For generations, the phrase two-a-days has caused concern among parents, with many believing that practicing twice in one day is the primary cause of heat-related illnesses. The research tells a different story. The greatest danger is not the number of practices, but whether athletes have been properly acclimatized to the heat.
Sports medicine experts have consistently found that most exertional heat illnesses occur during the first several days of preseason, before the body has had time to adjust to exercising in hot and humid conditions. That is why today’s athletic programs follow structured heat-acclimatization guidelines. Practice intensity gradually increases while protective equipment is added in stages. Coaches and athletic trainers carefully monitor hydration, weather conditions, and each athlete’s physical condition throughout every workout.
Heat illness is largely preventable when everyone works together. Coaches, athletic trainers, administrators, parents, and athletes all share responsibility for recognizing the signs of heat stress and responding appropriately. Schools closely monitor environmental conditions and modify practices when necessary. If an athlete experiences exertional heat stroke, immediate rapid cooling, especially cold-water immersion, is recognized as the most effective lifesaving treatment.
Many athletic associations have eliminated multiple full-contact practices in a single day but still allow walk-through sessions. These lower-intensity practices provide additional exposure to the environment without placing excessive physical stress on athletes. Simply spending time in the heat helps the body continue adapting safely.
Texas has taken another important step by requiring schools to monitor Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for all outdoor sports and marching band activities. Schools must also maintain written heat emergency action plans that include rapid-cooling equipment on site before practices begin. These evidence-based measures continue to improve athlete safety.
The lesson reaches beyond athletics. Success is rarely the result of avoiding challenges. It comes from preparing wisely, respecting the conditions we face, and trusting the process. Heat should never be ignored, but neither should it be feared when preparation, education, and common sense guide our decisions.
“Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” — Vince Lombardi
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.
Danielle Bauer and her family have lived in Fort Scott for seven years is offering a free webinar to help women live life to their fullest on July 29 from 6- 7 a.m. CT (online).
Bauer is a mother of four, with another child on the way. She knows the everyday grind of life can be overwhelming.
“After years of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, I asked out to God for help, peace, and renewed energy. His answer surprised me. He led me to practical skills, intentional habits, and personal formation that transformed the way I lived.
“That journey eventually led me to become a Certified Wholeness Coach.”
“I will be presenting the whole webinar, and I will share more about why women often feel either overwhelmed, anxious, or flat in their lives – why women need more life in their life,” Bauer said.
“Then I will share some practical skills and formation needed to live a life fully alive. And women will hear more about a course I lead women through called the New Woman Masterclass.”
Her testimony
“I can honestly say my life has been transformed by the New Woman Masterclass – a course that has developed in me the skills and formation I never received as a young woman,” she said.
“How is it we get through 12 years of schooling without learning foundational skills like how to make a decision, how to communicate effectively, how to know our irreplaceable self worth and value, how to manage feedback and the opinions of others, how to create boundaries with toxic people, how to have a thriving marriage, how to have optimal health, what deep, meaningful friendships look like, and how to manage our mind, emotions, and thoughts – and direct them to our highest good – not towards our demise.”
“When I had three little children and was underskilled as a young mom, I didn’t realize that challenging moments throughout my day were not big fires – I was making mountains out of molehills because no one had taught me how to manage my thoughts. I was often thinking, ‘my kids are making a mess for me to clean up’, ‘everything depends on me,’ ‘this is TERRIBLE!'”
“Instead, when I learned to manage my mind, I learned to say aloud and in my thoughts: ‘Kids are curious. It’s only a spill; let’s clean it up. This is no big deal.’ Just this one skill of managing one’s own thoughts will impact a woman’s self-worth, her marriage, her family life, her health and so much more.”
“There is so much to be said about how this experience has changed the trajectory of my life. My family is more peaceful. My marriage is thriving. My health has never been better. My house is clean, orderly, and beautiful. My friendships are deep and meaningful. My career is expanding. And I’ve never been more confident and happy ever before in my life. When we begin to see ourselves as a whole woman and gain the skills and formation needed to become the woman God created us to be, then clarity, peace, and order return to our lives (and the lives of those we love)!”
