Kansas

With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers • Kansas Reflector

Published

10 months ago

February 12, 2025

With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers • Kansas Reflector

Back in November, I wrote a column for Kansas Reflector that discussed the likely adverse effects of President Trump’s proposed tariffs on U.S. farmers.

The piece noted that 398 million acres of cropland has been added to the mix around the world since the start of this century, notably in tropical regions such as Brazil and India. There is increasing competition for U.S. farmers in export markets. The United States alone cannot absorb all that we produce here.

Many farmers voted for Trump because he promised less regulation and greater prosperity for America’s farmers. The hard truth is that, like most of the folks who voted for Trump, farmers failed to do their homework about the reality of the new administration. All of this has occurred in the context of higher input costs and tight margins for virtually all crops.

We are now living and working in an environment where the only constant is chaos. Chaos produces uncertainty, and that leads to loss of trust. The buyers of U.S. farm products are not going to deal with nations that cannot be trusted. There are plenty of options in today’s world for those buyers to bypass the United States. Why on God’s green earth would they put up with the insanity that we have in Washington now?

It is almost laughable that some Republicans have come to the defense of Trump’s proposed tariffs, and that some of those same Republicans have promised to help the farmers who feel the impact.

Really?

We have an unelected multibillionaire who in effect bought the Trump presidency now running amok in Washington. On the one hand, we see unprecedented efforts (that is, without the advice and consent of the Congress) by some entity called DOGE to slash government spending, and on the other we hear some of Trump’s cronies promise aid for farmers. The two cannot be squared. Setting aside your political views, this is an unprecedented assault on the Constitution and the separation of powers.

Take your pick of programs. The Climate Smart programs designed to help farmers monetize carbon reduction practices on their farms are going away. The future of the 45Z tax credit is, well, who knows? What about export assistance programs urgently needed to help U.S. farmers counter the effects of the Trump tariffs and the rise of our global competitors, such as Brazil and India? And how about the price subsidies that featured prominently in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm support programs? What happens when the NOAA is defunded?

How about the effect of “soft power” from the programs that USAID has provided in many impoverished parts of the world? By some accounts, USAID buys about $2 billion dollars of US farm products annually. USAID is being dismantled by the dodgy group. To his credit, Sen. Jerry Moran has spoken loudly about this travesty. Others must do the same, otherwise, or our political and economic competitors will fill the gap.

Who suffers? Most certainly not Trump and his band of billionaires. Farmers, small towns and Main Street businesses bear the brunt of this ill-conceived approach.

Don’t bet the farm on help coming your way from this administration. Remember the old saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. My fellow farmers — you’ve been played. This nation cannot exist as an island. But that is the path that this administration is on, and the onus is on responsible folks from all political persuasions to find common ground to stop this madness.

Farmers, are you listening? These fundamental questions go to the heart of our democracy. From what we have seen this far, this nation is on a path that is at odds with our established role in the world, and the economic and social consequences could be unprecedented.

Ben Palen is a Kansas native and a fifth-generation farmer and agriculture consultant in Colorado and Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

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Kansas

New trial set for Kansas man in son’s death

Published

3 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

New trial set for Kansas man in son’s death

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A new trial has been scheduled for a Kansas man convicted of killing his infant son.

Kaleb Hogan will be tried again in January on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse.

Hogan was found guilty in 2023 of those same charges in the death of 3-month-old Malykai Hogan.

He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. But he appealed.

Malykai Braxtyn Hogan (Courtesy: Hogan family)

Earlier this year, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned his conviction, saying the trial judge incorrectly admitted evidence of prior acts of alleged abuse.

The court ruled that the evidence did not fall within an exception allowing alleged prior acts to be admitted into evidence because the state couldn’t link the prior abuse to Hogan. In fact, prosecutors admitted during oral arguments at the high court that they did not charge Hogan with other counts of abuse because they couldn’t prove he was responsible for the child’s earlier injuries.

The court ruled that the state couldn’t prove that the error was harmless, so the case was returned to Butler County District Court for a new trial.

Court records show that a jury trial has been scheduled for Hogan on Jan. 6 at 9 a.m.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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Kansas Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 9, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 9, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 9 drawing

19-32-41-49-66, Mega Ball: 06

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 9 drawing

Midday: 9-6-0

Evening: 6-9-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 9 drawing

Red Balls: 05-17, White Balls: 15-19

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 9 drawing

19-24-33-39-40, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Woman, 68, killed Monday in head-on crash in southeast Kansas

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Woman, 68, killed Monday in head-on crash in southeast Kansas

CHEROKEE, Kan. (WIBW) – A woman died and a man was seriously injured following a head-on crash Monday afternoon in Crawford County in southeast Kansas, officials said.

The collision was reported at 2:45 p.m. Monday on US-400 highway about four miles west of Cherokee.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2015 Nissan Altima was eastbound on US-400 when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck that was westbound on the highway.

A woman died and a man was seriously injured following a head-on crash Monday afternoon in Crawford County in southeast Kansas, officials said.(WBRC)

The Nissan then spun counterclockwise and came to rest in the roadway, while the Dodge truck left the roadway to the right, rolled once and came to rest on its wheels facing south in the north ditch.

The driver of the Dodge pickup truck, Carol S. Sharp, 68, of Altoona, was transported to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, where she was pronounced dead. The patrol said Sharp was wearing her seat belt.

The driver of the Nissan, identified as Eric M. Meyers, 38, of Des Moines, Iowa, was transported to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg with serious injuries. The patrol said Meyers was wearing his seat belt.

Both drivers were alone in their vehicles, the patrol said.

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