The new 2026-28 Official State Bicycle Map of Kansas is now available from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Whether riding a few miles or cycling across the state, this edition offers a variety of information to help active transportation users plan a short trip or a long ride.

State bicycle maps and educational flyers with bicycle safety tips are free and can be ordered on KDOT’s website at http://www.ksdot.gov/KSBikeMap.

“Rail-Trails and the U.S. Bicycle Route System maps are included in the publication and showcase historic and unique places to visit along these routes,” said KDOT’s Active Transportation Manager Jenny Kramer. “We want residents and visitors alike to experience a few of the many venues and sights Kansas offers by bike while participating in active lifestyles.”

The map features color-coded highways to help riders distinguish traffic levels and varying route widths to show where shoulders are paved and wider than 3 feet. For those wanting to avoid highways, county roads are also shown using the same color coding for traffic ranges and denote whether they are paved or unpaved.

Additional features include:

• Rest areas and bike shops
• State parks and scenic byways
• Hospitals with 24-hour emergency care
• Past Biking Across Kansas routes

In addition, details and contact information on the new Kansas Trails Inc. organization are available. According to the group, its mission is to provide the resources, support and community connections needed to make trails across the state accessible and sustainable for everyone.

For more information or to order maps, send an email to [email protected] or call Kramer at 785-296-5186.

New federal tax changes will affect some seniors and car buyers beginning in the 2025 tax year, providing potential deductions on income for seniors and certain vehicle purchases, according to Andrew Zumwalt, director of the University of Missouri’s Personal Financial Planning program.

Deduction for filers 65 and older

For taxpayers age 65 or older by the end of the year, the law allows a deduction of up to $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples filing jointly, assuming both spouses are age 65 or older.

“While this tax benefit is often referred to as ‘no tax on Social Security,’ it doesn’t have any connection to receiving Social Security, Zumwalt said.

The benefit phases out for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes above $75,000 and married couples filing jointly above $150,000. The deduction is in addition to the standard deduction and is in effect for tax years 2025 through 2028.

“Many seniors will see a reduction in their federal taxable income because of this change,” he said. “But it’s important to remember this doesn’t change Social Security payments themselves, and it doesn’t reduce state income taxes in Missouri.”

Deduction for qualifying car loan interest

The new law also provides a deduction for interest paid on loans for certain new vehicles purchased after Dec. 31, 2024, for personal use. Taxpayers can deduct up to $10,000 of interest per year. Eligible vehicles include cars, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks and motorcycles. Vehicles must weigh less than 14,000 pounds, and final assembly must take place in the United States. Lenders must provide a statement of interest paid for tax filing purposes.

The deduction begins to phase out for single filers with incomes above $100,000 and married couples filing jointly with incomes above $200,000. Like the senior exemption, this deduction is “below the line” and does not affect state tax returns in Missouri.

Zumwalt emphasized that both changes are intended to simplify tax benefits while keeping them separate from state tax calculations. Taxpayers claiming these deductions should maintain proper documentation, including tax returns and lender interest statements, to support their filings.

Zumwalt discussed these and other changes to federal income tax law at a recent training for volunteers in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, in which IRS-certified volunteers discuss and prepare tax returns for free.

Spring marks the peak season for dangerous storms, Redmond says.

Kansans are encouraged to review their severe weather plans during Severe Weather Awareness Week, set for March 2-6, with a statewide tornado drill scheduled at 10 a.m. CST (9 a.m. MST) Wednesday, March 4.

The annual campaign is designed to remind residents of the state’s wide range of weather hazards and the importance of preparation, said Chip Redmond, a meteorologist at Kansas State University.

“Severe Weather Awareness comes in a multitude of forms,” Redmond said. “In Kansas, we get pretty much every variety of severe weather.”

Spring marks the peak season. Heavy rain, flooding, tornadoes, hail, wind and lightning all become more frequent, especially in May. Activity typically increases in April and gradually declines through June and July, though severe weather can occur year-round.

“We’re slowly entering that time of the year where you need to know these hazards,” Redmond said. “You need to build situational awareness on what you’re going to do if these hazards do occur or are predicted.”

Kansas experienced an unusually quiet tornado year in 2025. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the state reported 30 tornadoes, well below the 1950-2020 average of 61 and sharply lower than the 69 reported in 2024. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The most active day was May 18, when 20 tornadoes touched down.

While tornadoes often draw the most attention, Redmond said they are only part of the severe weather threat.

On average, Kansas records nearly 300 reports of severe hail — stones at least 1 inch in diameter — each year. Larger hail, though rare, can be as destructive as a tornado. Damaging winds, including those associated with squall lines, can reach speeds up to 100 mph and affect large regions.

Heavy rain and flash flooding also pose significant dangers.

“Never drive through flooded roads. Turn around,” Redmond said. “You don’t know what’s underneath that water.”

Lightning is another often-overlooked hazard. Nationally, lightning kills dozens of people each year, sometimes in groups seeking shelter under trees. Redmond said the safest option during a thunderstorm is to go indoors, avoid windows and stay away from plumbing and electrical appliances until the storm passes.

Preparation begins with reliable information, he said. The National Weather Service website, weather.gov, local news outlets and weather radios provide dependable updates. Smartphone apps can be helpful but may fail during power outages or if cell service is disrupted.

“Everyone’s got a cell phone now, and there’s many, many ways to get information,” Redmond said. “But you need to know their limitations as well.”

He recommends having multiple ways to receive warnings, including a battery-powered weather radio. Residents also should familiarize themselves with maps and radar so they can better understand where storms are in relation to their location.

Having a plan is equally important. The safest indoor shelter is a basement or a windowless room on the lowest floor, such as an interior bathroom. Families should practice drills and designate meeting places in advance.

An emergency go-bag should include a flashlight, snacks and a battery-powered radio with fresh batteries. Items to comfort children, such as games, also can be helpful.

Planning is especially important for those who may be away from home when storms develop. Redmond advises monitoring forecasts before traveling and identifying sturdy shelter options along the route.

“If it’s a really high-end severe weather day, you’re going to hear about it,” he said. “Have a plan and be ready to enact it.”

Severe Weather Awareness Week offers an opportunity to review those plans and take part in the statewide drill, reinforcing what Redmond calls the most important step: “Have multiple ways of getting severe weather warnings in Kansas and then be able to enact on them and take proper shelter.”