How to join the free online webinar
“If you’re longing for greater peace, purpose, and direction, I’d love to invite you to join me for a FREE online webinar where we’ll explore how to intentionally become the woman God created you to be—instead of simply drifting from one day to the next.
Registration closes soon, and I’d love to have you there.”
I’m not generally a “letter to the editor” contributor but have noticed an all-out effort in recent weeks to defeat the state constitution amendment (concerning Kansas Supreme Court appointments) that will be on the August 4 primary ballot. This will be the only opportunity we have to vote on this issue as it will not be on the November ballot – so it needs our attention now.
Much of what I have seen being “advertised” by those urging a “no” vote appears to me to be misinformation. For example, since when is it bad to let the taxpaying voters select our state officials (like the Kansas Supreme Court) instead of a small “committee” selected and manned by a majority of essentially self-selected lawyers?
And these ads also state that a “yes” vote will put the state’s “millionaires” in control of this process. Really? I have no input to the initial appointment of the justices now. If the amendment passes, I will have a vote. Currently it is a small group of attorneys. So . . . who might be the millionaires here?
A recent statement by our current President of the Kansas Senate and candidate for governor Ty Masterson (who has represented Kansas voters for 21 years and closely observed our Supreme Court over this time) addresses the issues as follows: “Kansas’s current system isn’t apolitical at all–it’s just politics veiled by a commission, and we should stop pretending. Direct elections make the political dynamic explicit, not hidden in backrooms by bar members who think they are better than the rest of us. The current system’s promise of impartiality rings hollow when its rulings run afoul of the public and leave them no recourse to fight. Electing judges will sometimes be messy and yes, involve money and all the other things that go along with elections. But, let’s let the people decide if they want the power; if they want to trade an elitist relic for a democratic system where they will hold the reins.”
Big bucks are being spent on advertising to vote “no” for this amendment through supporters like the Kansas Bar Association, ACLU of Kansas, Kansas Women Attorneys Association, and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. Note: 6 of the 7 current justices certainly appear to be “progressive,” with one common sense conservative.
As it stands, Kansas has a judicial system that’s largely controlled by one interest group: the Kansas Bar Association. The approval of this amendment will give every Kansas voter a say in selecting our Supreme Court justices so that we can end undue influence by political insiders over our highest court. It’s time to make our court truly impartial with accountability and transparency from everyone. Vote YES on your primary ballot!
Sincerely,
Doug Niemeir*
*A lifelong Kansas resident and voter, and by the way – not a millionaire.
Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to news@fortscott.biz.
I’m Josh Jones — born here, built my life here, running to serve here.
I’m Josh Jones, and I’m running for Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3.
My family has been in this county since the 1850s, and so has my wife’s. I grew up here. I tried leaving once — it lasted about three weeks before I moved right back. By the time I had my first kids at 20, I’d made up my mind: I was going to build something here, so my family would never have to leave to find a good life.
So I went to work. Nearly 20 years as a small-business owner — Fort Scott Sanitation, rental properties, and today Bourbon County Cars. For a stretch in between, I even drove a school bus for our middle- and high-school sports teams, so I wouldn’t miss being part of my kids’ school experiences. And along the way I learned you don’t fix a community by complaining about it. You find good people who care as much as you do, and you get to work:
Joined the volunteers who resurfaced the tennis courts so our kids have a place to play
Pitched in on scholarships for young people going into the trades
Acquired the Lowman Street lot where the historic church Gordon Parks attended once stood, and donated it to the Gordon Parks Museum — so that piece of our history stays alive here
None of that was about me. It was about people who are passionate about this town pulling in the same direction — and I’ve been lucky to be part of it. That’s exactly what I want to bring to the county: see a problem, bring the right folks together, and actually get it done.
I’d be grateful for the chance to earn your vote.
Vote Josh Jones — Bourbon County Commissioner, District 3. A neighbor who shows up.
Paid for by Joshua Jones for County Commissioner, Josh Jones, Treasurer.
FORT SCOTT, Kan. — City commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to authorize City Manager Brad Matkin to begin developing plans for a covered, 2,000-seat rodeo and event arena at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, a project his own estimate puts at $3,999,000.
