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Red Cross: 20K donations uncollected due to winter storms, give blood now

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Guest Columnist
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Severe blood shortage intensifies as snow, ice and extreme temperatures impact blood drives. 

 [KANSAS, Feb. 3, 2026] — The American Red Cross urges people to take action now to help offset the severe impact of recent winter storms on efforts to rebuild the blood supply during an ongoing blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are asked to make a blood or platelet donation appointment as soon as possible.

Over 500 blood drives have been canceled since the beginning of the year, causing more than 20,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. In addition to the disruption of blood drives, dangerous weather conditions have also made it tougher to transport vital blood products, which could potentially affect deliveries to hospitals in some locations.

Patient care is at risk — donors in unaffected areas are asked to book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those in areas facing extreme winter weather are asked to give when it’s safe to do so. All who come to give Jan. 26-Feb. 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Heart for details.

Hospital impact 

Shortfalls in blood and platelet donations caused by recent winter storms are putting further strain on the national blood supply, forcing some hospitals to cancel elective procedures due to blood product shortages. When supplies are critically low, trauma surgeons and other doctors face the real possibility that blood could run out when it’s needed most. Now is the time to give blood before doctors have to face difficult decisions about which patients can safely move forward with treatment, and who will need to wait.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 3-28:

Allen

Humboldt

1/30/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Baptist Church, 118 N 7th St

Barber

Kiowa

2/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kiowa Community Building, 119 S. 5th St

Barton

Claflin

2/26/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Claflin Community Center, 409 A Street

Ellinwood

2/4/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Joseph’s Parish Center, 110 W. 2nd St.

Great Bend

2/27/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Polk Street Building, 1309 Polk Street

2/9/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Barton County Community College, 245 N.E. 30 Road

2/16/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4124 Broadway

2/9/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, 4801 10th St

2/20/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Great Bend, 5851 Eisenhower Ave

Hoisington

2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hoisington Activity Center, 1200 Susank

Bourbon

Fort Scott

2/17/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott

2/18/2026: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott

Butler

Andover

2/19/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Andover High School, 1744 N. Andover Rd.

3/5/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., South Central Mental Health – Andover Campus, 221 King St

2/12/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Andover Central High School, 603 E. Central

Augusta

1/30/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church – Christian Life Center, 1501 State Street

Douglass

2/13/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Douglass High School, 921 E. 1st St.

El Dorado

2/24/2026: 11:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 430 Eunice

3/4/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Butler Community College 500 Building Multi-Purpose Center, 901 S. Haverhill

Leon

3/3/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bluestem High School, 500 Bluestem Drive

Rosalia

3/4/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Hills HIgh School, 806 SE Rosalia Rd

Rose Hill

1/31/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Rose Hill Christian Church, 314 Rose Hill Road

Cheyenne

Saint Francis

3/5/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 202 N College

Clay

Clay Center

2/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Clay County Medical Center, 617 Liberty

Longford

2/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Building, 107 Weda St

Cloud

Concordia

2/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., OCCK Inc, 1502 Lincoln Street

2/17/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cloud County Community College, 2221 Campus

2/19/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Catholic Church, 307 East 5th

Comanche

Protection

2/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grace Bible Church, 500 South Broadway

Cowley

Arkansas City

2/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 206 W Central

2/5/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Cowley County Community College, 225 S. 2nd

Winfield

3/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1000 Millington

Crawford

Frontenac

2/2/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 100 S. Cherokee

Girard

2/10/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 109 W St John

Dickinson

Abilene

2/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Memorial Health System, 511 NE 10th

Douglas

Baldwin City

2/11/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Baker University, 524 Sixth St.

Lawrence

2/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Parkway

2/13/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Parkway

3/5/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Crown Automotive, 3430 Iowa

Elk

Howard

2/18/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., West Elk High School, 1199 KS-99

Ellis

Hays

3/2/2026: 8:45 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, 1701 Hall St.

