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Category Archives: Government
K-47 resurfacing work starts this week
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to begin a resurfacing project on K-47 in Crawford County on Friday, May 16. The mill and overlay work will begin at the east city limits of Girard and continue east for 7 miles to end at U.S. 69.
Flaggers and a pilot car will direct one-lane traffic through the work zone during weekday daylight hours, Drivers can expect delays of no longer than 15 minutes. The work should be completed in one month, weather permitting.
KDOT awarded the $1.2 million construction contract to Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., of Topeka. People with questions may contact Construction Engineer Bukola Oni, 620-308-7615, or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen, 620-902-6433.
K-65, in Northern Bourbon County, to close for pipe replacement on May 20
K-65 to close for pipe replacement on May 20
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close K-65 in Bourbon County to replace a crossroad pipe on Tuesday, May 20, weather permitting.
K-65 will be closed between the junctions of K-3 and K-31 for the entire day, reopening in the evening. Drivers should use other routes during the closure.
People with questions may contact KDOT Superintendent Jeff Marks, 620-901-6550, or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen, 620-902-6433.
USDA Opens 2025 General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment
USDA to Open General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2025
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP beginning today through June 6, 2025.
CRP, USDA’s flagship conservation program, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. For four decades, CRP has provided financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The American Relief Act, 2025, extended provisions for CRP through Sept. 30, 2025.
“With 1.8 million acres available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year, we are very aware that we are bumping up against the statutory 27-million-acre statutory cap,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Now more than ever, it’s important that the acres offered by landowners and those approved by USDA address our most critical natural resource concerns. With the limited number of acres that we have available, we’re not necessarily looking for the most acres offered but instead prioritizing mindful conservation efforts to ensure we maximize the return on our investment from both a conservation and economic perspective.”
General CRP (Signup 64)
Agricultural producers and landowners submit offers for General CRP through a competitive bid process. Offers are ranked and scored, by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Continuous CRP (Signup 63)
Unlike General CRP, Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process. To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, FSA is accepting Continuous CRP offers on a first-come, first-served basis through June 6. However, should allotted CRP acreage remain available following the June 6 deadline, FSA will accept continuous CRP offers from interested landowners through July 31, 2025, and may be subsequently considered for acceptance, in batches, if it’s determined that the offered acres support USDA’s conservation priorities.
Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.
Continuous CRP enrollment options include:
- State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative: Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals.
- Highly Erodible Land Initiative: Producers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index greater than or equal to 20.
- Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative: Prioritizes water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. The vegetative covers also contribute to increased wildlife populations.
- CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.
- Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.
Grassland and Expiring CRP Acres
FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future.
Additionally, landowners with acres enrolled in CRP set to expire Sept. 30, 2025, can offer acres for re-enrollment beginning today. A producer can offer to enroll new acres into CRP and also offer to re-enroll any acres expiring Sept. 30, 2025.
For more information on CRP participant and land eligibility, approved conservation practices and detailed program fact sheets, visit FSA’s CRP webpage.
More Information
Interested producers should apply through the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production, the program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits.
FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Bourbon County Is In Drought Watch:consider water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires
Governor Kelly Updates Declaration of Drought Emergency, Warnings, and Watches for Kansas Counties
TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation approving updated drought declarations for Kansas counties.
“Drought conditions have persisted across Kansas through the winter and spring, and we must respond accordingly,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “As we head into the summer months, where we typically see drier conditions, I urge Kansans to consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.”
The drought declaration placed three counties into emergency status, 39 counties into warning status, and 63 counties into watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Precipitation totals have varied widely across Kansas in recent weeks, with some eastern and southeastern counties receiving heavy rainfall that temporarily improved surface moisture, while central and western regions continue to experience worsening drought conditions. Despite these isolated rains, much of the state remains below average for cumulative precipitation, with ongoing deficits in soil moisture and declining streamflows.
