Category Archives: Government

Bourbon County, Government

Agenda for This Evenings Bo Co Commission Meeting Oct. 23

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Reminder there is also a work session discussing benefits at 5:00 PM.

BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6:00 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
 Roll Call
 Pledge of Allegiance
 Prayer
II. Payroll Update – County Clerk
III. Noise Resolution
IV. Adjournment _____________

Bourbon County, Government

Chief Judge Amy Harth was reappointed in the 6th Judicial District

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Supreme Court reappoints 28 chief judges
TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court has reappointed 28 chief judges for terms that begin January 1, 2026, and end December 31, 2027.

 

1st Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Joan Lowdon was reappointed in the 1st Judicial District, which is composed of Atchison and Leavenworth counties. She has served as a district judge since 2020 and chief judge since January 2023.

 

Lowdon graduated from Kansas State University and the University of Kansas School of Law. Before she was appointed district judge, she worked at the Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office, first as an assistant county attorney and later as deputy county attorney.

 

2nd Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Jeffrey Elder was reappointed in the 2nd Judicial District, which is composed of Jefferson, Jackson, Wabaunsee, and Pottawatomie counties. He has served as a district judge since 2008 and chief judge since 2020.

 

Elder graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law. He served as county attorney for Pottawatomie County from 1989 to 2001 and was in private practice before he became a judge.

 

3rd Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Steven Ebberts was reappointed in the 3rd Judicial District, which is Shawnee County. He has served as a district judge since 2011 and chief judge since 2021.

 

Ebberts graduated from Washburn University and Washburn University School of Law. He worked as the municipal court administrative judge and associate judge for the City of Topeka for more than eight years before he was appointed district judge.

 

4th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Taylor Wine was reappointed in the 4th Judicial District, which is composed of Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties. He has served as a district judge since 2018 and chief judge since 2019.

 

Wine graduated from Pittsburg State University and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. He was in private practice before he was appointed district magistrate judge and later district judge.

 

5th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Jeffry Larson was reappointed in the 5th Judicial District, which is composed of Chase and Lyon counties. He has served as a district judge since 2007 and a chief judge since August 2022.

 

Larson graduated from Emporia State University and Washburn University School of Law. He was in private practice in Emporia for 20 years before being appointed district judge.

 

6th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Amy Harth was reappointed in the 6th Judicial District, which is composed of Bourbon, Linn, and Miami counties. She has served as a district judge since 2004 and chief judge since 2015.

 

Harth graduated from Washburn University School of Law. She worked as a prosecutor in Miami County and as a public defender before she was appointed judge.

 

8th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Benjamin Sexton was reappointed in the 8th Judicial District, which is composed of Geary, Dickinson, Marion, and Morris counties. He has served as a district judge since 2001 and chief judge since August 2021.

 

Sexton graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. He worked as a prosecutor and in private practice before he was appointed district judge.

 

11th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Kurtis Loy was reappointed in the 11th Judicial District, which is composed of Cherokee, Crawford, and Labette counties. He has served as a district judge since 2013 and chief judge since 2025.

 

Loy graduated from Pittsburg State University and Washburn University School of Law. After graduation he was in private practice.

 

12th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Kim Cudney was reappointed in the 12th Judicial District, which is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties. She has served as district judge and chief judge since 2006.

 

Cudney graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. She served as a research attorney for the Kansas Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court. She had a private law practice in Washington, Kansas, where she also served as county attorney.

 

13th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge David Ricke was reappointed in the 13th Judicial District, which is composed of Butler, Greenwood, and Elk counties. He has served as a district judge since 2004 and chief judge since 2012.

 

Ricke graduated from Wichita State University and the University of Kansas School of Law.

 

14th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Jeffrey Gettler was reappointed in the 14th Judicial District, which is composed of Chautauqua and Montgomery counties. He has served as a district judge since 2015 and chief judge since 2018.

 

Gettler graduated from Independence Community College, Loyola University Chicago, and the University of Kansas School of Law. He was in private practice, served as city prosecutor for the City of Independence, city attorney for the City of Cherryvale, and attorney for Unified School Districts 446 and 447.

