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Month: September 2014

New pest could pose problems for Kan. sorghum harvest

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By MARY LOU PETER
K-State Research and Extension

MANHATTAN – An invasion of sorts has occurred in Kansas, and the invaders may pose a problem for this year’s sorghum harvest – but not in the way you might think.

“The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, also known as the sorghum aphid was recently detected in Kansas for the first time ever,” said Kansas State University entomologist Jeff Whitworth. “Scott Armstrong, entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at Stillwater, Oklahoma, officially confirmed the identity of this particular sorghum pest on Aug. 29 from specimens he collected in a mature sorghum field in Sumner County, Kansas.”

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The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, also known as the sorghum aphid or “white” sugarcane aphid (to differentiate from yellow sugarcane aphid Sipha flava) was detected in late August in Kansas for the first time ever. It has caused problems in Texas and Oklahoma sorghum crops in recent years. Scott Armstrong USDA-ARS, Stillwater, Okla., and Rick Granthum, Oklahoma State University.

To differentiate this pest from the yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava, some scientists and grain producers are calling it the “white” sugarcane aphid.

“White” sugarcane aphids have been troublesome in the southeastern United States prior to 2013, said Whitworth, who is a crop production specialist with K-State Research and Extension. In 2013, problems were reported in eastern Texas, and the pests have since moved into Oklahoma and have now apparently invaded Kansas.

Kansas’ farmers grow more sorghum than is grown in any other state. In 2013, Kansas produced 165 million bushels of the total 389 million bushels grown in the United States, according to the USDA. Texas was second at just under 129 million bushels.

“This (sugarcane) aphid is yellowish – lime green with black cornicles (tailpipes) and probably will not do much damage by feeding on sorghum plants at this time, as sorghum is mature across the state,” Whitworth said. “However, they produce copious amounts of honeydew, which can interfere with grain harvest because of the stickiness of the honeydew.”

So far it is unclear whether “white” sugarcane aphids will be able to withstand Kansas winters, he said.

Producers who have aphids in sorghum that appear yellow to lime green and have dark tailpipe-looking structures are asked to contact their local K-State Research and Extension county agent and/or K-State entomologist Brian McCornack at [email protected].

More information about white sugarcane aphids is available in this Texas A&M University publication.

Kansans invited to come to statewide transportation meetings

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Kansas Department of Transportation

A series of regional meetings that give Kansans the opportunity to discuss their transportation priorities with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas Turnpike Authority have been scheduled for this fall.

The eight local consultation meetings, which begin Sept. 24 in Kansas City, will include regional discussions on highway and other modal needs, including rail, aviation, transit and bike/pedestrian.

“We are looking for common goals at the state and regional level,” said Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Mike King. “It’s important that we get feedback from communities as well as explain how the current transportation plan, T-WORKS is going.”

The meetings will be conducted by KDOT and KTA staff.

KDOT logo 2This year for the first time there will be the chance to pre-register and express any particular transportation topic that participants would like to discuss. Pre-registration is available at www.ksdot.org or here pre-registration survey.

KDOT also conducted a series of local consultation meetings two years ago to hear what types of projects were important to communities.

“It’s important to go back to these areas and see if there have been any changes to their transportation needs,” King said. “This is a chance for those in the community to make sure their voice is heard.”

Summaries of each local consultation meeting will be posted on the KDOT website at www.ksdot.org. The following is the schedule of local consultation meetings:

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Summaries of each local consultation meeting will be posted on the KDOT website at www.ksdot.org. The following is the schedule of local consultation meetings:

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September 24th 9-12 p.m. Kansas City

The Hilton
520 Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS

September 29th 9-12 p.m. Garden City

Clarion
1911 E. Kansas Ave. Garden City, KS

September 30th 9-12 p.m. Hutchinson

The Ramada 1400 N. Lorriane Hutchinson, KS

October 1st 9-12 p.m. Wichita

WSU Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex
5015 E. 29th Street North
Wichita, KS

October 6th 1-4 p.m. Chanute

KDOT Complex 411 W. Fourteenth Chanute, KS

October 7th 9-12 p.m. Topeka

KDOT
Eisenhower State Office Building 700 SW Harrison
Topeka, KS

October 14th 9-12 p.m. Hays

KHP Conference Room 1821 W. Frontier Rd. Hays, KS

October 15th 9-12 p.m. Salina

KHP Training Center 2025 E. Iron Avenue Salina, KS

Obama: Combating Islamic State not US fight alone (VIDEO)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is distinguishing the military campaign against Islamic State militants from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He says the new fight must avoid what he calls mistakes of the past.

