TODAY'S NEWS
Kansas AG: Seward County Commission must approve SWMC budget
EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Southwest Medical Center is owned by Seward County as one of the last county-owned hospitals in Kansas, and according to a recent opinion by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, it has been operating without proper financial oversight by the Seward County Commission.
Legal counsel for Southwest Medical Center Shirla McQueen and former Seward County Counsel Nathan Foreman sought an opinion from the Attorney General’s office when questions arose on why SWMC did not present its budget to the Seward County Commission for approval.
The budget of the hospital is about twice that of the rest of Seward County and is about the same as the entire USD No. 480 school district.
Turpin’s Rorabaugh earns All-State Academic award
ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Turpin High School has a history of high performance and recently, one of the school’s seniors helped add to that.
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence (OFE) will soon honor 100 Oklahoma public school seniors as members of its 2026 Academic All-State class, including Turpin High School senior Scout Rorabaugh.
“OFE has honored 4,001 All-Staters from 345 school districts. This year’s honorees are from 63 public schools in 58 districts,” OFE information noted. “Students can apply for Academic All-State only if they meet one of three criteria: an ACT composite score of at least 30; a combined SAT evidence-based reading & writing and math score of at least 1370; or having been selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. A selection committee evaluates applicants through a rigorous process based on academic achievement, leadership and community service, as well as letters of recommendation and an essay.”
SNAP benefits in Kansas will no longer include candy
ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Those using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will soon see some restrictions.
Wednesday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Kansas' SNAP food restriction waiver.
“Kansas now joins 21 other states in implementing restrictions on candy and soda purchases with SNAP dollars,” Gov. Kelly noted in a release from the State of Kansas. “I have always supported policies that incentivize healthy eating, including axing the state sales tax on food to put more money back in Kansans’ pockets. Going forward, I would encourage the USDA to develop a nationwide eligibility strategy to reduce confusion and uncertainty for retailers and recipients alike.”
SWMC had to suspend surgeries during recent fires
ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third story recapping the debriefing of the recent fires in the area Monday afternoon with the Seward County Commission. This story discusses how Southwest Medical Center and the county administrator’s office helped out with the response, as well as questions from Commissioner Jairo Vazquez. A final story will discuss the recent controversy concerning Commission Chairman Steve Helm asking former Fire Chief Andrew Barkley to give Administrator April Warden a radio as well as drills the county does to help prepare for emergencies.
Following reports from county first responder department heads, Southwest Medical Center Director of Plant Operations Gregg Freelove gave a short recap of the hospital’s involvement in helping with the fires that hit the area in mid-February at the March 2 debriefing.
Grand Avenue Market, Nutrition Cave shutting down
ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Businesses in two area communities will be shut down soon.
The Nutrition Cave in Liberal and Grand Avenue Market (GAM) in Plains both announced this week on Facebook they will be out of business likely by the end of March.
No official date was stated for the closing of the Nutrition Cave, but owner Cassie McNabb posted Wednesday she is shutting down the local business.
“It is with a heavy heart I announce the closing of the Nutrition Cave,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported my business over the past few years. Your encouragement and loyalty have meant so much.”
