By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%20122625">The Beacon</a>

These state hospitals can’t find full-time staff. Contract nurses are needed to serve patients, but expenses keep going up.

Kansas is spending tens of millions of dollars a year on traveling nurses because it can’t find full-time staff to fill positions at two state psychiatric hospitals.&nbsp;

But paying for temporary help is more expensive than hiring full-time employees.&nbsp;

In 2025, the Larned and Osawatomie state hospitals spent $61.4 million on traveling nurses. Yet it would cost $47 million a year to replace all those contract nurses with full-time employees, said Scott Brunner, deputy secretary of hospitals and facilities with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDADS doesn’t foresee a decline in contract nurses in the near future.&nbsp;

The debate over contract nurse spending comes as Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/17/kansas-faces-impending-budget-imbalance-effects-of-big-beautiful-legislation/#:~:text=Beyond%202027%2C%20the%20state's%20ending,ones%20left%20holding%20the%20bill.%E2%80%9D">needs to cut its budget to prevent future shortfalls</a>. The Trump administration’s recent budget bill is projected to cost the state&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/04/kansas-governor-says-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-could-cost-state-150-million-or-more/">$150 million</a>.&nbsp;

The state also can’t cut contract nursing entirely.&nbsp;

Brunner said cutting nursing positions reduces the number of beds that patients could be using. Those people could end up in emergency rooms or jails.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They’re going to be left with literally no other place to go for services,” he said.&nbsp;

Kansas’ problem is it needs to reduce expenses, and contract nursing costs have only grown. But the state can’t address its current nursing shortage without spending more to fix it.&nbsp;

Finding qualified staff now is tricky because multiple issues led to this staffing shortage. In August, both hospitals had job vacancy rates around 33%.&nbsp;

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the health care workforce. The two state hospitals only spent $6 million combined on contract nursing in 2019, less than 10% of what they now spend. Today, the state doesn’t have the workforce to fill these positions. Not enough people apply for current openings. And Kansas needs to do more to increase the workforce.&nbsp;

Turning traveling nurses to state employees&nbsp;

Last year, the Larned State Hospital, the largest psychiatric hospital in Kansas, averaged 232 contract nurses a month. Osawatomie averaged 105.&nbsp;

Osawatomie’s is smaller, but its vacancy rate surpassed Larned in summer. The hospital has 44.62% vacant positions while Larned was at 44.23%.

Brunner said the state did convince about 20 traveling nurses to become state employees in the past year. But the hospitals are more than 230 employees short of being fully staffed and it isn’t likely the state can address its shortages this way, he said.&nbsp;

Contract nursing lets nurses travel across the country at a higher hourly rate than they could get in a full-time position.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://nomadhealth.com/faqs/nomad-health/travel-clinician-index">2023 survey</a>&nbsp;of traveling nurses found that 76% of contract nurses like their job. Only 51% of those nurses said they liked their last staff position.&nbsp;

The survey listed the top five reasons nurses take their first contract job:

People surveyed were also asked to rank the importance of contract benefits. Health care plans and retirement contributions were the sixth and seventh most important perks, the survey said.&nbsp;

Contract nurses at Kansas state hospitals make about $65 an hour while state employees average $47 an hour with benefits. Besides reduced pay, rural settings like Larned and Osawatomie don’t offer the adventure that comes with traveling across the country.&nbsp;

“We are a little constrained on what we can offer people,” Brunner said. “(Some people) like that ability to go work for a fixed amount of time … and take a month off or take two months off and then move to another location.”&nbsp;

Trying to find full-time employees through the contract nursing pool is no guarantee, but neither is opening up a position.&nbsp;

Brunner said Larned has 61 vacant nursing positions and the hospital won’t get 61 applicants to fill them. He said a really good month brings in 10 to 15 applicants.&nbsp;

The number of registered nurses in Kansas dropped 9.6% from 2019 to July 2025, said Barbara MacArthur, director of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The number of licensed practical nurses dropped 12.7% in that same time period.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/beyond-the-bedside-nursing-survey.php#:~:text=65%25%20of%20nurses%20report%20high,executives%20to%20national%20policy%20makers.%E2%80%9D">2025 study</a>&nbsp;of 2,600 nurses by Florida Atlantic University found that 65% of nurses are burned out and stressed. Only 60% said they would choose to become a nurse again.&nbsp;