“While we’ve seen precipitation in various regions of the state this spring, the long-term effects of drought have prevented improvements in the overall conditions,” said Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.”
Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency water use from certain state fishing lakes and some federal reservoirs.
Individuals and communities must contact the Kansas Water Office for a water supply request before withdrawing water from lakes. These requests will, in turn, be referred to the appropriate office to obtain the necessary permits to withdraw the requested water.
This proclamation shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by a proclamation ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.
Effective immediately, the proclamation:
- Declares a Drought Emergency, Warning, or Watch for the counties as identified below;
- Authorizes and directs all agencies under the jurisdiction of the governor to implement the appropriate watch, warning, or emergency-level drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.
The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans. Kansans are encouraged to report drought-related conditions and impacts in their region through the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) system.
For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at kwo.ks.gov.
County Drought Stage Declarations:
Drought Emergency: Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick.
Drought Warning: Barber, Barton, Butler, Chase, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Cowley, Decatur, Edwards, Grant, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Jewell, Kingman, Kiowa, Lyon, McPherson, Marion, Marshall, Meade, Morton, Norton, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Rice, Rush, Seward, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Washington.
Drought Watch: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Brown, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Coffey, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Gove, Graham, Gray, Greeley, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kearny, Labette, Lane, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Logan, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Ness, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Scott, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Wichita, Wilson, Woodson, Wyandotte.
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USD234 BOARD MEETING NEWS RELEASE for May 12
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, May 12, 2025
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, for their regular monthly meeting at 424 S Main.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Board Minutes
04-14-25
04-22-25
Financials – Cash Flow Report
Check Register
Payroll – April 18, 2025 – $1,686,779.39
Activity Funds Accounts
USD 234 Gifts
Middle School Student Council Fundraising
Washington Workshop Extended Trip
Alex VanBecelaere was recognized by Special Education Director Tonya Barnes via ZOOM. Alex works with the Occupational Therapy in the district. She has been a huge asset to the team and the students really enjoy collaborating with her.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided the Board with an update on enrollment for the end of the year.
Assistant Superintendent Terry Mayfield provided the Board with a shared update. He updated on each of the departments and plans for the summer months.
Special Education Director Tonya Barnes reported that our district reached the high status for district IDEA Level of Determination.
The Board Approved the following items:
- Contract for Occupational Therapy Services with Outreach Therapy, LLC
- KASB Membership Renewal
- Set Capacity for Nonresident Student Enrollment
- Greenbush Contract for Low-Incidence & Audiology
- CHC School Based Health Care Service Contract
- Satchel Pulse Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
- Curriculum Resources & Materials for ELA & Foreign Language
There were none present for public forum.
The Board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President David Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED
May 12, 2025
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Bailey, Ronda – Retirement – Accompanist – Music – High School/Middle School
Baublitz, Christina – Resignation – Paraprofessional – Winfield Scott
Dunivan, Sarah – Resignation – Music Teacher – Winfield Scott
Eichenberger, Justin – Resignation – Part Time Paraprofessional – High School
Hastings, Nicolette – Retirement – SPED Teacher – High School
Nelson, Andrew – Resignation – 6th Grade Science Teacher – Middle School
Certified Recommendations
Brown, DJ – Middle School Principal
Christy, Angela – 3rd Grade Teacher – Eugene Ware
Johnson, Kyenne – Occupational Therapist
Nelson, Andrew – Instructional Coach – Winfield Scott/Eugene Ware
Classified Recommendations for 2025-26 School year
Classified Staff
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2025-26 school year:
Hendricks, Caleb – Secondary Summer School Administrator
High School Supplemental Assignments
Middle School Supplemental Assignments
Summer School Staff
Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
May 9, 2025
The President and his administration are moving at an epic pace. This rapid implementation has reversed damaging actions by the previous administration and put our nation on a path to protect our borders, to cut wasteful spending (fraud and abuse), and to cut taxes.