 

15th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Kevin Berens was reappointed in the 15th Judicial District, which is composed of Cheyenne, Logan, Sheridan, Sherman, Rawlins, Thomas, and Wallace counties. He has served as district judge and chief judge since 2017.

 

Berens graduated from Fort Hays State University and Washburn University School of Law. He previously served as county attorney in Thomas and Cheyenne counties and city attorney for Bird City. He also practiced law in Kansas and Colorado.

 

16th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Laura Lewis was reappointed in the 16th Judicial District, which is composed of Clark, Comanche, Ford, Gray, Kiowa, and Meade counties. She has served as a district judge since 2019 and chief judge since 2020.

 

Lewis graduated from Dodge City Community College, Washburn University, and Washburn University School of Law. Before she became a judge, she was county attorney and county counselor for Meade County and had a private law practice.

 

17th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Paula Hofaker was reappointed in the 17th Judicial District, which is composed of Decatur, Graham, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, and Smith counties. She has served as a district judge since 2022 and chief judge since 2024.

 

Hofaker graduated from Washburn University School of Law. After law school, she had a private law practice in Logan.

 

18th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Jeff Goering was reappointed in the 18th Judicial District, which is Sedgwick County. He has served as a district judge since 2004 and chief judge since 2019.

 

Goering graduated from Washburn University School of Law. Before he became a judge, he worked as an assistant district attorney in Sedgwick County, had a private practice in Leavenworth, and was municipal judge for the City of Leavenworth. He also served in the Kansas House of Representatives.

 

19th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Nicholas St. Peter was reappointed in the 19th Judicial District, which is Cowley County. He has served as a district judge since 2004 and chief judge since 2010.

 

St. Peter graduated from Fort Hays State University and Washburn University School of Law.

 

21st Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Grant Bannister was reappointed in the 21st Judicial District, which is composed of Clay and Riley counties. He has served as a district judge since 2016 and chief judge since 2019.

 

Bannister graduated from Fort Hays State University and the University of Kansas School of Law. Before becoming a judge, he was in private practice in Manhattan and served as an adjunct professor teaching ethics in the College of Business at Kansas State University.

 

22nd Judicial District

 

Chief Judge John Weingart was reappointed in the 22nd Judicial District, which is composed of Brown, Doniphan, Marshall, and Nemaha counties. He has served as a district judge since 2000 and chief judge since January 2023.

 

Weingart graduated from Washburn University and Washburn University School of Law. Before becoming a judge, he was in private practice in Hiawatha for 24 years.

 

23rd Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Curtis Brown was reappointed in the 23rd Judicial District, which is composed of Ellis, Rooks, Trego, and Gove counties. He has served as district judge and chief judge since 2024.

 

Brown graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney and the University of Tulsa College of Law. After law school, he worked for Kansas Legal Services in Hays. Before becoming a judge, Brown had a law practice and later served as attorney for Trego County and prosecutor for the city of WaKeeney.

 

24th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Bruce Gatterman was reappointed in the 24th Judicial District, which is composed of Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, Pawnee, and Rush counties. He has served as district judge and chief judge since 2003.

 

Gatterman graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. Before he became a judge, he served as a municipal judge for the City of Larned.

 

25th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Kristi Cott was reappointed in the 25th Judicial District, which is composed of Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Wichita counties. She has served as a district judge since 2021 and chief judge since 2022.

 

Cott graduated from the University of South Dakota and the University of South Dakota School of Law. She worked for the Western Regional Public Defender Office and for the Finney County Attorney’s Office. She worked in private practice before she was appointed district court judge.

 

26th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Clinton Peterson was reappointed to the 26th Judicial District, which is composed of Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward, Stanton, and Stevens counties. He has served as a district judge since 2009 and chief judge since 2022.

 

Peterson graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield and Washburn University School of Law. Before he became a judge, he worked as a prosecutor in the Seward County Attorney’s Office and was in private practice.

 

27th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Daniel Gilligan was reappointed in the 27th Judicial District, which is Reno County. He has served as a district judge since 2022 and chief judge since 2024.

 

Gilligan graduated from Wichita State University and Washburn University School of Law. After law school, Gilligan worked for Kansas Legal Services and the Reno County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a judge in 2019.