Sixty-seven percent of nursing students are already worried about future workloads, and there is a decrease in the number of students at nursing schools.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hechingerreport.org/nurses-are-in-high-demand-why-cant-nursing-schools-keep-up/">An October 2025 article</a>&nbsp;from the Hechinger Report said nursing schools are struggling to keep up. The article said there aren’t enough professors to teach classes and not enough hands-on training at medical facilities. Nursing schools nationwide turned away more than 65,000 qualified applications because schools&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage">lacked faculty, classroom space and budget flexibility, among other issues</a>.&nbsp;

This comes as the nursing population is aging.&nbsp;

MacArthur said 25% of RNs and 23.4% of LPNs plan on retiring or leaving the field in the next five years.&nbsp;

Addressing workforce issues makes the state healthier, MacArthur said. Having an adequate number of nurses to Kansans means better health outcomes.&nbsp;

MacArthur is optimistic the state can address the shortage, despite the current negative trends.&nbsp;

She said her group is working to educate students about a career in nursing, hoping to convince&nbsp; more young Kansans to apply to become a nurse.&nbsp;

In Kansas, 84.5% of licensed nurses are working, and MacArthur and KU are asking the other 15.5% why they aren’t working. They are then turning those responses over to hospitals to see what benefits would get people back in the field — whether that be child care or help with aging family members.&nbsp;

At the state hospitals, Brunner also said there’s optimism. Larned had more state employees in 2025 than they’ve had in the past five years. That’s thanks in part to new bonuses designed to retain nursing staff.&nbsp;

He’s hoping the state can build on that momentum because the solution will require some work.&nbsp;

“In terms of an immediate kind of magic bullet,” Brunner said, “I don’t see what that is.”

Two Kansas hospitals spent $61.4 million on temporary staff. It was just $6 million in 2019

BY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Tina Thompson found a different way to be Catholic.

She was ordained in November as a Roman Catholic Woman Priest, an international group that has tethered itself to the Catholic Church but isn’t officially recognized.

“This is about something so much bigger than me,” Thompson said in an interview on the Kansas Reflector podcast. “This is about women who want to show the world that we are the Roman Catholic Church.”

Thompson said she is the first Roman Catholic Woman Priest in Kansas, but she is one of hundreds of women Catholic priests around the world.

“We are still the church, but we are different in that we open the tent,” Thompson said. “We want everyone to feel like they are welcome.”

The organization’s mission focuses on ordaining mostly women who feel called to priesthood. It is often oriented toward social justice, Thompson said. The organization says its ordinations are valid because they have abided by apostolic succession, which refers to the transition of power from bishops and popes that originated with the Apostles. Each person who performs an ordination is connected to that line of authority.

A 10-member commission created by the late Pope Francis affirmed in a study made public earlier this month that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/papal-commission-votes-against-ordaining-women-deacons" target="_blank">women are not allowed to be ordained deacons</a>, which are a rank below priests.

Thompson was raised Catholic. The religion was rooted in her family’s everyday. Her grandfather prayed each morning, she said. As she got older, Thompson drifted from the church. She did not condone its views, including those against divorce, women and same-sex marriage, and condemned its handling of cases of sexual abuse.

She was away from the church for roughly 20 years, but she said Catholicism was always a part of her.

“It sort of gets in your DNA,” she said.

It wasn’t until her 60s that Catholicism piqued her interest again.

It came after Thompson lost her younger brother unexpectedly. Reflecting upon his death, Thompson said he never lost his faith, even in the face of addiction and health issues. Following his burial, she began searching online for Catholic woman priests. She said she felt called to do something bigger, which led her to the organization.

Women priests do not perform their duties in Catholic churches, and they cannot be officially ordained in one either. They are not recognized and are often excommunicated from the Catholic Church if they are heavily involved before their ordination as Roman Catholic women priests.

“We’re just a schism, as they say,” Thompson said.

Thompson was ordained at Lawrence’s Unity Church, a religious movement founded in Kansas City, Missouri, that blends Christianity with spiritualism, emphasizing inclusivity, a loose approach to worship and embracing personal transformation.

Thompson said she loves the Catholic Church’s sacraments, celebration of the Eucharist and singing.

