WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R48309/2#:~:text=Every%20four%20years%2C%20the%20House,of%20the%20electoral%20college%20process.">congressional joint session</a>&nbsp;to count&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-to-know-electoral-college-presidential-elections-1fe5436f724d87030f340f1893626f6e">electoral votes</a>&nbsp;on Monday is expected to be much less eventful than the certification&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">four years ago</a>&nbsp;that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">interrupted by a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;who tried to stop the count and overturn the results of an election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

This time, Trump is returning to office after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">winning the 2024 election</a>&nbsp;that began with Biden as his party's nominee and ended with Vice President Kamala Harris atop the ticket. She will preside over the certification of her own loss, fulfilling the constitutional role in the same way that Trump's vice president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-electoral-vote-d27490021b4203087043df1939b82f8b">Mike Pence,</a>&nbsp;did after the violence subsided on Jan. 6, 2021.

Usually a routine affair, the congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Joint-Sessions/Joint-Sessions/">joint session</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6 every four years is the final step in reaffirming a presidential election after the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12682">Electoral College</a>&nbsp;officially elects the winner in December. The meeting is required by the Constitution and includes several distinct steps.

Under federal law, Congress must meet Jan. 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain a record of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electoral-college-election-explainer-trump-harris-ca14e0823c1e88aa5e5039645637a357">electoral votes</a>. The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes that are used for the occasion.

Bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and do an official count. The vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over the session and declares the winner.

The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and won't happen this time because Trump’s electoral win over Harris was decisive, 312-226.

Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-susan-collins-west-virginia-c9c15562ad910bbc0ba6ef1eecbfc158">tightened the rules for the certification</a>&nbsp;after the violence of 2021 and Trump’s attempts to usurp the process.

In particular, the revised Electoral Count Act&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-donald-trump-e4366ca9e350ef87ebbb7638517cbde3">passed in 2022</a>&nbsp;more explicitly defines the role of the vice president after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-pence-jd-vance-prosecution-f78cf222187b271e0ba0bb684110455e">aggressively</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-senate-elections-elections-aaa00b96179c454426453a99ca1e2e30">pushed</a>&nbsp;Pence to try and object to the Republican's defeat — an action that would have gone far beyond Pence's ceremonial role. Pence rebuffed Trump and ultimately gaveled down his own defeat. Harris will do the same.

The updated law clarifies that the vice president does not have the power to determine the results on Jan. 6.

Harris and Pence were not the first vice presidents to be put in the uncomfortable position of presiding over their own defeats. In 2001, Vice President Al Gore presided over the counting of the 2000 presidential election that he narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush. Gore had to gavel several Democrats’ objections out of order.

In 2017, Biden as vice president presided over the count that declared Trump the winner. Biden also shot down objections from House Democrats that did not have any Senate support.

The presiding officer opens and presents the certificates of the electoral votes in alphabetical order of the states.

The appointed “tellers” from the House and Senate, members of both parties, then read each certificate out loud and record and count the votes. At the end, the presiding officer announces who has won the majority votes for both president and vice president.

After a teller reads the certificate from any state, a lawmaker can stand up and object to that state’s vote on any grounds. But the presiding officer will not hear the objection unless it is in writing and signed by one-fifth of each chamber.

That threshold is significantly higher than what came before. Previously, a successful objection only required support from one member of the Senate and one member of the House. Lawmakers raised the threshold in the 2022 law to make objections more difficult.

If any objection reaches the threshold — something not expected this time — the joint session suspends and the House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For the objection to be sustained, both chambers must uphold it by a simple majority vote. If they do not agree, the original electoral votes are counted with no changes.

In 2021, both the House and Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818'">rejected challenges</a>&nbsp;to the electoral votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Before 2021, the last time that such an objection was considered had been 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes, claiming there were voting irregularities. Both the House and Senate debated the objection and easily rejected it. It was only the second time such a vote had occurred.

Once Congress counts the votes, what's next?

