(AP) — A drug take back event in Douglas County has drawn a record response.
Lawrence law enforcement officials say they collected a record 875 pounds of unused prescription drugs Saturday as part of a nationwide “Drug Take-Back Day.”
Lt. Steve Lewis, Douglas County sheriff spokesman, said last year the Drug Take-Back Day collected 300 pounds of unwanted prescription medicine.
Federal authorities say nationwide about 1.5 billion doses of prescription drugs go unused each year, which can lead to accidents and dangerous misuse. All of the drugs collected Saturday were placed in a secure box for destruction by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The staff of first district congressman Tim Huelskamp is holding a town hall meeting today in Russell. They will be at Meridy’s Restaurant, 1220 South Fossil from 2:30-3:30 this afternoon.
A 21 year old Hays woman was injured in a one vehicle crash on I-70 west of Hays Sunday night. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Brittany Ranae Vanderhoff fell asleep and lost control of her 2006 Scion near mile post 156. She overcorrected and rolled one time into the median. She was taken to Hays Medical Center. She was wearing a seat belt.
GeorgeJones‘ funeral will be open to the public Thursday morning in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House. The service will begin at 10 a.m. Central. A private visitation will take place Wednesday night for family, friends, and George’s artist friends.
George’s wife, Nancy Jones, released a statement saying, “Thanks to George’s friends, fans, and loved ones for the outpouring of love at this terrible time,” said Nancy Jones. “I love you all.”
A Kansas House committee is returning to the Statehouse to resume work on the 2014 budget, taking up smaller funding issues related to bills already signed into law.
Legislators are on a monthlong break that ends May 8, but the House Appropriations Committee was scheduled to open two days of meetings Monday. The gathering follows a meeting last Thursday by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Negotiators from the House and Senate still must work out their differences in a $14 billion budget bill for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The two chambers have taken different positions on how much to cut from higher education. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has been touring the state urging lawmakers to spare higher education from any cuts in spending.
– Fort Hays State University will participate in a delegation to Brazil from May 5 through 10 to meet with potential partner universities.
The Institute of International Education is leading the delegation, which includes representatives from 15 U.S. institutions. In addition to FHSU, the participating institutions are Arizona State University, Ball State University, California State University-Long Beach, Central College, Howard University, Indian Hills Community College, Morgan State University, Parsons-The New School for Design, Savannah State University, SUNY Plattsburgh, the University of Tulsa, Washington and Jefferson College, Webster University, and Western Michigan University.
Cindy Elliott, assistant provost for strategic partnerships, and Dr. Tim Crowley, dean of the Graduate School, will represent FHSU on the trip to Brazil.
The study tour is the centerpiece of IIE’s year-long International Academic Partnership Program focusing on Brazil. According to the IIE: “This timely visit comes at an exciting moment in U.S.-Brazil academic relations, with the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program in full swing and a major academic collaboration with Harvard and MIT in the works, following an unprecedented visit to Boston by Brazil’s president Dilma Roussef last year to sign agreements with these two campuses.”
IIE will lead the delegation of U.S. educators to São Paulo, Campinas, Recife, Salvador, and Brasília to visit public and private higher education institutions and meet with officials from the Fulbright Commission and other international organizations, as well as Brazil’s Ministry of Education, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.
In addition, the delegation will participate in several high-level policy events, including a U.S.-Brazil Partnerships Roundtable in São Paulo. This roundtable discussion will include representatives of Brazilian higher education institutions from across the country and will focus on the challenges and opportunities in expanding U.S.-Brazil educational relations. “At a time when Brazil is emerging as a cultural and economic powerhouse in the region, and the United States looks to forging unprecedented ties in trade and scientific development, we at IIE believe the two countries should develop strong partnerships in higher education as well,” said IIE President and CEO Allan E. Goodman.
IIE launched the International Academic Partnership Program in 2009 to help U.S. colleges and universities develop strategic plans for partnering with certain focus countries. IIE has led delegations to China, India, Brazil and Myanmar in the past few years. Recent research and reports issued by IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education have highlighted the increasing importance of strategic international partnerships in building the capacity of academic institutions and providing a global environment for students and faculty.
IIE is partnering with the Brazilian government on the new Brazil Scientific Mobility Program, which seeks to send 100,000 students overseas for science education and training, including 20,000 to the United States. IIE has been working closely with CAPES and CNPq to place the undergraduate scholarship students at U.S. universities.