“If you said, ‘Well, go be an Episcopal priest,’ it’s not the same. It’s just not the same,” Thompson said. “And I believe the Roman Catholic institutional church could be so much more, and I don’t want to give up on the church.”

A lot of good things come out of the traditional Catholic Church, Thompson said, “but they’re misguided in so many ways. And male-guided, in so many ways.”

Her ministry as a priest isn’t yet clear. She said she gravitates toward art and ensuring an inclusive spiritual practice, but she also said she doesn’t want to limit herself so early into her priesthood. Ultimately, priests “want everyone to feel this mystery,” she said. But it can be difficult to explain.

“Faith is about being together,” she said,” and celebrating in community and recognizing the gifts that we each have to offer to make the world a much better place.”

Kansan returns to the Catholic Church as the state’s first woman priest

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp; —&nbsp;The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service issued guidance for workers eligible to claim the deduction for tips and for overtime compensation for tax year 2025.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fpub%2Firs-drop%2Fn-25-69.pdf/1/0100019aa6fa845a-dfee3a5c-12ac-4b91-88fd-917d3b253ff1-000000/u7viqGVXIG4T8HdmVn6SUi3Ymvi0LTxEAffShZxJxMA=432">Notice 2025-69</a>&nbsp;clarifies for workers how to determine the amount of their deduction without receiving a separate accounting from their employer for cash tips or qualified overtime on information returns such as Form W-2 or Form 1099, as those forms remain unchanged for the current tax year.&nbsp; It also provides transition relief to workers who receive tips in the course of a specified service trade or business.&nbsp;

The IRS is in the process of updating income tax forms and instructions for taxpayers to use this filing season that will assist them in claiming these deductions.

Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, workers may be eligible for new deductions for tax years 2025 through 2028 if they received qualified tips. For tipped workers, the maximum annual deduction is $25,000, which phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers). &nbsp;

It is estimated that there are about 6 million workers who report tipped wages.

Examples of how the rules work for tipped employees

Today’s guidance provides examples to illustrate various situations tipped employees might encounter; below are abridged versions of some of those examples.

Waiter with reported tips in box 7, Form W-2

Ann is a restaurant server whose 2025 Form W-2, box 7 reports $18,000 of social security tips. Ann did not report any additional tips on Form 4137. Ann may use $18,000 in determining the amount of her qualified tips for tax year 2025.

Bartender with additional reported tips on Form 4137

Bob is a bartender who reports $20,000 in tips to his employer during the 2025 tax year on Forms 4070 and reports $4,000 of unreported tips on Form 4137, line 4. Bob’s 2025 Form W-2 reports $200,000 in box 1 and $15,000 in box 7.&nbsp; Bob may use either the $15,000 in box 7 of the Form W-2, or the $20,000 of tips reported to Bob’s employer on Forms 4070 in determining the amount of qualified tips for tax year 2025.&nbsp; Regardless of the option chosen, Bob may also include the $4,000 of unreported tips from Form 4137, line 4 in determining the amount of qualified tips.

Doug is a self-employed travel guide who operates as a sole proprietor. In 2025, Doug receives $7,000 in tips from customers paid through a third-party settlement organization (TPSO).&nbsp; For tax year 2025, Doug receives a Form 1099-K from the TPSO showing $55,000 of total payments. The Form 1099-K does not separately identify the tips. However, Doug keeps a log of each tour that shows the date, customer, and tip amount received. Because Doug has daily tip logs substantiating the $7,000 tip amount, he may use the $7,000 tip amount in determining qualified tips for tax year 2025.

For tax years 2025 through 2028, individuals who receive qualified overtime compensation may deduct the pay that exceeds their regular rate of pay (generally, the “half” portion of “time-and-a-half” compensation) that is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and reported on a Form W-2, Form 1099, or other specified statement furnished to the individual.

The deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.

Certain employees are exempt from the rules on overtime

Generally, the FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at not less than time and one-half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. However, the law provides for certain exemptions.

Today’s guidance provides a series of examples illustrating situations that workers who receive qualified overtime might encounter. Today’s guidance does not affect any rights or responsibilities regarding tips or overtime compensation under the FLSA. Below are abridged versions of some of those examples.

