Category: Bonner Springs

Kansas legislators to hold second round of redistricting town hall meetings in November

by Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Kansas lawmakers announced Tuesday they will hold a second round of town hall meetings to gather public input on the redistricting process, but they won’t attend the meetings in person.

The House and Senate Committees on Redistricting will hold four meetings late next month, organized by congressional district. Kansans may attend one of the various locations set up in cities across the state or join legislators online to provide testimony virtually.

All committee members will attend via the web.

Republican leaders scheduled 14 town halls in August to gather opinions about how political boundaries should be redrawn for 2022. The schedule was announced on a Friday night just nine days before the first of the meetings, most of which took place during the work day. Full U.S. Census data hadn’t been released yet.

Democrats, election advocates and speakers at the forums complained about the process and asked for a new round of town halls.

“It’s important to remember that redistricting is a multi-year process that starts with these town halls to get a gauge on what Kansans want,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, in an August statement. “Additional public input will be needed.”

All of the meetings in the second round will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Kansans can provide in-person testimony for the 2nd District on Nov. 22 in Atchison, Ottawa, Independence or on Native American reservations; the 1st District on Nov. 23 in Emporia, Great Bend, Liberal or McPherson; the 4th District on Nov. 29 in Newton or El Dorado; and the 3rd District on Nov. 30 in Bonner Springs or Stilwell.

Those wishing to testify must notify the Kansas Legislative Research Department at least 24 hours in advance. Kansans may also submit written testimony.

Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said she hoped there would be guidelines for the redistricting process in place before the next round to provide further clarity for the public on the goals of redistricting.

“I think we got a good direction from those original town halls, and several are wanting to know, what is the criteria that we’re looking for? What are we holding ourselves accountable to as we’re redrawing these maps?” Sykes said during a meeting of the Legislative Coordinating Council.

“Your feelings and hopes are duly noted,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, in response.

The value of having these town halls is diluted without guidelines in place, said Davis Hammett, CEO and president of Loud Light. He said it is currently unclear what Kansans should be testifying about.

“I’m very concerned and I think those questions need to be answered,” Hammet said. “Why should someone testify, right? That’s what needs to be clarified. Why haven’t these basic things been addressed yet?”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/26/kansas-legislators-to-host-second-round-of-redistricting-town-hall-meetings-in-november/

Ag Hall inducts Sen. Pat Roberts, two others in ceremonies

Former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, right, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, left, look at the past honorees in the National Agricultural Center’s Hall of Fame. Roberts was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, second from left, received a plaque honoring his induction into the National Agricultural Center’s Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Ag Hall in Bonner Springs. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, second from right, presented the plaque. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is at left, and Dave Hurrelbrink, president of the board of directors of the Ag Hall, is at the right. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower, was a guest speaker at the induction ceremony Saturday at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs. President Eisenhower signed the 1960 charter establishing the Hall of Fame. It is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, delayed a year by COVID. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, left, visited with former U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, center, and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran on Saturday at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs. Roberts was inducted into the Hall of Fame. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Dean Rolando Flores, New Mexico State University, left, and President John Floros, New Mexico State University, center, accept a plaque recognizing the induction of the late Fabian Garcia into the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame. Presenting the plaque was Jeff Witte, right, New Mexico secretary of agriculture. The induction ceremony was Saturday at the Ag Hall in Bonner Springs. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Dave Hurrelbrink, right, president of the board of directors of the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, honored the late Elmo Mahoney with a plaque noting his induction into the Hall of Fame. Accepting the plaque was Garry Mahoney, center, accompanied by Linda Mahoney Vopat, second from left, and Jan Mahoney Hopkins, left. (Photo by Steve Rupert)

Three men who contributed to advancing American agriculture – former Sen. Pat Roberts, late horticulturist Fabián García and late farmer activist Elmo Mahoney – were inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame Oct. 23, at the National Agricultural Center in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Giving remarks was Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed the 1960 charter establishing the Agricultural Hall of Fame. Delayed by COVID, the Hall of Fame is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The inductees join George Washington Carver, John Deere, Willie Nelson and other notables, with contributions including:

Former Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts supported America’s agricultural producers and advancement of bioscience, biotechnology and biosecurity. He was first to chair both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and pass farm bills in both chambers. He supported bipartisan child nutrition programs, crop protection and insurance.

Roberts helped develop a production agriculture safety net, expand trade and ensure food sustainability. He wrote the bipartisan 2018 farm bill to support farmers and rural communities developing renewable production methods, bio-based products and advanced biofuels.

He helped bring to Kansas the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and the Biosecurity Research Institute. A Marine veteran, he was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. As first chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, he helped pass biosecurity legislation.

Fabián García (1871-1948), “Father of the New Mexican Food Industry,” pioneered breeding and growing sustainable plants that advanced agriculture nationwide. Born in Mexico, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1889.
As director of the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station in 1914, he was the first Hispanic to lead a land-grant agricultural research station. He produced the first reliable chile pod and introduced the Grano onion breed.
He helped plant the first pecan trees in Mesilla Valley, including some still standing today. García developed modern irrigated agriculture in the state. New Mexico’s chile pepper, onion and pecan industries are attributed to his research.


Elmo Mahoney (1908-1979) worked to improve farming techniques, influence farm policy and promote farmers’ achievements. Born on a farm near Dorrance, Kansas, he invented the sickle-head drive used in harvester combine headers.
He was president of the Russell County Farm Bureau Association, director of the Kansas Wheat Growers Association and charter member of Kansas Flying Farmers. Mahoney served in the 1949-1950 Kansas House of Representatives and was policy consultant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.


Mahoney was an early preservationist of farm equipment and a national authority on Avery equipment. As its first curator he helped establish the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame.

  • Information from National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame