put a system in place to do so.The Marine Corps has discharged 469, the Air Force has discharged 179 and the Navy has discharged 118, according to data released in the last week. The number include active-duty personnel and entry-level recruits who were still in boot camp. The Army has issued more than 3,000 formal letters of reprimand, and fired six soldiers, but has not discharged anyone yet.All the military services have said the exemption decisions are based not only on the individual request, but also on its impact on the unit, its mission and readiness, and the health and safety of other troops.Those who get an exemption and are allowed to stay in the service may, however, see an impact on their jobs.The Navy and the Marine Corps have said unvaccinated service members are not allowed to deploy out to sea on ships, where infections can more easily spread. Those who have approved exemptions — either medical, administrative or religious — are assigned to shore duties.At least 97% of the troops in each service have gotten at least one shot.

Air Force approves religious exemptions for COVID vaccine

RUSH COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Rush County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a Black 2006 GMC Envoy in connection with the homicide of 61-year-old Leslie Randa of La Crosse on January 21.

 The vehicle has Kansas tag 463HAE&nbsp; and front grill guard is chrome. 

 The SUV was observed in Wichita after Randa was killed, and may still be in the Wichita area. 

If anyone saw this SUV on January 11, or after, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME, or the Rush County Sheriff’s Office at 785-222-2578.

Leslie Randa, 61, was discovered in his home, located at 205 E 5th St in LaCrosse, Kan. Randa was found by a family member who then contacted 911 at 1:39 p.m. on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643198011225.png" alt="Photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSH COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Rush County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a Black 2006 GMC Envoy in connection with the homicide of 61-year-old Leslie Randa of La Crosse on January 21. The vehicle has Kansas tag 463HAE&nbsp; and front grill guard is chrome. The SUV was observed in Wichita after Randa was killed, and may still be in the Wichita area. If anyone saw this SUV on January 11, or after, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KSCRIME, or the Rush County Sheriff’s Office at 785-222-2578.Leslie Randa, 61, was discovered in his home, located at 205 E 5th St in LaCrosse, Kan. Randa was found by a family member who then contacted 911 at 1:39 p.m. on Friday.

Search continues for vehicle connected to  Kan. homicide investigation

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Federally funded family planning clinics can continue to make abortion referrals for now, a federal court ruled Tuesday, in a setback for a dozen Republican attorneys general who have sued to restore a Trump-era ban on the practice.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati denied a request by the 12 states to pause rules for the federal government’s family planning program while their case is heard. The states were eager to stop implementation before the next round of federal grants starts rolling out in March.

At issue are new rules from President Joe Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services that returned the federal family planning program, called Title X, to how it ran under the Obama administration, when clinics were able to refer women seeking abortions to a provider.

Rules that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who brought the lawsuit, wants permanently reinstated were put into place in 2019 under former President Donald Trump. One required federally funded family planning clinics to be physically and financially independent of abortion clinics. The other required them to refrain from referring patients for abortions.

He argues the rules were intended as firewalls between family planning clinics, which can receive taxpayer funding, and their abortion services, which cannot.

U.S District Judge Timothy Black rejected that argument in a ruling last month, denying a preliminary injunction that would have temporarily paused the rules. The 12 states appealed his decision to the 6th Circuit. which said they failed to prove they’d be irreparably harmed by the rules going into effect.

States joining the challenge are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia. Not all states participate in Title X.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Federally funded family planning clinics can continue to make abortion referrals for now, a federal court ruled Tuesday, in a setback for a dozen Republican attorneys general who have sued to restore a Trump-era ban on the practice.The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati denied a request by the 12 states to pause rules for the federal government’s family planning program while their case is heard. The states were eager to stop implementation before the next round of federal grants starts rolling out in March.At issue are new rules from President Joe Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services that returned the federal family planning program, called Title X, to how it ran under the Obama administration, when clinics were able to refer women seeking abortions to a provider.Rules that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who brought the lawsuit, wants permanently reinstated were put into place in 2019 under former President Donald Trump. One required federally funded family planning clinics to be physically and financially independent of abortion clinics. The other required them to refrain from referring patients for abortions.He argues the rules were intended as firewalls between family planning clinics, which can receive taxpayer funding, and their abortion services, which cannot.U.S District Judge Timothy Black rejected that argument in a ruling last month, denying a preliminary injunction that would have temporarily paused the rules. The 12 states appealed his decision to the 6th Circuit. which said they failed to prove they’d be irreparably harmed by the rules going into effect.States joining the challenge are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia. Not all states participate in Title X.

Appeals court rules in Biden’s favor on abortion referrals

BUHLER, Kan. — A major wildfire broke out east of Hutchinson Tuesday afternoon. According to Reno County Dispatch, the fire was called out around 1:30 p.m. near 30th and Willison. The fire quickly raced south threatening many homes around the 4th and Willison area.&nbsp;

According to Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer, the fire threatened several properties, but no homes were destroyed. Beer said mutual aid, including resources in place with the help of the Kansas Forestry Service, were prepared to deal with the dry windy conditions that were in place. The Kansas Forest Service used an aerial plane to help fight the fire.

Crews spent the night patrolling the area from 30th to 4th and from Willison to Buhler Road putting out numerous hot spots.&nbsp;

No word on how much damage was done nor were there any reports of injuries. Buhler schools that had students living in the fire area held them at schools until parents or guardians could pick them up. Many of the usual bus routes were closed due to the fire.

Volunteers provided bulldozers to help cut fire lines and a semi tanker full of water was put in place to refill fire trucks.&nbsp;

RENO COUNTY —&nbsp;Fire crews are working a brush fire near Buhler, according to the Reno County Sheriff's office. Some evacuations were also reported.&nbsp; Crews from Sedgwick County were assisting along with Tthe Kansas Forest Service using an aerial tanker.

The fire was called around 1:30p.m. and&nbsp; is located between 4th to 30th and from Buhler Road to Willison. Because of this many rural roads in the area were closed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Fire crews are working to save several homes and structures north of 4th and Willison. Still no word of damage or injuries.