Andrew works overtime during 2025, and he receives a payroll statement from his employer that shows $5,000 as the “overtime premium” that he was paid during 2025. Andrew may include $5,000 (the FLSA overtime premium) to determine the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025.

Assume the same facts as in the first example except that Andrew’s payroll statement shows a total “overtime” amount of $15,000, which is the total amount Andrew was paid for working overtime (the FLSA overtime premium combined with the portion of his regular wages). Andrew may include the $5,000 FLSA overtime premium, computed by dividing $15,000 by 3 in determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation for 2025.

Brad’s employer has a practice of paying overtime at a rate of two times an employee’s regular rate of pay, and Brad was paid $20,000 in overtime pay during 2025. Brad’s last pay stub for 2025 shows “overtime” of $20,000 paid in 2025. For purposes of determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Brad may include $5,000 ($20,000 divided by 4).&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Carol is a covered, nonexempt employee under the FLSA and works in law enforcement and is paid $15,000 of overtime pay on a “work period” basis of 14 days that complies with the FLSA.&nbsp;See&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.dol.gov%2Fagencies%2Fwhd%2Ffact-sheets%2F8-flsa-police-firefighters/1/0100019aa6fa845a-dfee3a5c-12ac-4b91-88fd-917d3b253ff1-000000/5aYXjEJrQ74DAyTzUaY7q74-xpgaldj79bHTv0c7Aoo=432">Fact Sheet #8: Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) | U.S. Department of Labor</a>. For purposes of determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Carol may include $5,000 ($15,000 divided by 3).

Diane works for a State or local government agency that gives compensatory time at a rate of one and one-half hours for each overtime hour worked. In 2025, Diane was paid wages of $4,500 for compensatory time off based on that overtime. To determine the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Diane may include $1,500, one-third of these wages, for purposes of determining the qualified overtime compensation deduction.

Today’s guidance provides additional examples for workers who receive overtime. The IRS will continue to update taxpayers about tax benefits from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fone-big-beautiful-bill-provisions/1/0100019aa6fa845a-dfee3a5c-12ac-4b91-88fd-917d3b253ff1-000000/USvu990x9CJaaotr2I32rsVgHdsvQ7-m2XYx_y-ZiZs=432">IRS.gov</a>.

Treasury, IRS provide guidance for individuals who received tips or overtime during tax year 2025  

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

In 2025, Fort Hays State University experienced a remarkable convergence of leadership, generosity, innovation, and partnership that reinforced its role as a driver of opportunity for students and communities across Kansas. From expanding guaranteed pathways to high-demand careers and celebrating philanthropic support to strengthening workforce pipelines and honoring service, these twelve stories capture the heart of what it means to be a Tiger.

FHSU and Kansas Community Colleges announce guaranteed admission program in psychology

The year began with a landmark agreement expanding access to higher education across the state. I was joined by Kansas Association of Community Colleges Director Heather Morgan and leaders from all 19 Kansas community colleges to sign a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a guaranteed admission pathway into FHSU’s clinical and school psychology programs.

Students completing an associate degree at a Kansas community college can now transition seamlessly into FHSU bachelor’s programs—and, uniquely, the guarantee extends through the master’s degree level for both clinical and school psychology, provided GPA requirements are met. The initiative directly addresses workforce shortages in mental health and education while removing barriers for students seeking advanced degrees in critical service professions.

Applied Technology achieves 100 percent graduate job placement

FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology has reached a milestone that speaks volumes about its hands-on approach to education: a 100 percent graduate job placement rate. Department Chair Kim Stewart credited the achievement to long-standing partnerships with industry and a robust internship requirement embedded in the curriculum.

With nine credit hours of internships, roughly equivalent to two summers of professional experience, students graduate not only with degrees but with practical skills, employer connections, and real-world readiness. For a department that has consistently hovered near a 98 percent placement rate, the milestone reinforced FHSU’s reputation as a workforce-driven institution.

Ben Schears named Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development

Leadership for economic growth took a major step forward when Ben Schears, president of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest, was named FHSU’s Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development. In this role, Schears leads efforts to align education, innovation, and workforce needs across the region.