Obama says more nations are joining a coalition against the extremists.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says, “This can’t be America’s fight alone.”

In the Republican address, a candidate for a House seat from Arizona, Andy Tobin, says he’s running for Congress because his state is under attack from the federal government. He cites regulations and havoc from Washington and says it’s a problem everywhere.

Warming trend this weekend

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FileThis weekend will bring a gradual return toward readings more typical of mid-September.

Surface high pressure will slowly move east today, leaving mostly sunny skies and a high of around 65. A few clouds will cross over tonight, with a low near 47. On Sunday highs will be near 80.

Looking ahead into early next week, Temperatures will be near normal for September with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 50’s.

Today: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 65. South wind 6 to 14 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind 7 to 13 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a south wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southeast wind 7 to 16 mph.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North northeast wind 10 to 16 mph.

FDA panel backs new injection for weight loss

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Screen Shot 2014-09-12 at 10.23.34 AMWASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health experts say Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Victoza should be approved for a new use in treating obesity.

The panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers voted 14-1 that the injectable drug’s benefits outweigh its risks for patients who are obese or dangerously overweight.

The FDA first approved Victoza in 2010 as a daily injection to help control type 2 diabetes. The drug is part of a new class of medicines called GLP-1 agonists, which spur the pancreas to create extra insulin after meals. People with diabetes have trouble breaking down food into energy due to problems producing or using insulin.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk now wants the FDA to approve the drug as an obesity treatment based on company studies showing significant weight loss in most patients.

Hays Football Rolls To Win Over Great Bend

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By Dustin Armbruster

The Hays Indians were able to take advantage of multiple Great Bend mistakes on their way to a 49-6 win Friday night. After a three and out and punt that resulted in negative yardage, Hays needed just two plays to score from 16 yards out and take 7-0 lead with 9:40 remaining in the first quarter following a Alex Delton 13 yard touchdown run. Great Bend punted on their second possession after three plays to set up the Indians at the Panther 35 following a personal foul by the Panthers on the return. Hays needed just five plays to navigate the 35 yards to increase the lead to 14-0 on a Dalton Stout one yard plunge. Hays scored pushed the lead to three touchdowns before the end of the first quarter when Shane Berens picked off a pass and scored from 25 yards out. The Indians led 21-0 after the first quarter and cruised rest of the way.

Following a scoreless second quarter, the Indians struck on the first play of the second half when Delton broke off an 82 yard touchdown score grabbing a 28-0 lead. The troubles that Great Bend experienced in the first half continued in half number two. Isaiah Blackmon stripped and recovered the football for the Indians on the Panthers first drive of the second half leading to a seven play scoring drive capped by a two yard Stout score pushing the lead to 35-0.

Perhaps the craziest touchdown of the season happened on the Indians next drive. Delton threw a 44 yard pass to junior Keith Dryden and as Dryden fought for the end zone he fumbled the ball at the two yard line. Tight End Shane Berens who had scored on a defensive play earlier in the game scooped up the loose ball and dove into the end zone give the Indians a 42-0 lead with 4:06 remaining in the third.

The Indians final score of the night came midway through the fourth quarter when Adam Klaus scored on a four yard run capping a four play 25 yard drive following a fumble recovery by Berens.

Great Bend would get their first points of the season on fourth and goal when Trenton Uselton scored on a three yard run for the final 49-6 tally.

Hays rushed for 208 yards and passed for 133, totaling 341 yards on the night. Great Bend was held to 144 total yards only 11 of which came through the air.

The game was also a night of penalties and turnovers. Hays was penalized 12 times for 105 yards and Great Bend 11 times for 109 yards. Hays lost four fumbles and Great Bend totaled six turnovers, four interceptions and two fumbles.

Hays is 2-0 and 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. Great Bend drops to 0-2, 0-1.

Hays plays at home for the first time this season as they take on the Liberal on Friday Night.