1/30/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

1/31/2026: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/3/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/4/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/5/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/6/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/10/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/11/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/13/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/18/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/19/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/24/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/25/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/26/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/28/2026: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

3/3/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

3/4/2026: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

3/6/2026: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hays Blood Donation Center, 208 E. 8th St

2/17/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Hays High School, 2300 E. 13th St.

2/2/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Hays, 305 W 7th St.

3/3/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fort Hays State University Union, 600 Park St.

Victoria

3/2/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Victoria High School, 1107  E. 10th St.

Finney

Garden City

2/20/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Garden Valley Church, 1701 N 3rd St

2/24/2026: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Fraternal Order of the Eagles #3124, 2603 N Taylor Ave

2/4/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Catherine Hospital, 401 E Spruce

2/11/2026: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Garden City Community College, 801 Campus Drive

Ford

Dodge City

2/9/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Dodge City Public Library, 1001 N 2nd Ave

2/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Senior Center, 2408 Central Ave.

2/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dodge City Community College Student Union, 2501 North 14th Street

Franklin

Ottawa

2/2/2026: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Cherry Street Wesleyan Church, 933 N Cherry St

Geary

Fort Riley

2/10/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Irwin Army Community Hospital, 650 Huebner Rd

Junction City

2/11/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., JCNaz, 1025 S Washington

Graham

Hill City

2/11/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hill City High School, 1 Ringneck Dr.

Grant

Ulysses

3/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grant County Fairground, 1000 W Patterson Ave

Gray

Cimarron

2/9/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Gray County Rec Center, 17002 HWY 50

Montezuma

2/2/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Morningside Community Church, 100 N Apache Dr

Greeley

Tribune

2/24/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 4-H Building, 905 Ingalls Ave

Greenwood

Eureka

2/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Methodist Church, 521 N. Main

Madison

2/6/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Madison High School, 1500 Southwest Blvd.

Harper

Anthony

3/2/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chaparral High School, 467 N. State Rd. 14

Attica

2/4/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Attica High School, 718 N. Main

Harper

2/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 154 E. Highway 160

Harvey

Halstead

2/18/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Gardenview Mennonite Church, 11626 NW 36th Street

2/9/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Halstead Baptist Church, 525 Harvey St

Newton

2/25/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Salem United Methodist Church, 115 Old Main Street

2/26/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Salem United Methodist Church, 115 Old Main Street

Sedgwick

3/5/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Sedgwick High School, 400 W. 4th

Haskell

Sublette

2/25/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sublette High School, 501 S Ellis

Jewell

Jewell

2/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Jewell Community Building, 214 Delaware

Kingman

Kingman

2/3/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kingman High School, 260 Kansas

Kiowa

Greensburg

3/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Kiowa County Community Building, 720 N Bay St

Labette

Chetopa

2/19/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Stutzman Residence, 6087 Trego Rd

Parsons

2/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Shared Faith Community, 1500 S. 29th

2/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Shared Faith Community, 1500 S. 29th

Lane

Dighton

2/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Theresa Parish Center, 335 S 1st St

Linn

Pleasanton

3/5/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Pleasanton High School, 1001 Ash St.

Logan

Oakley

2/23/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., United Christian Church, 219 Center Street

Lyon

Allen

3/4/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Northern Heights High School, 1208 Road 345

Emporia

2/25/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Emporia State University Memorial Union, 1200 Commercial

2/26/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Emporia State University Memorial Union, 1200 Commercial

3/3/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Newman Regional Health, 1201 W. 12th Ave.

3/4/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Newman Regional Health, 1201 W. 12th Ave.

2/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness, 1519 Merchant St

3/6/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Timmerman Elementary, 2901 Timmerman Dr.

2/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, 2931 W 24th Avenue

2/26/2026: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Emporia High School, 3302 W. 18th Ave.

2/23/2026: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Logan Elementary School, 521 S. East Street

Hartford

3/2/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Community Building, 117 Commercial St.

Marion

Goessel

2/9/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Goessel Church, 109 S. Church

Hillsboro

2/18/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wohlgemuth Building, 400 S. Jefferson

2/23/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hillsboro High School, 500 E. Grand

Lost Springs

2/17/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Centre High School, 2374 310th St.