 

28th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Jared Johnson was reappointed in the 28th Judicial District, which is composed of Ottawa and Saline counties. He has served as a district judge since 2011 and chief judge since 2023.

 

Johnson graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law. After law school, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 2001 to 2005. He was in private practice in Salina before he was appointed district judge.

 

29th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Robert Burns was reappointed in the 29th Judicial District, which is Wyandotte County. He has served as a district judge since 2004 and chief judge since 2019.

 

Burns graduated from Harvard University and the University of Notre Dame Law School. Before he became a judge, he was in private practice and served as a legal department attorney for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

 

30th Judicial District

 

Chief Judge William Mott was reappointed to the 30th Judicial District, which is composed of Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties. He has served as a district judge since 2007 and chief judge since 2017.

 

Mott graduated from Friends University and Washburn University School of Law. Before he became a judge, he practiced law in Wellington, served as Sumner County Attorney, and was a special assistant U.S attorney in Wichita.

 

31st Judicial District

 

Chief Judge Daniel Creitz was reappointed in the 31st Judicial District, which is composed of Allen, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties. He has served as a district judge since May 2002 and chief judge since 2011.

 

Creitz graduated from Allen County Community College, Emporia State University, and Washburn University School of Law.

 

Chief judge role

 

Each of Kansas’ 31 judicial districts has a chief judge who, in addition to their judicial responsibilities, has general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

kscourts.gov

Bourbon County, Government

Candidate Forum This Evening at The Ellis Center

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TONIGHT !

Election Candidate Forum

Wednesday, October 22nd

@ Ellis Fine Arts Center

2108 S. Horton St.

5:30pm

Doors open for candidate Meet & Greet

6pm

Forum begins

_______________

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces an Election Candidate Forum that will be held on Wednesday, October 22nd in the meeting rooms of the Ellis Fine Arts Center, located at 2108 S. Horton St.

Doors will open at 5:30pm

with a Meet & Greet with the candidates

The forum will begin at 6pm.

The order of the forum will be as follows:

1.      USD234 School Board

2.     Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees

3.     City of Fort Scott Commission

4.     Bourbon County Commission

Candidate Questions:

Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 1pm on Monday, October 20th.

Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person at the Chamber office.

The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce for those unable to attend in person.

Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by October 20th to confirm attendance.

For more information, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
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Food, Government

If Federal Government Shut Down Continues, SNAP Benefits For November Are In Question

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Kansas Department for Children and Families Shares Update on Status of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Amid Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has received a letter from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. That letter to all states says that if a lapse in funding, caused by the shutdown, continues, there will not be enough money to pay full SNAP benefits for November.

The letter directs agencies to hold off on processing November benefits until further notice. Until a budget agreement or continuing resolution is reached at the federal level, or the federal government identifies a funding pathway, November SNAP benefits may be delayed or interrupted entirely. If no federal action is taken by October 28, 2025, November SNAP benefits will not be disbursed until the federal government reaches a resolution.

SNAP provides benefits for approximately 42 million people across the country. That includes a total distribution of more than $34.4 million to more than 93,000 Kansas households – nearly 188,000 Kansans – who depend on SNAP each month to help put food on their tables.

Impact on Kansans

This potential interruption in benefits comes at the start of the holiday season – an already busy time for food banks and food pantries helping people in need and when many children have days off from school without access to school meals.

DCF is monitoring the situation closely and is exploring what this may mean for Kansans. November benefits for current SNAP recipients are set to begin processing on October 28 and appearing on Kansas Benefits Cards beginning November 1-10 on an established staggered schedule based on last names. If an agreement is not reached by October 28, benefits could be delayed or suspended until the shutdown has ended.

“As soon as an agreement is reached or the federal government finds an alternative funding source, and DCF receives approval from FNS, we are prepared to act quickly with contracting partners to get benefits out to Kansans,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “Depending on the timing of the approval, DCF and its partners could have benefits available on cards within 72 hours.”

October SNAP benefits were distributed as planned. At this time, SNAP recipients should continue using their October benefits as normal. SNAP recipients should continue meeting program requirements, including reporting required changes and completing recertifications.

DCF is continuing to process SNAP applications as usual. Applications can be accessed online at dcf.ks.gov or by visiting a local DCF service center. A map with service center locations can be found on dcf.ks.gov.

