Opinion

Elected officials should follow the law

GUEST COLUMN, Tammy Sutherland-Abbott, Chair, Seward County Republican Party

In 2022, The Kansas Legislature passed, and Gov. Kelly signed HB 2717 which banned cities in Kansas from declaring sanctuary status.

State law requires law enforcement throughout Kansas to cooperate with federal agencies including ICE.

While Liberal does not elect leaders based on party affiliation, the Seward County Republican Party became aware of a city commissioner posting on social media how illegal immigrants should prepare for the possibility of "raids" by the Trump Administration.

Taste of Kansas is more than a meal; it builds community

SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett

It’s hard to believe, but the unique-to-Seward County Community College celebration of Kansas Day hit its seventh-year mark last Wednesday. Taste of Kansas, our campus and community’s multicultural potluck meal, brought more than 50 kitchen chefs together with 200+ diners for a wonderful time of fellowship.

Along with food from many regions across the U.S., we enjoyed dishes from Mexico, Central America, India, Asia, and Europe. Along with traveling the world via their taste buds, guests had a chance to take a look at the newest mural that was dedicated in Topeka at the statehouse on Kansas Day. The artwork shows a group of 13 Kansas women who worked to improve the state. We also displayed an array of noteworthy Kansans.

Not my cake

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

My father and my niece have a wonderful tradition.

Born just 69 years and one week apart, they have celebrated their birthdays together for as long as my niece has had a birthday. Last night, we all went out to eat and then went to my sister’s house to open presents and have birthday cake. I live just a few blocks from a wonderful Italian bakery. They make the best chocolate cake ever, so I offered to bring the cake.

Positive thinking to build community

SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett

If you follow Seward County Community College on social media, you have probably seen a series of photos this month, featuring students, faculty, and staff. Each of them holds a placard with reflections on what community means to them.

Some of their answers are classic: community means working towards a shared goal, unity, and showing up when someone needs help. Others tap into humor, like the student who defines community in terms of baseball. One of our Saints wrote simply, that community is “Everything.”

Let’s make sure Medicare’s latest cost-cutting plan doesn’t backfire

GUEST COLUMN, Dr. Mathias P. Bostrom

Here’s a healthcare puzzle. When a doctor administers chemotherapy in their office, Medicare pays one rate. When the same doctor performs the same procedure in a hospital’s outpatient facility down the street, Medicare often pays more.

This disparity is at the heart of a push among some lawmakers for “site-neutral payments,” which would broadly require Medicare to pay the same rate for the same service regardless of where it’s performed. A bipartisan framework from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., estimates that site-neutral payments could save Medicare over $100 billion in the next decade.