Local Columns

Opinion: Gov. Kelly’s big bet on Elon Musk

Just two years ago, Democrats were on the verge of achieving their long-awaited green energy revolution. Biden had reversed Trump’s fossil fuel initiatives and set an ambitious goal for all new vehicles sold by 2030 to be zero-emissions. He signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a ...

Opinion: The vanishing professional bureaucrat

Make no mistake. It’s coming. An invasive non-native species of podcasters, influencers, tech bros, reality TV stars and spurned college students aboard the disinformation train destroying a healthy democratic habitat faster than out-of-work loggers at a spotted owl convention. While much ...

Opinion: Washington abandoned rural Kansas

In Kansas, we pride ourselves on hard work, strong communities and self-reliance. Kansans value a sense of fairness. But over the past several months, decisions made in Washington have left many of our neighbors behind. While the rhetoric often celebrates rural America, the policies tell a ...

Opinion: Immigrants have made America great

It’s Fourth of July season! Time for barbecues and Chinese-made fireworks (watch out for those tariffs). For Independence Day, I suggest also celebrating some folks that really make America great: immigrants. Throughout our history, waves of immigrants have made our country stronger, ...

Opinion: A final plea regarding Trump’s big bill

Dear Sen. Jerry Moran, It’s me again, writing another of the no doubt thousands of letters and emails and texts that you’ve received over the past month, ever since the House of Representatives approved — by a one-vote margin — President Trump’s beloved One Big Beautiful Bill Act. ...

Opinion: Renewable energy faces uncertainty

Kansas is a national leader in renewable energy. Over 40% of our electricity is generated by wind. This has created thousands of jobs, over $11 billion in capital investment, and tens of millions of dollars in revenue to Kansas communities. A new federal tax and spending measure in Congress, ...