Kansas is receiving a federal grant worth nearly $350,000 to promote healthier meals in schools.

The money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help Kansas implement the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The 2010 law aims to make federally subsidized school lunches healthier. Seventeen other states and one territory were awarded money through the competitive grant process.

Kansas offered popular chef-taught culinary classes last summer for school food service workers. State officials say the grant will pay for more such training to help schools transition to the new federal guidelines.

The Kansas Department of Education says that besides the federal grant, the Kansas Health Foundation is providing $50,000 to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to 25,000 middle- and high-school students.

An attempt at an early morning traffic stop by the Hays Police Department resulted in brief chase Tuesday. At 1:35 Tuesday morning a Hays Police officer witnessed a car speeding between the 1400 and the 1600 block of Hall Street. After pulling over for the officer the driver sped off with the officer in pursuit traveling North bound on Elm Street.

After a brief chase, the driver of the vehicle took off on foot jumped a fence and continued North on Hall. The suspect was able to make it back to his vehicle and take off traveling southbound on Elm. Officers were finally able to end the pursuit in the 1200 block of Walnut Street after the suspect cut through an alley between 12^th and 13^th Streets. Officers arrested the subject in the 300 block of West 12^th Street.

While there have been no charges filed against the driver at this time, Hays Police Department Spokesman Officer Brian Dawson said the suspect will likely face a number of charges including; driving under the influence, felony flee and elude, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and felony obstruction.

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News From the Oil patch september 25, 2012

Fire caused significant damage to a house in the 1300 block of Western Plains Drive Tuesday morning.

Firefighters responded around 11:50 am and found that the fire had burned out after using up all of the oxygen in the home. The fire appears to have started several hours earlier.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported when a family member returned to the house.

Investigators determined the likely cause was an electrical malfunction in the refrigerator.

Firefighters removed large amounts of carbon monoxide from inside the home and made sure no smoldering fire remained. Six on-duty and ten recalled firefighters responded to the call.

The Hays Police Department will conduct a DUI saturation patrol Friday night.

Officers will saturate the city looking for signs of impaired driving. Emphasis will be on speeding, safety belt and alcohol-related violations.

The patrol is part of the Kansas Department of Transportation Impaired Driving Deterrence Program.

The Hays Police Department conducted 13 traffic stops and received 11 animal calls on Monday, according to the Hays Police Activity Log.

Burglary/Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated three thefts and one burglary on Monday. The burglary of a business was reported in the 500 block of West 32^nd Street. The alleged incident occurred between Sunday evening at 8:00 and Monday morning at 10:30. Officers investigated a report of theft/shoplifting in the 4300 block of Vine Street at 2:30 Monday afternoon. Another theft was beginning reported in the 2900 block of Broadway Avenue at 2:31PM Monday. The final theft report investigated by the Hays Police Department on Monday was in connection was a report of suspicious activity in the 2700 block of Epworth Street at 3:55 Monday afternoon.

Vehicle Accidents: Officers responded to seven motor vehicle accidents on Monday. Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident in the 3700 block of Vine and Frontage Street at 6:30 Monday morning. The Hays PD investigated an accident involving private property in the 1300 block of Canterbury Drive Monday. The accident occurred between 6:50 and 7:05AM. Another accident involving private property was reported in the 2100 block of Vine Street Saturday evening.

The Hays Police Department began investigating two hit and run accidents on Monday afternoon. The first hit and run accident was reported in the 200 block of West 6^th Street at 3:43 Monday afternoon. The second hit and run accident with private property was reported in the 1200 block of 27^th Street at 5:17PM. Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident with a motor vehicle accident with an animal on Highway 40 bypass at 9:40PM.

Juvenile Complaint: The Hays PD responded to two juvenile complaint reports on Monday. The first complaint was reported in the 2300 block of East 13^th Street at 7:54AM. Officers also responded to the 300 block of West 12^th Street for a juvenile complaint at 2:25PM Monday.

Civil Dispute: Officers investigated one civil dispute report in the 500 block of East 8^th Street on Monday. The alleged incident occurred Monday evening at 8:03.