After Congress certifies the vote, the president is inaugurated on the west front of the Capitol on Jan. 20.

The joint session is the last official chance for objections, beyond any challenges in court. Harris has conceded and never disputed Trump’s win.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734727872762.png" alt="The mahogany boxes that will hold the electoral votes are on display on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Dec. 19,CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>The mahogany boxes that will hold the electoral votes are on display on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Dec. 19,CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R48309/2#:~:text=Every%20four%20years%2C%20the%20House,of%20the%20electoral%20college%20process.">congressional joint session</a>&nbsp;to count&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-to-know-electoral-college-presidential-elections-1fe5436f724d87030f340f1893626f6e">electoral votes</a>&nbsp;on Monday is expected to be much less eventful than the certification&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">four years ago</a>&nbsp;that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">interrupted by a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;who tried to stop the count and overturn the results of an election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.</p><p>This time, Trump is returning to office after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">winning the 2024 election</a>&nbsp;that began with Biden as his party's nominee and ended with Vice President Kamala Harris atop the ticket. She will preside over the certification of her own loss, fulfilling the constitutional role in the same way that Trump's vice president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-electoral-vote-d27490021b4203087043df1939b82f8b">Mike Pence,</a>&nbsp;did after the violence subsided on Jan. 6, 2021.</p><p>Usually a routine affair, the congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Joint-Sessions/Joint-Sessions/">joint session</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 6 every four years is the final step in reaffirming a presidential election after the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12682">Electoral College</a>&nbsp;officially elects the winner in December. The meeting is required by the Constitution and includes several distinct steps.</p><p>A look at the joint session:</p><h2>What happens when Congress meets?</h2><p>Under federal law, Congress must meet Jan. 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain a record of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electoral-college-election-explainer-trump-harris-ca14e0823c1e88aa5e5039645637a357">electoral votes</a>. The votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes that are used for the occasion.</p><p>Bipartisan representatives of both chambers read the results out loud and do an official count. The vice president, as president of the Senate, presides over the session and declares the winner.</p><p>The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and won't happen this time because Trump’s electoral win over Harris was decisive, 312-226.</p><h2>How has it changed since the last time?</h2><p>Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-susan-collins-west-virginia-c9c15562ad910bbc0ba6ef1eecbfc158">tightened the rules for the certification</a>&nbsp;after the violence of 2021 and Trump’s attempts to usurp the process.</p><p>In particular, the revised Electoral Count Act&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-donald-trump-e4366ca9e350ef87ebbb7638517cbde3">passed in 2022</a>&nbsp;more explicitly defines the role of the vice president after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-pence-jd-vance-prosecution-f78cf222187b271e0ba0bb684110455e">aggressively</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-senate-elections-elections-aaa00b96179c454426453a99ca1e2e30">pushed</a>&nbsp;Pence to try and object to the Republican's defeat — an action that would have gone far beyond Pence's ceremonial role. Pence rebuffed Trump and ultimately gaveled down his own defeat. Harris will do the same.</p><p>The updated law clarifies that the vice president does not have the power to determine the results on Jan. 6.</p><p>Harris and Pence were not the first vice presidents to be put in the uncomfortable position of presiding over their own defeats. In 2001, Vice President Al Gore presided over the counting of the 2000 presidential election that he narrowly lost to Republican George W. Bush. Gore had to gavel several Democrats’ objections out of order.</p><p>In 2017, Biden as vice president presided over the count that declared Trump the winner. Biden also shot down objections from House Democrats that did not have any Senate support.</p><h2>How does the session unfold?</h2><p>The presiding officer opens and presents the certificates of the electoral votes in alphabetical order of the states.</p><p>The appointed “tellers” from the House and Senate, members of both parties, then read each certificate out loud and record and count the votes. At the end, the presiding officer announces who has won the majority votes for both president and vice president.</p><h2>What if there's an objection?</h2><p>After a teller reads the certificate from any state, a lawmaker can stand up and object to that state’s vote on any grounds. But the presiding officer will not hear the objection unless it is in writing and signed by one-fifth of each chamber.</p><p>That threshold is significantly higher than what came before. Previously, a successful objection only required support from one member of the Senate and one member of the House. Lawmakers raised the threshold in the 2022 law to make objections more difficult.</p><p>If any objection reaches the threshold — something not expected this time — the joint session suspends and the House and Senate go into separate sessions to consider it. For the objection to be sustained, both chambers must uphold it by a simple majority vote. If they do not agree, the original electoral votes are counted with no changes.</p><p>In 2021, both the House and Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818'">rejected challenges</a>&nbsp;to the electoral votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania.</p><p>Before 2021, the last time that such an objection was considered had been 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes, claiming there were voting irregularities. Both the House and Senate debated the objection and easily rejected it. It was only the second time such a vote had occurred.</p><h2>Once Congress counts the votes, what's next?</h2><p>After Congress certifies the vote, the president is inaugurated on the west front of the Capitol on Jan. 20.</p><p>The joint session is the last official chance for objections, beyond any challenges in court. Harris has conceded and never disputed Trump’s win.</p>