Buhler USD 313 asked any students that would normally be dropped off by buses in those areas, will need to be picked up from their school.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644362622016.jpeg" alt="Tanker 95, under the Kansas Forest Service, has been requested to assist on a wildfire in Reno County, approximately 5 miles east of Hutchinson Airport in the Sand Hills-photo courtesy Kan. Forrest Service" />
 <figcaption>Tanker 95, under the Kansas Forest Service, has been requested to assist on a wildfire in Reno County, approximately 5 miles east of Hutchinson Airport in the Sand Hills-photo courtesy Kan. Forrest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>BUHLER, Kan. — A major wildfire broke out east of Hutchinson Tuesday afternoon. According to Reno County Dispatch, the fire was called out around 1:30 p.m. near 30th and Willison. The fire quickly raced south threatening many homes around the 4th and Willison area.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644370578664.jpeg" alt="Crews spent the night patrolling the area from 30th to 4th and from Willison to Buhler Road putting out numerous hot spots.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Crews spent the night patrolling the area from 30th to 4th and from Willison to Buhler Road putting out numerous hot spots.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>According to Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer, the fire threatened several properties, but no homes were destroyed. Beer said mutual aid, including resources in place with the help of the Kansas Forestry Service, were prepared to deal with the dry windy conditions that were in place. The Kansas Forest Service used an aerial plane to help fight the fire.Crews spent the night patrolling the area from 30th to 4th and from Willison to Buhler Road putting out numerous hot spots.&nbsp;No word on how much damage was done nor were there any reports of injuries. Buhler schools that had students living in the fire area held them at schools until parents or guardians could pick them up. Many of the usual bus routes were closed due to the fire.Volunteers provided bulldozers to help cut fire lines and a semi tanker full of water was put in place to refill fire trucks.&nbsp;---------RENO COUNTY —&nbsp;Fire crews are working a brush fire near Buhler, according to the Reno County Sheriff's office. Some evacuations were also reported.&nbsp; Crews from Sedgwick County were assisting along with Tthe Kansas Forest Service using an aerial tanker.The fire was called around 1:30p.m. and&nbsp; is located between 4th to 30th and from Buhler Road to Willison. Because of this many rural roads in the area were closed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fire crews are working to save several homes and structures north of 4th and Willison. Still no word of damage or injuries.Buhler USD 313 asked any students that would normally be dropped off by buses in those areas, will need to be picked up from their school.&nbsp;

Update: Crews control large grass fire east of Hutchinson 

SEDGWICK COUNTU-&nbsp;A former Kansas high school teacher who admitted being sexually attracted to children was sentenced Friday for sexual exploitation of a child.

Shawn Winfield, 49, was sentenced to 36 months probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In November he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. 

The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children.&nbsp;

At the time of his surprise resignation, Wingfield wrote on social media, "This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."

He then added, "Time for me to check out for a while.  A little earlier than I had hoped.  See everyone, I hope, on the other side."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627295318183.png" alt="Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Wingfield-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTU-&nbsp;A former Kansas high school teacher who admitted being sexually attracted to children was sentenced Friday for sexual exploitation of a child.Shawn Winfield, 49, was sentenced to 36 months probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In November he pleaded guilty to the charges.Wingfield resigned in July from teaching gifted English and debate at Wichita Northwest High School. The investigation began after a woman Wingfield dated turned over what she considered worrisome text messages to police. A court affidavit said Winfield admitted to being sexually attracted to 11- to 14-year-old children.&nbsp;At the time of his surprise resignation, Wingfield wrote on social media, "This morning, for reasons involving personal health and well being, I resigned from Wichita Public Schools. Without going into details, I have come to believe that this is not only the best decision for myself, but also for the district and my students. And while I do regret the timing of this decision so close to the start of the new school year, I believe that to stay any longer would prove to be a greater inconvenience to everyone in the end."He then added, "Time for me to check out for a while. A little earlier than I had hoped. See everyone, I hope, on the other side."------------

Kan. man sentenced after date turned him in for child porn on phone

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans on Tuesday revived a redistricting plan that would make it harder for the only&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Democrat in Congress to win reelection, engineering a second-chance override of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of the measure in the state Senate.

The Senate vote Tuesday was 27-11 and gave Republican leaders exactly the two-thirds majority they needed, with two GOP senators abstaining. The measure goes next to the House, which has a month to decide whether to override Kelly's veto and make the new district lines law. It wasn't clear whether Republicans yet have the necessary two-thirds majority there, but they are close.

Republican senators faced questions from their colleagues and reporters about how much legislative horse-trading led up to Tuesday's vote. The first veto override attempt on Monday failed, 24-15, because four GOP senators broke with their leaders. The Republican-controlled Legislature's rules allow lawmakers to reconsider any action by the next day.

“I hope whoever got them to change their mind will get what it is they bargained for,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, which is split under the map. “It lends discredit to this process.”

Even if the House overrides Kelly's veto, the GOP plan is expected to face challenges in federal and possibly state courts. Republicans are seeking to recapture a U.S. House majority, and both parties are watching redistricting closely.

Kansas Republicans' plan would split the state’s portion of the Kansas City area into two congressional districts, costing Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids some of the territory in her 3rd District where she performs best. The map also would move the liberal northeast Kansas community of Lawrence, home to the main University of Kansas campus, from the 2nd District of eastern Kansas into the 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative communities six or more hours away by car.

Top Republicans said all of the changes resulted from the need to balance the population in each of the state's four congressional districts after a decade of shifts. States are required to redraw lines at least once a decade to make their districts as equal in population as possible. The GOP plan gives every Kansas district the ideal population of 734,470.

Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, argued that even with the new lines district, Davids would have won reelection in 2020, based on that year's results.

“It's a fair map,” he told reporters after the vote.

Masterson joined the four GOP dissenters in voting against an override Monday, but only so that he would be able to ask senators to reconsider Tuesday. A person on the winning side has to do it.

Both conservative Republicans who switched from no Monday to yes Tuesday are from communities an hour or more northwest of Wichita, Sens. Mark Steffen and Alicia Straub.

Straub explained her yes vote Tuesday by saying she's never supported anything Kelly has, adding, “This is standing for freedom.”

Steffen didn't sound much like a supporter of GOP leaders' map in his explanation of his yes vote Tuesday, deriding the plan for moving Lawrence into the district long known as the “Big First” because it sprawls over much of the state.

“Now they are dumping the Lawrence liberals in our lap,” he said. “Just like illegal hunting killed off our buffalo in the 1800s, insidious redistricting will kill off the true conservative character of my beloved Big First.”

Both senators are COVID-19 vaccine skeptics. On Tuesday morning, a Senate committee approved a bill containing proposals from Steffen aimed at protecting doctors who prescribe the anti-worm medication ivermectin to treat COVID-19 and at making it easier for parents to enroll their children in school or day care without getting them vaccinated.

Masterson said he had conversations with the senators about multiple issues, but when asked why they switched their votes, he told reporters: “You're going to have to talk to them."