What happens next?

DCF is closely monitoring the impact the federal government shutdown is having on programs and services the agency delivers and will provide updates through its various communication channels as this situation evolves. Information about federal shutdown impacts on DCF programs and services is available at dcf.ks.gov.

Help for Kansans

For Kansans in need of additional support, Kansas Food Source, kansasfoodsource.org, and Harvesters.org provide locations of food banks and food pantries across the state. The United Way’s 211 hotline or website, 211.org, and 1-800-CHILDREN, 1800childrenks.com, also connects Kansans to resources in their communities.

The loss of federal funding places additional stress on Kansas food banks, pantries and meals programs, which are already strained to meet the needs of those who utilize them. Kansans wishing to help their local food resources can find those locations on the Kansas Food Source website, kansasfoodsource.org.

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Bourbon County, Government, Schools

Uniontown dominated at the South East Regional Eco Meet at Greenbush.

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(Left to right) Ty Shelton, Lexi Irsik, Ash Sporleder,  Lillyan Robinson, Scarlett McCullough, Aryonnah Beaton, Payton McAfee, Mathew Knight and Ziggy Barbour.
Eco-Meets are competitions that test high school students’ knowledge of Kansas’ wildlife and plants, rewarding the most naturally-qualified students with scholarships. Students are tested in four areas, which are updated annually: a particular habitat, a focus group (of animals), an outdoor scavenger hunt (to assess identification skills), and a fun interpretive event, according tohttps://www.kansasecomeet.org/faqs/
Uniontown High School students participated in Southeast Kansas Regional Eco-Meet at Greenbush, KS on October 22, according to https://www.kansasecomeet.org/southeast-kansas-regional-eco-meet/
Team A, consisting of Aryonnah Beaton, Mathew Knight, Payton McAfee and Ziggy Barbour took 1st place overall.
Team C, consisting of Liliyan Robinson, Ash Sporleder, Lexie Irsik and Scarlett McCullough took 2nd place overall. Both of those teams will advance to the State competition held at Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City on November 6.
In addition to taking the top two team awards, Uniontown captured the four top individual awards!
Aryonnah Beaton placed 1st in Aquatics and Payton McAfee placed 2nd.
Lilian Robinson placed 1st in Invertebrates and Ty Shelton placed 2nd.
Team B, consisting of Austin Maycomber, Ty Shelton, Braydon Russell and Chandler Hall and Team D, consisting of Macy Hueston, Karsyn Woods, Cristian Gonzalez and Catherine Cox also did a fantastic job yesterday but unfortunately did not qualify for State.
Uniontown brought home the traveling trophy and since 2019 Colgan has been the winner. For 2025, the trophy will stay in Uniontown High School!
Submitted by
Christal Martin
Alyson Weston
Brad Johnson
Carrie Sutcliffe
From row: (left to right)Karsyn Woods, Macy Hueston,  Cristian Gonzalez, Lillyan Robinson, Lexi Irsik, Ash Sporleder, & Scarlett McCullough.
Back row: (left to right) Payton McAfee, Mathew Knight, Ziggy Barbour, Aryonnah Beaton, Chandler Hall, Austin Maycumber, Braydon Russell and Ty Shelton.
Fort Scott, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Government

Pulling Together For The Common Good

2 Comments
Fort Scott National Historic Site
The U.S. Federal Government shut down is affecting areas not thought of previously.
During a city supervisor’s meeting last week, it was brought up in conversation that the Fort Scott National Historic Site’s lawn had not been mowed as usual.
“With the government shutdown the FSNHS,  staff has not been allowed to work at the Fort, but the grass continues to grow,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager on the city’s Facebook page.  “So I reached out to the FSNHS superintendent to see what kind of hoops we needed to jump through to enable us to mow the property. After a few days of government work we were given the OK to proceed with mowing, Knowing the weekend is going to be nice and visitors will be wanting to see the Fort in it’s beauty, the Parks Department and Chief Bruner took time out of their regular daily duties to go mow and weedeat the grounds. Thank you guys for your dedication.”
Norman Mackley, Fort Scott Park Department Supervisor, said “At a supervisors weekly meeting, I think, (Fort Scott Fire Chief) Dave Bruner volunteered. Then Dave contacted me.”
Thursday afternoon, October 16, Mackley and Parks Maintenance employee Paul Ballou, each took a 72 inch city lawn mower and spent about three hours mowing the Fort Scott National Historic Site lawn.
“I found out, there is more to  mow than I thought,” Mackley said. “I estimate seven acres.”
On Friday, Bruner trimmed weeds and overgrown grass with a with a weed eater to keep the Fort lawn looking neat, and manicured, with trimming also from Mackley and Ballou.
Government, Kansas