What the commission did not do is approve the arena. The motion directs Matkin to bring back firm cost numbers, work with the city’s bond counsel on financing, assemble a task force and seek sponsorships. No bond has been authorized, no lease has been signed, and no construction contract exists.
A rendering of the proposed covered rodeo and event arena at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, from City Manager Brad Matkin’s July 21 presentation to the Fort Scott City Commission. (City of Fort Scott)
“I would make a motion that we direct Brad to get real numbers, get with Garth on what he needs, set up the task force, set up the sponsorships, and whatever else he feels is needed to make the Fort Scott Rodeo Arena a reality,” Commissioner Matthew Wells said. The motion was seconded, and all five commissioners voted yes.
The “Garth” in the motion is Garth Herrmann of Gilmore & Bell, the city’s bond counsel. The arena was a new-business action item on Tuesday’s agenda.
Matkin’s plan builds on the fairgrounds’ existing 180-by-350-foot dirt arena rather than starting from bare ground. The existing bleachers would come down, replaced with 2,000 stadium seats. The design adds six professional bull chutes, three on each side; roping chutes; a party deck and a VIP deck; a food court for local restaurants; and an announcer stand equipped for electronic scoring.
A roof would cover the arena and both decks. The ends would stay open.
“It would not be totally enclosed because heating and AC would be a big expense for that,” Matkin told commissioners. He said Coach Cross from Fort Scott Community College and other rodeo experts told him the roof alone is what they care about.
Speaking Thursday on the weekly “What’s Up Fort Scott” radio program, Matkin added more: livestock holding facilities, concession areas, 250 outdoor stalls for rent, vendor and trade-show space, extra parking and RV hookups, and a sound system. A removable floor over the arena dirt would let the building host concerts, trade shows and conferences. The city would hire a coordinator to book events.
“We’re not just going to use it once a week. We’re not going to use it twice a week,” he said on the air. “We’re planning on using this thing a lot.”
The land would be leased from the Bourbon County Fair Board, which Matkin said has voted to give the city the opportunity. No lease has been drawn up or executed; he told commissioners he had not yet worked it through with the city attorney and would bring an agreement back before signing.
Matkin framed the arena as a revenue problem, not a rodeo one. City sales tax collections are on pace to fall $155,000 from 2025 to 2026, he said, and $302,000 since 2024. Sales tax, he argued, is what keeps property taxes down and pays for police, fire, parks and streets.
His proof of concept is a rodeo the city does not own. Fort Scott Community College’s three-day spring rodeo drew more than 3,900 spectators this year into Arnold Arena, which seats just over 500. Using Placer AI, a foot-traffic service the city subscribes to, Matkin tracked where they went afterward: 772 to Sharky’s Pub and Grub, 770 to McDonald’s, 673 to Casey’s, and several hundred more across Pete’s, the retail center and three local hotels.
He also pointed to a much smaller Kansas town.
“Population of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, 650 people. They put on a four-day rodeo event. Their attendance, 26,500 people,” Matkin said. “I’ve said this for four years. Why not us? Why not Fort Scott?”
The crowding costs the city visitors outright, he argued, describing a barrel racer whose own family skipped her college rodeos here because they could not get seats.
“You are literally just squeezed in there like sardines,” Buchta said, adding that she is grateful the college hosts the events at all.
Matkin’s presentation totals the project at $3,999,000, led by the roof at $1.8 million, lights and electrical at $981,000, and seating at $800,000. Smaller pieces include $85,000 for bathrooms, $68,000 for large fans and $60,000 for bull chutes. Speaking to commissioners he rounded it off: “I’m just going to say, $4 million.”
He said state officials pointed him first at STAR bonds, which use sales tax revenue generated inside a project district to repay the debt. He does not want that.
“To do what this is supposed to do, we don’t want to stop our sales tax from growing,” Matkin said. “So a star bond to me is an option, but not the best when you’re wanting to increase sales tax.”
Buchta asked him to clarify that for the public: he meant sales tax revenues, not the rate. “We will not increase sales tax,” Matkin said.
His preferred mix is a conventional bond paid from the city budget, plus grants, property sales, sponsorships and an annual rodeo gala. He said he has a verbal commitment of $20,000 for the party deck, which he described as a three-year commitment that would then need renewing.