How Congress will certify Trump's Electoral College victory 

As the holiday season winds down, many households face the question: what to do with the Christmas tree and holiday greenery? Instead of sending them to the landfill, consider recycling them! Repurposing your tree and greenery is an eco-friendly way to give them a second life while benefiting your garden, wildlife, or community.

Here are some practical and creative ways to recycle your Christmas tree and greenery:

<b>1. Turn It in to Mulch<br></b>Most natural Christmas trees can be chipped into mulch, which is excellent for garden beds and pathways. If you have access to a chipper, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, check with your local recycling center or municipal services—many communities offer free tree chipping programs.

<b>2. Create Habitat for Wildlife<br></b>Place your tree in your yard or garden to create shelter for birds and small animals during the winter months. You can even decorate it with birdseed ornaments, suet, or peanut butter-coated pinecones to provide food for wildlife.

<b>3. Compost the Greenery<br></b>Cut branches and greenery can be added to your compost pile or used as a base layer. The needles are rich in carbon and can help balance the compost's nitrogen content. Keep in mind that large branches should be trimmed down for easier decomposition.

<b>4. Protect Your Plants<br></b>Lay trimmed branches over perennial beds to help insulate them during the cold months. The branches can act as a natural mulch, protecting plants from harsh winter temperatures.

<b>5. Check Local Recycling Programs<br></b>Many communities have specific programs for tree and greenery recycling. Some cities collect trees curbside for recycling into mulch or erosion control products. Contact your local solid waste department or extension office for details.

<b>6. Use It for Erosion Control<br></b>In some areas, recycled Christmas trees are used for erosion control in wetlands or along riverbanks. These trees help stabilize soil and provide a natural barrier against erosion.

Don’t Burn It Indoors: Dry trees are highly flammable and can create a fire hazard. They also produce creosote, which can build up in your chimney.

Remove All Decorations: Before recycling, ensure all ornaments, tinsel, and lights are removed to prevent contamination.

Avoid Artificial Trees: Artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be reused or donated if in good condition.

