The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) announced its second annual statewide agricultural photo contest. KDA invites Kansas residents to submit photos that capture the special moments, hard work and breath-taking beauty of agriculture across the state.

The contest is divided into five categories, including Farm Faces; Picture Perfect Prairie; Agriculture at Work, From the Land of Kansas; and Rollin’ in the Hay, a special category for Kansas youth 19 and younger.

“The department’s first-ever agricultural photo contest held in summer 2012 was a huge success and was a great showcase of Kansas agriculture,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman. “As the state’s largest industry, agriculture touches every Kansan every day. With our second-annual photo contest, we want to see how agriculture affects you. From the wheat in the field through the milling and baking processes to the bread that makes your sandwich, agriculture is everywhere around us. I encourage all Kansans to consider submitting photos for this fun contest.”

New to the contest this year, KDA will utilize Secretary Rodman, Kansas Board of Agriculture members and agricultural leaders in the Kansas legislature as well as the department’s social media to judge the photographs submitted. Visitagriculture.ks.gov/photocontest to learn more.

Contest winners will be determined by combining points from the secretary, state board members and legislative leaders with those accumulated on social media sites. Winners will be those with the highest points in each category.

Photos will be judged on creativity, quality and relevance to Kansas agriculture. They will be displayed at KDA and used on the department’s website, social media pages and various other marketing materials.

Photos submitted should not digitally manipulated or enhanced. Digitally manipulated or enhanced photos will be disqualified. Normal cropping, color correction, etc. are acceptable.

Winners in each category will receive $100 gift cards and the runner-up participants will receive $50 gift cards.

Photo entries should be sent in .jpg format to [email protected]. Entries should include:

• A title and brief description of each photo

• When and where the photo was taken

• Photographer’s full name and age

• Photography category

• Hometown

• Email address

Alternatively, CDs containing photo files and accompanied by all of the required information may be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Kansas Department of Agriculture
Attn.: Communications
109 SW 9th St., 4th Floor
Topeka, KS 66612

Photos must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, July 15. Winners will be announced by August 21, 2013.

A Kansas couple has been killed in a traffic accident in southwest Missouri.

Sixty-six year-old Richard Blubaugh, and 60-year-old Dorothy Blubaugh, of McPherson, died after the car they were in collided with a pickup at an intersection in Reeds Spring.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says three Missouri residents in the pickup were injured in the crash.

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America by the numbers report from the US Census bureau shows that 11 of U.S. Counties are now majority minority.

Ticks are a problem every year, the Center for Disease Control has issued information and reminders on how to beat ticks this summer.

Ticks should be a primary concern during this part of the year. Conditions are prime for ticks; particularly in areas with heavy grass or foliage.

Check out the link below for all the information you need to protect yourself and your family against ticks and the diseases they carry.

https://www.cdc.gov/features/stopticks/

A mob protesting against deportation of illegal immigrants descended Saturday evening on the home of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach

Kobach’s tough stance on illegal immigration has made him a target among pro-amnesty groups.

There were approximately 100 protestors who surrounded Kobach’s Kansas City home in protest to Kobach’s stance. Kobach, his wife, and his four young daughters were not at home during the incident.

A four car I-70 crash on Saturday night sent one to the hospital. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, “A 2008 Toyota driven by Michael Circle, age 55, of West Milton, Ohio was slowing down due to dust on I-70 eastbound 11 miles east of Goodland. A 2011 Ford U-Haul driven by 52-year-old Katherine Kilbourne of Aurora, Colorado struck the Toyota in the rear. A 2005 Lexus driven by 51 year old Michael Hall of Longview, Texas slowed down to check on the occupants of the Toyota when a 2001 Motor home driven by Michael Peterson, age 47 of Gower, Missouri hit the Lexus. Circle was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center.”

Beginning Monday, a bridge repair project will begin along U.S. 283 north of Hill City.
Approximately 11 miles north of Hill City, the bridge located over Bow Creek will receive deck patching, girder repairs, and a silica fume overlay of the bridge deck.
Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction, controlled by temporary traffic signals. Delays should not exceed 5 minutes; but the public should plan their travels accordingly. The speed limit will be reduced through the construction zone. Please pay attention to the signs and workers within a construction zone and “Give ‘Em A Brake!”
KDOT awarded the construction contract – totaling $189,092 – to PCI Roads L.L.C. of Saint Michael, Minnesota.
The only subcontractor on the job is: Highway Signing, Inc. of Omaha, Neb., providing the traffic control.
The bridge repair job is funded by T-WORKS, the Transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May of 2010; and designed to create jobs, preserve highway infrastructure, and spur economic development opportunities across the state.
Weather permitting, this construction project will be completed by late September, 2013.

—The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced today that a new, online exercise and wellness program will kick off July 1. The program is called Move Across Kansas, and it will be available to anyone interested in tracking their exercise time and fitness level year-round.

Move Across Kansas allows the participant to track his or her progress on a map, or route, simulating a tour across the state. A new route will be available each month, with each route displaying various points of interest along the trail. Move Across Kansas is modeled after the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employee wellness program of the same name.

“To maximize a fitness program, it’s recommended that adults obtain at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. This program application we’ve developed will hopefully offer Kansans an interesting means to that end. The online, virtual routes within Move Across Kansas encourage participants to maintain an exercise routine while learning more about the state in which they live,” said Robert Moser, M.D., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer.

Move Across Kansas is launching on the heels of the Governor’s Weight Loss Challenge, which had 5,000 participants and resulted in more than 44,400 pounds of total weight lost between January and May. Move Across Kansas can assist those who participated in the Governor’s Weight Loss Challenge with maintaining their exercise routine.

“The weight loss challenge was a tremendous success because of the many people across the state making the commitment to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Move Across Kansas promises to be a great tool in carrying out that commitment and tracking additional fitness milestones,” said Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who was present for the announcement today at Curtis State Office Building.

The website address for the individual fitness tracking program will be announced in mid-June to allow participants enough time to register before the first route begins July 1. Participants will be able to start a Move Across Kansas route at any point during the month, but the application requires that participants log a total of 600 minutes of exercise between the start and ending of a month to complete that month’s route.

BCBSKS Foundation contributes to State employee prize drawing

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation announced today its contribution of $4,500 toward State employee incentives in Move Across Kansas. With the BCBSKS Foundation contribution, the State Employee Health Plan within KDHE will conduct a prize drawing for State employees who complete routes from July through October. Ninety state employees will be selected and presented a gift card worth $50. State employees will be entered into the drawing each time they complete a route, so chances in the drawing increase with each route completed.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an important partner in our work to increase employee wellness. The contribution of the BCBSKS Foundation is greatly appreciated and we thank everyone there for their role in a healthier Kansas,” said Dr. Moser.

“We are pleased to support the efforts of State of Kansas employees, and are excited about State employees joining us as we journey across Kansas,” said Andrew C. Corbin, President and CEO of both Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation. “The State of Kansas is the largest group we serve and we are happy to take these steps with them.”

Additionally, members of the State Employee Health Plan who complete routes in Move Across Kansas will earn HealthQuest wellness credits toward their health insurance premium discount.

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