Friday Night High School Football Scores 9/12

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Area Scoreshttps://insuringhays.com/
Hays 49, Great Bend 6
Ellis 26, Hays-TMP-Marian 21
Victoria 62, Ellinwood 8
Norton 34, Phillipsburg 7
LaCrosse 14, Larned 7
Central Plains 62, Kinsley 0
Osborne 42, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 22
Thunder Ridge 78, Stockton 28
Ness City 62, Macksville 0
Norton 34, Phillipsburg 7
Logan 54, Cheylin 8
Hill City 24, Trego 14
Smith Center 35, Oakley 8
Republic County 34, Russell 21
Pratt 35, Plainville 0
Otis-Bison 46, St. John 44
Quinter 38, Hoxie 34
Norton 34, Phillipsburg 7

Statewide Scores
Abilene 53, Marysville 0
Andale 42, McPherson 21
Andover 31, Andover Central 24
Anthony-Harper-Chaparral 43, Bluestem 6
Ashland 44, Fowler 12
Atchison 25, KC Sumner 14
Attica/Argonia 28, Cedar Vale/Dexter 26
Augusta 39, El Dorado 0
Axtell 92, Lewiston, Neb. 20
Basehor-Linwood 13, Lansing 0
Beaver, Okla. 50, Syracuse 0
Beloit 60, Ellsworth 0
Bennington 22, Inman 6
Bishop Miege 29, Gardner-Edgerton 0
Blue Valley Southwest 21, Shawnee Heights 19
Blue Valley Stillwell 30, BV West 13
Bonner Springs 32, Chanute 30
Buhler 34, Mulvane 6
Burlingame 50, Marais des Cygnes Valley 40
Caney Valley 48, Burlington 22
Centralia 50, Troy 14
Chase 54, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 6
Cheney 27, Douglass 6
Cherryvale 32, Eureka 0
Chetopa 60, St. Paul 6
Cimarron 62, Johnson-Stanton County 6
Clay Center 14, Rock Creek 0
Coffeyville 50, Parsons 1
Columbus 34, Southeast 6
Concordia 30, St. Mary’s 0
Conway Springs 48, Medicine Lodge 8
Council Grove 44, Chase County 24
Derby 35, Salina Central 14
Dodge City 42, Wichita Southeast 0
Ell-Saline 40, Moundridge 19
Fort Scott 27, Spring Hill 13
Fredonia 32, Jayhawk Linn 7
Frontenac 20, Riverton 7
Galena 36, Girard 6
Garden Plain 68, Belle Plaine 0
Goddard 30, Clearwater 10
Hanover 58, Frankfort 12
Haven 41, Hillsboro 12
Hesston 42, Halstead 14
Hodgeman County 68, Moscow 20
Hoisington 7, Nickerson 0
Holcomb 55, Goodland 14
Holton 40, Maize South 21
Humboldt 28, Quapaw, Okla. 26
Hutchinson 34, Newton 16
Hutchinson Trinity 30, Marion 6
Ingalls 58, Bucklin 12
Junction City 17, Emporia 0
KC Piper 20, Baldwin 0
KC Turner 28, Tonganoxie 15
Kingman 13, Lyons 0
Lakeside 50, Wilson 0
Lawrence 21, Leavenworth 14
Lebo 58, Southern Coffey 14
Liberal 41, Guymon, Okla. 6
Lincoln 60, Sylvan-Lucas 14
Linn 42, Clifton-Clyde 34
Little River 52, Centre 0
Logan 54, Cheylin 8
Louisburg 14, Eudora 7
Madison 48, Uniontown 22
Maize 53, Garden City 37
Manhattan 41, Topeka Seaman 13
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 42, Jackson Heights 0
McLouth 42, Immaculata 0
Meade 36, Lakin 16
Minneola 44, Kiowa County 36
Natoma 48, Tescott 42
Neodesha 46, Yates Center 8
Northeast-Arma 36, Maranatha Academy 6
Northern Valley 90, Golden Plains 12
Olathe North 14, Lawrence Free State 7
Olathe Northwest 22, SM West 0
Olathe South 46, Olathe East 17
Olpe 33, Riley County 8
Osawatomie 43, Labette County 32
Oswego 36, Erie 34
Ottawa 41, KC Bishop Ward 13
Oxford 60, South Barber 58
Paola 24, DeSoto 0
Peabody-Burns 56, Canton-Galva 20
Pittsburg 48, Independence 0
Pittsburg Colgan 42, Baxter Springs 0
Prairie View 41, Iola 7
Pratt Skyline 38, Cunningham 0
Pretty Prairie 78, Fairfield 54
Riverside 21, Nemaha Central 18
Rock Hills 56, Pike Valley 6
Rossville 56, Wabaunsee 8
Royal Valley 39, Hiawatha 13
Rural Vista 48, Goessel 0
Sabetha 53, Atchison County 8
Salina South 57, Wichita Campus 14
Santa Fe Trail 54, Central Heights 6
Satanta 38, South Gray 0
Scott City 59, Colby 19
Sedgwick 40, Remington 0
Silver Lake 47, Perry-Lecompton 0
SM East 48, SM South 10
SM Northwest 34, SM North 32
Smoky Valley 48, Sterling 16
South Haven 44, Sedan 38
Southeast Saline 21, Chapman 12
Spearville 54, South Central 8
St. James Academy 36, KC Wyandotte 14
St. Thomas Aquinas 49, BV North 20
Sunrise Christian 12, St. Mary’s Academy 0
Topeka 76, Topeka West 6
Topeka Hayden 43, Washburn Rural 0
Triplains-Brewster 36, Deerfield 28
Udall 14, Caldwell 12
Ulysses 46, Hugoton 14
Valley Center 13, Arkansas City 12
Valley Falls 14, Pleasant Ridge 6
Valley Heights 20, Doniphan West 0
Wakefield 96, Solomon 46
Wamego 42, Jefferson West 20
Washington County 40, Onaga 7
Waverly 62, Hartford 24
Wellington 34, Goddard-Eisenhower 0
Wellsville 49, Anderson County 8
West Elk 54, Bishop Seabury Academy 6
West Franklin 13, Northern Heights 6
Wheatland-Grinnell 56, Weskan 28
Wichita Bishop Carroll 56, Wichita East 0
Wichita Collegiate 35, Circle 6
Wichita Heights 77, Wichita South 6
Wichita Trinity 55, Wichita Independent 0
Wichita West 66, Wichita North 0
Winfield 16, Rose Hill 13