In the opening months that Schear has served in this role, he has worked with Strategic Affiliation partner Fort Hays Tech | North Central to assist High Plains Mental Health and Fort Hays Tech | North Central in addressing the workforce needs associated with their expanding operations. Now in the works is a new associate’s degree program at Fort Hays Tech | North Central that will help High Plains Mental Health staff entry-level positions. The goal of this partnership is to create seamless educational pathways that enable students to earn and learn as they advance in their careers.

Under his leadership, FHSU was selected to serve as one of six entities in the Heartland Rural Innovators Initiative hosted by the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Sponsored by the Patterson Family Foundation, the initiative aims to create local efforts that focus on closing the growing gap in tech sector jobs in rural America. The effort will consolidate existing assets across Ellis County to create a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports tech sector jobs.

Grace McCord Selected as a Finalist in Truman Scholar Competition

Fort Hays State University Political Science major Grace McCord was selected as one of just 200 finalists in the national competition for the Truman Scholarship, selected from 800 highly accomplished applicants nominated by their universities. Truman Scholars are college juniors chosen for their commitment to pursuing a career in public service. Truman Scholars receive a scholarship for graduate study funded by the Truman Foundation, which was created to honor the values of President Harry S. Truman.

Grace served her community through a number of service projects, including work with Jana’s Campaign and the Celebration Community Church Quilting Ministry, among other activities. In her career at FHSU, she has led the American Democracy Project and served as a senator in the Student Government Association, where she currently serves as the Legislative Affairs Director, as well as holding leadership roles in the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.

Dr. Lisa Goddard McGuirk named athletic director

Dr. Lisa Goddard McGuirk joined FHSU as its new Athletic Director, bringing with her a national reputation for excellence in Division II athletics. Previously serving as athletic director at Gannon University, she was named NCAA Division II Athletic Director of the Year in 2024.

Under her leadership, Gannon achieved top national rankings in the Learfield Directors’ Cup, a benchmark of athletic and academic success. At FHSU, Goddard McGuirk’s arrival marked a new chapter for Tiger Athletics, one focused on competitive excellence, student-athlete success, and national visibility.

Business Retention and Expansion Program launches regional pilot

Professional and Continuing Education at FHSU launched an innovative pilot program designed to strengthen local economies through business retention and expansion strategies. This initiative was led by representatives from FHSU, Fort Hays Tech | North Central, and Fort Hays Tech |Northwest. Class cohorts were formed in Beloit, Goodland, and Hays, and participants included leaders from business, government, education, and economic development. The program curriculum focused on applying practical tools to support community growth. This initiative highlighted the power of regional collaboration and FHSU’s leadership role in rural economic development.

Corey Isbell named president of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest

Corey Isbell, Ed.D., was named president of Fort Hays Tech | Northwest, succeeding Ben Schears. With more than 25 years of experience in technical education across rural Kansas, Isbell brought a deep understanding of workforce training, student success, and community engagement.

His appointment ensured continuity and momentum within the Fort Hays State system, reinforcing strong partnerships between FHSU and technical education institutions across the region.

FHSU Stroup Hall breaks ground to expand nursing program

On August 21, Fort Hays State University broke ground on a $15.4 million project to expand Stroup Hall. The project will add 30,000 additional square feet and unite the Departments of Nursing and Allied Health under one roof. This expansion will allow the two departments to collaborate more closely in training the next generation of students. Funded by the Kansas Legislature, the new Stroup Hall will include simulation labs, updated classrooms, and hands-on training opportunities, with completion expected in December 2026.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran helped secure an additional $400,000 in U.S. Department of Education funding that will be used to provide advanced technology and essential simulation systems

FHSU is currently serving 425 allied health students and slightly more than 725 nursing students. The University expects the expansion to enable enrollment in nursing programs to increase by more than 65% and in medical diagnostic imaging programs by 40%. Fall 2025 enrollment numbers anticipate expected growth in both disciplines with allied health experiencing a 22% increase in students this fall and nursing seeing a 9% increase.

Seven-Figure gift announced for campus library

Homecoming weekend brought a new reason to celebrate: a seven-figure gift from Stephen and Tatiana Tebo and their family to support the renovation of the campus library, now named the Tebo Library.

The gift marked one of the most significant philanthropic investments in campus infrastructure. The renovated library will serve as a hub for learning, collaboration, and discovery for generations to come.