Recycling your tree or greenery is a simple step that can have a big impact on the environment. By giving your holiday decorations a sustainable farewell, you can enjoy the spirit of the season while also taking care of our planet.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734975524540.jpg" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>As the holiday season winds down, many households face the question: what to do with the Christmas tree and holiday greenery? Instead of sending them to the landfill, consider recycling them! Repurposing your tree and greenery is an eco-friendly way to give them a second life while benefiting your garden, wildlife, or community.</p><p>Here are some practical and creative ways to recycle your Christmas tree and greenery:</p><p><b>1. Turn It in to Mulch<br></b>Most natural Christmas trees can be chipped into mulch, which is excellent for garden beds and pathways. If you have access to a chipper, you can do this yourself. Otherwise, check with your local recycling center or municipal services—many communities offer free tree chipping programs.</p><p><b>2. Create Habitat for Wildlife<br></b>Place your tree in your yard or garden to create shelter for birds and small animals during the winter months. You can even decorate it with birdseed ornaments, suet, or peanut butter-coated pinecones to provide food for wildlife.</p><p><b>3. Compost the Greenery<br></b>Cut branches and greenery can be added to your compost pile or used as a base layer. The needles are rich in carbon and can help balance the compost's nitrogen content. Keep in mind that large branches should be trimmed down for easier decomposition.</p><p><b>4. Protect Your Plants<br></b>Lay trimmed branches over perennial beds to help insulate them during the cold months. The branches can act as a natural mulch, protecting plants from harsh winter temperatures.</p><p><b>5. Check Local Recycling Programs<br></b>Many communities have specific programs for tree and greenery recycling. Some cities collect trees curbside for recycling into mulch or erosion control products. Contact your local solid waste department or extension office for details.</p><p><b>6. Use It for Erosion Control<br></b>In some areas, recycled Christmas trees are used for erosion control in wetlands or along riverbanks. These trees help stabilize soil and provide a natural barrier against erosion.</p><p><b>Avoid These Mistakes</b></p><p>Don’t Burn It Indoors: Dry trees are highly flammable and can create a fire hazard. They also produce creosote, which can build up in your chimney.</p><p>Remove All Decorations: Before recycling, ensure all ornaments, tinsel, and lights are removed to prevent contamination.</p><p>Avoid Artificial Trees: Artificial trees cannot be recycled and should be reused or donated if in good condition.</p><p>Recycling your tree or greenery is a simple step that can have a big impact on the environment. By giving your holiday decorations a sustainable farewell, you can enjoy the spirit of the season while also taking care of our planet.</p><p>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910</p><p>K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.</p>

How to recycle your Christmas tree, holiday greenery

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with former legislator, realtor, and Real Men Real Leaders executive director Reynaldo Mesa.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iN_WCBzYk-w?si=ZieSXJsrkZlPaifk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with former legislator, realtor, and Real Men Real Leaders executive director Reynaldo Mesa.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Reynaldo Mesa, Real Men Real Leaders

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with entrepreneur Kris Munsch.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L_j7J8c_66g?si=kAHfEv8jxgGZL6_b" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with entrepreneur Kris Munsch.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Entrepreneur Kris Munsch

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Nuclear missile silo turned Airbnb owner Matthew Fulkerson.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_L_A5J6JQhA?si=mnNNqSfyc9mW5J9n" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Nuclear missile silo turned Airbnb owner Matthew Fulkerson.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Nuclear missile silo turned Airbnb owner Matthew Fulkerson

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;K9 Vests Midwest founder Emily Fawcett.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IFlaK6Fz6H8?si=iLlZJWuzDdfRGn2E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;K9 Vests Midwest founder Emily Fawcett.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: K9 Vests Midwest founder Emily Fawcett

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Office of the State Fire Marshall&nbsp;Public Information Manager&nbsp;Lance Feyh about hurricane relief efforts.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ka8IJ-jhn2g?si=lDrxR15HO4YQn4ZK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Office of the State Fire Marshall&nbsp;Public Information Manager&nbsp;Lance Feyh about hurricane relief efforts.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Fire Marshall spokesman Lance Feyh

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;American Red Cross communication manager Logan Wright.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dobDNgOSMGA?si=lCBhPu7U5MDOzuTO" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;American Red Cross communication manager Logan Wright.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: American Red Cross communication manager Logan Wright

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;KDOT Area Engineer Kevin Zimmer and Public Information Officer Lisa Mussman about the successful I-70 bridge demolition in Trego County.</i>

