Today will be cloudy, windy, and cool. Highs today will be 30 to 40 degrees cooler than yesterday.

Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then a slight chance of showers between 9am and 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Windy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy, with a northwest wind 19 to 24 mph decreasing to 13 to 18 mph after midnight.
Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a north wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 8 to 17 mph.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Some areas of Ellis County received rain and a little hail on Sunday.  Small hail fell around 4:15 p.m. near Yocemento. Marble size hail was reported in northern Ellis County, 2200 Block of  Emmeram Road.

Pea size hail was also reported in portions of Hays.

TOPEKA (AP) — The state’s top environmental regulator is considering whether to clear the way again for a new coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas.

But environmentalists contend Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration is taking short cuts to ensure that the $2.8 billion project is built.

Sunflower Electric Power Corp. needs a pollution-control permit from the state Department of Health and Environment for its proposed 895-megawatt plant outside Holcomb in Finney County. The Hays-based utility already has another coal-fired plant.

It obtained a permit in December 2010, but eight months ago, the Kansas Supreme Court ordered the department to revise it to impose tougher air-quality standards.

Secretary Robert Moser is reviewing a proposed amendment drafted by the department’s staff, and his approval would allow Sunflower to go forward with the project.

 

FHSU University Relations

Approximately 300 students so far are expected for Fort Hays State University’s High Plains Music Camp, Sunday, July 13, through Saturday, July 19.

This year’s guest musicians are Dr. Timothy Mahr, a professor of music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., who is active in 35 states and many countries as a director and clinician, and Ken Peplowski, a professional clarinetist who has performed classical and jazz music all around the world.

Camp registration is $495 for full campers, campers who will stay in the dorms, and $200 for day campers. Any registration after Sunday, June 15, will be charged a $100 late fee. Classes this year are regulars like Sight Reading, Rhythmic Fundamentals and Jazz Improv, and new classes such as Exploring World Percussion and Yoga for Musicians.

Private lessons with FHSU faculty and guest musicians will be $25 per half hour, but Peplowski’s lessons are $40 per half hour or $75 for an hour.

“We regularly receive word of students who can’t afford to come to camp and we try to help as much as we can,” said Dr. Ivalah Allen, assistant professor of music and theatre and camp director. “Anyone who is willing to help us with camp attendance scholarships for those who are struggling with the camp fee are encouraged to send financial help.”

Thousands of students have attended the High Plains Music Camp, founded in 1947 by the late Harold G. Palmer to expand students’ musical talent and give them an opportunity to study with outstanding musicians from across the country.

The camp features performances throughout the week. All performances are free and open to the public.

“It is sure to be a great week for the campers,” said Allen. “It is as rewarding for the counselors and camp faculty and staff as it is for the campers.”

Unless otherwise noted, all performances are in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus.

Monday, July 14, 7 p.m.: Faculty-staff recital.

Tuesday, July 15, 7 p.m.: Faculty-staff recital.

Wednesday, July 16, 7 p.m.: Camper honor recital.

Wednesday, July 16, 8 p.m.: Student talent show in the Memorial Union’s Fort Hays Ballroom.

Thursday, July 17, 7 p.m.: Faculty orchestra concert.

Friday, July 18, 6:10 p.m.: Student jazz concert and faculty jazz concert; performance of scenes from “Cinderella” and faculty string chamber concert in Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall; and Alternative Strings Concert, location TBA.

Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.: Junior high wind and percussion ensembles concert (Beach/Schmidt); camp choir in Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall.

Saturday, July 19, 9:20 a.m.: Junior high string ensembles and orchestras in Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall.

Saturday, July 19, 9:40 a.m.: High school wind and percussion ensemble.

Saturday, July 19, 10:30 a.m.: High school string ensembles concert in Felten-Start Theatre.

Saturday, July 19, 11 a.m.: Junior high band concert.

Saturday, July 19, 1 p.m.: High school High Plains Music Camp singers.

Saturday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.: High school symphonic orchestra.

Saturday, July 19, 2 p.m.: High school concert band.

Saturday, July 19, 2:30 p.m.: High school honor band.

A full schedule for the campers and additional information on the camp can be found at www.fhsu.edu/musiccamp.

With a mail-in ballot issue looming next month, Hays USD 489 officials will continue a talking tour this week touting the need and benefits of increasing the local option budget.

Ballots are scheduled to be mailed to eligible voters in USD 489 on June 11 and must be returned by noon June 27.

Superintendent Dean Katt has two stops on the speaking tour scheduled this week:

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Roosevelt Elementary School
• 11:30 a.m., Hays Ambassadors Luncheon, Thirsty’s

A complete schedule for the talking tour can be seen HERE. The district also has compiled a series of informational pieces that can be seen HERE.

The LOB increase from 30 percent to 31 percent is estimated to generate approximately $200,000 in additional revenue, money the school board has pledged would be used to fill positions that would otherwise be vacant. The board last month approved the procedural resolutions that would allow for the termination of 16 staff positions throughout the district.

Should the LOB be approved, the initial hit on the owner of the hypothetical $100,000 home would be negligible, with tax bills increasing only $2.30 in the course of an entire year. New legislation recently adopted by the state of Kansas would, however, allow the district to increase the LOB to 33 percent, which is estimated to generate an additional $450,000 annually.

The increase to 32 percent or 33 percent would be limited to one year. Should the district wish to enact a longer term, the issue would again need to go to voters for approval.

The district’s budget dilemma is multifaceted.

From 2008-09 to 2013-14, state funding to the district has decreased by approximately $1.3 million annually.

“The LOB has become a replacement for the declining revenue generated from the base state aid per pupil funding from the state, rather than being used for its original intent of providing an education beyond the adequate level,” the district wrote in an LOB explainer.

Overestimated enrollment numbers and errors in budgeting expenses had put the district in a more than $1 million budget hole for the 2014-15 school year — that after spending all the reserves in contingency funds.

Decreased funding from the state also threw the district farther into crisis mode, as the recently passed school funding law decreased anticipated state funding for new facilities improvements.

The talking tour meetings will follow Monday’s regular meeting of the school board, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center.

On the AGENDA are ideas to increase revenue including proposed increases to workbook/enrollment fees, a fee for kindergarten, pay-to-participate fees for extracurricular activities, and various scenarios designed to either reduce busing costs or recoup more money from families who use the service.

The district also has released a program-by-program list of expenditures throughout the district, including specific costs of programs such as sports, music programs and other specialized courses. That list be be seen HERE.