KS Department of Agriculture Crop and Livestock Research Grant Opportunity

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the FY26 Crop & Livestock Research Grant Program. Funds for the program are appropriated to the agency by the Kansas Legislature from the State Water Plan Fund.

The grant funds are in turn awarded to projects and organizations based on their alignment with the State Water Plan and their potential impact on the Kansas agriculture industry. Areas of  particular interest include improving the performance and marketability of drought-tolerant crops; improving the ability of farmers to reduce input requirements, increase effectiveness, and reduce nutrient runoff; and agriculture innovations that reduce water use, improve water quality, or improve drought resilience.

This is a competitive, reimbursement-based grant program. Applications will be evaluated by a technical review committee. The recommendations of the committee will be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, who will make the final award determination.

Applications are due to KDA no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 25, 2025. For more information, please download and carefully read the FY26 Request for Applications document from the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/grants.

The funding appropriation for the FY26 Crop & Livestock Research Program is $450,000. Applicants may request up to $100,000 per project, and projects can be up to two years in duration.

The vision of the Kansas Department of Agriculture is to provide an ideal environment for long-term, sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. The agency will achieve this by advocating for ag sectors at all levels and providing industry outreach.

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Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Packet for Oct. 20

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To view the full agenda packet

10.20.25 Agenda

BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
 Roll Call
 Pledge of Allegiance
 Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved) 09.15.25, 09.16.25, 09.22.25, 09.23.25, 09.26.25, 09.29.25,
10.06.25, 10.07.25, 10.14.25
IV. Casey Brown – SEK-Cap Public Transportation
V. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect
their privacy.
VI. Resolutions brought for signature
 Law Enforcement Fund Resolution returned for signatures
VII. Consent Agenda
 Approval of 10.17.25 Accounts Payable that was sent for review to the Commission on 10.17.25 (not
mailed until approved on 10.20.25) – Accounts Payable $377,595.70
 Approval of 10.17.25 Payroll that was sent for review to the Commission on 10.15.25 and allowed for
payment per K.S.A. 12-105b (b)(1) $300,350.36
VIII. Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
IX. Old Business
 108 W 2nd
 Bitcoin Mining
 Noise Resolution
 Gov Deals
 Technology Discussion
 Meeting Resolution
X. New Business
 SOP Public Works
 Culvert

 Sanitation Discussion
 Resident Complaint
XI. Department Updates
XII. Build Agenda for following meeting
XIII. Commission Comments
XIV. Adjournment ____

Government, Kansas

Medicare Beneficiaries Can Enroll: 2025 Open Enrollment Period Launched October 15th

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TOPEKA – With over 571,000 Kansas residents depending on Medicare for health coverage, now is the critical time to act. The annual Medicare Fall Open Enrollment period is underway, running from October 15th through December 7th. This is your once-a-year chance to review and make changes to your benefits that will take effect on January 1st of the following year.

“Medicare coverage and costs can vary widely, so KDADS wants to make sure people understand how important it is to compare their current coverage with other options each year during the open enrollment period,” KDADS Medicare Grants Coordinator Janet Boskill said. “We encourage Kansans to review their healthcare coverage options carefully to ensure they have the best plan to meet their needs and avoid being locked into their current plan for another year if it doesn’t meet those needs.”

By shopping available plans and comparing costs, beneficiaries may be able to find a Medicare health or drug plan with better coverage or a lower premium in 2026. Help is out there:

  • The Medicare Plan Finder is an online tool for comparing pricing for Original Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies.
  • 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help in English, Spanish, and more than 200 additional languages.
  • Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas is a free program that offers Kansans unbiased assistance with questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. SHICK has counselors throughout the state to educate and assist the public in making informed decisions for each situation. This counseling service is free at l-800-860-5260.