Commissioner Tim Van Hoecke asked whether the city would take a cut of ticket sales or concessions, since it would be paying for the building. Matkin said a portion would come back, though part of any gate goes to prize money. Commissioner Tracy Dancer asked whether the site could handle livestock waste; Matkin said it could, noting a 12-inch water line serves the grounds.
Wells said an earlier feasibility study showed a Fort Scott arena would draw from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, and warned that at least five communities within 40 minutes are eyeing similar projects.
“If we’re going to strike, we should strike while the iron’s hot,” he said.
Buchta tied it to the budget. “I feel like we really have to focus on revenue creators,” she said. “I don’t want us to have to cut services.”
Earlier in the meeting, resident Michael Hoyt used public comment to flag a new state law that could bear on how a project like this gets financed. House Bill 2622, which took effect July 1, tightens protest-petition requirements on municipal lease-purchase agreements.
“Anything over $100,000 is subject now to a protest petition by the voters if they do not agree with the lease purchase agreement,” Hoyt said. By his count it would take 186 signatures to force the question onto a special election ballot, and he told commissioners past special elections had cost the city roughly $5,000 apiece.
Hoyt raised the law about city budgeting generally, not the arena, and the arena’s preferred financing is a traditional bond rather than a lease-purchase. But the city has not settled on a structure.
Approved July 21: authority for the city manager to pursue the project: firm cost estimates, bond-counsel work on financing options, a task force, and sponsorships.
Not approved, and not yet done: firm costs. A financing or bond decision. An executed lease with the Bourbon County Fair Board. Sponsorships or the proposed annual gala. Hiring an events coordinator. And a decision to build.
Matkin wants the project moving in 2027. “Work just begun, I have a feeling,” he told commissioners after the vote.
Four years ago Bourbon County handed over significant taxpayer resources to Legacy Healthcare Foundation. This donation was the former Mercy hospital campus and $2 million. The agreement included a list of conditions all designed to make sure the massive donation was used in ways that benefit the taxpayer and ensure that Bourbon County would continue to have access to healthcare.
Some of the requirements imposed on Legacy Healthcare Foundation in return for the donation:
The $2 million can only be spent in three ways: building maintenance, operating costs including “development of an Acute Care Hospital,” and reduced rent for tenants providing “a legitimate community benefit.”
Proof of backing at closing — either a Bourbon County property purchase over $300,000, or a line of credit secured by a lending institution for $2 million or more.
Insurance naming the county — the recipient “shall have the Donor as a secondary insured” against wind, rain, tornado and fire.
An EMS transaction by Jan. 1, 2023. This came with a firm date, and the donation agreement only says it would involve “an agreed upon subsidy”.
Parcels can be transferred, but only where “the general purpose is for the development of these parcels for Bourbon County, Kansas.”
Whether the terms of the agreement have been met or not isn’t entirely clear. If $2 million was spent on building maintenance, it seems odd that the roof would be left to leak buckets of water every time it rains like some of the employees in the building claim is happening. Did Legacy spend the $2 million on maintenance and simply prioritize things other than the roof?
Several parcels have been transferred to Legacy Development Fort Scott Highway 69 Project, presumably meeting the terms of the agreement but that entity has unpaid taxes on that land clear back to 2023.
Since the agreement didn’t include any reporting requirement, it is up to the county commissioners to verify that the taxpayers are getting what they were promised in exchange for the building and cash.
If the terms aren’t met, the agreement gives the county one remedy: unwind the deal, take the property back, plus a refund of the cash donation that shrinks every year: $1 million, then $750,000, then $500,000. After the fifth year, in the agreement’s own words, “Donor will have no remedies.”
We are somewhere in year four. The agreement never says exactly when the clock started, but it becomes more urgent each day.
The commissioners owe it to the taxpayers to make sure this massive donation of taxpayer resources is not squandered. If the commissioners have all done their due diligence, looked into it, and believe the terms have all been met, then they need to state that plainly, show how all the terms have indeed been satisfied, and then move on to other matters. If Legacy hasn’t met the terms, then they need to make sure that the taxpayers don’t throw away what was originally a $45 million building project along with $2 million of cash and end up with a water-damaged, unmaintained building that has no hope of housing any of the healthcare services this county needs.