Steffen declined comment multiple times when reporters asked whether the committee action Tuesday influenced his change of vote. Straub ducked reporters immediately after the vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans on Tuesday revived a redistricting plan that would make it harder for the only&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Democrat in Congress to win reelection, engineering a second-chance override of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of the measure in the state Senate.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3ioC4jdpjQ?start=906" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Senate vote Tuesday was 27-11 and gave Republican leaders exactly the two-thirds majority they needed, with two GOP senators abstaining. The measure goes next to the House, which has a month to decide whether to override Kelly's veto and make the new district lines law. It wasn't clear whether Republicans yet have the necessary two-thirds majority there, but they are close.Republican senators faced questions from their colleagues and reporters about how much legislative horse-trading led up to Tuesday's vote. The first veto override attempt on Monday failed, 24-15, because four GOP senators broke with their leaders. The Republican-controlled Legislature's rules allow lawmakers to reconsider any action by the next day.“I hope whoever got them to change their mind will get what it is they bargained for,” said Democratic state Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, which is split under the map. “It lends discredit to this process.”Even if the House overrides Kelly's veto, the GOP plan is expected to face challenges in federal and possibly state courts. Republicans are seeking to recapture a U.S. House majority, and both parties are watching redistricting closely.Kansas Republicans' plan would split the state’s portion of the Kansas City area into two congressional districts, costing Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids some of the territory in her 3rd District where she performs best. The map also would move the liberal northeast Kansas community of Lawrence, home to the main University of Kansas campus, from the 2nd District of eastern Kansas into the 1st District of central and western Kansas with conservative communities six or more hours away by car.Top Republicans said all of the changes resulted from the need to balance the population in each of the state's four congressional districts after a decade of shifts. States are required to redraw lines at least once a decade to make their districts as equal in population as possible. The GOP plan gives every Kansas district the ideal population of 734,470.Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, argued that even with the new lines district, Davids would have won reelection in 2020, based on that year's results.“It's a fair map,” he told reporters after the vote.Masterson joined the four GOP dissenters in voting against an override Monday, but only so that he would be able to ask senators to reconsider Tuesday. A person on the winning side has to do it.Both conservative Republicans who switched from no Monday to yes Tuesday are from communities an hour or more northwest of Wichita, Sens. Mark Steffen and Alicia Straub.Straub explained her yes vote Tuesday by saying she's never supported anything Kelly has, adding, “This is standing for freedom.”Steffen didn't sound much like a supporter of GOP leaders' map in his explanation of his yes vote Tuesday, deriding the plan for moving Lawrence into the district long known as the “Big First” because it sprawls over much of the state.“Now they are dumping the Lawrence liberals in our lap,” he said. “Just like illegal hunting killed off our buffalo in the 1800s, insidious redistricting will kill off the true conservative character of my beloved Big First.”Both senators are COVID-19 vaccine skeptics. On Tuesday morning, a Senate committee approved a bill containing proposals from Steffen aimed at protecting doctors who prescribe the anti-worm medication ivermectin to treat COVID-19 and at making it easier for parents to enroll their children in school or day care without getting them vaccinated.Masterson said he had conversations with the senators about multiple issues, but when asked why they switched their votes, he told reporters: “You're going to have to talk to them."Steffen declined comment multiple times when reporters asked whether the committee action Tuesday influenced his change of vote. Straub ducked reporters immediately after the vote.

🎥2nd try to override veto saves Kan. GOP map targeting Democrat

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man charged with killing two brothers from Wisconsin will not go to trial until March of next year, a judge has ruled.

Garland Nelson, of Braymer,&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/b4800d822fdb6652b55bd5443d5dea69/9ec813dce6b49739ce4cefe408145fd3">faces two counts of first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;and other charges in the deaths of Justin and Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin, in 2019. He has pleaded not guilty.

If he is convicted, Nelson could face the death penalty.

Nelson's trial was scheduled to begin in June. But on Monday, Johnson County Circuit Judge Michael Wagner granted a motion from Nelson’s attorneys to delay the trial until March, The St. Joseph News-Press&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/courts/trial-for-accused-killer-pushed-to-next-year/article_a33f66ec-886c-11ec-bcd0-d310120333fd.html">reported.</a>

Nelson's attorneys filed a motion last week seeking the delay. They said Nelson had not had time to meet with his psychiatrist.

The Diemel brothers disappeared after visiting Nelson's farm on July 21, 2019, to discuss a $250,000 debt Nelson owed them. Their burned remains were later found in Missouri and Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1564610122687.png" alt="Nelson-photo Caldwell County" />
 <figcaption>Nelson-photo Caldwell County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man charged with killing two brothers from Wisconsin will not go to trial until March of next year, a judge has ruled.Garland Nelson, of Braymer,&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/b4800d822fdb6652b55bd5443d5dea69/9ec813dce6b49739ce4cefe408145fd3">faces two counts of first-degree murder</a>&nbsp;and other charges in the deaths of Justin and Nicholas Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin, in 2019. He has pleaded not guilty.If he is convicted, Nelson could face the death penalty.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565280147807.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Nelson's trial was scheduled to begin in June. But on Monday, Johnson County Circuit Judge Michael Wagner granted a motion from Nelson’s attorneys to delay the trial until March, The St. Joseph News-Press&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/courts/trial-for-accused-killer-pushed-to-next-year/article_a33f66ec-886c-11ec-bcd0-d310120333fd.html">reported.</a>Nelson's attorneys filed a motion last week seeking the delay. They said Nelson had not had time to meet with his psychiatrist.The Diemel brothers disappeared after visiting Nelson's farm on July 21, 2019, to discuss a $250,000 debt Nelson owed them. Their burned remains were later found in Missouri and Nebraska.

Trial of KC-area man charged with killing 2 brothers delayed

By VICKIE MOSS <a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/iolan-dies-after-19-month-battle-with-covid">Iola Register</a>

Kansas man Roger Collins, Iola, has died following a 19-month battle with COVID-19.

Wife Billie announced her husband’s passing in a Facebook post Monday.

“I thought today I would be whooping and hollering about the strides 
we had made,” Billie wrote. “Well, sadly or happily, today was the day 
my plan did not come to pass but a much better, more amazing plan took 
place as God called Roger home.”

Collins tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13, 2020.

By that evening, he experienced trouble breathing and was taken via 
ambulance to the hospital, first to Allen County Regional Hospital, then
 to Kansas City, and finally to a long-term care facility in Dallas as 
his symptoms worsened.

“The last 19 months were tough but they were ours,” Billie wrote. “We
 shared the good, bad and the ugly. My heart is broken for our loss but 
it is soaring knowing Roger is no longer in pain. He can walk and talk …
 and if you know Roger he can talk and talk and talk.”

The Collins family shared their story with regular updates for 
Register readers, most recently about 18 months of hospitalization and 
rehabilitation efforts.&nbsp;

Billie praised her husband’s strength and determination. She said the
 family’s faith helped them through the difficult times, including at 
the end.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644368440755.png" alt="Roger Collins / courtesy the Iola Register" />
 <figcaption>Roger Collins / courtesy the Iola Register</figcaption>
 </figure>By VICKIE MOSS <a href="https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/iolan-dies-after-19-month-battle-with-covid">Iola Register</a>Kansas man Roger Collins, Iola, has died following a 19-month battle with COVID-19.Wife Billie announced her husband’s passing in a Facebook post Monday.“I thought today I would be whooping and hollering about the strides 
we had made,” Billie wrote. “Well, sadly or happily, today was the day 
my plan did not come to pass but a much better, more amazing plan took 
place as God called Roger home.”Collins tested positive for COVID-19 on July 13, 2020.By that evening, he experienced trouble breathing and was taken via 
ambulance to the hospital, first to Allen County Regional Hospital, then
 to Kansas City, and finally to a long-term care facility in Dallas as 
his symptoms worsened.“The last 19 months were tough but they were ours,” Billie wrote. “We
 shared the good, bad and the ugly. My heart is broken for our loss but 
it is soaring knowing Roger is no longer in pain. He can walk and talk …
 and if you know Roger he can talk and talk and talk.”The Collins family shared their story with regular updates for 
Register readers, most recently about 18 months of hospitalization and 
rehabilitation efforts.&nbsp;Billie praised her husband’s strength and determination. She said the
 family’s faith helped them through the difficult times, including at 
the end.Republished with permission

Kansas man dies after 19-month battle with COVID-19

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/08/kansas-senator-wins-support-for-off-label-drugs-vaccine-exemptions-for-children/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Sen. Mark Steffen succeeded Tuesday in persuading 
Republicans on a health panel to advance legislation that would clear 
him from punishment by state regulators for prescribing ivermectin to 
COVID-19 patients.