Marion

2/2/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Marion High School, 701 E. Main

Marshall

Axtell

2/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Axtell KS High School, 504 Pine St

Frankfort

3/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Presbyterian Church, 508 N Kansas

Home

3/4/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Blue Valley Community Building, 1557 Pony Express Highway

Marysville

2/18/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Valley Vet Supply – Warehouse 3, 1115 Pony Express Hwy

McPherson

Inman

2/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Peters United Church of Christ, 111 N Pine

Lindsborg

3/3/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Bethany College – Wallerstedt Library, 235 E Swensson Ave

Mc Pherson

2/11/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., McPherson College, 1600 Euclid

2/19/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., McPherson High School, 801 E. 1st

Moundridge

2/26/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Pine Village Wellness Center, 86 22nd Ave

Meade

Meade

2/6/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Emmanuel Mennonite Church, 415 Green St.

Plains

2/23/2026: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Plains Community Center, 812 Grand Ave

Mitchell
Beloit
2/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fort Hays Tech North Central Wellness Center Gym, 3033 US Hwy 24
2/6/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fort Hays Tech North Central Wellness Center Gym, 3033 US Hwy 24
Tipton
3/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Building, 400 Main St.

Montgomery
Cherryvale
2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Cherryvale Community Center, 712 S Liberty St
Independence
2/13/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Civic Center, 410 N Pennsylvania

Morris
White City
3/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., White City High School, 414 E Goodnow St

Nemaha
Centralia
2/27/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Centralia School, 507 John Riggins Ave
Seneca
2/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Community Building, 1500 Community Drive

Neosho
Erie
2/11/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion, 321 S. Main St.
Galesburg

2/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Galesburg Christian Church, 205 Chestnut

Osborne
Downs
3/5/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Memorial Hall, 500 Morgan Ave

Pawnee
Larned
2/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Columbus Club, 1216 M Rd

Pottawatomie
St George
2/20/2026: 8:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rock Creek High School, 9353 Flush Rd Wamego
2/19/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., PLC Building (District Office), 1008 8th Street
2/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 600 Lincoln Ave
3/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 600 Lincoln Ave
2/17/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Wamego Health Center Heritage Building, 702 Country Club Circle
2/25/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wamego High School, 801 Lincoln Street

Pratt
Pratt
2/20/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Pratt First United Methodist Church, 100 N Jackson St

Rawlins
Atwood
2/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church, 808 1st St

Reno
Hutchinson

2/11/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Clayworks, 1125 N Main Street
2/10/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hutchinson Community College Student Union, 1300 N Plum St
2/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, 1701 East 23rd
2/25/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Prairieland Partners, 1800 S. Lorraine
2/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Center Amish Mennonite Church, 7611 W Morgan Ave

Republic
Belleville
2/24/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Republic County 4-H Building, 901 O Street
Cuba
2/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 200 Baird Street

Rice
Lyons
3/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Faith Bible Church, 102 S Coronado St
Sterling
2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 137 N. Broadway

Riley
Manhattan
2/12/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Manhattan City Hall, 1101 Poyntz
2/13/2026: 8:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Manhattan City Hall, 1101 Poyntz
2/24/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kansas Department of Agriculture, 1320 Research Park Dr
1/30/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Coles Hall, 1620 Denison Avenue
2/4/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Holiday Inn Manhattan At The Campus, 1641 Anderson Ave
2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Manhattan At The Campus, 1641 Anderson Ave
2/18/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ascension Via Christi, 1823 College Ave
2/16/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Thomas More, 2900 Kimball
2/26/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Manhattan Senior Center, 301 N 4th St

Rooks
Plainville
2/23/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rooks County Health Center, 1210 N Washington
2/2/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 301 S Broadway St

Stockton
2/25/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Stockton High School, 105 N. Cypress

Rush
La Crosse
2/10/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., LaCrosse City Auditorium, 417 Main St.