Kansas SBDC Network earns renewed accreditation

The Kansas Small Business Development Center Network, headquartered at FHSU, achieved renewed national accreditation through 2029. The rigorous process affirmed the network’s commitment to high-quality advising and education for Kansas entrepreneurs.

Serving six regional centers statewide, the Kansas SBDC plays a critical role in strengthening small businesses and local economies - another example of FHSU’s statewide impact beyond campus boundaries.

Department chair honored with Patriot Award

Service and support took center stage when Dr. Richard Lisichenko, chair of the Geosciences Department, received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The honor recognized his exceptional support of Dr. Jonathan Sumrall during Sumrall’s deployment to Kuwait.

Lisichenko’s consistent communication and inclusion of Sumrall’s family exemplified FHSU’s culture of care, earning national recognition and reinforcing the university’s commitment to military-affiliated faculty and staff.

FHSU celebrates first Officer Candidate School graduate

The year concluded with a historic milestone as Jackson Piper became FHSU’s first Officer Candidate School graduate to walk across the commencement stage. Piper, a Kansas City native and Kansas Army National Guard member, joined the OCS program shortly after its launch in 2022.

His achievement symbolized perseverance and service, and highlighted the growing opportunities FHSU provides for students pursuing military and leadership pathways.

Take a Deeper Dive into Heart of a Tiger

In January 2018, I wrote the first Heart of a Tiger column to celebrate the people and culture that make Fort Hays State University special. More than 150 columns later, these stories continue to highlight the compassion, innovation, and determination that define Tiger Nation.

Every Heart of a Tiger column is available at <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/president/heart-of-a-tiger/">fhsu.edu/president/heart-of-a-tiger/</a>

Three-day weather outlook

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said Monday he did not think farmers would fare well through a prolonged trade war.

Moran spoke to the Hays Noon Rotary on Monday.

"The longer this trade battle goes, the more difficult it is for there to be a future for the farm."

Moran said he favors a free market.&nbsp;

Moran said his aim as a congressman is to make sure rural America has a future.

"I want my hometown to be around," said Moran, who is a native of Plainville and a 30-year resident of Hays. "I want your hometowns to be around."

He said as costs increase, it becomes more difficult for rural businesses to make it.

"I use LaCrosse as my example," he said. " How many more hammers can the hardware store in LaCrosse sell when the price of something goes up, tariffs, for example, but also taxes, insurance, workers' compensation premiums and health care.

He said he had represented the First Congressional District in Kansas for years, where there was no growth.

"How can the hardware store in LaCrosse sell when the price of a hammer goes up, and your population is declining?" Moran said.

Agriculture determines so much of success in Kansas communities, he said.

"Not everyone who lives in Hays is a farmer or rancher, but I don't think there is anyone in this room who is not impacted when agriculture is doing poorly," Moran said. ...

"Agriculture determines if our hometowns have a future," he said. ... "Right now, agriculture is in terrible condition. In my experience, this is as bad as it has been during my time in office."

Input prices are high and commodity prices are low.

He said President Trump wanted to lower cattle prices, but livestock is the only sector of agriculture that is doing well now.

Because of tariffs, China and other countries have left the U.S. markets and are buying from Brazil. He said he heard on the ag report Monday morning that the weather in Brazil will determine wheat prices.

"We are now dependent on the weather of other countries rather than the markets of our own," he said.

"I don't know how you ever fill the gap of China buying corn, soy beans and grain sorghum," Moran said.

He added, "A trade war reduces the stability and the certainty of those markets. ... "Once you lose a customer, how do you get them back?"

Moran said if President Trump could negotiate some easing of tariffs on U.S. goods imposed by other countries, that would be a good outcome.

However, he said a prolonged trade war will be very difficult for farmers.

Despite this hardship, Moran said most American farmers he spoke with said they still support Trump.

"Most of my farmers in Kansas give President Trump the benefit of the doubt on this and see that they are going to get something better at the end of the day, and they are willing to put up with the pain," Moran said.

"In the meantime, they want money to survive the pain."

President Trump announced in early December that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would make $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs.

Farmers who qualify for the&nbsp;Farmer Bridge Assistance  Program can expect payments to be released by Feb. 28.

Moran said he sponsored a bill requiring Congressional approval to impose tariffs. President Trump has been operating under emergency executive power. The U.S. Supreme Court is still considering whether he can do so.