The worst thing the commissioners could do is to decide they can’t be bothered to see if the terms have been met until it is too late to do anything about it.
Mark Shead
Note: FortScott.biz publishes opinion pieces with a variety of perspectives. If you would like to share your opinion, please send a letter to news@fortscott.biz.
Lyle Lee Adcock was born September 30, 1948, in Ottawa, Kansas, and went to his heavenly home on July 23, 2026, following a battle with pneumonia. He was the son of William H. Adcock, Sr. and Etta Wynona Green Adcock Stewart. Lyle graduated from Ottawa High School in 1966 and attended classes at Washburn University. Lyle and Marilyn were married in Ottawa on August 18, 1968, in a ceremony performed by her father, Rev. R. B. Shoemaker. They welcomed their son Jerrel on December 22, 1975. Lyle served in the Marine Corp Reserves in Topeka, Kansas for six years where his duties included writing timely articles for various publications, carrying a radio, and serving as general communications director for his unit. He began his successful career in the financial services industry at Commerial Credit in Topeka. After he served in community banks in Kansas and Missouri for twenty-two years, Lyle and Marilyn were given the opportunity to purchase the Bank of Plato in Plato, Missouri. There they worked side by side for fifteen years before retirement. After moving to Fort Scott in 2007, Lyle worked in the insurance industry and enjoyed teaching continuing education classes for A D Banker. Wherever he lived, Lyle was always active in his community and had an impact on community betterment. Lyle was a musician of sorts with a good sense of rhythm. He often delighted audiences by accompanying Marilyn using spoons, washboard, jawbone or other traditional instruments. Lyle was a faithful member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church where he served in a number of leadership positions including Deacon, Trustee, Moderator and Sunday School Teacher. He was active in the American Baptist Men organization and held leadership positions at the local, regional and national level.
Lyle is survived by his wife Marilyn, son Jerrel (Gina), brother Roger (Treva) Adcock, sisters Jane Harper, Esther Hopkins (Rodney), brother-in-law, Alan Schwartz, sister-in-law, Karen Adcock, and a host of nieces and nephews including special nieces Jessie (Matt), Sammy, Josie, Mattie and Charlie Jane. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Bill, Tom, Jim, and Raymond, sister, Anna Schwartz and sister-in-law, Roberta Adcock.
Lyle enjoyed a long life of service to family, friends, church, community and customers.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 29th at the Cherry Grove Baptist Church south of Ft. Scott. Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 9:30 A.M. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Ride Dolly the Trolley and explore Fort Scott’s history with a narrated tour. Fridays & Saturdays – Now Boarding!
Historic 50-min narrated trolley tours, every hour on the hour. Friday: 11AM–3PM (Last Tour 2PM) Saturday: 10AM–3PM (Last Tour 2PM)
Adults $6 | 12 & Under $4
Tours every Fri–Sat through 1st weekend of December. Christmas Light Tours offered daily Dec. 10th–23rd.
620-223-3566 | fortscott.com | 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS
SAVE THE DATE: Chamber Coffees
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees – Every Thursday at 8am
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset. Visit the website
Hosted every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm, Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September.)
KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott
Every Tuesday 9am–4pm
Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.
620-231-4250
At the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.
Every 2nd Thursday of the month, 9am–3pm
Want more details or updates on Community, Chamber, and Member events? Find full dates, times, locations, and links on our community calendar: fortscott.com/events/calendar/
Fly-In Breakfast – KFSK
Every 4th Saturday, March–Oct ’26
7:30am–11am
@ Fort Scott Municipal Airport, 1869 Indian Rd.
Donation-based breakfast. Discounted fuel during breakfast hours.
Bourbon Tasting by BBCO Handcrafted Spirits
July 25th: 5pm & 7pm
@ Green Lantern Speakeasy
Enjoy samples of Bourbon County Handcrafted Spirits Moonshine, Whiskey, and Bourbon! Free! Seating is limited. Reservations Required! Click here to RSVP!
Tuesday, July 28th
July Book Club: Mad Mable @ The Kitchen
6:00pm
$35 – Seats limited, RSVP required!