The Hutchinson Republican and anesthesiologist <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/26/kansas-senator-under-investigation-after-prescribing-ivermectin-for-covid-19-seeks-legal-cover/">revealed last month</a>
 he was under investigation by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. He 
proposed legislation that would block the board from taking action 
against doctors who prescribe ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine for 
off-label uses.

Steffen amended and expanded the bill during committee action Tuesday
 to give doctors free range to use any drug for COVID-19 treatment and 
require pharmacists to fill the prescription, while removing protections
 for both doctors and pharmacists from civil liability if patients are 
harmed by the treatment. Lawmakers also added language from another of 
Steffen’s bills that would allow children to opt out of any kind of 
vaccine requirement at day care facilities and schools without being 
questioned.

The GOP-led panel then gutted a House bill that dealt with pharmacy 
regulations, inserted the Steffen bills and advanced it on a voice vote 
to the full Senate.

“We are moving a bill forward that decreases suffering and death,” 
Steffen told reporters after the hearing. “We’re moving a bill forward 
that allows the true standard of care in the early treatment of COVID to
 reign supreme. This notion that doing nothing is the standard of care 
is false, inappropriate and has led to crimes against humanity. The 
bottom line is we took a step forward in helping our Kansas citizens 
today and protecting our children.”

Steffen said he had not heard anything from the Board of Healing Arts
 since announcing Jan. 26 he had been under investigation for more than a
 year.

More than 40 people attended the standing-room-only hearing, in 
addition to journalists and legislative staff members. Many of the 
observers were affiliated with a prominent anti-vaccination group and 
held signs supporting <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb381/">Senate Bill 381</a>.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said the committee provided 
little notice to opponents of Steffen’s bill, then justified moving 
forward because there was little opposition. She presented a stack of 
pages that represented “nearly half” of the complaints about the bill 
she has received in recent days.

“This is a very dangerous bill,” Holscher said. “It was dangerous before. It’s even more dangerous now with what’s been done.”

Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Galena Republican who serves as chairman 
of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, stopped Holscher from
 making further comments and accused her of misreading the bill.

“The crutch [sic] of the underlying bill was that the Board of 
Healing Arts were investigating doctors for prescribing off-label drugs,
 and the Board of Pharmacy was coming down on some pharmacists for 
filling off-label drugs in this case,” Hilderbrand said. “That is the 
crutch [sic]. There is nothing dubious or life-threatening in these 
bills.”

The two Democrats on the committee, Holscher and Sen. Pat Pettey, of 
Kansas City, and Republican Sen. Kristen O’Shea, of Topeka, objected to 
considering <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb398/">Senate Bill 398</a>, dealing with vaccination requirements, before holding a hearing on the matter.

The bill applies language passed during a special session in 
November, when the Legislature responded to federal vaccine requirements
 for workers, to expand the application of religious exemptions. The 
proposal makes it illegal for a school or day care facility to question 
the sincerity of a child’s religious beliefs.

“This is not just COVID-19 vaccine — it’s all childhood 
vaccinations,” O’Shea said. “And for us to not even have time to fully 
read the bill and be asked to vote on it is bad policy.”

Hilderbrand defended the process of combining two bills and inserting them into <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2280/">House Bill 2280</a>.

“For those of you listening online that are getting an impression 
that this is something unique in committees, it is not,” Hilderbrand 
said. “This is something done every session. This just happens to be on 
this certain bill. So I don’t want you to be misled that this is 
something unique.”

Sen.
 Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, said the legislation simply reaffirms 
religious rights already enshrined in the state constitution. He then 
repeated his false claims that vaccines are harmful and that COVID-19 
poses no threat to children.

“It gives parents discretion as to whether or not they want their kid
 to take a vaccine that is actually dangerous, and has been proven to be
 so,” Thompson said. “These kids are not at risk.”

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s latest summary of 
Kansas deaths attributed to COVID-19 included four fatalities among 
children 0-9 years of age and three fatalities among youth aged 10 to 
17.

Thompson also said it was important to “get these people these 
medicines and give these doctors the latitude they need, because this is
 the final nail in the coffin.”

Federal regulators and the vast majority of physicians agree there is
 no benefit to treating COVID-19 with ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, 
and that the drugs could be harmful in some cases.

Pettey said the discussion demonstrated a need to hold a hearing on the religious exemption component.