These scholarships are specifically targeted to produce a workforce that is trained in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and has the language and cultural skills needed to succeed in the workplace. IIE anticipates there will be increased interest in coming to the United States to study as the students return to Brazil and share their experiences with their friends and classmates.
IIE is working with EducationUSA to hold U.S. University Fairs in Brazil to connect the U.S. universities directly with students interested in STEM fields and to showcase opportunities for students to study in these fields at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. The fairs are being held on April 27 in Sao Paulo, April 29 in Recife and May 4 in Rio de Janeiro. This is part of a new series of U.S. University STEM Fairs in Latin America, which includes university fairs and school visits in several cities in Mexico, Brazil and Chile.
Both the partnership program and the fairs will advance the international student exchanges with the region that are the centerpiece of President Obama’s “100,000 Strong in the Americas,” an initiative launched in 2011 to increase international study in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the purpose of which is to “foster region-wide prosperity through greater international exchange of students, who are our future leaders and innovators.” The initiative aims to build closer people-to-people ties among the people of the Western Hemisphere and to help address common challenges, including citizen security, economic opportunity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
About the Institute of International Education The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of over 20 offices worldwide and over 1,000 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
Organizers for a new private school in Hays held their first meeting on Sunday. Twenty -five families attended the informational meeting. Victory Christian Academy-Hays will begin with K-5th grade classes in August in a building at 5790 230th Avenue, home to Celebration Community Church. Organizers told Hays Post the school is not an entity of the church. Enrollment dates are set for May 22-23 and June 5-6.
Ellis County begins a waste tire amnesty event today. It continues through May 18.
The county is waiving the tire disposal fee at the Ellis County Landfill/Transfer Station located at 1515 W. 55th. The purpose of this amnesty event is to allow Ellis County residents a short-term option to dispose of stockpiled waste tires at no cost. In order to utilize this disposal opportunity, residents must comply with the following requirements:
There will be a maximum of 10 tires per owner/hauler. Persons with more than 10 tires must contact the Landfill Manager at 785-628-9460 prior to hauling the tires to the facility. The Landfill Manager will issue a disposal authorization upon inspection of the tire stockpile/storage. Failure to acquire prior disposal authorization will result in either full assessment of the disposal fee or refusal of tires until a storage site inspection is completed by Ellis County.
The 2013 rankings of the nation’s best high schools by U.S. News and World Report were released Saturday. Liberal High School, at # 7, was the only Western Kansas school on the state’s top ten list. Hays High School was given National Rank of bronze recognition (criteria below.) The other schools in the state’s top 10 were Blue Valley North in Overland Park, Blue Valley in Stilwell, Olathe Northwest, Gardner-Edgerton in Gardner, Fort Scott, and Louisburg high schools.
(Data on Hays High, Ellis High, Victoria High and Trego High Schools is below)
U.S. News and World Report and the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., evaluated schools on their students’ performances on state-mandated assessments; how effectively the schools educated black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students; and how well they prepared students for college-level work based on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests.
HHS High Details Click on photos for a closer look.
Hays High Received Bronze Recognition
Student proficiency testing
Student Diversity
They evaluated more than 21,000 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college.
Hays High Overview
Academic Indicators National Rank Bronze
College Readiness Index0.6
Math Proficiency3.7
Reading Proficiency3.9
Student/Teacher Ratio16:1
09–12 Grades 956 Students 60 Teachers
Hays High
2300 EAST 13TH
HAYS, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 623-2600
District: Hays
Overview
At Hays High, students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Hays High is 1 percent. The student body makeup is 50 percent male and 50 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 15 percent. Hays High is the only high school in the Hays.
Rankings / Awards
This details how this school compares to others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.
Medal Awarded Bronze
Students / Teachers
These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.
Total Enrollment 956
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 15%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 33%
Full-Time Teachers 60
More About Student Body
Test Scores
U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).
Proficient in Reading 92%
Proficient in Math 92%
College Readiness Index 0.6
More About Test Scores
School Data
School profile information is based on government data.
Grades Served 09 – 12
Setting Fringe Rural
Charter School No
Magnet School No
Receives Title I Funding No
District
This information relates to high schools run by this school’s state operating agency. Many districts contain only one high school.
Total Schools 1
Total Students 956
Proficient in Reading (district average) 92%
Proficient in Math (district average) 92%
College Readiness (district average) 0.6
ELLIS HIGH SCHOOL
Overview
At Ellis High, the student body makeup is 53 percent male and 47 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 7 percent. Ellis High is the only high school in the Ellis.