President Trump and congress made considerable tax cuts in 2017 that will end this year. The cuts can be extended if legislation is passed, you may have heard the President talk about a “big, beautiful bill”. If the tax cuts are not extended it will be a major tax increase on over 80% of U.S. taxpayers. It will also be a major state income tax increase on Kansans. The federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is the baseline for filing your state income taxes so if it increases your state income taxes increase. It’s a heavy lift for Congress to pass legislation so the 2017 tax cuts do not sunset, especially since they are attempting to pass more cuts like exempting Social Security, tips, and overtime from federal income taxes. “It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the tax rates.”–John F. Kennedy
Kansas Supreme Court justices are currently selected by a nominating commission (made up mainly of lawyers) that submit three names to the Governor, and the Governor picks one of the three to be a justice. The reason this process was put into effect for selecting state supreme court justices is that the powers that be felt that Kansas voters were not smart enough to select their supreme court justices and that it had to be handled by professional lawyers. This process has failed Kansans. You may have heard, the U.S. supreme court has allegedly overturned more Kansas Supreme Court rulings than any other state per capita.
This could change because on the August 4, 2026, ballot Kansas voters will have an option to keep the current process or change it to electing state supreme court justices. Why would Kansas consider changing the selection process of justices? To increase transparency and public trust. It has been argued that judicial activism is a “threat to democratic principles and the rule of law… by allowing unelected judges to make decisions that should be left to the people or their elected representatives.” U.S. Justice Scalia warned that judges who interpret the Constitution as a “living document” have crossed a line to effectively become policymakers. He also compared this “approach to the situation in the 1930’s Germany, where judges began interpreting laws to reflect the ‘spirit of the age,’ leading to disastrous consequences.”
For example, in the case Kansas versus Garcia, illegal immigrants who committed identity theft, the Kansas Supreme Court majority ruled that it was a federal issue, and the state didn’t have authority to prosecute even though identity theft is against Kansas law and the illegals used stolen identities on state and federal forms. Thankfully, this ruling was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Scalia wrote in response to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling that, “This interpretation is flatly contrary to standard English usage.”
Currently, there is a retention vote for justices on a six-year schedule. You vote yes or no on each justice – to retain or not. Some say that is an election of sorts. However, common sense tells us two or more candidates running for the position educating voters is more transparent and provides an opportunity to get to know the candidates. With the current retention vote, it is very difficult to be an informed voter. A super majority of legislators supported putting this change on the August 4, 2026, ballot and voters will get to have their voices heard.
Interim Committees are approved by the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC), which is made up of eight legislators that are in House and Senate leadership. They approved several interim committees that will meet to take a deeper look at topics before the next session. A special interim committee on tax will meet and cover several topics. The House Tax Chairman and I requested a deeper dive on property valuations. The more I research that system and attempt to navigate it, the more convinced I am the system is broken. This is not just a Kansas issue; many states have the same problems. It will take innovative thinking to bring more accuracy and transparency to property taxes.
There will also be interim committees on KPERS, housing, crypto currency, campaign contributions/transparency (hopefully a look at stopping dark money) and several other topics.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Flags Half-Staff for Peace Officers Memorial Day
Governor Kelly Directs Flags be Flown at Half-Staff for Peace Officers Memorial Day
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly, in accordance with Executive Order #20-30, on Tuesday, directed flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state, and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty.
“Every day, Kansas peace officers put their lives on the line in service to their communities and fellow Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Peace Officers Memorial Day is a solemn reminder to acknowledge and appreciate their sacrifices and commitment.”
To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit: https://www.governor.
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FS City Design Review Board Meets May 27
The Fort Scott City Design Review Advisory Board Meeting with Work Session to follow.
When: May 27, 2025
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: City Hall
Topic for discussion:
- Certificate of Appropriateness for 24 N. Main St. in Fort Scott submitted for consideration.