<p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;KDOT Area Engineer Kevin Zimmer and Public Information Officer Lisa Mussman about the successful I-70 bridge demolition in Trego County.</i></p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iy_AT6qdBDc?si=KYLLBy68A64bEd0c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The bridge at mile post 117 on I-70 has successfully been demolished. Now onto the clean up so we can get I-70 back open!<br><br>If you are on the detour, please refrain from taking county side roads. We’re already starting to see problems with people doing that. <a href="https://t.co/dvK0AkMUmg">pic.twitter.com/dvK0AkMUmg</a></p>&mdash; Trooper Tod (@TrooperTodKHP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrooperTodKHP/status/1831351195031548137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎤Forward Ever: KDOT I-70 bridge demolition

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Ms. Wheelchair America&nbsp;Tamara Blackwell.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBIy1dfbVY4?si=k3AZxslDQdFrhyJr" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Ms. Wheelchair America&nbsp;Tamara Blackwell.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Ms. Wheelchair America Tamara Blackwell

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Judge Tommy Webb.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/toeed9oN0ik?si=Pq2NXG8GGlbXhy_3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Judge Tommy Webb.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Judge Tommy Webb

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Former 'Agriculture today' host Eric Atkinson about the celebration of 100 years of broadcasting at K-State.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/omYhIikaKGw?si=whYVGc_QQkq7COcY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Former 'Agriculture today' host Eric Atkinson about the celebration of 100 years of broadcasting at K-State.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Former 'Agriculture today' host Eric Atkinson

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;ESOP Association CEO and president James Bonham.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V-Uo7DbbVLA?si=FYzKCOzNeQz_JpHy" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;ESOP Association CEO and president James Bonham.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: ESOP Association president James Bonham

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02476pG1zvXUF3tZFCmdBfsbNyAbJX2ZCpcW6QVSeqSQYYYFjoEUdhNH77tCR42Mxrl&amp;id=100083234953528" target="_blank">Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association</a>&nbsp;director Deidra Stanley.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGjCNsEVCWs?si=hAlyHJIUTd0Ur0xS" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02476pG1zvXUF3tZFCmdBfsbNyAbJX2ZCpcW6QVSeqSQYYYFjoEUdhNH77tCR42Mxrl&amp;id=100083234953528" target="_blank">Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association</a>&nbsp;director Deidra Stanley.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Search dog association director Deidra Stanley

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Specialist Sara Bloom.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-x4jb-pMEsg?si=50OqA7MYOln789SV" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Specialist Sara Bloom.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: KS Dept. of Commerce Employee of the Year Sara Bloom

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VG5fXQSMzgc?si=B-doP6FQ71Io1v0_" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with District 111 Representative Barbara Wasinger.&nbsp;</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: District 111 Rep. Barbara Wasinger

<b>By RICK HELLMAN</b><b><br></b><a href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/kevin-willmotts-new-film-shines-light-on-kc-civil-rights-figure">KU News Service</a>

For Academy Award-winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott, the Hollywood jobs are great and all. But the material closest to his heart inspires the stories he tells of overlooked historical events, and particularly local ones, that cast a revealing light on the problems of today.

The newest film written, produced and directed by the University of Kansas professor of film &amp; media studies is just such a story.

Premiering June 19 as part of the Juneteenth Film Festival at the Screenland Armour theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, “The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks” is a documentary tribute to a Kansas City civil rights icon.

Brooks, still “sharp as a tack,” according to Willmott, at age 92, was one of Kansas City’s first Black police officers in the early 1950s. He went on to a storied career as the city’s first Black department director and creator of its human relations department, as founder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://adhocgroupkc.org/">Ad Hoc Group Against Crime</a>&nbsp;and its Crimestoppers anonymous tip line, as a City Council member, an educator and an all-around advocate for human and civil rights.

<b>READ MORE:</b> <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/cfc32e4d-411c-4a45-99d3-cd521e203724">Airborne electromagnetic survey of aquifer conditions planned in northwestern Kansas</a>

Willmott said he first got to know Brooks 20 years ago while filming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZsAxiscVZY">“From Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Centers,”</a>&nbsp;about the racial history of Kansas City’s public hospital.