Medicare Open Enrollment is a time for those enrolled in Medicare to review and adjust their coverage. During this period, participants can:

  • Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
  • Enroll, drop, or switch prescription drug plans (Part D).
  • Switch Medicare Advantage plans (Part C).  (This can also be done during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1st through March 31st.)

Beneficiaries can only make changes during this annual window unless they qualify for a special enrollment period due to certain life events, such as moving or losing other insurance coverage.

Suppose you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and don’t want to change your coverage for 2026. In that case, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2026. If your plan is discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you will receive a nonrenewal notice from your carrier before open enrollment.

Each year, there’s a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1st through March 31st. Suppose you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan and want to change your health plan. This is a time when you can review your coverage, switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage, or go back to your original Medicare. If needed, join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Changes to be aware of for 2026 include:

  • Medicare Advantage
    • The average monthly Medicare Advantage plan premium changed from $9.54 in 2025 to $10.11 in 2026.
    • There are 87 Medicare Advantage plans available in Kansas for 2026, an increase from 80 in 2025.
    • 95.2% of people with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
    • $0 is the lowest monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan.
    • 95.92% of people with Medicare will have access to a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 monthly premium.
  •  Medicare Part D
    • In 2026, 12 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans will be available. All individuals with Medicare have access to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
    • 66.26% of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than what they paid in 2025.
    • 17.49% of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan get ‘Extra Help.’
    • $0 is the lowest monthly premium for a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan. $147 is the highest monthly premium.

Total Medicare Part D premiums will also remain stable. In 2026, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare prescription drug coverage will benefit from a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap on their annual prescription drug costs, further making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities. Because of the Inflation Reduction Act, people with Medicare coverage already see improved benefits, including a $35 cost-sharing limit on a month’s supply of each covered insulin product and recommended adult vaccines under Medicare Part D at no cost.  The $35 cost-sharing limit on insulin does not include combination insulin products.  People with Medicare prescription drug coverage who fall into the catastrophic phase of the prescription drug benefit will not have to pay anything out of pocket for covered Medicare prescription drugs.

Additionally, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which will be offered by all Part D plans starting in 2025, will allow people with Medicare Part D coverage the option to spread the costs of their prescription drugs over the calendar year. Learn more about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan and how it may help people with Medicare.  Additionally, the Medicare prescription payment plan, first introduced in 2025, will continue to be offered by all Part D plans in 2026. This will allow people with Medicare Part D coverage the ability to spread the costs of their prescription drugs evenly over the course of the calendar year.

The Low-Income Subsidy Program, called ‘Extra Help,’ is a Medicare program that helps qualifying individuals pay Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. According to estimates, enrollees can save nearly $300 annually on average. Millions of seniors and people with disabilities can benefit from this program but aren’t enrolled. Individuals who enroll in MSPs automatically qualify for help affording prescription drugs through the “Extra Help’ program.

State-by-state fact Sheets are available at 2026-ma-part-d-landscape-state-state-fact-sheet.pdf (Kansas’s Fact Sheet is on pages 49-51).

If you have questions about Medicare Open Enrollment and would like help navigating through the complexities of it, please call our SHICK hotline at 1-800-860-5260 to speak with a free, unbiased, confidential counselor in your area today!

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Elections, Government

U.S. Congressman Derek Schmidt Newsletter

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Rep. Derek Schmidt's header image

Friends,

 

It has now been four weeks since the House passed a bipartisan bill to keep the government funded. Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats this week have continued their filibuster blockade against the House’s clean continuing resolution, so the federal government remains shut down.

Yesterday, after Senate Democrats voted for the 10th time to keep the government closed, Senate Republicans tried to bring up a standalone bill to fund the Department of Defense, and the Democrats blocked the Senate from even beginning debate. This is completely unacceptable. The Defense Appropriations bill has broad, bipartisan support. It passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee 26-3 earlier this year. But, Schumer and his allies won’t even let the Senate begin debate as they continue their effort to appease their far-left base.

