(AP) – Apparently Lee Brice’s latest single “Hard 2 Love” isn’t actually all that hard to love. The title track to his current album has been certified gold for selling more than 500,000 digital downloads. It’s the second single off of Brice’s sophomore album and follows his hit “A Woman Like You” which went platinum.
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Kroger is recalling spinach sold at grocery stores in 15 states due to possible Listeria contamination.
The Kroger Fresh Selections Tender Spinach was sold in 10-ounze bags and had a “best if used by” date of Sept. 16. It has a universal product code, or UPC, of 011110916495. The grocer said Wednesday that if customers did buy the recalled product, they should return it to stores for a full refund or replacement.
No illnesses have been reported. Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have a weakened immune system.
The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, said the product was sold in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. The recall involves its Kroger, Jay C, Owen’s, Pay Less, Scott’s, Food 4 Less, Dillons, Baker’s and Gerbes stores in selected states.
The California supplier, NewStar Fresh Foods, said that recall is being done out of an abundance of caution after a single package yielded a positive test result by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
The Hays Police Department conducted 22 traffic stops and received eight animal calls on Wednesday, according to the Police Activity Log.
Disturbance: The Hays Police Department investigate two reports of disturbance on Wednesday. The first disturbance report was a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of East 20th Street at 5:24AM. The second disturbance was reported in the 600 block of Ash Street at 9:45 Wednesday evening.
Sex Offense: Officers began an investigation into the report of a sex offense in the 700 block of West 12th Street in the early morning hours Wednesday. The alleged incident occurred between 2:00AM and 4:00AM.
Civil Dispute: The Hays PD responded to the report of a civil dispute in the 300 block of West 14th Street at 1:15 Wednesday afternoon.
Burglary: Officers began a pair of investigations into burglary reports on Wednesday. The first report was in the 400 block of East 6th Wednesday morning between 12:00 and 6:52AM. A vehicle burglary reported was in the 200 block of East 7th Street Wednesday morning. The alleged vehicle burglary occurred between 9:10 and 9:30AM.
Harassment: There were two reports of harassment on Wednesday. Officers investigated a report of harassment in the 3200 block of Vine Street at 10:14AM. The Hays PD officers also investigated a harassment case in the 2700 block of Epworth Street at 6:55PM Wednesday.
Vehicle Accident: The Hays Police Department received a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a personal injury in the 2700 block of Vine Street at 6:24PM.
The Eagle Radio Auction is back and it’s all online.
Tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods and services will be sold at prices far below retail.
Click the image to the right to view the items up for auction.
Kansas education officials say they’re forming a task force to look at the drop in recent test scores among some students.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports state Education Commissioner Diane DeBacker said Wednesday the panel will be drawn from several districts and agencies, including the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.
A report released Tuesday showed the percentage of Kansas students meeting or exceeding standards in reading and math tests fell slightly in the 2011-12 school year. The declines were most significant among African-Americans, Hispanics, English language learners, students with disabilities and students who qualify for subsidized lunches.
(AP) – The wait is almost over for Billy Dean fans. On September 25, Dean is releasing his first full-length studio album in nearly four years. “A Man of Good Fortune” will include 10 tracks, seven of which Dean co-wrote. On his website, Dean says the “record sounds young, but the lyrics are for grown-ups.”
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Hays’ water status has not changed from Water Watch. Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno says the few showers we’ve had have not been enough to significantly improve the well field.
In the water watch, residents are still asked to voluntarily reduce their water use.
Authorities in northeastern Kansas are investigating the theft of more than $30,000 worth of heavy farm equipment.
The Pottawatomie County sheriff’s office says a John Deere tractor with a front loader, an 18-foot flatbed trailer and a grass seeder disappeared from outside an equipment auction business in Manhattan.
The owner says he saw the machinery parked at the business on Sunday afternoon, then noticed them missing on Monday.
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat says it appears that someone hooked the trailer to a vehicle and drove away with the machinery.
A Canadian man who was found earlier this year in Michigan with a 12-year-old Kansas girl he met on the Internet has had his trial delayed.