Saline
Salina
1/30/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
1/31/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/1/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/7/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/8/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/9/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/13/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/14/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/15/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/16/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/20/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/21/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/22/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/27/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/28/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
3/1/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
3/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
3/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Salina Blood Donation Center, 120 W. Prescott
2/9/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 122 N. 8th
3/4/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sunrise Presbyterian, 825 E. Beloit
3/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sunrise Presbyterian, 825 E. Beloit
3/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sunrise Presbyterian, 825 E. Beloit
2/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 845 S. Ohio

Sedgwick

Cheney
2/5/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cheney High School, 100 W. 6th Derby
2/23/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S Woodlawn Blvd
2/5/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S. Woodlawn Boulevard
Garden Plain
2/16/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Anthony’s School, 635 N. Main St. Goddard
2/4/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Eisenhower High School, 1230 S 167th St West
2/17/2026: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Goddard High School, 2500 S. 199th Haysville
2/14/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Haysville Community Library, 210 S Hays Ave Maize
2/22/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 208 E. Academy Ave. Mulvane
2/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Pix Center, 101 E. Main Street
Valley Center
2/16/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Valley Center Community Buliding, 316 E. Clay St.
Wichita
2/23/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., KAKE, 1500 N West St
2/4/2026: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chapel Hill Fellowship UMC, 1550 N. Chapel Hill St.
2/17/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., NetApp, 1850 Innovation Blvd
2/21/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Center, 1914 E 11th N
2/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Pathway Church, 2001 N. Maize Rd.
3/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., LaQuinta Inn and Suites Wichita, 2660 N Greenwich Court
2/7/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Grant Chapel Church, 2750 N Hillside
2/2/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Jude Catholic Church, 3130 N. Amidon
3/1/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., All Saints Church, 3205 Grand
2/10/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
2/11/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
2/18/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
2/24/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
3/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
3/4/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wichita Plant Blood Donation Center, 3801 S. Oliver
2/5/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Decker Electric, 4500 W. Harry St.
2/11/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wesley Medical Center, 550 N Hillside

2/12/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Robert J Dole VA Medical Center and Regional Office, 5500 E.
Kellogg
2/8/2026: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 N. Greenwich
2/28/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., St Elizabeth Ann Seton, 645 N. 119th W.
2/12/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 707 N. Main
2/19/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 707 N. Main
1/30/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
1/31/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/2/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/3/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/4/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/6/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/7/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/9/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/10/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/11/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/13/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/14/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/16/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/17/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/18/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/20/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/21/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/23/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/24/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/25/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
2/27/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
3/1/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
3/2/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
3/3/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
3/4/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St
3/6/2026: 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main St

Seward
Liberal
2/19/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Southern Baptist Church, 621 N Western Ave.

Shawnee
Topeka
2/20/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Washburn Union, 1820 SW Jewell Ave

2/21/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, 2420 SE Bellview Ave
2/10/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wanamaker Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2435 SW Wanamaker Rd
2/4/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 SW Munson Ave.
2/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Townsite Tower, 534 S Kansas Ave
2/9/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 SW 8th St

Sheridan
Hoxie
2/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., 4-H Building, 1308 Main, Sheridan County Fairgrounds

Sherman
Goodland
2/12/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Methodist Church, 1116 Sherman Ave
 
Smith
Smith Center
2/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Guard Armory, 101 Armory Rd.
 
Stafford
St John
2/20/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Stafford County Annex, 210 E 3rd Ave

Sumner
Argonia
3/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Plains Church, 102 N Argonia Rd
Oxford
2/24/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 120 West Clark, PO Box 578
 
Thomas
Colby

2/13/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Colby Community College, 1225 S Range Ave
3/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Methodist Church, 950 S Franklin
3/4/2026: 7:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Methodist Church, 950 S Franklin

Trego
Wakeeney
2/12/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Trego County-Lempke Memorial Hospital, 320 N 13th St

Washington
Washington
2/26/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., KSDS Training Center, 124 W. 7th Street

Wilson
Fredonia
3/4/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Fredonia High School, 916 Robinson

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

 

Connection Over Perfection: A 2026 Goal

By
Guest Columnist
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0

Now that the year is well underway and we have entered the month of February, many families continue to feel pressure to start “better”—to create perfect routines, follow strict schedules, and make immediate changes. The first months of the year often come with high expectations and quiet comparisons. However, research on child development and family well-being is clear: perfection does not strengthen families; connection does.

