GUEST COLUMN, Vance Ginn, Kansas Policy Institute

Kansas went from leading the nation in economic growth to growing at less than half the national rate in just two quarters. That should get every Kansas policymaker’s attention.

Kansas real GDP surged 6.5 percent at an annual rate in the third quarter of 2025, the fastest growth in the country and well above the 4.4 percent U.S. rate. By the first quarter of 2026, however, Kansas real GDP growth had slowed to just 1.0 percent, compared with 2.1 percent nationally.

There’s good news in the latest Kansas economy. But these swings are a reminder that one great quarter, especially one heavily influenced by agriculture, isn’t the same thing as sustained economic growth. And sustained growth is what Kansas needs to compete for workers, families, businesses, and investment.

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

I was driving back to my little motel after my first two talks of the week.

Earlier this year, I attended a national conference for librarians. My publisher wanted me to be there to sign free books, and I have never in my life seen people so excited to get a free book as those librarians.

I signed, “I love librarians!” on every book, except for a couple which I signed, “I love library administrators!” and “I love library assistants!” because I love everyone who has anything to do with keeping a library going.

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

There’s a New Testament story, cited three times in scripture, that involves an extravagant gesture, a costly gift, a public display of devotion. We know a few facts about Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. And one is that each time she appears in the Gospels, she’s at the feet of Jesus. In every scene, we see not only what she does, but why she does it.

In Luke 10:38-42, we meet Mary in the home she shared with her siblings Martha and Lazarus, and Jesus came to visit. Martha was busy with the necessary work of hospitality, and grew frustrated with her sister. Jesus answered Martha gently but clearly. “‘... Mary has chosen the good part, which cannot be taken away from her.’” He didn’t condemn the service, but instead corrected the spirit in which Martha was serving - anxious, distracted, resentful. The difference in two women in the same household was the inward orientation of their hearts.

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

It’s caterpillar season.

I remembered this yesterday as I sat out on the deck with my parents and two of their oldest friends at their cabin “up north.” We noticed as a tiny, furry ball began descending from the trees far overhead. Lower and lower it dropped until it was just over our heads.

“What is that?” my mother asked. We didn’t know.

At this point, the furry ball seemed to know it had an audience and began to swing, just a little at first, but soon in wider and wider arcs as the wind picked up. It lowered and then raised itself on its invisible line as it swooped forward and back and around. It was an impressive aerial show, and all the more so when I learned it was a tiny, furry caterpillar.