Opinion

GUEST COLUMN, Val Ankeny, Center for Rural Affairs

Agricultural producers looking to expand their operations through value-added products are encouraged to apply for a Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG). Applications will be accepted through April 17.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced $30 million in funding for the VAPG program, which provides grants for producers as well as farmer and rancher cooperatives. The funding can be used to generate new products and create or expand marketing opportunities that help producers generate additional income.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reita Isaacs, Liberal

I’ve been asked why I haven’t been writing Letters to the Editor: at first I thought maybe I was put “on hold” for submitting too often, only to find out it was the editor’s computer. Long time ago it would show up in a different format that didn’t let him know it was there.

Earl got it all taken care of and everything was going smoothly until this last letter contained news from the O’Biden era. After reposting it twice, I gave up and headed down to the office. Yep, it had been lost in space again; but our man found me again after much searching, so here I am again, even though I must decide where start after all the time that has elapsed.

GUEST COLUMN, Shannon Francis, 125th District Representative

The Southwest Chambers had their event in Topeka last week. We always have good representation from Liberal and Seward County. Liberal, Garden, Dodge, Hugoton, and Ulysses all participated. Thanks for coming. It makes a difference.

The Help Not Harm Act is the first bill to be vetoed by the Governor this session and will now return to the Senate and House where the Legislature can attempt to override the veto. SB 63 prevents healthcare providers from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, or performing surgeries on minors for gender transition purposes. The reality is that many children who experience gender dysphoria eventually reconcile with their biological sex given the time and counseling. Children under 18 are not equipped with the knowledge or maturity to make decisions regarding these life-altering procedures. The treatment prohibited in the bill would not apply to treatment provided for individuals born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

It’s no secret that I am a Disney fan. First and foremost a Walt Disney fan. The man influenced culture in a way few could match in the past century. His imagination has provided our family with lifetime memories by visiting his parks and watching his movies.

The idea that Walt would turn over in his grave with what has happened to his company is also justified. It’s the same story around other parts of corporate America where the Woke movement planted its flag and demanded full compliance to its world view that was the antithesis of family values, faith and tradition.

America was on the brink of separation if the Woke movement would have been able to dictate national policy for four more years.