The Flint Hills

The Flint Hills in central Kansas are an amazing sight no matter the time of year. It preserves our ranch heritage and tall grass prairies. Learn more about this valuable Kansas resource at the following links.

NEW! National Tallgrass Preserve literature
http://www.nps.gov/tapr/upload/rackCard2.pdf

Tallgrass Prairie Maps
http://www.kansasenergy.org/KEC/FHmaps.html
(Kansas Energy Information Network)

Travel in the Flint Hills
http://kansasflinthills.travel/

Flint Hills as featured in National Geographic:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/04/tallgrass-prairie/klinkenborg-text

Flint Hills as a geologic region
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/flinthills/flinthills.html and
http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/field/flint/flint.htm

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway:
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2095/ andhttp://www.ksbyways.org/Pages/Flint/flint1.html

Symphony in the Flint Hills
http://www.symphonyintheflinthills.org/

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/flinthills/

Kaw Mission State Historic Site
http://www.kshs.org/places/kawmission/

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
http://www.nps.gov/archive/tapr/home.htm

Abraham Lincoln Resources

Americans are currently celebrating the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. For months commissions, chambers of commerce, libraries, museums and other groups have been presenting readings, displays, programs and even look-a-like contests in honor of one of America's greatest historic leaders.

Lincoln, born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky, served as the 16th president of the United States during the country's greatest internal conflict, the Civil War. A month before he took the oath of office Kansas became the 34th state to join the Union and the Civil War began about a month after his inauguration. Under his leadership the country survived secession and a grueling war before his untimely death at the hands of an assassin on April 15, 1865.

Resources on Lincoln abound and what follows is a sampling provided from state, local and federal government websites.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND KANSAS

Abraham Lincoln and Kansas
http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=47&CRLI=127
(The Lincoln Institute provides information on Lincoln's Kansas connections)

Kansas State Historical Society's Lincoln Bicentennial Web Page
http://www.kshs.org/lincoln/index.htm
(Loads of information on our 15th president)

Resources on Abraham Lincoln Available through the State Library of Kansas
http://topekalibraries.info/search~S8/?searchtype=d&searcharg=lincoln%2C+abraham&searchscope=4&sortdropdown=-&SORT=D&extended=0&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=dlincoln%2C+abraham
(Includes many web documents freely accessed through ATLAS, our online catalog shared with other libraries in Topeka)

Lincoln Symposium at Emporia State University
http://www.emporia.edu/lincoln/index.php
(Free and open to the public with events throughout February)

Lincoln Day in Lincoln, Kansas
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Lincoln/abeday.html
(Join the people of Lincoln, Kansas, in celebrating its namesake. Includes a Lincoln "Look-A-Like" Ceremony Including Gettysburg Address)

RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF KANSAS

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Museum and Foundation
http://www.alplm.org/home.html
(Located in Springfield, Illinois)

U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/
INCLUDES LINKS TO:
---Bicentennial Links
http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org/bicentennial/bicentennial-links.aspx
---Abraham Lincoln Coloring Book
http://www.abrahamlincoln200.org/for-kids/lincoln-coloring-book.aspx
---Reading Lists for children
http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/for-kids/suggested-reading/default.aspx

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html
(View images of original documents online)

Abraham Lincoln Resources at "American Memory"
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/presidents/lincoln/memory.html
(A service of the Library of Congress)

Commemoration of Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial
http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/factsheet.cfm?key=30&newskey=946
(Join the Smithsonian Institute in celebrating Abraham Lincoln)

SOME U.S. STATE BICENTENNIAL WEBSITES
Connecticut Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Idaho Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Iowa Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Massachusetts Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Michigan Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
New Jersey Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
New York Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial (Lincoln Commemorative Marker Program)
North Dakota Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Ohio Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Lincoln Legacy - Cincinnati
Oregon Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Rhode Island Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial

Is Kansas ready for alternate energies?

Energy is one of the major concerns on every one's minds. We all know that natural resources are by definition, finite. The grand debate is whether Kansas is ready for large scale wind or other alternate energy projects. Some worry that we don't have the necessary transmission lines to develop, others think that we are ready to surge forward. Your Kansas government has been busy researching and implementing energy related programming. Interested? See the resources listed below to become an informed energy user!