As February moves forward and daily life settles into its rhythm, this is an ideal time to pause and reflect—not on what is missing, but on how we are relating to one another. Studies on attachment, resilience, and social-emotional development show that children thrive when they feel emotionally safe, heard, and valued. These bonds are not built in error-free homes, but through consistent, responsive relationships.

Family connection is nurtured in everyday moments: conversations during meals, unexpected laughter, shared play, or simply being emotionally available at the end of the day. Evidence also shows that when adults prioritize connection over perfection, family stress decreases and emotional well-being improves. In contrast, pressure to “do everything right” often leads to exhaustion and emotional distance.

Rather than rigid resolutions, families can set simple, evidence-based intentions: listening with attention, spending quality time together without screens, and creating small family rituals. Simple actions—such as a weekly device-free evening, a short walk together, or a safe space to express emotions—help build trust, communication, and a sense of belonging.

Many families continue to face fatigue, financial stress, or uncertainty. Developmental science reminds us that it is not necessary to have everything figured out in order to move forward. Small, consistent moments of connection have a deeply meaningful and lasting impact. This year does not demand perfection, but compassion, patience, and presence. In the end, what lasts most are not perfect routines, but the moments when we feel seen, heard, and truly connected.

Connection over perfection. Start with one small step today. Find family resources for connection on the K-State Extension Sedgwick County website.

For more information: Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, K-State Extension Sedgwick County Home and Family Agent, [email protected].

2026 KRC Food and Farm Conference.

By
Guest Columnist
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0

It is almost time for the 2026 KRC Food and Farm Conference. I am excited about the program we are pulling together. This year’s agenda spans a wide range of topics, including cooperatives, local food system building, farm infrastructure, conservation, livestock management, energy production and efficiency. Together, these sessions reflect a variety of ways Kansans are working to respond to the complex challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities.

Twenty years ago this spring, my family and I moved back to Kansas to start a farm. Our goal was to farm sustainably, beginning with organic vegetable production. At the time, I was studying sustainable agriculture in Minnesota and was familiar with the strong networks and support systems that existed around those ideas in the Upper Midwest. When I returned to Kansas, I participated in the Growing Growers program, without realizing at the time that the Kansas Rural Center had helped start it. I also connected with organic growers in Northeast Kansas and became involved with the Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance, still unaware of how closely these efforts were tied to KRC.

For a long time, I struggled to find my place within the broader, statewide farming community. That changed when I first attended a Kansas Rural Center Conference. I do not remember exactly what year that was, only that it was well into my farming journey. What I do remember is how engaging the conversations were, how valuable the presentations seemed and how interesting the other attendees were. I found the ideas being shared to be energizing and the sense of community to be inspiring.

Now, I find myself looking at the conference from the other side, working to shape an agenda that speaks to people who are looking to build a more sustainable future for rural Kansas. From my perspective, one of the most encouraging changes over the past two decades is how much that community in Kansas seems to have grown. Today, there are many spaces where farmers, conservationists, food system advocates and rural Kansans can come together to talk about soil health and conservation, local food systems, alternative farm economics, and more. I am proud that KRC continues to play a central role in connecting these diverse conversations and building community around a shared vision for a stronger, more resilient Kansas.

Join Kansas Rural Center at this year’s Food and Farm Conference on February 14th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SpringHill Suites, Lawrence, KS. In celebration of our 47th year championing the health of the land and people of Kansas, tickets are just $47.

Gather with old friends and meet new ones including farmers, organizations, and community members, for a day of collaboration, connection, and vision-building as we explore how to strengthen our communities and support one another in changing times.