Rankings / Awards
This details how this school compares to others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.
Medal Awarded
None
National Rank NONE
Students / Teachers
These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.
Total Enrollment
148
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total)
7%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total)
27%
Full-Time Teachers
11
Test Scores
U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).
Proficient in Reading
N/A
Proficient in Math
N/A
College Readiness Index
N/A
School Data
School profile information is based on government data.
Grades Served
09 – 12
Setting
Remote Rural
Charter School
No
Magnet School
No
Receives Title I Funding
Yes
District
This information relates to high schools run by this school’s state operating agency. Many districts contain only one high school.
Total Schools
1
Total Students
148
Proficient in Reading (district average)
N/A
Proficient in Math (district average)
N/A
College Readiness (district average)
N/A
Victoria Junior-Senior High School
Overview
At Victoria Junior-Senior High School, the student body makeup is 61 percent male and 39 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 3 percent
Rankings / Awards
This details how this school compares to others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.
Medal Awarded
None
National Rank NONE
Students / Teachers
These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.
Total Enrollment
114
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total)
3%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total)
23%
Full-Time Teachers
14
Test Scores
U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).
Proficient in Reading
N/A
Proficient in Math
N/A
College Readiness Index
N/A
School Data
School profile information is based on government data.
Grades Served
07 – 12
Setting
Distant Rural
Charter School
No
Magnet School
No
Receives Title I Funding
Yes
District
This information relates to high schools run by this school’s state operating agency. Many districts contain only one high school.
Total Schools
2
Total Students
114
Proficient in Reading (district average)
N/A
Proficient in Math (district average)
N/A
College Readiness (district average)
N/A
Trego Community High
Overview
At Trego Community High, the student body makeup is 45 percent male and 55 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 7 percent. Trego Community High is the only high school in the Wakeeney.
Rankings / Awards
This details how this school compares to others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.
Medal Awarded
None
National Rank
Unranked
Students / Teachers
These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.
Total Enrollment
122
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total)
7%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total)
31%
Full-Time Teachers
14
Test Scores
U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).
Proficient in Reading
N/A
Proficient in Math
N/A
College Readiness Index
N/A
School Data
School profile information is based on government data.
Grades Served
09 – 12
Setting
Remote Rural
Charter School
No
Magnet School
No
Receives Title I Funding
Yes
District
This information relates to high schools run by this school’s state operating agency. Many districts contain only one high school.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Foundation serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa has announced that Amber Schmid, a senior at Thunder Ridge High School, Kensington, KS and Cooper Jace Clawson, a senior at Meade High School, Meade, KS have been named the 2013 Scott Mecham BBB Students of Integrity for the Kansas Plains area. They will each receive $2,000 scholarships.
BBB Student of Integrity Awards are presented annually to eight senior high school students for demonstrated ethical behavior and character: two from the Kansas Plains, two from metro Omaha/southwest Iowa, two from metro Lincoln/greater Nebraska and two from South Dakota – the geographic area served by the BBB.
Unlike many other scholarships, grades, financial need and ethnicity are not major factors in selecting a Student of Integrity. Their purpose is to award personal integrity and to nurture future ethical business leaders. Amber and Cooper won these prestigious awards because of their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom, said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty.
An independent panel of judges, consisting of teachers, school administrators and guidance counselors selected these two Winners from a pool of approximately 70 applicants. Letters of recommendation, school and community activities and an essay that addressed an ethical dilemma were required for submission.
Hegarty stated, We hear all too often that there is an ethics crisis among our youth. That may be true for some, but there are also many that are doing wonderful things in their schools and in their communities, and this gives me great hope for the future. In fact, this year the BBB Foundation received over 400 applications from students all over our service area.
The scholarship Winners will be formally recognized at their schools Honor Assemblies, in the BBBs newsletter and on the BBBs website at bbb.org.
(AP) — Kansas higher education officials are depending upon Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s political momentum working on fellow GOP conservatives to preserve existing state funding for public universities and colleges.
Brownback began touring university and community college campuses last week in what his administration described as an effort to highlight the importance of higher education to the state and its economy.
The governor and other Republicans want to position Kansas to phase out individual income taxes, but the state must stabilize its budget over the next few years.
Brownback proposes to cancel a decrease in the sales tax scheduled by law for July. If lawmakers don’t agree to that plan, they’ll find it difficult to follow his recommendation to avoid cutting higher education funding.