Kansas’ power grid and new lines
Read about a Kansas urban home that is living off the grid! http://www.gridlesshome.com/index.html

Map of power plants and transmission lines
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/maps/ks_electric_certified_areas.pdf

List of wind projects and vendors in Kansas
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/wind.htm

Wind projects currently under construction:
http://wwg.kansas.gov/ks_wind_projects.pdf

Guidelines and requirements for wind projects in Kansas:
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/siting_guidelines.pdf

Wind Energy Law: a Whirlwind Tour- a publication by the Kansas Bar Association
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/wind_energy_law_kba.pdf

Cost-Effective Solar Power in the Heartland- a publication from the KCC
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/solar_manual.pdf

Kansas solar resource map
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/ks_solar_radiation_map.pdf

Solar energy defined- by K-State
http://www.engext.ksu.edu/ees/renewables/solar.html

Federal Solar Energies Technology Program
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/

Photovoltaic energy systems- from the U.S. Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/solarphotv/solarpv.html

K-State University’s solar car
http://www.engg.ksu.edu/solarcar/index.html

Other interesting alternate energy resources: biomass, hydropower, hydrogen, and geothermal- learn more at:
http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/renewable.htm and
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/alternatives/resources_ks.cfm and
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/

Cancer Resources and Information

One of the worst six-letter “four-letter words” one will ever hear in a doctor’s office…..

Cancer...

This year more than 12,000 Kansans will get the news that they have some form of cancer and over 5,000 deaths will be attributed at least in part to cancer.

Prevention and treatment are important weapons in the battle against this disease. Below are some resources from state and federal agencies on cancers, cancer treatment and the importance of taking care of yourself to reduce the risk of hearing that terrible word.

The Good News: Cancer Incidence and Death Rates Are Dropping
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/ReportNation2008Release
(For the first time since the National Cancer Institute's annual report was first issued in 1998, both incidence and death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing for both men and women)

But the fight is not over.....

Kansas Information

What Kansans Can Do About Cancer
http://www.cancerkansas.org/download/What_can_you_do_brochure.pdf
(A two-page pamphlet from the Kansas Dept of Health and Environment that can be printed off and distributed)

Kansas Cancer Information
http://www.cancerkansas.org/
(A partnership of various agencies and organizations working for prevention and treatment of cancer in the Sunflower State)
---Risk & Protective Factors
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/risk.htm)
---Research & Clinical Trials
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/research.htm)
---Screening & Tests
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/screening.htm)
---News & Information
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/news_room.htm)
---Cancer Information Links
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/cancer_links.htm)
---Kansas Cancer Plan
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/cancer_plan.htm)
---Other Kansas Resources
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/kansas_resources.htm)
---Cancer Data
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/cancer_data.htm)
---Contacts
(http://www.cancerkansas.org/contact.htm)

Prevention Works!
http://www.preventionworkskansas.org/cancer.html
(Kansas Cancer Prevention and Control Program)

Kansas Cancer Registry
http://www2.kumc.edu/kcr//
(From the University of Kansas Medical Center and the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, the Kansas Cancer Registry (KCR) is the only population-based cancer incidence database in Kansas.)

Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
http://www.kdheks.gov/brfss/about.html
(Health surveys taken throughout the state which indicate how the behavior of Kansans affects potential risks in illness and disease)

From the U.S. Government

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/

Cancer Information Service (CIS)
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/
(A national information and education network. The CIS is a free public service of the National Cancer Institute)

Common Cancer Types
--- A to Z List of Cancers
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/alphalist/a-d)
---Bladder Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bladder)
---Breast Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast)
---Colon and Rectal Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal)
---Endometrial Cancer (Uterus)
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/endometrial)
---Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/kidney)
---Leukemia
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/leukemia)
---Lung Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung)
---Melanoma
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma)
---Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/non-hodgkin)
---Pancreatic Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/pancreatic)
---Prostate Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate)
---Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma)
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/skin)
---Thyroid Cancer
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/thyroid)
---Cancers by Body Location/System
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancersbodylocation)
---Childhood Cancers
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/childhoodcancers)
---Women's Cancers
(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/womenscancers)

Contacting the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/help

Presidential Inauguration

On January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama will take the oath of office and become the 44th president of the United States.