Sen. Moran serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ec8a94ca-e2a2-403e-aa5d-616658687575">Iranian President&nbsp;Masoud Pezeshkian&nbsp;said Saturday his country is in a full-scale war with the U.S., Israel and Europe.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9072827a-202e-4587-985b-a0747c4fbb20">SEE RELATED STORY: Trump issues new warning to Iran of future U.S. strikes</a>

Moran was asked about his level of concern over&nbsp;Pezeshkian's declaration.

"I think we need to be seriously concerned with Iran and its capabilities," he said. "We have demonstrated some of our own, as has Israel.

"Iran is unpredictable and dangerous. The question is, what can you do about it?"

"It's not just about armies and navies and air forces, it's the capability of an individual or people being able to kill other individuals or groups of people in terrorism," Moran said. "They have great capabilities to do us damage.

"Everything we can do to contain them is important for us to do."

He also said he thought Russia had been the aggressor in Ukraine and should be kept from that aggression.

He said the outcome of the war should discourage others from thinking they could invade another country, or that Russia could invade an additional country.&nbsp;

Moran: Prolonged trade war would be difficult on farmers

Federal Trade Commission WASHINGTON, D.C. — Scammers&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.gov/scams-identity-theft/it-scam">tell lots of different stories</a>&nbsp;to try to get your money or personal information.&nbsp;They might lie and say you owe the government money. Or pretend to be your bank and say your account’s been hacked. They might claim someone in your family had an emergency or that your computer has a virus. Or they might tell a different lie.

Scammers tell you all these things to try to get you to panic. They want you to hurry and do what they say before you have time to think, check out their story, or reach out to someone who might intervene.

That’s where the FTC’s new tool,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.gov/system/files/consumer_gov/pdf/1096A_HowIllAvoidAScam-ActionPlan-508.pdf">How I’ll Avoid a Scam: My Action Plan</a>, can help. You can use it to make a list of people you trust — maybe your friend, neighbor, parent, daughter, or grandson — who you can reach out to if you think you might be dealing with a scammer. Talking it through can help you realize that something’s not right.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.gov/system/files/consumer_gov/pdf/1096A_HowIllAvoidAScam-ActionPlan-508.pdf">Action Plan</a>&nbsp;also has you list contact information for companies you do business with — like your credit card company, bank, and favorite online shopping sites — so you’ll know how to reach them directly if you’re worried there’s a problem with your account.

Scams can affect anyone at any time. So&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.gov/system/files/consumer_gov/pdf/1096A_HowIllAvoidAScam-ActionPlan-508.pdf">make your own action plan</a>. Post it on your fridge or keep it near your phone or computer. Then help others in your life make one:

• Drop it off at your kid’s, parent’s, or grandparent’s house. • Hand it out to your colleagues, friends, and neighbors. • Share it at your church, local library, or community center

Order free copies to share&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/how-ill-avoid-scam-worksheet">here</a>. And as always, if you spot a scam, tell the FTC:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC: Use this action plan to avoid scams

BUNKER HILL, KS – Smoky Hills PBS is proud to present The Moccasin Speaks, a powerful new documentary that reexamines one of the most enduring and misunderstood stories of the High Plains: The German Family Massacre.

For more than a century, the events surrounding the attack on the German family and the capture of four young sisters have been retold through legend. The Moccasin Speaks moves beyond myth to uncover a story that is tragic, poignant, and far more complex than history has often portrayed.

Directed by author and historian Deb Goodrich, with assistance from Ed Lowry, producer of Cottonwood Connections, the film presents the nuanced story of the pioneering German family alongside the Cheyennes who were being forced from their land. Based on the book The Moccasin Speaks: Living as Captives of the Dog Soldier Warriors, Red River War, 1874–1875 by Arlene Feldmann Jauken, the documentary offers an honest and balanced examination of the killing of the settlers, the capture and eventual rescue of the daughters, and the Cheyenne perspective often absent from earlier accounts.

“Ultimately, the story of the German Family is one of humanity's triumph over tragedy,” said Deb Goodrich, Writer of The Moccasin Speaks. “It reminds us that we can call upon the better angels of ourselves no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. It is a story that needs to be heard now more than ever.”