 

The Eichers Enjoy Fun in the Snow and Celebrate Birthdays

By
Guest Columnist
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0

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen
Lovina Eitcher,
Old Order Amish
Cook, Wife &
Mother of Eight

We have entered the month of February already. Today is Groundhog Day and it looks like Mr. Groundhog says six more weeks of winter. Either way it seems we get six more weeks or more either way. We have had a real winter so far with cold weather and lots of snow. Maybe if we get it all at once we will have an early spring. I am looking forward to warm weather again even if it also brings gardening, mowing, pesty flies, etc. Once you hit the mid-fifties snow isn’t so fun to play in anymore. Haha! Our younger generation in the family have had lots of fun with sled rides. We had two horse drawn sleighs when we lived in Indiana and we sold them. My husband Joe said he now wishes we would have kept at least one. Daughter Lovina and Daniel’s horse Buddy is a really good horse to pull the sled. When they fall off, he’ll stop and wait on them. He senses when the sled is empty and knows to stop. It’s like he knows that he has to go fast to throw them off, then stop. 

We have several birthdays this week. Joanna (son Benjamin’s special friend) has a birthday on February 4th. Daughter-in-law Grace has one on February 6th and granddaughter Andrea will be 4 on February 14th. I wish them all a Happy Birthday and many more happy healthy years ahead. Son-in-law Mose’s birthday was on February 5th. You are gone but never forgotten dear Mose. Another birthday we can’t forget is my very special friend that does so much for me. Happy February 9th Birthday Ruth! Thank you for all you do for me! I’m pretty sure without her encouragement I would not still be writing this column. Also Ruth, I’ll be nice and not say your age in here, Haha! 

Daughter Elizabeth told me that Allison, 6, asked Andrea if she could bake a cake for her on her birthday. Andrea shook her head no and her eyes got really big and she said, “Noo! Grandma is going to bake me a cake.” Allison starts giggling, rolls her eyes and said, “No, Grandma doesn’t bake you a birthday cake. She gives you a BIRTHDAY GIFT!” Recently when the children were off school for over a week due to the weather Allison was pretty scared that teacher Brooklyn would not remember their names when they came back to school. She is quite the little talker. 

Friday I went with son Kevin to his doctor’s appointment in Ann Arbor which is two hours from here. It makes a long day for him and also for me. I’m so thankful to have the health to be his caregiver. Friday I had almost lost my voice which turned into a nasty cold. Now grandson Timothy (TJ) told his mom (daughter Elizabeth) that he is worried that Grandma might have the flu because she can barely talk. Such sweet innocence!

Son Joseph and Grace brought supper in here Friday night. He told our family that he is bringing enough for them all to come here for supper. They grilled ribs, chicken, hot dogs and potatoes. Also on the menu were green beans, cheese, ice cream, canned peaches, cookies and brownies. Daniel Ray and Verena had plans already to go to his parents for the night. His uncle and aunt from Minnesota were there visiting. Dustin and Loretta stayed home too as she wasn’t feeling too good. This cold weather sure doesn’t agree with someone that has muscular dystrophy. I think they will all be glad once we have warmer weather. If they want to venture outside their paths have to be cleared so their scooters don’t get stuck in the snow. God controls the weather so we will be patient and accept whatever he sends. 

Sister Verena spent a few days with daughter Verena and Daniel Ray then she came here the rest of the week. She is now staying with my sister Emma. She is also going to be glad when warmer weather is here. God’s blessings!

This recipe is in my cookbook The Essential Amish Cookbook.

Carrot Cake

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups carrots, peeled and grated

1/2 cup nuts, chopped

Beat eggs, sugar, and oil at medium speed until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add egg mixture and mix until blended. Fold carrots and nuts into batter and stir until well blended.

Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool.

Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and butter until well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread over cooled cake.

 

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her three cookbooks, The Cherished Table, The Essential Amish Cookbook, and Amish Family Recipes, are available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email [email protected] and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.

