Category Archives: Government

Government, Kansas

KS Governor Sues Trump Administration

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Governor Kelly Sues Trump Administration
for Illegally Suspending SNAP Benefits

~~Coalition Urges Court to Immediately Restore SNAP Funding
Relied Upon by 42 Million Americans~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“States cannot, and should not, take on the federal government’s responsibility to fund SNAP,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Cutting off SNAP payments is an unprecedented choice made by the Trump Administration and Congress that will harm millions of families across the country. I joined this lawsuit to protect Kansans, because the federal government has a legal and moral responsibility to fund this program, not to take food out of the mouths of Kansas children.”

On October 1, 2025, the new federal fiscal year began without an appropriation by Congress to fund the federal government, creating a government shutdown. On October 10, the USDA sent a letter to state SNAP agencies saying that if the shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for the approximately 42 million Americans that rely on them.

Despite USDA’s claim of insufficient funds, the agency has access to billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for this purpose. Furthermore, USDA has funded other programs with emergency funds during this shutdown, but has refused to fund SNAP, leaving millions of Americans without the assistance they need to buy food. It is clear the federal government is making a deliberate, illegal, and inhumane choice not to fund the crucial SNAP program.

The lapse in benefits will have dire consequences for the health and well-being of millions across the country, who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families. This lapse will also put unnecessary strain on state and local governments and community organizations, as families increasingly rely on emergency services and local food pantries that are already struggling to fill a growing nutrition gap. It will affect school systems, including college and university communities, where food insecurity will stand in the way of educating students. Suspending SNAP benefits will also harm the hundreds of thousands of grocers and merchants that accept SNAP payment for food purchases across the country. The USDA has estimated that in a slowing economy, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity.

In Kansas, nearly 188,000 children, families, and seniors rely on SNAP each month to meet their needs. Ordinarily, more than 93,000 Kansas households would receive a total distribution of more than $34.4 million in SNAP benefits. The Kansas Department for Children and Families, which administers the SNAP program, will continue to closely monitor the situation and its impacts on services the agency provides.

While the federal government funds and sets the monthly amount of SNAP benefits, states are responsible for administering programs in their state. Suspending SNAP benefits in this manner is both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. Where Congress has clearly spoken, providing that SNAP benefits should continue even during a government shutdown, USDA does not have the authority to say otherwise. The coalition will also be filing a temporary restraining order later today asking the court to immediately turn benefits back on.

Joining Governor Kelly in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania have also joined.

Information about federal shutdown impacts on DCF programs and services is available at dcf.ks.gov.

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Government, Kansas

Kansas Cold Weather Rule takes effect November 1

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TOPEKA – The Cold Weather Rule, designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter months, will begin on Saturday, November 1 and remain in effect through March 31.

While the Cold Weather Rule is in effect, utility companies cannot disconnect a customer’s service when the local temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period. The Kansas Corporation Commission, the agency that regulates public utilities in the state, implemented the rule in 1983 to prevent utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas, electric or water service during periods of extreme cold.

The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements; however, it is the customer’s responsibility to contact the utility to make those arrangements.

Payment plan terms to maintain or restore service require that customers agree to pay 1/12th of the total amount owed, 1/12th of the current bill, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee, plus any applicable deposit to the utility. The remaining balance must be paid in equal payments over the next 11 months, in addition to the current monthly bill.

The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction, however many municipal utilities and cooperatives have similar winter weather policies.

Information about the Cold Weather Rule is available on the Commission’s website. Kansans may also contact their local utility company or the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027 or 785-271-3140 to learn more. A link to the Cold Weather Rule flyer appears below.

Cold Weather Rule Flyer (English/Spanish)

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Elections, Government

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall Newsletter

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Senator Marshall Op-Ed: Serving Kansans doesn’t stop during a shutdown

Early in the week, I published an op-ed in the Hays Post, writing that despite the ongoing government shutdown, my offices remain open and continue to serve Kansans.

Read the full op-ed HERE or see the excerpt below:

“Washington is shut down – again – and Americans have every right to be frustrated. Once again, the dysfunction in D.C. threatens to disrupt lives far beyond the Beltway. And while the political blame game plays out, Kansans are left wondering how this gridlock will affect their families and their livelihoods.

“It’s important to know how we got here in the first place. A clean, short-term funding bill — known as a continuing resolution — was introduced by Republicans to keep the government open for seven more weeks.

“This measure would have given Congress the time to complete the normal appropriations process, work towards a balanced budget, and hammer out the details of next year’s funding. But to pass in the Senate, the bill needed bipartisan support — at least 60 votes — which means cooperation across the aisle. Unfortunately, that cooperation didn’t transpire.

“Like many Americans, I am frustrated that we are in this situation. But while some federal offices may close their doors or scale back operations, I want to be clear with the people of Kansas: my office is open, and we’re still working for you.”

