By Clay Wirestone | opinion editor
Good morning! The long weekend has arrived. But just because the wider world slips on some flip-flops and relaxes on the porch doesn’t mean that Kansas Reflector quits. No sir, we’re ready to serve up a new batch of stories and commentary. Enjoy!
Photo by Baxter Wirestone
OPINION
With his high school freshman year done, my son looks ahead. Where does the time go?
By Clay Wirestone
My son finished his freshman year of high school on Thursday, and I’d be lying if if I say I feel entirely calm and composed about it.
Raising the child these days feels like you’re making an entirely unwarranted bet on the future. So many of my columns deal with ways in which our current government and society fall short. Your duty as a parent is to tell your child not to pay attention to any of that, or to believe that such challenges are only temporary. He or she will be able to achieve; they will be able to make the world a better place.
My son made enormous strides over this year, in making new friends and engaging deeper in his love of playing violin. He took the basic courses you might expect, but also experimented with pottery and drawing classes.
I’m proud of him, but also more sentimental than I expected as the first of four high school years draw to a close. Over this past school year, he has turned from being a kid — someone whose transitory enthusiasms and ridiculous witticisms can be dismissed as temporary exuberance — into a young adult.
Tim Carpenter / Kansas Reflector
Rural hospitals could see relief under bipartisan proposal co-sponsored by Kansas reps
TOPEKA — A coalition of federal lawmakers from Kansas introduced in the U.S. House this week a bipartisan bill that could offer interest-free loans to rural hospitals “hanging on by a thread.”
Sherman Smith / Kansas Reflector
Kansas loses $3.2 million paid to vendor after canceling contract for IT work
TOPEKA — Kansas paid nearly $3.2 million to a vendor to update an early childhood data system but was forced to terminate the contract after the vendor failed to meet performance standards.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids urges NWS to be transparent about data collection shortcomings
TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids expressed frustration Friday with the National Weather Service’s failure in the last month to launch three-fourths of the balloons typically sent aloft in Kansas to assess atmospheric conditions and assist with weather forecasting.
Four Kansas school districts plan legal action against state for underfunding public education
TOPEKA — Four Johnson County public school districts want to sue the state of Kansas for more than 15 years of inadequate special education funding.
Trump says Kevin Warsh will be ‘totally independent’ as he’s sworn in as Fed chair
WASHINGTON — Kevin Warsh assumed his new role as chair of the Federal Reserve Friday after a swearing-in ceremony in the White House East Room, where U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the oath of office.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Kansas Reflector staff will participate in the following free public forums.
6:30 p.m. June 12, Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Opinion editor Clay Wirestone will join a panel discussion: "From the Desk of William Allen White: What Can Journalism Today Learn from the Sage of Emporia?"
5:30 p.m. June 16, Bradbury Alumni Center at Washburn University in Topeka. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 24, Groover Labs in Wichita. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
6 p.m. June 25, Clint Bowyer Community Building in Emporia. Editor-in-chief Sherman Smith will lead a discussion on the proposed constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices. Host: Kansas Appleseed. Register here.
7 p.m. June 27, Park City Senior Center. Host: Park City Community Pride.
2 p.m. Sept. 27, Red Rocks Visitor Center in Emporia. Host: Red Rocks.
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Sherman Smith at [email protected].
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