“We interviewed him for that,” Willmott said, “and he had so many great stories I was like, ‘Wow, there should be a documentary just about him!’ And so when I did a blurb for his&nbsp;<a href="https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/binding-us-together/">autobiography</a>, it reminded me again of how much I really wanted to make that film. And so we finally did it.”

Willmott said Brooks makes for a great documentary subject.

“I'm not sure if it's because he was a policeman or what, but he can tell you the street addresses of where things happened 65 or 70 years ago,” Willmott said. “He tells a story in the film about an encounter he had with a white cop when he was a little kid, maybe 10 years old, and we go back to that location 82 years later, and he says, ‘This cop put a gun to my head and told me, “Run up this hill, (N-word), before I shoot you!”’

“I know I use the term 'living history' a lot, but he is truly living history.”

Willmott said it’s more important than ever, in light of political efforts to downplay and cover up the history of racism in America, to remind people of it.

“I have tried to tell stories that other people don't want to tell and that Hollywood definitely is not interested in,” Willmott said. “There's this whole thing right now that people don't want to hear the ugly part of the American story. They don’t want Alvin to tell what happened to him on that street corner 82 years ago. But to me, you can't get to the beautiful part of the American story without dealing with the ugly part.”

Willmott said the film offers viewers a ray of hope in dark times.

“We're so divided, and there's so much hate going on right now,” he said, “and who knows where it’s going to end up? But Alvin is a reminder of what we can be. He's a reminder of the best of us. Because I still hold on to Dr. King and what he believed in. That's the America I believe in. And it's hard to hold on to that these days. So the movie, in some ways, is a great reminder of ... who we really are, and who we can be.”