 

More than 100,000 pounds of invasive fish removed from a single river

By
Guest Columnist
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0

Wildlife crews in Kansas have hauled an extraordinary volume of invasive carp out of a single Midwestern river, removing more than 100,000 pounds of fish that were crowding out native species and disrupting a major waterway. The operation on the Kansas River has turned a routine management problem into a vivid case study in how far agencies now have to go to keep invasive species in check. It is also forcing a practical question that goes far beyond one state: what do you do with 109,000 pounds of unwanted fish once they are on land?

Officials in Kansas are leaning on a mix of science, logistics, and old-fashioned persistence to answer that question, turning a river full of invasive carp into a test bed for nutrient recycling and ecosystem repair. I see their effort as part of a broader shift in conservation, where removing harmful species is only the first step, and closing the loop on waste, energy, and local economies is quickly becoming just as important.

The headline figure is hard to ignore: crews working the Kansas River have pulled more than 109,000 pounds of invasive carp from a single river system. State officials describe the Kansas River as one of the most important waterways in the region, a corridor that supports drinking water, recreation, and habitat across a large swath of Kansas. When that much biomass is removed from any ecosystem, it signals just how thoroughly these fish had taken hold and how aggressively managers now feel compelled to respond.

Biologists and technicians have framed the work as a long term campaign rather than a one off cleanup, with Kansas wildlife workers keeping steady pressure on the invaders as they move through the river. Reporting from KSNThighlights how the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, often shortened to KDWP, has treated the Kansas River as a priority front in the fight against invasive carp, reflecting both the scale of the infestation and the stakes for the state.

Why invasive carp are such a serious threat

Invasive carp are not just another nuisance fish, they are ecosystem engineers that can reshape entire rivers. Kansas currently has three species of these carp, and biologists warn that they can reach large sizes, consume huge amounts of plankton, and outcompete native fish that depend on the same food base. When populations explode, the result is a river that looks healthy on the surface but is quietly losing biodiversity and resilience beneath the waterline, a pattern that has already played out in other parts of the central United States.

State experts have described how these carp can jump, crowd boats, and even pose safety risks to anglers and paddlers, but the deeper concern is what they do to the food web and water quality. Coverage of the Kansas River operation notes that the KDWP has, for years, tried to slow the spread of the invasive fish, with staff like invasive species specialist Liam Odell explaining how quickly they can dominate once established in a system like the Kansas River.

How Kansas wildlife workers pulled it off

Removing more than 100,000 pounds of fish from a flowing river is a logistical feat, and Kansas crews have leaned on a mix of nets, boats, and careful timing to make it work. Biologists have targeted stretches of the Kansas River where carp tend to congregate, using specialized gear to corral and capture them while minimizing harm to native species. The work is labor intensive, with teams spending long hours on the water, then coordinating trucks, holding tanks, and processing sites once the fish are brought to shore.

Accounts from the field describe how Kansas wildlife workers are keeping up the pressure on the invasive species, treating each removal as part of a broader strategy rather than a one time sweep. The scale of the operation has drawn attention precisely because it shows what it now takes to manage a river that has been heavily invaded, and it underscores why agencies like KDWP have made the Kansas River one of their most important battlegrounds in the fight against invasive carp.

What happens to 109,000 pounds of fish on land

Once the carp are out of the water, the story shifts from biology to waste management and resource recovery. Kansas officials have been explicit that the invasive carp removed from the Kansas River are not simply dumped in a landfill or left to rot. Instead, they are used for nutrient recycling, turning what would otherwise be a disposal problem into a source of fertilizer and other byproducts that can be put back into the economy in a controlled way.

State agencies have described this approach as a way to close the loop after large scale removals, making sure that the environmental benefits of taking carp out of the river are not offset by new problems on land. Reporting on the operation notes that more than 109,000 pounds of carp from the Kansas River have been routed into these nutrient recycling streams, a volume that gives Kansas a real world laboratory for scaling up such systems.

