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Month: September 2012
Hays to Host Economic Outlook Conference
Western Kansans have a chance to find out what experts think about the regional economic outlook.
A conference focusing on the state and regional economy will be held in Hays October 18 at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center
The annual event, held at Wichita State University for more than 30 years, is sponsored by the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development.
“Jeremy Hill is Director of the WSU Center for Economic Development and Business Research, ” says ECC Executive Director Aaron White. “He’ll provide recorded comments from JPMorgan Chase and Westar Energy executives about the global and national economy. Several regional and state experts will be present to talk about the local business forecast for the coming year.”
More information and registration is available online at www.hays.cedbr.org.
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FHSU Identified As Military Friendly For Fifth Year
Victory Media has named Fort Hays State University as a military friendly school for a fifth consecutive year. Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business founded in 2001.
The 2013 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
“Inclusion on the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools shows FHSU’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Director for G.I. Jobs Magazine and vice president at Victory Media. “As interest in education grows, we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”
The 1,739 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.
“Having won this honor several years, it speaks highly to our commitment to the military and to the support staff we have in place to assist them in their education,” said Dennis King, director of the Virtual College and learning technologies at FHSU. “We enjoy having military students in our program because they bring high-quality and real-world experience that helps out all our students.”
Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board consisting of educators from schools across the country.
A full story and detailed list of 2013 Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.
The guide and associated media will also be featured at the Carrier Classic college basketball game on Nov. 9, anchored by a playoff between Ohio State University and Marquette University on the deck of the USS Yorktown. Both participating schools are on this year’s list of Military Friendly Schools®.
~ courtesy University Relations
Gay Caucus Leader Criticizes Kansas House Democrat
The leader of the Kansas Democratic Party’s gay caucus says a complaint he filed against a veteran Kansas House Democrat raises a legitimate question about whether she broke state ethics laws.
But caucus chairman Ryon Carey also said Thursday that Rep. Jan Pauls of Hutchinson has a bad voting record that puts her more in line with Republicans.
Carey’s complaint says Pauls failed to publicly disclose her ownership of a rental property. The Governmental Ethics Commission plans a hearing Oct. 24.
Gay rights advocates want to oust Pauls because of her conservative votes on social issues. She sees Carey’s complaint as part of that effort.
She also says she didn’t think she had to disclose her ownership in the rental property because it didn’t produce any income.
Manhattan Teen Pleads To Killing Classmate
A Manhattan teenager has avoided a first-degree murder trial by pleading no contest in last year’s killing of a high school classmate.
16-year-old Cole Drake faced trial as an adult next week for the fatal shooting of Tyler Dowling, a 14-year-old Manhattan High School freshman.
Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson announced Thursday that Drake pleaded no contest Wednesday evening to second-degree murder, robbery, and numerous counts of vehicle burglary. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29.
Dowling was found dead in a field in April 2011.
Authorities said Drake told investigators the two were out breaking into cars the night of the shooting. He said he accidentally shot Dowling once, then shot him again because he didn’t want Dowling to tell anyone what he did.
Report: Kansans Growing Fatter Along with Most Americans
NEW YORK — We Americans already know how fat we are. Can it get much worse?
Apparently, yes, according to an advocacy group that predicts that by 2030 more than half the people in the vast majority of states will be obese.
Kansas is predicted to go from a 30 percent rate of obesity to 62 percent. Mississippi is expected to retain its crown as the fattest state in the nation for at least two more decades.
The new projections were released Tuesday by Trust for America’s Health with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The group’s dismal forecast goes beyond the 42 percent national obesity level that federal health officials project by 2030. The group predicts every state would have rates above 44 percent by that time, although it didn’t calculate an overall national average.
About two-thirds of Americans are overweight now. That includes those who are obese, a group that accounts for about 36 percent. Obesity rates have been holding steady in recent years. Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index of 30 or more, a measure of weight for height.
Trust for America’s Health officials said their projections are based in part on state-by-state surveys by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1999 through 2010.
By 2030, medical costs from treating obesity-related diseases are likely to increase by $48 billion, to $66 billion per year, his report said.
Kansas Mayor Appointed to Kansas Department of Labor
TOPEKA, Kan. –Secretary of Labor Karin Brownlee announced today she has appointed Michael Copeland as Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor.
Copeland will officially take over this role on October 1.
He has served as Mayor of Olathe since 2001 and previously served as president of Security Savings Bank.
KS Main Street Program Ending in KDOC Restructure
TOPEKA– A restructuring of the Kansas Department of Commerce announced Thursday combines the Trade Division with the Business and Community Development Division, and also ends the Kansas Main Street program.
In addition, writes KDOC Secretary Pat George in an emailed letter, there will be consolidation of certain workforce services positions into the business development functions. “The Department is implementing a restructuring that will allow us to be more cost efficient while still working effectively with Kansas businesses and communities,” he said.
According to George, by combining the Trade and Business and Community Development Divisions, KDOC can better integrate programs that help companies promote their products and services in international markets
with business recruitment and community development efforts.
The 2012 Main Street conference scheduled for Oct. 17-19 in Emporia will be cancelled.
George says the goal of helping to revitalize downtown areas will use other resources available through the remaining Business and Community Development programs.
Add this to your fall to-do list:
What’s your favorite wild animal?
They might be cute at the zoo, but not in your attic. So add these steps to your fall to-do list to keep critters from moving into your house.
KHAZ Music News: Carrie Underwood And Brad Paisley Host CMA Awards Commercials
(AP) – Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are doing their part to promote the CMA Awards which they will co-host for the fifth time. The awards show airs on November 1, but viewers can catch a glimpse of the two in a series of funny new commercials. Underwood and Paisley as restaurant hosts, Underwood and Paisley as children’s birthday party hosts and the duo as bingo night co-hosts. In the restaurant clip, Paisley wears a gigantic foam cowboy hat and plays a short jingle every time he asks customers how many people are in their party. Underwood wears a short sequined dress and a headset as she welcomes people to “Danny’s.” The point being? The two should stick to their day jobs as musicians and once a year take on duties as co-hosts of the CMA Awards.
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University Employees Pay Raise Part of Regents Budget
TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents has approved a request to seek an additional $47.1 million in funding for higher education in 2013.
Thursday’s vote comes as Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is telling state agencies to prepare for tight budgets in the coming year, including requesting information on how state government would implement a 10 percent cut in spending.
Regents began working on the request this summer, originally receiving a list of priorities totaling $185 million for the 32-institution system.
The final list includes a 1 percent pay increase for the 18,000 employees working on university campuses.
Regents say the request is realistic given projections that the state will be faced with reduced revenues as cuts in income tax take effect in January 2013.
Bonfire-Building at TMP Marian High School
Volunteers working hard Thursday morning to create a HUGE pile of wood pallets for tonight’s TMP Marian High School Homecoming bonfire and pep rally.
The annual homecoming parade along Main Street is set for 5:30p.m. Friday, lead by grand marshals Randy and Carol Brull, longtime TMP Marian teachers.
You can watch a replay of the parade next week on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 at 11 a.m. and 4p.m.