Through careful historical research and thoughtful storytelling, the film also explores how, over time, descendants of both the captives and the captors have come together in reconciliation, acknowledging the tragedy and complexity of their shared history.

The Moccasin Speaks will air on Smoky Hills PBS on January 8 at 9 PM and an encore presentation will air January 17 at 8 PM.

For more information on broadcast times and additional coverage details, please visit our website at <a href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.

Love to read deeper into the stories you see on screen?

Viewers are encouraged to explore the books connected to this documentary, Girl Captives of the Cheyenne and Captured: The True Account of Sarah White and the Cheyenne, available at local libraries and bookstores. These works offer additional perspectives and insight into this documentary.

Moccasin Speaks was made possible with the support from <a href="https://ftwallace.com/">Fort Wallace County Museum</a> and their Memorial Association and these current sponsors: <a href="https://www.northwestkansas.org/">Northwest Kansas Travel Council</a>, <a href="https://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/">Smoky Hill Museum</a>, <a href="https://russellbookstore.com/">Russell Specialty Books and Gifts</a>, <a href="https://sternberg.fhsu.edu/">The Sternberg Museum of Natural History</a>, Hodgden House Museum Complex and Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum, <a href="https://cqmuseum.org/">Coronado Quivira Museum</a>.

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in Central and Western Kansas. Smoky Hills PBS is available over the air with an antenna, on many cable systems, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and Dish Network, HULU + LIVE TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime. You can also access Smoky Hills PBS via the FREE mobile app for Android and iPhone devices and is also available to stream by clicking here: <a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream/">video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>. More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at SmokyHillsPBS.org or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

Smoky Hills PBS presents new documentary; The Moccasin Speaks

Anyone using cell phones gets reminded of events you’d rather forget. Recently, the US Weather Service shared a post regarding a severe ice storm that shut down our region 18 years ago. That triggered memories of cold, dark days and nights, dogs and us mummified in blankets, and how much I appreciated lineman by the time power kicked back on.

The historical report explained this storm that snapped thousands of poles and downed electric lines arrived on December 10, 2007. Though some argued the one in 2005 was much worse, I won’t join that disagreement. However, if anyone wants to praise linemen, I’ll gratefully stand in line.

I do recollect knowing that frigid storm headed our way and feeling glad I’d fully stocked cupboards and fridge. At the time, we lived several miles in the country on caliche and dirt roads. Once the storm began, I was glad we prepared. In short time, weighted branches snapped and shattered while lights flickered. Walking outside to feed critters was more than a notion and required careful steps in heavy-duty shoe treads.

Our three dogs who normally loved roaming our acres contentedly remained inside except for essential potty breaks. For the next few days their job changed from running coyotes off the property to sharing body heat with us.

Being optimists, we expected a short-lived event, but insistent warnings encouraged us to prep for multiple powerless days. I thought of Little House on the Prairie life as I dug candles, lanterns, flashlights, and matches out of cupboards and filled our bathtub so we’d have water to flush the toilet should power go out. Yep, folks on well water without generators have concerns townies don’t. I laid extra blankets at end of the bed, expecting we’d need them.

Unfortunately, the weatherman wasn’t wrong. This front deposited heavy ice across a broad region shutting down power, roads, services, and normal life. I can’t imagine how electric company dispatchers felt as callers without power flooded phone lines. Families were forced to warm and feed themselves without setting the house on fire or carbon-monoxiding themselves. While we had candles, lanterns, and flashlights, some didn’t.

As hours passed and temps dropped, I added clothing layers. Still chilly, I’d urge two big dogs and a terrier to crawl under my lap quilt to generate more heat. We started the storm with the thermostat at a comfortable 68. By the third day without electricity, it dropped into the 40s with a continuing downward spiral. The whole time, I wondered how linesmen working outside held up under frigid conditions. So many depended on them, including their own loved ones.

Day 4 meant diminishing flushing water with a thermostat edging the thirties. Thoughts of freezing pipes alarmed shivering brain cells. Though worrying doesn’t raise temps, 3 dogs warmed me when the light over sink flickered and brightened the room. I shouted for joy hearing the furnace kick on.

While our immediate issues were resolved, power company employees faced months of hard labor in extreme conditions. Since that experience, I’m profoundly grateful for those working in extreme conditions so we have power. They are heroes!

MADORIN: Ice coated heroes

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