Dreams of a better Kansas
When I talk to friends or family or acquaintances during this cursed summer of 2025, the conversation inevitably turns to the political landscape. And our exchange goes as follows.
Newsletter-Early-Week
Read MoreDreams of a better Kansas
House speaker wants to cut $200 million, target Medicaid
TOPEKA — Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said the 2026 Legislature would strive to slash $200 million from the state government’s budget and seek to reduce expenditures on the Medicaid program delivering health care to low-income adults and children.
$15,486 approved to fix AC at Sundstrom
$15,486 approved to fix AC at Sundstrom
IN BRIEF
DUI added to charges against Erin Plumer The county attorney added drunken driving to complaints of threat and assault already made against Erin Plumer. The new complaints were filed Aug.
Institute analyzes new law's effects on Medicaid
The federal tax and spending bill enacted July 4 has major implications for KanCare, the program that combines Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program in Kansas, the Kansas Health Institute said in an online report.
Coda
While workers at Messiah Lutheran Church clean up after serving meals for a children’s summer lunch program, into Fellowship Hall float the faint notes of Bach. Trace them down the hall, make a left, climb steps, and steer left again.
Seeing things in proportion
I found Richard Pund’s article “Allocate seats by share of vote,” in the August 7 issue of the News-Record, to be interesting. Who wouldn’t be in favor of better representation in the state Legislature? Unfortunately, he didn’t explain the nuts and bolts of proportional representation voting (PRV).
Erickson threatens to sue city for sewage repair cost
Lauren Erickson told the City Council on Monday that Lindsborg owes him $1,200 for its share of a sewer repair, and that he was willing to sue for it. Showing the three-inch-thick root responsible for blocking the sewage line from his stepdaughter’s house at 535 S.
Third camera to track license plates
Last year, the Lindsborg City Council approved $7,300 for cameras at the north and south ends of Harrison/Cole streets to automatically photograph the license plates of vehicles entering town and alert police if they’ve been stolen, lost, or connected with a crime. On Monday, councilors allotted $3,650 to install a third camera, where Kansas Highway 4 enters town from the west.
High rain for July, normal for the year
Rainfall at the National Weather Service reporting station 3 miles east of Lindsborg was 6.95 inches in July, well above the normal 4.31. The service said that ample rain for the past few months has brought 86 percent of the state to drought-free status, the most since June 2021.