Following the regular meeting, the board will convene a work session to continue reviewing and updating local design guidelines.
The meeting is open to the public, and the recording is available to watch on YouTube after the meeting is held.
Submitted by Lisa Dillon
Bo Co Commission Holds Special Meeting Today at Noon
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Brandon Whisenhunt, Chairman
1st District Commissioner
David Beerbower, Vice-Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Mika Milburn-Kee
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room 210 S National Ave.
May 12, 2025, 12:00 PM
I. Call Meeting to Order
a. Roll Call
b. Pledge of Allegiance
II. Executive Session Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual
nonelected personnel to protect their privacy – with possible action
III. Adjournment
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – FORM OF MOTION
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their
privacy
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which would be
deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in
consultation with the representatives of the body or agency
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations,
partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of acquisition of real estate
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters
at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures
The subject to be discussed during executive session: ________________________________________
State persons to attend
Open session will resume at _____ A.M./P.M. in the commission chambers.
Open houses on proposed U.S. 69 corridor improvements in Crawford County
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) invites the public to review proposed improvements on the U.S. 69 corridor in Crawford County during a series of open houses in June.
The four in-person open houses and one virtual open house will share the same information. Project team members will be available to answer questions about the proposed improvements that were developed based on feedback from the previous three rounds of open houses and insights gained from data collected throughout the study area.
Participants are encouraged to drop by at any time during the in-person open houses, as formal presentations will not be held. The virtual open house will be recorded and will include a walk-through of the proposed improvements with a question-and-answer session.
Open house times and locations:
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Fellowship Hall
100 S. Cherokee St., Frontenac, KS 66763
Wednesday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pittsburg High School
1978 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762
Wednesday, June 4, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Homer Cole Community Center
3003 N. Joplin St., Pittsburg, KS 66762
Thursday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northeast High School
1003 E. South St., Arma, KS 66712
Thursday, June 5, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Virtual open house time and link:
Friday, June 6, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (sign-in starts at 10:30 a.m.)
LINK: https://shorturl.at/izNZr
Information presented at the open houses will also be available online by June 4, at: ksdot.gov/us69-highway-study.
Previous open houses to receive input on the study were held in May 2024, July 2024, and Feb 2025. Information presented at those open houses is on the website at ksdot.gov/us69-highway-study.
Anyone who requires language translation, special assistance or accommodation to attend the meeting should contact Alicea Thompson at [email protected] or call 785-817-0864 at least 5 days before the meeting date.
Blackout-Style License Plates Coming to Kansas
Kansas Department of Revenue Announces Blackout-Style License Plates Coming to Kansas
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Revenue is excited to announce that the popular blackout-style license plates will soon be coming to Kansas vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2025, this highly anticipated new plate design will be available to Kansas drivers to purchase from their local county treasurer’s office.
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“I’m always happy to listen to my constituents about issues that matter to them,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By introducing the blackout license plate style, we are giving Kansans more options on the road while still adhering to safe license plate requirements.”
Designed with an all-black background and sharp white lettering, the blackout plate adds a sleek and stylish plate design to the selection of distinctive license plates. The introduction of this plate design is in response to the increasing interest from Kansans in having a blackout-style plate option for their vehicles.
“The blackout plate design has proven to be very popular in surrounding states, and we’ve had many Kansans ask for it to come to Kansas,” said Division of Vehicles Director Deann Williams. “We’ve heard them loud and clear, and we are very excited to bring this highly requested plate design to Kansas vehicles this year.”
Blackout plates will be available for standard passenger vehicles and motorcycles. The cost breakdown is as follows:
- One-time plate fee: $40
- Annual royalty fee: $50
- Personalization fee: $45.50 (optional)
The royalty fee collected for the blackout plate will go to the License Plate Replacement Fund, and the funds will be used by the Department of Revenue to replace deteriorated license plates.
To see all the distinct license plates currently on offer, visit www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates
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