“We are talking about vaccinations of our children, and we’re talking
 about the safety of all, and we’re not talking about religion,” Pettey 
said. “So I think it’s important that we keep it in the right context.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644349412329.png" alt="Sen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson, says the Senate panel’s decision to advance legislation dealing with off-label drug use and vaccine exemptions is “a step forward” in helping citizens and protecting children.(Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Mark Steffen, R-Hutchinson, says the Senate panel’s decision to advance legislation dealing with off-label drug use and vaccine exemptions is “a step forward” in helping citizens and protecting children.(Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/08/kansas-senator-wins-support-for-off-label-drugs-vaccine-exemptions-for-children/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Sen. Mark Steffen succeeded Tuesday in persuading 
Republicans on a health panel to advance legislation that would clear 
him from punishment by state regulators for prescribing ivermectin to 
COVID-19 patients.The Hutchinson Republican and anesthesiologist <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/26/kansas-senator-under-investigation-after-prescribing-ivermectin-for-covid-19-seeks-legal-cover/">revealed last month</a>
 he was under investigation by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. He 
proposed legislation that would block the board from taking action 
against doctors who prescribe ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine for 
off-label uses.Steffen amended and expanded the bill during committee action Tuesday
 to give doctors free range to use any drug for COVID-19 treatment and 
require pharmacists to fill the prescription, while removing protections
 for both doctors and pharmacists from civil liability if patients are 
harmed by the treatment. Lawmakers also added language from another of 
Steffen’s bills that would allow children to opt out of any kind of 
vaccine requirement at day care facilities and schools without being 
questioned.The GOP-led panel then gutted a House bill that dealt with pharmacy 
regulations, inserted the Steffen bills and advanced it on a voice vote 
to the full Senate.“We are moving a bill forward that decreases suffering and death,” 
Steffen told reporters after the hearing. “We’re moving a bill forward 
that allows the true standard of care in the early treatment of COVID to
 reign supreme. This notion that doing nothing is the standard of care 
is false, inappropriate and has led to crimes against humanity. The 
bottom line is we took a step forward in helping our Kansas citizens 
today and protecting our children.”Steffen said he had not heard anything from the Board of Healing Arts
 since announcing Jan. 26 he had been under investigation for more than a
 year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644349463659.png" alt="Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, says the legislation advanced during a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee is dangerous. The stack of papers, she says, represents “nearly half” of complaints she has received about the off-label drug use bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, says the legislation advanced during a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee is dangerous. The stack of papers, she says, represents “nearly half” of complaints she has received about the off-label drug use bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>More than 40 people attended the standing-room-only hearing, in 
addition to journalists and legislative staff members. Many of the 
observers were affiliated with a prominent anti-vaccination group and 
held signs supporting <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb381/">Senate Bill 381</a>.Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said the committee provided 
little notice to opponents of Steffen’s bill, then justified moving 
forward because there was little opposition. She presented a stack of 
pages that represented “nearly half” of the complaints about the bill 
she has received in recent days.“This is a very dangerous bill,” Holscher said. “It was dangerous before. It’s even more dangerous now with what’s been done.”Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, a Galena Republican who serves as chairman 
of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, stopped Holscher from
 making further comments and accused her of misreading the bill.“The crutch [sic] of the underlying bill was that the Board of 
Healing Arts were investigating doctors for prescribing off-label drugs,
 and the Board of Pharmacy was coming down on some pharmacists for 
filling off-label drugs in this case,” Hilderbrand said. “That is the 
crutch [sic]. There is nothing dubious or life-threatening in these 
bills.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644349503808.png" alt="Loretta Touslee, of Baldwin City, shows her support for legislation allowing off-label drug use during a hearing Tuesday at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Loretta Touslee, of Baldwin City, shows her support for legislation allowing off-label drug use during a hearing Tuesday at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The two Democrats on the committee, Holscher and Sen. Pat Pettey, of 
Kansas City, and Republican Sen. Kristen O’Shea, of Topeka, objected to 
considering <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/sb398/">Senate Bill 398</a>, dealing with vaccination requirements, before holding a hearing on the matter.The bill applies language passed during a special session in 
November, when the Legislature responded to federal vaccine requirements
 for workers, to expand the application of religious exemptions. The 
proposal makes it illegal for a school or day care facility to question 
the sincerity of a child’s religious beliefs.“This is not just COVID-19 vaccine — it’s all childhood 
vaccinations,” O’Shea said. “And for us to not even have time to fully 
read the bill and be asked to vote on it is bad policy.”Hilderbrand defended the process of combining two bills and inserting them into <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2280/">House Bill 2280</a>.“For those of you listening online that are getting an impression 
that this is something unique in committees, it is not,” Hilderbrand 
said. “This is something done every session. This just happens to be on 
this certain bill. So I don’t want you to be misled that this is 
something unique.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644349536565.png" alt="Sen. Pat Pettey, left, confers with Sen. Kristen O’Shea during Tuesday’s hearing about an off-label drug use bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Pat Pettey, left, confers with Sen. Kristen O’Shea during Tuesday’s hearing about an off-label drug use bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen.
 Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, said the legislation simply reaffirms 
religious rights already enshrined in the state constitution. He then 
repeated his false claims that vaccines are harmful and that COVID-19 
poses no threat to children.“It gives parents discretion as to whether or not they want their kid
 to take a vaccine that is actually dangerous, and has been proven to be
 so,” Thompson said. “These kids are not at risk.”The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s latest summary of 
Kansas deaths attributed to COVID-19 included four fatalities among 
children 0-9 years of age and three fatalities among youth aged 10 to 
17.Thompson also said it was important to “get these people these 
medicines and give these doctors the latitude they need, because this is
 the final nail in the coffin.”Federal regulators and the vast majority of physicians agree there is
 no benefit to treating COVID-19 with ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, 
and that the drugs could be harmful in some cases.Pettey said the discussion demonstrated a need to hold a hearing on the religious exemption component.“We are talking about vaccinations of our children, and we’re talking
 about the safety of all, and we’re not talking about religion,” Pettey 
said. “So I think it’s important that we keep it in the right context.”

Kan. senator wins support for off-label drug use, vaccine exemptions for children

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/08/kansas-regulators-approve-natural-gas-utilitys-plan-to-recoup-366-million-from-customers/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Customers of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/30/customers-of-kansas-largest-natural-gas-utility-could-pay-cold-snap-costs-for-10-years/">largest natural gas utility will see their bills go up</a> in the wake of <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/18/feds-ramp-up-emergency-help-for-kansas-other-states-hit-by-extreme-weather/">last winter’s deep freeze</a> — but it’s still unclear by how much and for how long.&nbsp;

Kansas regulators on Tuesday approved
 an agreement with the Kansas Gas Service to recoup $366 million in 
excess natural gas costs, incurred to keep residents’ heat on when 
temperatures last February plunged below freezing for days on end and 
natural gas prices rose by 200 times almost overnight.

During the freeze, which resulted in 
deaths and dayslong outages in Texas, the Kansas Corporation Commission 
ordered utilities to do everything they could to keep providing gas and 
electric service and defer the costs.

“A lesser response could have 
resulted in catastrophic property damage and serious public safety 
implications, including potential loss of life,” the commission said in a
 news release. “When extraordinary costs are unavoidable and necessary 
to benefit the public, it is in the public interest to allow recovery of
 such costs.”

The agreement represented a 
settlement in which KGS agreed to trim some of its carrying costs on the
 sum from the storm. It brought the total Kansans will pay down from 
$390 million.

But KGS customers won’t know how much
 more they’ll pay —&nbsp;or for how long —&nbsp;until the gas utility files for 
securitization and issues bonds to be repaid over five to 10 years. The 
KCC estimated monthly bills would rise, on average, between $5 and $7.

A separate settlement between KGS’ 
large customers, like school districts and manufacturers, is still to 
come and could reduce the burden on residential customers by as much as 
$50 million, said David Nickel, executive director of the Citizens’ 
Utility Ratepayer Board, which advocates for residential and small 
business customers of Kansas utilities.&nbsp;

Nickel said CURB supported moving 
quickly to reach a deal for customers to repay the funds with the hopes 
of getting low interest rates. He acknowledged “it seems like a lot of 
money, and it is,” and said the board was concerned about potential 
manipulation or price-gouging in the natural gas market.

If ongoing investigations by Kansas 
Attorney General Derek Schmidt or federal regulators reveal 
manipulation, the settlement says any recouped funds need to go back to 
ratepayers, something Nickel emphasized is important to CURB.

Nickel said the negotiations also 
yielded a promise from KGS to develop a payment plan program for 
low-income customers by the end of this year.