Stewart Kenneth Cody McGill, of Bewdley, Ontario, had been scheduled for trial next week in U.S. District Court in Wichita on a charge of transporting a minor out of state to have sex.
But a judge on Wednesday granted a defense request for a delay. The trial is now set for Nov. 14.
Authorities say McGill traveled in May to El Dorado to meet the girl. They were found a few days later near Potterville, Mich.
McGill’s lawyer said he needed more time to prepare for trial. He also said international issues are delaying the government’s recovery of evidence.
A new report shows lobbyists are spending almost 9 percent more this year than last year to try to influence Kansas officials.
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission’s report says lobbyists disclosed spending nearly $709,000 through August. That’s $57,000 more than they spent during the same period last year.
Lobbyists have ramped up spending on newsletters and other communications designed to get people to pressure lawmakers. Such spending totaled $105,000 through August, compared to $15,000 for the same period last year.
This year’s biggest-spending group has been the Kansas Association of Realtors, which disclosed expenses of $152,000 on lobbying. It successfully blocked a move by Gov. Sam Brownback to eliminate an income tax deduction for home mortgage interest as part of a larger plan to rewrite the state’s tax code.
A weak cold front will become nearly stationary across northern Oklahoma into far western Kansas this afternoon.
This will result in cooler but dry conditions over much of western and central Kansas with highs ranging from the lower 80s to near 90. The five-day outlook depicts another dry and mild day on Friday before another cold front moves through Kansas early on Saturday. This will bring cooler but continued dry conditions for this weekend.
Temperatures will then rebound back above normal by early next week.
Last Year’s Temps/Records
2011 High: 76
2011 Low: 55
Record High: 100 (1935)
Record Low: 24 (1918)
On Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote the Buffett Rule Act of 2012 (HR 6410) to amend the tax code to allow taxpayers to donate additional money to pay down the national debt. Congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas is an original sponsor of the legislation that is now headed to the Senate for consideration. In 2011, Warren Buffett publicly complained that he was being taxed too little because the tax code favors wealthy Americans like himself. Congressman Tim Huelskamp called on Warren Buffett to release his tax returns in order to demonstrate that Warren Buffett was misleading the American people about his tax burden. Mr. Buffett refused to release all of the details of his returns.
If the Senate passes the legislation, individual tax forms will now include the following text:“By checking here, I signify that in addition to my tax liability (if any), I would like to donate the included payment to be used exclusively for the purpose of paying down the national debt.”
“Warren Buffett wants to pay more in taxes, and now he has an accessible, no-excuses option for doing so,” Congressman Huelskamp said after the bill passed. “Passage of this legislation provides Buffett with an easy way of paying the additional taxes he feels he owes. I hope Mr. Buffett will be pleased with this new option, exercise his right to it, and encourage his friends to do the same.”
“But, even if Buffett and friends generously donate more to Washington, Washington’s problem is still that it spends too much – not that it taxes too little. Four years of trillion-dollar deficits and $16 trillion in debt – more than $5 trillion of which has been accumulated over the past four years – show that Washington’s priority should be to get its expenses under control. Raising taxes to pay for even more spending will not bring about the fiscal responsibility so desperately needed in Washington right now. But, raising taxes with the fiscal cliff looming – as President Obama wants to do – certainly will kill nearly all prospects for economic recovery.”
Wichita – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced Wednesday the formation of the Kansas Ecotourism Steering Committee to help guide ecotourism efforts in Kansas.
Based on jobs, tourism overall is the third-largest industry in Kansas, and has a total economic impact of more than $5.4 billion.
In 2011, more than 790,000 people participated in wildlife-watching activities in Kansas, and made more than $208 million in trip-related purchases.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Secretary Robin Jennison will spearhead the committee.
Ecotourism encompasses hiking, biking, camping, wildflower walks, wildlife watching, river floating, visiting unique landscapes and many other outdoor activities.
Among the 16 committee members are:
Clare Gustin, Hays
Vice President Member Services and External Affairs, Sunflower Electric
Dr. Edward H. Hammond, Hays
Fort Hays State University President