I’m grateful that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth took extraordinary measures this week to ensure our men and women in uniform received their October 15 paychecks. And, as I mentioned last week, I have cosponsored the Pay Our Troops Act, which would ensure our military personnel would continue to get paid during the government shutdown. But, this would not be necessary if Sen. Schumer would either pass the House continuing resolution or allowed the full-year Defense Appropriations bill to move forward.

Click below for my latest shutdown update video.
Constituent Services

As a reminder, my offices in Washington, Topeka and Pittsburg remain open, despite the shutdown, and available to help with federal agencies including the VA, Social Security, and the IRS.

 

Regrettably, our ability to help with some of situations may be affected, as many departments and agencies will not be processing casework during the shutdown. However, that work will resume once federal funding is resolved. If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency, please call my office at (785) 205-5253 or fill out the form on our website, and we will work with you on the paperwork that must be completed so we can file your case as soon as we are able.

 

View the FAQ on my website about which government services are affected by the shutdown.
Fighting for Small Businesses

As the son and grandson of small business owners, I am proud to serve on the House Small Business Committee. We have made great accomplishments for Main Street businesses already this Congress — most importantly by ensuring they did not face a massive tax increase by extending key small business tax provisions in the reconciliation bill President Trump signed into law this summer.

The bill prioritizes Main Street America by:

In addition, the House recently passed a bill that would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) loan programs, which provide early-stage technology funding for small businesses. Unfortunately, the Senate has not yet taken up this simple, bipartisan reauthorization bill in the midst of the the shutdown, and these programs have now lapsed. I hope they will act soon so small businesses do not remain casualties of the shutdown politics.

 

Finally, I am pleased that the House’s National Defense Reauthorization Act (NDAA) contains an amendment I championed that will make it easier for small businesses to contract with the Department of Defense. The Senate passed its own version of the NDAA last week, so negotiations are now ongoing to resolve the differences between the House and Senate and produce the final bill. I’m working with my House colleagues to ensure my amendment remains in the final bill.
U.S. Term Limits

I’m grateful to representatives from U.S. Term Limits who stopped by the office this week to recognize me for joining as a cosponsor of the Congressional Term Limits Constitutional Amendment.
Visiting with Kansans

Several members of the Kansas Legislature were in Washington this week, and I was pleased to be able to give them a tour of the Capitol during their visit. I’m also grateful to Stu and Amy Hite from Pittsburg who visited my D.C. office this week.
Elections, Government

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Newsletter

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Senator Marshall Encourages Seniors to Take Advantage of Medicare Open Enrollment

If you’re a Kansas senior, you should be aware that Medicare Open Enrollment began on Wednesday, Oct. 15. This is the one time of the year Medicare recipients can make changes to their plans, if necessary. Those who are happy with their plans do not need to take any action to retain their current coverage and plan options. Open enrollment ends on Dec. 7.

My office is a resource for Kansas seniors who have questions about Medicare open enrollment. I have staff ready to assist, and we have updated our online resource page to help Kansas seniors navigate the Medicare open enrollment season. Kansas seniors can use this webpage to research Medicare benefit plans, find resources for benefits counseling, learn about avoiding scams, and read about other important information related to Medicare open enrollment.

If you have questions about open enrollment or Medicare in general, please don’t hesitate to call my Salina office to speak with a casework specialist. The Salina office can be reached at 785-829-9000.
Click here to learn more.

Senator Marshall: Charlie Kirk’s Life Inspired a Return to Faith & Freedom

This week, I joined Jake Tapper on CNN, where, in addition to discussing the ongoing Schumer Shutdown, we spoke about the ceremony where President Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the lasting legacy of Charlie Kirk.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full interview on CNN.

Senator Marshall Holds Roundtable for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Lastly, I participated in a roundtable hosted by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence alongside law enforcement, victim advocacy organizations, and state officials to address domestic violence incidents in Kansas. The event coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month and comes at a time when domestic violence-related service requests are increasing statewide.

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Participants included the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV), Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill, leaders from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and representatives from several community-based organizations serving survivors, including The Crisis Center Inc., Jana’s Campaign, Options Inc., and the Boys & Girls Club of Topeka.

This roundtable was about building stronger partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies to address an epidemic of violence that affects every corner of Kansas. Law enforcement officers are putting their lives on the line, and survivors are reaching out for help in record numbers.
Click here to learn more.