Opinion: Unchecked power is never good

By Michael Glenn

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As a newsroom, this past Tuesday’s election was the first presidential election cycle we had covered. For about five hours, Gina, Kate and I set up for the election, watched the results and tabulated the answers throughout the evening. 

The Republicans won majorly throughout the country and won three additional seats in the Kansas Legislature House and two seats in the Senate. 

One of the lost Democratic seats was right here in Hutchinson, causing the official supermajority of the Republican party to expand even larger. 

The only elections I was really paying attention to that night were the local ones, as trying to pay attention to the national elections would have only made my head hurt worse. 

What we have now as a state is a one-party legislature that does no longer have to work with anyone from the other party. The 88-37 lead in the House and 30-9 lead (with one race TBD) in the Senate further cements Republican dominance in the Sunflower State. 

I get always wanting to have it your way, but politics is not Burger King. There always has to be honest and civic debate about issues to find out what are the best bills and actions for Kansas. 

What’s important is from debate, we take ideas and put those together to come out with a policy that works for as many people as possible. Compromise is an essential part of how the way our government works. 

That no longer has to happen, at least for the next two years. With the same party that has held both chambers of our state legislature for over 30 years, we shouldn’t expect any new ideas. 

No Medicaid expansion debate. No medical marijuana reform. No honest debate. 

I hope I’m wrong. Maybe the ruling party does want to have an honest debate to solve issues. To find what Kansans really want and support. 

Always remember, the government works for us. We don’t work for them. Our legislators are supposed to represent our best interests, and contacting them and speaking about the issues is the first step in creating change. 

Make your voice heard this upcoming legislative session, which will begin in January. While the seats have only slightly changed, Topeka will feel much different at the reigns of Senate President Ty Masterson and Speaker Dan Hawkins rather than the influence of Governor Laura Kelly. 

By Michael Glenn As a newsroom, this past Tuesday’s election was the first presidential election cycle we had covered. For about five hours, Gina, Kate and I set up for the election, watched the results and tabulated the answers throughout the evening.  The Republicans won majorly throughout

Opinion: Support local in all things

By Gina Long

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With the cooler temperatures and rain over the past week, it finally feels like the holidays are near.

I have been spending more time trying to find unique holiday gifts for my family members in Ohio and my friends here in Hutchinson. I always try to buy locally because the gift recipients like unique Hutchinson—and Kansas-centric items. The Cosmosphere, Strataca, Reno County Museum and the zoo have gift shops with merchandise suitable for all ages. The Hutchinson Art Center is an underrated gem.

My sister-in-law likes snowmen, and I always find outstanding gifts for her, my brother, and their son at fundraising events and craft shows.

Shopping locally is not that difficult. By locally, I mean small businesses owned and operated by people I see in church, in line at the grocery store, dining at locally owned restaurants and attending Fox Theatre concerts.

They are citizens who sponsor local food and holiday gift drives, serve as donation collection points, and contribute directly to First Call For Help, the Salvation Army, and numerous other organizations. They help fund summer sports programs and donate hot dogs for playoff tailgating parties. They donate gift cards to fundraisers.

According to a 2023 report from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, small businesses are the top drivers in the Kansas economy. Per the report, available here, between March 2021 and March 2022, “opening and expanding Kansas establishments added 139,226 jobs, while closing and contracting establishments lost 104,468, for a net increase of 4,758 jobs. Small businesses contributed a net increase of 23,371 jobs, or 67.2 percent of that total.”

You read that correctly: Two out of every three new Kansas jobs were created by a small business.

The dollar-and-sense impact multiplies because local dollars tend to stay in the community instead of being sent off to Bentonville or Cincinnati.

Local businesspeople know the community, and they know their customer base. Successful businesses adjust to customer tastes instead of imposing them.

Failed endeavors that appeared overnight, planted a flag, made no attempt to understand community tastes and needs, and tried to undercut established local businesses scattered throughout Reno County’s history. The Atrium Hotel comes to mind: an owner bought a deteriorating property, begged for local money to improve the space, pocketed the profits and allowed it to run down to the point of creating a community hazard. Despite many opportunities to fix the problem, the owner tried to impose his will. Both Hutchinson and Salina are holding him accountable for his negligence.

Craving profit and power, they refused to learn about the community. Beholden to outside agendas, they flopped. Too often, they harmed the community and suffered no repercussions.

Large outside interests introduced a scorched-earth economic policy, and it has taken nearly four decades for Main St. businesses to recover.

Support local in all things because, in turn, they will support you and this community.

By Gina Long With the cooler temperatures and rain over the past week, it finally feels like the holidays are near. I have been spending more time trying to find unique holiday gifts for my family members in Ohio and my friends here in Hutchinson. I always