Nickel said it’s significant that Kansans didn’t lose heat en masse or suffer deaths because of outages

“I can assure you that I would pay 
more than $600 over a period of 10 years to keep people that I know and I
 love safe and alive,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644349269179.png" alt="The Calista Compressor Station serves the Kansas Gas Service’s network in Kansas. The utility received approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission to recoup $366 million from customers. (Kansas Gas Service, courtesy Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Calista Compressor Station serves the Kansas Gas Service’s network in Kansas. The utility received approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission to recoup $366 million from customers. (Kansas Gas Service, courtesy Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/08/kansas-regulators-approve-natural-gas-utilitys-plan-to-recoup-366-million-from-customers/">Kansas Reflector</a>Customers of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/30/customers-of-kansas-largest-natural-gas-utility-could-pay-cold-snap-costs-for-10-years/">largest natural gas utility will see their bills go up</a> in the wake of <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/18/feds-ramp-up-emergency-help-for-kansas-other-states-hit-by-extreme-weather/">last winter’s deep freeze</a> — but it’s still unclear by how much and for how long.&nbsp;Kansas regulators on Tuesday approved
 an agreement with the Kansas Gas Service to recoup $366 million in 
excess natural gas costs, incurred to keep residents’ heat on when 
temperatures last February plunged below freezing for days on end and 
natural gas prices rose by 200 times almost overnight.During the freeze, which resulted in 
deaths and dayslong outages in Texas, the Kansas Corporation Commission 
ordered utilities to do everything they could to keep providing gas and 
electric service and defer the costs.“A lesser response could have 
resulted in catastrophic property damage and serious public safety 
implications, including potential loss of life,” the commission said in a
 news release. “When extraordinary costs are unavoidable and necessary 
to benefit the public, it is in the public interest to allow recovery of
 such costs.”The agreement represented a 
settlement in which KGS agreed to trim some of its carrying costs on the
 sum from the storm. It brought the total Kansans will pay down from 
$390 million.But KGS customers won’t know how much
 more they’ll pay —&nbsp;or for how long —&nbsp;until the gas utility files for 
securitization and issues bonds to be repaid over five to 10 years. The 
KCC estimated monthly bills would rise, on average, between $5 and $7.A separate settlement between KGS’ 
large customers, like school districts and manufacturers, is still to 
come and could reduce the burden on residential customers by as much as 
$50 million, said David Nickel, executive director of the Citizens’ 
Utility Ratepayer Board, which advocates for residential and small 
business customers of Kansas utilities.&nbsp;Nickel said CURB supported moving 
quickly to reach a deal for customers to repay the funds with the hopes 
of getting low interest rates. He acknowledged “it seems like a lot of 
money, and it is,” and said the board was concerned about potential 
manipulation or price-gouging in the natural gas market.If ongoing investigations by Kansas 
Attorney General Derek Schmidt or federal regulators reveal 
manipulation, the settlement says any recouped funds need to go back to 
ratepayers, something Nickel emphasized is important to CURB.Nickel said the negotiations also 
yielded a promise from KGS to develop a payment plan program for 
low-income customers by the end of this year.Nickel said it’s significant that Kansans didn’t lose heat en masse or suffer deaths because of outages“I can assure you that I would pay 
more than $600 over a period of 10 years to keep people that I know and I
 love safe and alive,” he said.

Kan. regulators approve natural gas utility’s plan to recoup $366M from customers

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

In August of 2020, Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., announced a $53 million expansion project that would give the company another location, this time on the south side of Salina. It also would provide needed jobs in the Salina area.

The company's Construction Equipment facility in what was then the Signify/Philips Lighting plant on South Ninth Street is now operational and Great Plains is in need of workers.

"Our CE facility is now up and running, and we’re excited to bring more jobs to the Salina area. We’re looking for about 75 new hires to start operations in 2022. We estimate hiring an additional 200 team members in 2023 to support the future growth of our Construction Equipment Division within Great Plains," said Chris Montgomery, manager of operations for CE Production.

The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kubota North America Corporation, also is seeking qualified applicants to support recent company growth in its Great Plains Ag and Land Pride division.

Great Plains is hiring employees in welding, assembly, fabrication, paint, and forklift operators, the company noted in a news release issued this morning. The job fair will be at the new Construction Equipment facility, 3861 S. Ninth Street, and is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Friday and 9-11:30 p.m. Saturday. Participants are asked to follow the signage upon arriving at the facility.

Job seekers can apply online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.workforgpm.com/">www.WorkForGPM.com</a>&nbsp;or apply in person during the job fair events.

Human resources personnel from Great Plains will be on hand to accept applications and conduct on-site interviews. According to information from the company, sign-on bonuses are available. Positions may be filled on-site.

"Applicants are encouraged to follow social distancing and COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, during the event," the company noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629062606605.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostIn August of 2020, Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., announced a $53 million expansion project that would give the company another location, this time on the south side of Salina. It also would provide needed jobs in the Salina area.The company's Construction Equipment facility in what was then the Signify/Philips Lighting plant on South Ninth Street is now operational and Great Plains is in need of workers."Our CE facility is now up and running, and we’re excited to bring more jobs to the Salina area. We’re looking for about 75 new hires to start operations in 2022. We estimate hiring an additional 200 team members in 2023 to support the future growth of our Construction Equipment Division within Great Plains," said Chris Montgomery, manager of operations for CE Production.The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kubota North America Corporation, also is seeking qualified applicants to support recent company growth in its Great Plains Ag and Land Pride division.Great Plains is hiring employees in welding, assembly, fabrication, paint, and forklift operators, the company noted in a news release issued this morning. The job fair will be at the new Construction Equipment facility, 3861 S. Ninth Street, and is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Friday and 9-11:30 p.m. Saturday. Participants are asked to follow the signage upon arriving at the facility.Job seekers can apply online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.workforgpm.com/">www.WorkForGPM.com</a>&nbsp;or apply in person during the job fair events.Human resources personnel from Great Plains will be on hand to accept applications and conduct on-site interviews. According to information from the company, sign-on bonuses are available. Positions may be filled on-site."Applicants are encouraged to follow social distancing and COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, during the event," the company noted.

Great Plains Manufacturing brings jobs to central Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — A year after winning a major court battle against the opening of so-called safe injection sites -- safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics with protections against fatal overdoses — the Justice Department is signaling it might be open to allowing them.

In response to questions from The Associated Press, the Justice Department said it is “evaluating” such facilities and talking to regulators about “appropriate guardrails.”

The position is a drastic change from its stance in the Trump administration, when prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appellate-court-agrees-government-supervised-injection-sites-are-illegal-under-federal-law" target="_blank">fought vigorously against a plan to open a safe consumption site in Philadelphia</a>. The Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-public-health-philadelphia-coronavirus-pandemic-247fdc735c337cbb4b7ae0305da834f8">won a lawsuit last year,&nbsp;</a>when a federal appeals court in Pennsylvania ruled that opening such a facility would violate a 1980s-era drug law, aimed at “crackhouses,” which bans operating a place for taking illegal drugs. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-pennsylvania-philadelphia-health-50da593c6e553da73a960fbc1a99c9b0">declined in October to take the case</a>.