The inauguration of a president is a time for transition, solemn promises, parades and parties. It spans our nation's history from the more simple ceremonies of the past to the glitz and gala events which will occur in Washington D.C. on the 20th of January.

Below are links to information and resources on Inaugurations past and present from various government sources:

Presidential Inauguration Committeee
http://www.pic2009.org/
---Inaugural Blog http://www.pic2009.org/blog/
---Newsroom http://www.pic2009.org/pressroom/

Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
http://inaugural.senate.gov/
---Events http://inaugural.senate.gov/2009/
---Luncheon http://inaugural.senate.gov/luncheon/

Historic Look at Past Inaugurations http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image_collection/inauguration_slideshow.htm (Inaugural images from the U.S. Senate webwsite)

Inauguration Day Events
http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/daysevents/index.cfm
(Inaugural images from the U.S. Senate webwsite)

Presidential Election, Transition and Inauguration, 2008-2009 http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Election_2008.shtml
(From usa.gov)

Youth Ball, Neighborhood Ball, Regional Balls
http://fpc.state.gov/113635.htm http://fpc.state.gov/113591.htm
(U.S. State Department)

First Ladies' Gowns Through the Years
http://siris-collections.si.edu/search/results.jsp?q=First+Ladies+Gowns
(A list of collections with photos held by the Smithsonian Institute)

Bringing the Inauguration to the Classroom
http://www.pic2009.org/pressroom/entry/nea_aft_partner_with_the_pic_to_bring_the_inauguration_to_the_classroom/
("The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), in cooperation with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), is pleased to offer a series of instructional guides to help teachers across the country bring the 56th Presidential Inauguration to life in their classrooms. The guides are now available on the PIC website")

Inauguration Day Streaming Links, etc. http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/holidays/inauguration/inauguration.htm
(Great information from the Vermillion Parish Schools, Louisiana)

Other Streaming Sites
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx
http://www.cnn.com/live/
http://nytimes.com/
http://www.petkoto.com/2009/01/inauguration-day-2009-live-watch.html
http://www.foxnews.com/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
http://www.cbsnews.com/
http://www.nbc.com/
http://abcnews.go.com/
http://www.lpb.org/live/

The Governor's Budget

Last night, January 12th, Governor Sebelius gave her State of the State Address. This is a speech in which the governor details the current state of affairs to the state legislature as well as discussing her ideas for the state budget. The Governor's budget is a report that details where state funding comes from, the governor's goals for the following year, what each state agency has previously received and should receive as funding from your state taxes. Governor Sebelius is releasing her published State Budget today, January 13th at 10:00 am. See the resources below to find out more about state appropriations and financing and how your tax dollars are being used:

Full text of the Governor's State of the State Address:
http://www.governor.ks.gov/news/sp-stateofstate2009.htm

Full text of the Governor's Budget will be at:
http://budget.ks.gov/gbr.htm

Governor's homepage:
http://www.governor.ks.gov/

As the Legislature works the state appropriations, you can find out details at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/Appropriations.html

Information on current state revenues:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/Revenue&Tax.htm

Review audits of current state agency functions at:
http://www.kslegislature.org/postaudit/

To tell your legislator your thoughts on the Governor's Budget call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 and the staff there can relay your message to your legislator. Your representative's or senator's emails will be available at www.kslegislature.org shortly. If needed, you can find out who your legislator is at http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/redistricting.do

African American History

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is fast approaching and beyond that is African American History Month in February.

There is a wealth of information on African American History. Below are some government-related sites.