Your registration includes:
FSCC Volleyball Camp – Grades 4th–7th
1:00–3:00 pm
@ Arnold Arena on FSCC Campus
T-shirt included. Must register in advance. Click here to RSVP!
Thursday, July 30th
Chamber Coffee hosted by Evergy – Fort Scott Service Center
8am
15 Station St. Enter through west door; park on the west side of the service center near the substation fence. Please do not block overhead doors. Meeting will be held in the Evergy Break Room.
FSCC Volleyball Camp – Grades 8–12th
1:00–4:00 pm
@ Arnold Arena on FSCC Campus
T-shirt included. Must register in advance. Click here to RSVP!
Candidate Forum for Primary Election
Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce
6–9pm
Ellis Fine Arts Center – in the meeting rooms on the campus of FSCC, 2108 S. Horton St.
Doors open at 5:30pm for a Meet & Greet with Candidates.
Forum will begin at 6pm in the order of Federal, State, then Local races.
Be informed before you vote – come learn about the candidates!
Candidates should RSVP to the Chamber as soon as possible along with any candidate questions.
Email rsvp@fortscott.com or call the Chamber at 620-223-3566 by Tuesday 7/28.
The forum will also be aired via Facebook Live on the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
Friday, July 31st
BBCO Community Theatre presents: Open Mic Night
7:30–9pm
@ Sharky’s Pub & Grub
Sing, dance, recite poetry, tell jokes, play an instrument – ANYTHING (family friendly) GOES! Click here to sign up to perform!
Saturday, August 1st
Kansas Rocks – Newbie Women Wheelers Basic Skills Course & Rascals On The Rocks
Young drivers rule the trails at K-Rocks.
Food truck: Jonny O’s Nashville Hot Chicken & Burgers will be on site.
Children receive a certificate for completing the course!
TOPEKA – (July 23, 2026) – Kansas Attorney General Kris W. Kobach today sent letters to the mayors of Lawrence, Roeland Park, and Prairie Village, calling on each city to immediately repeal its local ordinance banning so-called “conversion therapy,” including counseling that involves only speech.
The letters cite the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, which struck down a nearly identical Colorado law as a violation of the First Amendment. The Court held that such bans improperly censor therapists’ speech based on viewpoint and that therapist speech is constitutionally protected.
“The First Amendment applies to everyone – therapists, patients and everyone else. A city violates the Constitution when it attempts to forbid a therapist from providing the counseling that the therapist believes is in the best interest of the patient,” Kobach said. “The government may not declare that some words and ideas are forbidden. And now the Supreme Court of the United States has squarely ruled on the subject.”
In the letter to Lawrence Mayor Brad Finkeldei, Attorney General Kobach wrote: “Lawrence’s ordinance seeks to control speech in a nearly identical way. … In other words, only one viewpoint is allowed to be expressed. Thus, the ordinance engages in viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”
The letters to Roeland Park and Prairie Village contain substantially similar analysis, noting that each city’s ordinance defines “conversion therapy” to include any counseling that fails to affirm a patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But it expressly permits counseling that supports identity exploration or gender transition—thereby allowing only one viewpoint to be expressed.
Attorney General Kobach requested that each city inform his office within 60 days whether the ordinance has been repealed. The letters were also copied to the respective city council members.
When Is She Due? Understanding Gestation Length in Modern Beef Cattle
Traditional beef-cattle references often cite an average gestation length of 283 days. However, many producers are reporting much shorter gestations for calves conceived by artificial insemination (AI). Recent data suggest that current Angus cattle may calve sooner.
A study of more than 100,000 Angus AI matings from 2000 to 2020 evaluated relationships among gestation length, birth weight, and calving ease1. Table 1 shows the mean and standard deviation (SD) for the traits studied. Because gestation lengths follow a normal (bell-shaped) distribution, approximately 68% occur within one standard deviation of the mean. In other words, approximately two-thirds of gestation periods ranged from 274.2 to 283.3 days. Interestingly, the average gestation length in this study was 278.6 days—more than four days shorter than the 283-day value commonly found in beef cattle references. Older cows had longer gestation lengths than younger dams (Table 2).
Table 1. Descriptive statistics for gestation length, birth weight, and calving ease in American Angus Cattle.