About six weeks later, the first officially authorized safe injection sites&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-new-york-new-york-city-1f61d20529965ded7fef3fcee5f39d1e">opened in New York City in November</a>. The two facilities — which the city calls “overdose prevention centers” — provide a monitored place for drug users to partake, with staffers and supplies on hand to reverse overdoses. New York City is in a different appeals court jurisdiction that has not ruled on the centers.

Such sites exist in Canada, Australia and Europe and have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and states. A few unofficial facilities have operated for some time.

Advocates have hailed them as a way to curb the scourge of overdose deaths. Drawing from the latest available death certificate data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/overdodse-deaths-fentanayl-health-f34b022d75a1eb9776e27903ab40670f">estimated that more than 100,000 Americans</a>&nbsp;died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021.

Critics, however, argue that safe injection sites encourage illegal drug use and burden neighborhoods.

For months after President Joe Biden took office last year, the Justice Department — under Attorney General Merrick Garland — had refused to take a public stance on safe consumption sites. Officials now say they are weighing their use.

“Although we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Department is evaluating supervised consumption sites, including discussions with state and local regulators about appropriate guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety,” the agency said in a statement Friday to the AP.

The New York City sites so far have intervened in more than 125 overdoses among more than 640 users, many of whom have made multiple visits, according to OnPoint NYC, the organization running them.

Executive Director Sam Rivera said he was excited and relieved by the Justice Department’s statement. The group is eager to tell the agency about its work, he said.

“I believe they’re going to land in the right place here and we’ll be able to, together, really expand on this health initiative that’s saving lives every day,” he said.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat whose administration allowed the centers to open, said the city’s attorneys believed that the federal statute is “aimed at drug trafficking, not at medical facilities,” as he characterized the consumption sites.

But U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York City Republican, has urged Garland to work to shut them down, citing the appeals court ruling against the Philadelphia proposal last year. She told Garland in November that it is “imperative that you enforce this legal precedent,” and she wasn’t pleased to hear about the new Justice Department statement.

“Instead of stopping the deadly drugs streaming over our border, putting drug dealers behind bars and helping people receive the long-term treatment they need to overcome addiction, Democrat leadership is enabling illegal drug use,” Malliotakis said in a statement.

The Philadelphia project, called Safehouse, is still fighting for court approval to open. Safehouse lawyers Ronda Goldfein and Ilana Eisenstein said they hoped the Justice Department’s new statement “signals the prospect of a positive resolution, not just for Philadelphia but for any place in America that seeks to provide overdose prevention services.”

Some other arms of the federal government also have signaled some willingness at least to explore safe injection facilities, if not yet embrace them. Asked about the New York sites, White House drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta told CNN in December he was “interested in looking at the science and data behind all of the emerging harm reduction practices.”

Later that month, the National Institutes of Health issued a call for harm reduction research that mentioned safe consumption sites, among other approaches.

NEW YORK (AP) — A year after winning a major court battle against the opening of so-called safe injection sites -- safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics with protections against fatal overdoses — the Justice Department is signaling it might be open to allowing them.In response to questions from The Associated Press, the Justice Department said it is “evaluating” such facilities and talking to regulators about “appropriate guardrails.”The position is a drastic change from its stance in the Trump administration, when prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/appellate-court-agrees-government-supervised-injection-sites-are-illegal-under-federal-law" target="_blank">fought vigorously against a plan to open a safe consumption site in Philadelphia</a>. The Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-public-health-philadelphia-coronavirus-pandemic-247fdc735c337cbb4b7ae0305da834f8">won a lawsuit last year,&nbsp;</a>when a federal appeals court in Pennsylvania ruled that opening such a facility would violate a 1980s-era drug law, aimed at “crackhouses,” which bans operating a place for taking illegal drugs. The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-pennsylvania-philadelphia-health-50da593c6e553da73a960fbc1a99c9b0">declined in October to take the case</a>.About six weeks later, the first officially authorized safe injection sites&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-new-york-new-york-city-1f61d20529965ded7fef3fcee5f39d1e">opened in New York City in November</a>. The two facilities — which the city calls “overdose prevention centers” — provide a monitored place for drug users to partake, with staffers and supplies on hand to reverse overdoses. New York City is in a different appeals court jurisdiction that has not ruled on the centers.Such sites exist in Canada, Australia and Europe and have been discussed for years in New York and some other U.S. cities and states. A few unofficial facilities have operated for some time.Advocates have hailed them as a way to curb the scourge of overdose deaths. Drawing from the latest available death certificate data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/overdodse-deaths-fentanayl-health-f34b022d75a1eb9776e27903ab40670f">estimated that more than 100,000 Americans</a>&nbsp;died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021.Critics, however, argue that safe injection sites encourage illegal drug use and burden neighborhoods.For months after President Joe Biden took office last year, the Justice Department — under Attorney General Merrick Garland — had refused to take a public stance on safe consumption sites. Officials now say they are weighing their use.“Although we cannot comment on pending litigation, the Department is evaluating supervised consumption sites, including discussions with state and local regulators about appropriate guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety,” the agency said in a statement Friday to the AP.The New York City sites so far have intervened in more than 125 overdoses among more than 640 users, many of whom have made multiple visits, according to OnPoint NYC, the organization running them.Executive Director Sam Rivera said he was excited and relieved by the Justice Department’s statement. The group is eager to tell the agency about its work, he said.“I believe they’re going to land in the right place here and we’ll be able to, together, really expand on this health initiative that’s saving lives every day,” he said.Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat whose administration allowed the centers to open, said the city’s attorneys believed that the federal statute is “aimed at drug trafficking, not at medical facilities,” as he characterized the consumption sites.But U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York City Republican, has urged Garland to work to shut them down, citing the appeals court ruling against the Philadelphia proposal last year. She told Garland in November that it is “imperative that you enforce this legal precedent,” and she wasn’t pleased to hear about the new Justice Department statement.“Instead of stopping the deadly drugs streaming over our border, putting drug dealers behind bars and helping people receive the long-term treatment they need to overcome addiction, Democrat leadership is enabling illegal drug use,” Malliotakis said in a statement.The Philadelphia project, called Safehouse, is still fighting for court approval to open. Safehouse lawyers Ronda Goldfein and Ilana Eisenstein said they hoped the Justice Department’s new statement “signals the prospect of a positive resolution, not just for Philadelphia but for any place in America that seeks to provide overdose prevention services.”Some other arms of the federal government also have signaled some willingness at least to explore safe injection facilities, if not yet embrace them. Asked about the New York sites, White House drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta told CNN in December he was “interested in looking at the science and data behind all of the emerging harm reduction practices.”Later that month, the National Institutes of Health issued a call for harm reduction research that mentioned safe consumption sites, among other approaches.

Biden's Justice Dept. may allow safe havens for taking drugs

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an alleged altercation with police.

Just after 10p.m Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to the area of River Road and Commercial Street in Atchison to check on a suspicious person, according to police chief Mike Wilson.

At the scene, officers located 44-year-old Jason Seager who was wanted on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court. He threatened officers with a big stick and then fled on foot, according to Wilson.

Officers later apprehended him near 4th and Commercial and subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Seager is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and interference with law enforcement.