KANSAS

Biographies of African Americans held by the State Library of Kansas
http://sites.google.com/site/afambio/
(Resources that can be requested by contacting the Library)

Kansas State Data Center
http://www.kslib.info/sdc/statewide.html
(Scroll down to the bottom of the screen for "African Americans in Kansas)

Kansas African American Affairs Commission
http://kaaac.org/index.php

African-Americans in Kansas and the West
http://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/bibliographies/ethnic/african_american.htm (Kansas State Historical Society)

Nicodemus Kansas National Historic Site
http://www.nps.gov/nico/
(National Park Service)

Nicodemus Kansas: the African American Mosaic
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam010.html
(Library of Congress)

Exodus to Kansas
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2008/summer/exodus.html
(National Archives)

U.S AND MISSOURI

FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
African American History
http://free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=116
(Federal Resources for Educational Excellence)

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

African American Odyssey
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aohome.html

Africam American History and Culture
http://www.loc.gov/rr/mss/guide/african.html

African American Perspectives, 1818-1907
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aap/aaphome.html

The African American Experience in Ohio, 1850-1920
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ohshtml/aaeohome.html

From Slavery to Freedom: The African American Pamphlet Collection, 1822-1909
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aapchtml/aapchome.html

Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html

Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/sthtml/sthome.html

Voices from the Days of Slavery
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/voices/

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

African American History
http://www.nps.gov/history/aahistory/
(Visit sites around the country with a connection to African Americans and African American history)

Missouri's African American History
http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/africanamerican/intro.asp
(from the Missouri State Archives)

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Black (African-American) History Month, 2009
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/013007.html

Black History Month, 2008
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010969.html

Black History Month, 2007
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/007862.html

African American History Month, 2006
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/006088.html

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Online Resources guide
http://www.dol.gov/oasam/library/bib/african.htm

Legislators in the (state)house!

On January 12 the 2009-2010 legislature will return to Topeka to represent you in the Kansas House of Representatives and Senate. Want to know how you can provide your input into what happens in the Capitol? The following are recommendations for communicating with your elected officials.

Find out who your state legislators are by entering your address at:
http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/

Find out their contact information at:
http://www.kslegislature.org/

Click on either House or Sentate and then on the roster in the middle. Select the name of your legislator; this will bring up a picture and the contact information for your legislator

OR you can call the Legislative Hotline, a service of the State Library, to leave a message for your legislator. 1-800-432-3924

Talk to your legislators about what concerns you:

1. When emailing or writing a letter to your legislator address him or her as Honorable Representative or Honorable Senator

2. Be sure to include how your concern affects people in your area

3. Offer background information to support your argument

4. Offer to testify to your argument

Find out more about your legislators:
Directory
http://www.kssos.org/forms/communication/legis.pdf

Histories of elected officials
http://www.kssos.org/forms/communication/history.pdf

Legislators Past and Present
http://www.kslib.info/legislators/index.html

Adult care facilities resources in Kansas

Explore Your Options- a publication on types of services for adults in need of residential care from the Department of Aging
http://www.agingkansas.org/Publications/eyo/eyo_index.htm


Home and Community based care:

Home and Community Based Services for the Frail Elderly
http://www.agingkansas.org/Publications/Other/hcbsfe.htm

Assisted Living:
Kansas Assisted Living Association
http://www.khca.org/

Assisted Living Federation of America
www.alfa.org

Nursing facilities:

Medicare’s site to compare its ratings of nursing homes:
http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteriaNEW.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C7%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home&CookiesEnabledStatus=True

Kansas Advocates for Better Care- includes nursing home reports
http://www.kabc.org/

Independent Living:

Directory of Independent living centers in Kansas
http://www.kcdcinfo.com/index.asp?nid=114

For Seniors:

Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans (SHICK)
http://www.agingkansas.org/SHICK/shick_index.html

Know your rights in choosing your care
http://www.agingkansas.org/Publications/Other/hcbsfeyourrigtsrespon.htm

Kansas Senior Press online
http://www.agingkansas.org/Publications/KSPS/ksps_index.htm

Listing of area senior centers
http://www.agingkansas.org/SeniorCenters/srctr_index.htm


Resources for caregivers of adults in need

From the Department of Aging:
http://www.agingkansas.org/Publications/caregivers/cg_index.htm

Community Developmental Disability Organizations listing
http://www.kcdcinfo.com/index.asp?nid=111

Assistive Technology helps
http://www.kcdcinfo.com/index.asp?NID=126