Senator Marshall Blasts Democrats for Voting Against Military Pay Bill

Disgracefully, Senate Democrats voted against my colleague Senator Ron Johnson’s (R-Wisconsin) bill, which would have provided paychecks for military service members and “excepted” federal employees who have worked without pay during the last 24 days.

Chuck Schumer’s party showed heartless indifference to military families today and federal workers, including members of their own staff, by blocking their pay to push funding for illegal aliens’ healthcare.

The brave men and women of our military risk their lives every day to defend our freedom — and they deserve better than this.

Sadly, on Oct. 31, those military troops will miss a paycheck.

On Nov. 1, the following federal programs will run out of federal funding:

  • WIC
  • SNAP
  • Federal education impact aid
  • Military tuition assistance
  • Head Start
  • All federal employees will have missed at least one full paycheck

Several public-facing programs have already run out of funds, impacting Kansans of all ages across the state:

  • Some FSA programs and services
  • USDA Rural Development programs and payments to local contractors
  • Federal Flood Insurance Program
  • Medicare telehealth
  • Acute Care Hospital Care at Home
  • National Parks
  • Eisenhower Presidential Library

Senator Marshall: It’s Time for Democrats to Come to Their Senses

As the Schumer Shutdown entered its third week, I spoke with multiple news outlets, including Fox Business, MSNBC, Newsmax, Bloomberg, Fox News Radio, and KCMO, to discuss potential off-ramps, the unaffordability of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), what solutions Republicans are proposing, and our attempts to get paychecks for our troops and federal workers.

We also discussed a potential congressional stock trading ban, renovations at the White House, President Trump’s trade negotiations with Argentina for beef imports, rural healthcare, my Patients Deserve Price Tags Transparency Act, and the strikes against drug cartels near Venezuela.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my interview with Fox Business.

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

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Click HERE or on the image above to listen to my full interview on Fox News Rundown.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my interview with Fox Business.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my interview with Bloomberg.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my interview with MSNBC.

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Click HERE or on the image above to listen to my full interview with Pete Mundo on KCMO.

Senator Marshall: Democrats Own the Problems with the ACA

I also took to the Senate floor this week to call on Democrats to come to their senses and reopen the government so there can then be a conversation about their broken healthcare system.

As I said in part during my remarks, “as all America knows, my friends across the aisle have kidnapped the federal government.

“In fact, they’ve now voted a dozen times not to reopen the government, and even, surprisingly to most of us, twice, they voted against funding the military during these challenging times. I think it’s obvious to all of America that this is a political shutdown, that this is showbiz to them, this is an opportunity for their left legacy media to shout and scream at President Trump and to kowtow to their far-left Marxist base.”

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

Senator Marshall: We Need to Turn Patients Into Consumers Again

During a Senate Special Committee on Aging, I had the opportunity to question numerous witnesses, including Entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Co-Founder of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and the Free Market Medical Association, G. Keith Smith, M.D., and Chief Health Director of CalPERS, Don Moulds, PhD. My questions focused on how shoppable services can improve outcomes and lower costs for Americans.

I asked those in the hearing, “Could you imagine going into a restaurant, you look at the menu, have your choice between a good Kansas City strip or some day-old chicken with gravy and cream on it to make it taste good, and not knowing what the price tags are?

“But for some reason, in healthcare, it’s the only industry in the world, in America, that doesn’t have a price tag with it.”

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full line of questioning.

Senator Marshall: Broken ACA Sticks 24 Million Americans with $5,000 Deductibles

In a separate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, focused on the 340b program and examining its growth and impact on patients, I was able to question Michelle Rosenberg, Director of Health Care at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Aditi Sen, Ph.D., Chief of the Health Policy Studies Unit at the Congressional Budget Office, and William B. Feldman, MD, Dphil, MPH, physician and health policy researcher at the University of California.

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Click HERE or on the image above to watch my full line of questioning.

Senator Marshall Tours Clinical Reference Laboratory & Highlights Dangers of Synthetic Kratom Compound “7-OH”

Earlier today, I joined leaders from the Clinical Reference Laboratory and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) to raise awareness about the growing threat of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) – a powerful, unregulated opioid compound derived from the kratom plant and now widely available in retail stores across the United States.

This product, despite sometimes being marketed as harmless, can, in fact, be 13 times more potent than morphine.

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During this tour, I met with Matt Roney and Bob Thompson of Clinical Reference Laboratory and Dan Neill, Executive Director of the Midwest HIDTA, to review their findings showing that 7-OH is being sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops – often disguised as natural kratom products.

What we know is that these synthetic versions of kratom are highly addictive and dangerously misleading. In June 2025, I sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Makary urging the agency to act on 7-OH’s growing prevalence in over-the-counter products. I hope the FDA will provide consumers and retailers with the clarity of knowing what’s safe and what’s not.
Click here to learn more.
Government, Kansas

KDOT seeking comments on STIP amendment

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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the Federal Fiscal Year 2026-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at ksdot.gov/about/publications-and-reports/state-transportation-improvement-program-stip.

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes November 6. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at 785-296-2252.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 785-296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).

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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

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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

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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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