L&T STAFF OPINION

One month ago, fires were threatening to engulf Liberal on three sides.

The Seward County Fire Department headed by Chief Andrew Barkley jumped into action, but the effort to prepare for that fateful day began days, even weeks, before.

Barkley started to coordinate efforts with other emergency responders the week before, and he reached out to the media days before the fire started to consume acre after acre to help get the word out about how conditions were ideal for a wildfire and how every effort should be made to not ignite anything until the conditions changed.

RYCKMAN RECAP, Ron Ryckman, 38th District Senator

Week 9 of the 2026 Legislature actually took me out of my comfort zone just a bit, as I was behind the Floor microphone for a very uncharacteristic FIVE times over a four-day period.  As those of you who know me well are aware, I much prefer to listen rather than speak, so that kind of “spotlight” doesn’t present itself often. 

Nothing earthshaking or monumental, mind you, though uncommon enough that when I DO stand up to be recognized, my colleagues immediately start thinking it must be important!  Not so much on the two Judiciary bills I floor-managed or “carried,” but on the three (what are called) “Points of Personal Privilege” (PPP), I would agree with them!  Other than those highlights, the Senate was in what truly feels like a “wind down” mode, as we took a respectable 36 roll-call votes on the way to what is hard to believe only two weeks left before  scheduled First Adjournment.  We're sure to have a bevy of Vetoes to consider after that; however, it  still seems very "out of time" to think that the end of Session and an early Easter could take place in the same week!

GUEST COLUMN, Shannon Francis, 125th District Representative

I want to thank the Liberal Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Kansas Board of Realtors for sponsoring our legislative forum this week. I also want to thank Sen. Bill Clifford – Garden City, Rep. Marty Long – Ulysses, and Rep. Gary White – Ashland for participating and sharing your insights. I serve with a great bunch of legislators representing Southwest Kansas, but it’s all about hearing what you think are the important issues facing Kansas. A big thanks to everyone who came. We talked about a wide range of topics, including budget, water, wind, highways, county treasurer fees, senior citizen centers, immigrants, and much more.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Several plates are spinning in Topeka, and we need to make sure that several of these projects make it over the finish line.

One already has and will be on the ballot in August. Kansans will son have the chance to decide whether or not seven people should choose every Kansas Supreme Court Justice or whether we all should have a say in that decision.

To know why this is important, the first question you should ask yourself is, “Can I name one member of the Kansas Supreme Court?”

If that answer is no, that is proof how disconnected the people are form the highest court in Kansas.