In July, police arrested Seager after he threatened a man with a baseball bat&nbsp;outside an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644247927502.png" alt="Seager-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Seager-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an alleged altercation with police.Just after 10p.m Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to the area of River Road and Commercial Street in Atchison to check on a suspicious person, according to police chief Mike Wilson.At the scene, officers located 44-year-old Jason Seager who was wanted on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court. He threatened officers with a big stick and then fled on foot, according to Wilson.Officers later apprehended him near 4th and Commercial and subsequently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.Seager is being held on requested charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and interference with law enforcement.In July, police arrested Seager after he threatened a man with a baseball bat&nbsp;outside an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe in Atchison.

Police Chief: Kan. man threatened officers with large stick

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspicious death have identified the victim as&nbsp;47-year-old Angela Degraffenreid of Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on the February 2, police responded to a check welfare call in the 600 block of N West Street. On arrival, they located an unknown later identified as Degraffenreid.

The investigation into her exact cause of death is ongoing. Foul play is not suspected, according to Macy.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspicious death have identified the victim as&nbsp;47-year-old Angela Degraffenreid of Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on the February 2, police responded to a check welfare call in the 600 block of N West Street. On arrival, they located an unknown later identified as Degraffenreid.The investigation into her exact cause of death is ongoing. Foul play is not suspected, according to Macy.

Police ID Kansas woman found dead behind a business

By JARED STRONG <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/07/usda-pledges-1b-for-climate-smart-ag-products/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The U.S.
 Department of Agriculture plans to spend up to $1 billion to foster the
 creation of climate-friendly agricultural and forestry products by 
offering grants to facilitate their production and the markets to sell 
them.

The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon in those industries.

“Agriculture is such an exciting but 
challenging, critical but dynamic space. It’s easy to make the case to 
young people to get engaged in this,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom 
Vilsack said Monday in announcing the program at Missouri’s Lincoln 
University, a historically Black university with a robust agricultural 
program. “It’s at the heart of our fight against climate change.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
estimates that about 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions — 
which are key drivers of a warming climate — come from agriculture, 
especially livestock production. Cattle are agriculture’s primary 
emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

The USDA’s new Partnerships for 
Climate-Smart Commodities program will provide up to $100 million for 
individual pilot projects to plan and implement emission-reducing 
practices, create new markets to sell the products that result from 
those practices and quantify the effectiveness of the practices.

Measuring livestock emissions has long been a
 tricky proposition for federal regulators. An example: The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency suspended its enforcement of the Clean 
Air Act as it might pertain to animal confinements about 16 years ago as
 it seeks to develop a reliable way to measure the buildings’ emissions.

Beef production is potentially a bigger 
quandary because the animals are often raised in open-air lots. However,
 researchers have been able to estimate the average annual methane 
production from cows and how much it can be reduced with <a href="https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2020/01/unh-scientists-expand-seaweed-research-benefit-regions-dairy-farmers" target="_blank">specialized diets</a>.

The <a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities" target="_blank">new USDA grant program</a>
 is open to a wide variety of entities: businesses, nonprofit 
organizations, governments, Native American tribal governments and 
organizations, and colleges and universities.

The department has set an April 8 deadline 
for proposals that range from $5 million to $100 million and a May 27 
deadline for those that would cost less than $5 million, according to 
the department’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank">public Notice</a><a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank"> of Funding Opportunity.</a>
 Small and “historically underserved” agricultural producers and 
“minority-serving institutions” will get priority, the notice says.

“This might look, for example, like a group 
of small farmers working with a nonprofit to implement and quantify 
climate-smart practices in partnership with a retailer,” Vilsack said. 
“Or it could be a network of commodity organizations recruiting 
specialty crop farmers to quantify reduced emissions and market the 
resulting products. It may be a farmer-partner organization working with
 universities to test innovative approaches to monitor and verify 
climate benefits to aid in marketing. It could be all of that or any of 
it, along with a lot of other ideas and concepts.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644333577889.png" alt="U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a $1 billion grant program to boost agricultural and forestry products that are made with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. (Screenshot from USDA video)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a $1 billion grant program to boost agricultural and forestry products that are made with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. (Screenshot from USDA video)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JARED STRONG <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/07/usda-pledges-1b-for-climate-smart-ag-products/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>The U.S.
 Department of Agriculture plans to spend up to $1 billion to foster the
 creation of climate-friendly agricultural and forestry products by 
offering grants to facilitate their production and the markets to sell 
them.The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon in those industries.“Agriculture is such an exciting but 
challenging, critical but dynamic space. It’s easy to make the case to 
young people to get engaged in this,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom 
Vilsack said Monday in announcing the program at Missouri’s Lincoln 
University, a historically Black university with a robust agricultural 
program. “It’s at the heart of our fight against climate change.”The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
estimates that about 10% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions — 
which are key drivers of a warming climate — come from agriculture, 
especially livestock production. Cattle are agriculture’s primary 
emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.The USDA’s new Partnerships for 
Climate-Smart Commodities program will provide up to $100 million for 
individual pilot projects to plan and implement emission-reducing 
practices, create new markets to sell the products that result from 
those practices and quantify the effectiveness of the practices.Measuring livestock emissions has long been a
 tricky proposition for federal regulators. An example: The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency suspended its enforcement of the Clean 
Air Act as it might pertain to animal confinements about 16 years ago as
 it seeks to develop a reliable way to measure the buildings’ emissions.Beef production is potentially a bigger 
quandary because the animals are often raised in open-air lots. However,
 researchers have been able to estimate the average annual methane 
production from cows and how much it can be reduced with <a href="https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2020/01/unh-scientists-expand-seaweed-research-benefit-regions-dairy-farmers" target="_blank">specialized diets</a>.The <a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities" target="_blank">new USDA grant program</a>
 is open to a wide variety of entities: businesses, nonprofit 
organizations, governments, Native American tribal governments and 
organizations, and colleges and universities.The department has set an April 8 deadline 
for proposals that range from $5 million to $100 million and a May 27 
deadline for those that would cost less than $5 million, according to 
the department’s <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank">public Notice</a><a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate-smart-nfo-usda-nrcs-comm-22-nofo0001139-02062022-web-final.pdf" target="_blank"> of Funding Opportunity.</a>
 Small and “historically underserved” agricultural producers and 
“minority-serving institutions” will get priority, the notice says.“This might look, for example, like a group 
of small farmers working with a nonprofit to implement and quantify 
climate-smart practices in partnership with a retailer,” Vilsack said. 
“Or it could be a network of commodity organizations recruiting 
specialty crop farmers to quantify reduced emissions and market the 
resulting products. It may be a farmer-partner organization working with
 universities to test innovative approaches to monitor and verify 
climate benefits to aid in marketing. It could be all of that or any of 
it, along with a lot of other ideas and concepts.”Vilsack did not say whether the products 
would bear a “climate smart” label that is subject to USDA 
certification, similar to organic foods.This article first appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom&nbsp;network.