The First Christian Church at 1429 St. Mary’s Road will hold their Halloween Trick or Treat activity Thursday evening inside due to anticipated cold weather. It will run from 6-8 p.m.

There will be costumes, games and candy. There is no charge to attend.

By Martin Hawver

Well, Kansans, we have a little more than two months before the Legislature goes into session and becomes either dangerous or helpful.

Remember those good old days, when whoever voted to cut your taxes was a reasonably good pick for your vote in the upcoming election? Well, those days appear to be over. One reason is that the state is still in shaky financial condition, which means that if there is going to be a tax cut, it’s going to be pocket change or directed to such a small number of Kansans that we could probably notch their ears so we can tell who they are.

So, the upcoming holiday season is one in which we’re going to have to listen and watch for issues that are much more complex than we’ve had to weigh for decades.

Expand Medicaid so that between 130,000 and 150,000 Kansans can be provided health care? Even when the federal government will pick up 90 percent of the cost, and for just a dime on the dollar, we have healthier Kansans to mingle with at the mall or at the convenience store, or send your kids and grandkids to school with?

Sounds simple. Except that there are conservative Kansans who want work requirements tied to getting health care. And even at the 90 percent federal funding, it’s still going to cost the state money that it can’t easily spend.

Wrestle with what sounds good on that one…and then look at your car in the driveway.

This summer the Kansas Supreme Court held that the $235,000 cap on non-economic damages (basically reductions in physical and mental agility after the other guy has rebuilt your car) is unconstitutional. That cap, while probably high enough for the non-economic damage from not being able to dance, may require a jury to consider higher damages from the life-altering psychological changes a car crash may cause without a lid.

That removal of the cap is undoubtedly going to raise your potential liability in a wreck that is your fault—and your premiums to drive legally on Kansas streets.

What’s right there? Something to talk about because it will affect your checkbook, and the Legislature is going to figure out how much.

Oh, and then there is, as always, marijuana. Or cannabis as we’re calling it now in the Statehouse.

No doubting that there are Kansans with constant pain that makes their lives miserable and who have found that medical or some other genre of marijuana can alleviate that pain, physical and mental—even if the federal government doesn’t approve and doctors don’t know for sure.

Seems simple. Legalize its prescription by physicians. Except that, well, it is “marijuana” and some lawmakers fear that it will be mis-prescribed, or will lead to legalizing recreational marijuana in Kansas which apparently is more dangerous than, say, legalizing drinking…

So, what do we have to worry about for the next two-plus months? Strangely, it is worrying about what legislators believe will be good for Kansas and Kansans and whether they will find the right way to do what’s good without costing them votes. Because, of course, it’s all about votes for lawmakers who want to hang out in the Statehouse in 2021.

Oh, and then there’s that Internet, where anyone who disagrees with lawmakers’ decisions can spread that dissention worldwide, or at least to Kansas voters, and legislators have to explain why they voted right. That all becomes more difficult in the era of social media.

Those simple tax cuts appear out of reach, and everything else is becoming more complicated and divisive.

Best part is that nobody is yet talking about letting legislators break the skin…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

 

SALINA — The interim CEO and dean of Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus has earned the job permanently.

Alysia Starkey, who has been serving as the interim leader of the campus in Salina since July 2018, has been appointed its new CEO and dean by Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president, according to a media release from the school.

“In her service as interim CEO and dean, Dr. Starkey has proven to be a strong and effective leader of Kansas State Polytechnic,” Taber said. “Most notably, she has led the strategic planning on Polytechnic’s aviation program, building community and industry relationships that we will need to be successful.”

As the chief academic and administrative officer of Kansas State Polytechnic, Starkey is responsible for providing leadership, management and support for all academic programs and administrative units on the campus. She’s charged with ensuring high-quality undergraduate and graduate experiences, continued excellence and growth in Polytechnic’s research programs, and the recruitment and retention of high-caliber, diverse students. Effective fiscal stewardship and fundraising efforts on behalf of the campus are also key parts of her job responsibilities.

“Kansas State Polytechnic is a special place and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as CEO and dean,” Starkey said. “I am excited to continue working with students, faculty, staff and alumni to advance our mission and enhance our capabilities to meet the educational and workforce needs of the future.”

Before her appointment as interim CEO and dean, Starkey served as associate dean of academics at Kansas State Polytechnic. She has in-depth experience in the leadership, management and support needs of all aspects of the school, including student success, academic programs, faculty and budgetary matters. She joined Polytechnic in June 2002 as a technical services/automation coordinator and assistant professor. She was promoted to library director and associate professor in 2007, and named assistant dean of academics and distance education and director of libraries in 2010. She served as assistant dean of continuous improvement from 2012-2014 before being named associate dean of academics/undergraduate studies and promoted to full professor in 2014. She gained the additional duties of acting director for the School of Integrated Studies in June 2016. In October 2017, Starkey was named associate dean of academics and acting director of professional education and outreach.

Starkey earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University; a master’s in library science from the University of North Texas; a bachelor’s in psychology from Fort Hays State University; and an associate degree in social work from Colby Community College.

Monday

High

41°

Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of drizzle in the morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s. north winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Monday night

Low

25°

Mostly cloudy with chance of snow, possibly mixed with rain and freezing rain in the evening, then partly cloudy with slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows in the mid 20s. northwest winds up to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

The future forecast for Tuesday through Thursday includes the possibility of snow. The National Weather Service said there is a 30% chance for snow overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, a 50% chance of snow, possibly mixed with rain and freezing rain on Wednesday, a 60% chance for rain, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain Wednesday night, and a slight chance for drizzle and snow on Thursday.

As troops return to Fort Riley from overseas deployments there will be a 1st Infantry Division welcome home ceremony on Saturday ( Nov. 2 ) from noon until 3 p.m. in the 5th Street Playground Park.

There will be multiple activities ranging from bounce houses and face painting to an appearance by the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard. The troops will receive a steak dinner  as well.

The Corps of Engineers increased the outflow from Milford Lake on Friday to 4,000 cubic feet per second. They say it may be increased to 5,000 cfs, if conditions allow.

The current multi-purpose elevation at Milford Reservoir is 1144.40, and the current elevation 1162.93.

Registered voters in Grandview Plaza can cast ballots on a one percent sales tax question in the Nov. 5 election.

They will decide if a current one percent sales tax for improving and maintaining public streets, and other governmental purposes that be in the best interest of the city should be extended.