Trait
Number
Mean (SD)
Minimum
Maximum
Gestation length, d
101,787
278.6 (4.69)
264
292
Birth weight, lb
101,713
79.4 (9.6)
39.9
139.7
Calving Ease Score
Number
Mean Gestation Length (SD), d
Mean Birth Weight (SD), lb
1, No assistance
39,946
277.6 (4.7)
78.1 (9.7)
2, Assisted
1,858
279.3 (4.7)
87.8 (9.7)
Table 2. Mean gestation length by age of dam
Age of Dam, Years
Gestation Length, days
2
277.7
3
278.6
4
279.0
5
279.2
6
279.3
7
279.5
8
279.6
Estimates of heritability for gestation length in the literature range from 0.20 to 0.64. In this study, heritability was 0.57 for gestation length, greater than for birth weight (0.36) and calving ease (0.20). These traits are related; the correlations between direct gestation length and direct birth weight, or direct calving ease, were 0.29 and 0.31, respectively. The calf genotype (direct genetic effect) had the most influence over gestation length compared to any maternal influence.
Beyond describing current gestation lengths, the researchers also evaluated how these traits have changed genetically over time. Genetic trends calculated from average estimated breeding values over the years are shown in Figure 1. During the years represented by the study data, gestation length decreased by 4.3 days. The reduction in gestation length appears to coincide with industry-wide selection for lower birth weights and improved calving ease, illustrating how genetic progress in one trait can influence others.
Figure 1. Genetic trends of average estimated breeding value by birth year based adjusted for the year 2000 and scaled to the standard deviation of additive genetic effect for gestation length, birth weight, and calving difficulty in American Angus cattle.
The evidence suggests gestation length in Angus cattle has shortened alongside industry selection for lower birth weight and improved calving ease. While these changes have benefited producers, continued monitoring is warranted to ensure that reductions in gestation length do not compromise calf development, vigor, or long-term productivity.
1Gilleland, Carson. 2022 Master’s Thesis. North Carolina State University. Estimates of Genetic Variation for American Angus Gestation Length.
Thank you to Dr. Sandy Johnson for the content of this article. As a Livestock Agent and Cattle Producer, I am passionate about bovine reproduction. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any Southwind District office or by email at nickell99@ksu.edu.
Amanda Clasen – Community Vitality Agent July 2026
As summer winds down and the first day of school quickly approaches, many families are checking off supply lists, scheduling appointments, and preparing for a new routine. Back-to-school season is one of the busiest shopping times of the year, making it the perfect opportunity to support the businesses and people who help our communities thrive.
Every backpack, haircut, meal, or school shirt purchased from a locally owned business does more than cross an item off your list; it helps strengthen the local economy. When dollars are spent locally, they often stay in the community, supporting jobs, sponsoring youth activities, funding local services through sales tax, and helping small businesses continue serving our towns year-round.
This year, I invite you to take the Back-to-School Local Challenge. Before the first school bell rings, see how many of these you can check off your list:
✔ Purchase at least one school supply from a locally owned business.
✔ Enjoy a meal or sweet treat at a local restaurant.
✔ Grab your morning coffee or afternoon drink from a neighborhood coffee shop.
✔ Schedule your student’s haircut with a local barber or salon.
✔ Purchase school spirit wear or a teacher gift from a local business.
✔ Write a thank-you note or words of encouragement to a teacher or school staff member.
✔ Donate school supplies to a classroom or local organization helping students in need.
✔ Share your favorite local business on social media and encourage others to shop there.
While these actions may seem small on their own, together they create a ripple effect throughout the community. Local businesses are often the ones sponsoring youth sports teams, donating to school fundraisers, supporting community events, and creating jobs for our friends and neighbors. Choosing to support them during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year is an investment in the future of our hometown.
Back-to-school isn’t just about preparing students for a successful year; it’s also an opportunity to strengthen the community they’ll grow up in. Every local purchase, every act of kindness, and every show of support helps build a vibrant community where families and businesses can succeed together.
So, how many items can you check off before the first day of school? Challenge your family, challenge your friends, and let’s make this school year one that starts with community.
For more information, please contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen at any Southwind District office or at amclasen@ksu.edu.