Nutrient recycling and the push to close the loop

The idea of nutrient recycling is simple in theory but complex in practice: take organic material that would otherwise be waste and convert it into something useful, such as soil amendments or inputs for industrial processes. In the case of the Kansas River carp, officials say the fish are processed so that their nutrients can be returned to the land in a controlled way, rather than decomposing in the river or in unmanaged piles. That approach aligns with a broader shift in conservation, where the goal is not only to remove harmful species but also to reduce the environmental footprint of the removal itself.

Details from Kansas emphasize that this is not an ad hoc experiment but a deliberate strategy to handle large volumes of biomass generated by invasive species control. The state has framed the carp program as part of a larger effort to keep resources circulating, with NEED and KNOW style summaries highlighting how Kansas officials are trying to keep the system as circular as possible after each major removal from the Kansas River.

The Kansas River as a test case for other states

What is happening on the Kansas River is already being watched by other regions grappling with their own invasive carp problems. The river flows through a landscape where agriculture, cities, and wildlife all intersect, making it a useful proxy for many other mixed use watersheds in the central United States. If Kansas can show that it is possible to remove more than 100,000 pounds of invasive fish, protect native species, and still find productive uses for the carcasses, that model is likely to appeal to other states facing similar pressures.

Reports on the Kansas effort repeatedly point to the river’s importance for the state, which helps explain why Kansas has invested so heavily in this work. The Kansas River is not just a local fishing spot, it is a backbone for communities and ecosystems, and that status has pushed agencies to experiment with more ambitious strategies. Coverage that references Kansas officials underscores how the state is positioning itself as a leader in invasive carp management, with lessons that could travel well beyond its borders.

Positive effects and early signs of recovery

Removing such a large mass of carp is not just a symbolic victory, it has measurable effects on the river’s health. Wildlife workers involved in similar efforts have spoken about the positive effects that follow when harmful species are taken out of a waterway, from improved water clarity to better conditions for native fish and invertebrates. In the Kansas River, the expectation is that each round of removals will give native species more room to rebound, especially in stretches where carp had become dominant.

One account of workers removing a jaw dropping 100,000 pounds of harmful creatures from a U.S. waterway notes how quickly local ecosystems can start to rebalance once the pressure from invasives is reduced. Writer Susan Elizabeth Turek describes how Wildlife crews have seen encouraging shifts after large removals, with fewer carp leaving more food and space for native fish that had been pushed to the margins. Those observations line up with what biologists in Kansas hope to see along the Kansas River as their own 109,000 pound haul starts to ripple through the food web.

The human side of a massive river cleanup

Behind every ton of carp pulled from the Kansas River are people who spend their days on boats, in waders, and at processing sites, doing work that is physically demanding and often underappreciated. These wildlife workers are not just technicians, they are the front line of a long running effort to keep ecosystems from tipping too far out of balance. Their jobs blend science and manual labor, from reading river conditions and fish behavior to hauling nets and coordinating transport once the fish are out of the water.

Profiles of similar operations highlight how crews take pride in seeing tangible results from their work, especially when they can point to cleaner water, healthier native fish, or safer conditions for local communities. In one account, Photo Credit notes that Wildlife teams have removed more than 100,000 pounds of harmful fish from a U.S. waterway, a reminder that the Kansas River project is part of a broader pattern of intensive, hands on conservation work playing out across the country.

What comes next for Kansas and its carp problem

Even after 109,000 pounds of carp have been removed, no one in Kansas is pretending the job is finished. Invasive species management rarely offers clean endings, and the Kansas River will likely need ongoing attention to keep carp numbers from surging back. I see the current effort as a foundation rather than a finale, a proof of concept that shows what is possible when agencies commit to sustained, large scale action and pair it with thoughtful planning for what happens to the biomass they collect.

Future phases are likely to build on the same pillars that define the current campaign: targeted removals, close monitoring of native species, and continued investment in nutrient recycling so that each new haul of carp can be turned into a resource rather than a burden. Kansas officials have already signaled, through detailed explanations of how they handled more than 109 thousand pounds of fish from the Kansas River, that they see this as an evolving system. If they can keep refining it, the state’s experience may offer one of the clearest roadmaps yet for dealing with invasive carp at scale while keeping both rivers and communities in mind.

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