The early show of the June 19 premiere is sold out at press time, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.screenland.com/movie/binding-us-together-2">tickets</a>&nbsp;remain for the 8:30 p.m. show. The film will also be&nbsp;<a href="https://freestatefestival.org/event/alvin-brooks/">presented</a>&nbsp;at 6 p.m. June 30, at the Lawrence Arts Center as part of the Free State Festival.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717945458645.jpeg" alt="Alvin Brooks, a Kansas City civil rights icon, is the subject of a new documentary that will air June 19 at the Screenland Armour theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, and June 30 at the Free State Festival. <b>Image courtesy Kevin Willmott / Hodcarrier Films</b>" />
                        <figcaption>Alvin Brooks, a Kansas City civil rights icon, is the subject of a new documentary that will air June 19 at the Screenland Armour theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, and June 30 at the Free State Festival. <b>Image courtesy Kevin Willmott / Hodcarrier Films</b></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By RICK HELLMAN</b><b><br></b><a href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/kevin-willmotts-new-film-shines-light-on-kc-civil-rights-figure">KU News Service</a></p><p>For Academy Award-winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott, the Hollywood jobs are great and all. But the material closest to his heart inspires the stories he tells of overlooked historical events, and particularly local ones, that cast a revealing light on the problems of today.</p><p>The newest film written, produced and directed by the University of Kansas professor of film &amp; media studies is just such a story.</p><p>Premiering June 19 as part of the Juneteenth Film Festival at the Screenland Armour theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, “The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks” is a documentary tribute to a Kansas City civil rights icon.</p><p>Brooks, still “sharp as a tack,” according to Willmott, at age 92, was one of Kansas City’s first Black police officers in the early 1950s. He went on to a storied career as the city’s first Black department director and creator of its human relations department, as founder of the&nbsp;<a href="https://adhocgroupkc.org/">Ad Hoc Group Against Crime</a>&nbsp;and its Crimestoppers anonymous tip line, as a City Council member, an educator and an all-around advocate for human and civil rights.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717945424412.jpeg" alt="Kevin Willmott, professor of film &amp; media studies, speaking at an event at KU in 2021. Image courtesy KU Marketing" />
                        <figcaption>Kevin Willmott, professor of film &amp; media studies, speaking at an event at KU in 2021. Image courtesy KU Marketing</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>READ MORE:</b> <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/cfc32e4d-411c-4a45-99d3-cd521e203724">Airborne electromagnetic survey of aquifer conditions planned in northwestern Kansas</a></p><p>Willmott said he first got to know Brooks 20 years ago while filming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZsAxiscVZY">“From Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Centers,”</a>&nbsp;about the racial history of Kansas City’s public hospital.</p><p>“We interviewed him for that,” Willmott said, “and he had so many great stories I was like, ‘Wow, there should be a documentary just about him!’ And so when I did a blurb for his&nbsp;<a href="https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/binding-us-together/">autobiography</a>, it reminded me again of how much I really wanted to make that film. And so we finally did it.”</p><p>Willmott said Brooks makes for a great documentary subject.</p><p>“I'm not sure if it's because he was a policeman or what, but he can tell you the street addresses of where things happened 65 or 70 years ago,” Willmott said. “He tells a story in the film about an encounter he had with a white cop when he was a little kid, maybe 10 years old, and we go back to that location 82 years later, and he says, ‘This cop put a gun to my head and told me, “Run up this hill, (N-word), before I shoot you!”’</p><p>“I know I use the term 'living history' a lot, but he is truly living history.”</p><p>Willmott said it’s more important than ever, in light of political efforts to downplay and cover up the history of racism in America, to remind people of it.</p><p>“I have tried to tell stories that other people don't want to tell and that Hollywood definitely is not interested in,” Willmott said. “There's this whole thing right now that people don't want to hear the ugly part of the American story. They don’t want Alvin to tell what happened to him on that street corner 82 years ago. But to me, you can't get to the beautiful part of the American story without dealing with the ugly part.”</p><p>Willmott said the film offers viewers a ray of hope in dark times.</p><p>“We're so divided, and there's so much hate going on right now,” he said, “and who knows where it’s going to end up? But Alvin is a reminder of what we can be. He's a reminder of the best of us. Because I still hold on to Dr. King and what he believed in. That's the America I believe in. And it's hard to hold on to that these days. So the movie, in some ways, is a great reminder of ... who we really are, and who we can be.”</p><p>The early show of the June 19 premiere is sold out at press time, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.screenland.com/movie/binding-us-together-2">tickets</a>&nbsp;remain for the 8:30 p.m. show. The film will also be&nbsp;<a href="https://freestatefestival.org/event/alvin-brooks/">presented</a>&nbsp;at 6 p.m. June 30, at the Lawrence Arts Center as part of the Free State Festival.</p>

Kevin Willmott's new film shines light on KC civil rights figure

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp; Medical Foster Home Program coordinator Amy Adams.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3lyU_3rNfM?si=oAweCkNXxMo7Iubc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp; Medical Foster Home Program coordinator Amy Adams.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Veterans Administration social worker Amy Adams

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_QapUV_xYo?si=MR_64btnWHxJsyzR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WI1_KldMTjg?si=FNFCltxat4qiGW_d" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Kan. Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;</i><i>Jan Johnson.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HiZHgSSbXgE?si=TxdJjOj7HZupVOv2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;</i><i>Jan Johnson.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: CASA of the High Plains executive director Jan Johnson

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rEqAv09ShHo?si=PFPFgld5NYo-c0e4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services commissioner David Anderson

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with new Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWEFnvTX8pw?si=nBsAhPwpTGtLnc8V" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with new Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: New Barton Community College President Marcus Garstecki

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History&nbsp;&nbsp;Manager of Visitor Services,&nbsp;Brad Penka.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TjnI8ORX2mg?si=a9fyngG5bnWU1USs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History&nbsp;&nbsp;Manager of Visitor Services,&nbsp;Brad Penka.</i></p>

🎤Forward Ever: Sternberg Museum Manager Brad Penka

<i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Curtis Wolf, site manager at Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms.</i>

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsvYviWXZ40?si=ipZDW49WXxoPMfq3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p><i>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;Curtis Wolf, site manager at Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms.</i></p>

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