Want to spend less time in your car? Consider these statistics: Nearly 40 percent of all road trips are less than 3 miles; 17 percent of every trip made is less than a mile; and of that 17 percent, 47 percent are made by car, according to the advocacy group Smart Growth America. That’s because 73 percent of Americans have absolutely no access to sidewalks or bike lanes, making the car their best and safest option.

Now that the 2013 session is over, and my staff and I are starting to focus on our interim projects, it is time to hear from the citizens of the 8th District. One of the best ways for me to represent my district is to frequently hold town hall meetings and discover what is important to you.

Summers always seemed endless and promising when we were growing up. There was no such thing as staying indoors in front of tv or lounging around in bed. Summertime meant playing outside from morning until dark. When the neighborhood moms would all seem to stand on the front porch and call out to their children; “Tommy, time to come home!” When you heard your mom calling, you would immediately stop what you were doing, whether it was sharing your grandiose life plans or swinging at an 0-2 pitch on a make-shift ball field in a vacant lot down the street. Our hearing must have been a lot more keen back then because I don’t remember any parent ever having to repeat the summons.

My evening walks with my daughter have become increasingly entertaining.

Last week, the Capitol Report focused on successful legislation in which I had a hand. This week I want to share some of the other bills that were “truly agreed to and finally passed” by the First Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly. Like the legislation I discussed last week, these bills have been sent to the governor’s desk, and he has 45 days to sign, veto or ignore (effectively agreeing to) each bill.

As college freshman, most U.S. students were once required to read the novel “1984” by George Orwell. Why? Perhaps to remind students of the evil of unbridled political power wielded by a ruling elite. Following on the heels of WWII, this novel was published in 1949 when Communism was growing in power. This was indeed a perilous time for the world and for nations standing for liberty of thought and action.

Now is a good time during this current bull stock market to explore the tax advantages of making gifts of appreciated stock to support your favorite charities. Many people don’t think about gifts other than cash, but you really should consider appreciated stock because of the tax advantages. And if you, like many of the generous people in our community, support a number of charities, a simple way to support these charities is through your charitable giving account (also known as a Donor Advised Fund) at your Community Foundation.

Sounds like a bad black and white horror movie that would come on Friday Fright Night back when we were kids, right?

Last Friday, May 17, marked the end of the First Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly. While the success of that session will certainly have different measurements for all legislators and for all who read this, I was especially pleased to pass a significant amount of quality legislation, including several Senate priorities.

I never thought that ending my high school career would make me feel as unique as I do. Others cannot wait to get out of this ‘prison’ called high school and start their new lives, whereas I feel like the amount of time left with my high school friends is dwindling, and I don’t know how to feel about it.

The growing season is getting off to a rocky start, but the annual Landscape Contest goes on. Despite the late, cool spring and the wet soil–to say nothing of temps varying from 36 to 91 degrees in just a couple of days–we know many Lee’s Summit residents will have beautiful yards and patios in time for the judging on June 15th-16th. (And isn’t it better to have a little too much rain than not enough?)

Community journalists rarely get the call to cover something as overwhelming or emotionally draining as a tornado.

There are roughly 1,000 businesses in and around Lee’s Summit that are active members of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce.

The concept of branding has been implemented in the most successful commercial organizations. Their mission is to differentiate themselves in highly competitive marketing arenas. Yet, the majority of charitable organizations fail when it comes to creating a brand personality which effects altruism.

Have you ever experienced chaos, grief, tragedy, even rejection, and it seems that everyone is there to help during the peak of the event?

As an involved community supporter, I have learned that you can only show up to take photos at an event like Fire Ops 101 so many times before someone will talk you into actually participating.

In 2006 and again in 2010, Money Magazine cited Lee’s Summit as one of the 100 Best Cities in the United States. The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce boasts on its website: “Lee’s Summit is an ideal place to live and work, providing a desirable lifestyle that everyone can enjoy –high-quality, affordable housing in safe neighborhoods endowed with fine schools and excellent health care facilities.”