Ellis outlasts TMP

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By JEREMY McGUIRE
HaysPost

Ellis 26, TMP 21

After being shut out a week ago, the Ellis Railroaders were able to score 26 points and hold on late for  a 26 to 21 win over the TMP Monarchs in Hays.  The Railroaders scored six points in both the third and fourth quarters and led 26-7 with 11:35 left to go in the game.  That is when things became very interesting.

The Monarchs would battle back.  TMP’s Max Megaffin would score the first of two rushing touchdowns with a 1 yard plunge with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter.  TMP would get the football back following an Ellis turnover and drove 44 yards in eight plays and capped the drive with another Megaffin touchdown, this time from nine yards out.  Following the Jack You extra point the Monarchs trailed 26 to 21 and would have one more chance.

TMP took the ball at their own 16 yard line with just over three minutes to play and proceeded to drive the ball down the field.  Inside the Ellis 40 yard line with just over one minute to play the Railroaders would force their fifth turnover of the game on a Bryce Keithley interception.  With the loss TMP drops their second straight game to start the season.  Ellis is now one and one.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

JOHN MONTGOMERY POST-GAME INTERVIEW

Lawmakers send letter opposing transplant changes

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Kansas 3rd District Congressman Kevin Yoder
Kansas 3rd District Congressman Kevin Yoder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty-two U.S. House members have signed a letter voicing concerns about a proposal to change the map that governs how donated livers are distributed around the country.

The letter, dated Friday, was written by Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder, a Republican. It comes in advance of a meeting Tuesday in Chicago to discuss a proposal to redraw the nation’s transplant regions.

The issue is that some areas have fewer donated organs, and higher demand for them, than others. The United Network for Organ Sharing, which runs the nation’s transplant network, has proposed basing the map on the distribution and demand for donated organs.

The lawmakers who signed the letter are largely from the South and the Midwest. Those regions have higher organ donation rates and fear they would be negatively affected.

Stegall to join Kansas Supreme Court in Dec.

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Stegall and Gov. Brownback
Stegall and Gov. Brownback

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Caleb Stegall is scheduled to be sworn in as the Kansas Supreme Court’s newest justice on Dec. 5.

The Supreme Court announced the swearing in-ceremony Friday.

Stegall currently serves on the Kansas Court of Appeals. Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him to the state’s highest court last month.

It was Brownback’s first appointment to the seven-member Supreme Court. Stegall will replace former Justice Nancy Moritz, who was appointed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Stegall is 42 and was serving as Brownback’s chief counsel when the governor appointed him to the Court of Appeals last year. He served as Jefferson County’s elected prosecutor for two years before joining Brownback’s staff in January 2011.

 

Kansas man hospitalized after SUV rolls

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KANSAS CITY- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 1 p.m. on Friday in Wyandotte County.
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The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Fernanda B. Segura-Manon, Kansas City, was southbound on Interstate 635 just south of Metropolitan when a vehicle cut in front of the Trailblazer. The Trailblazer made an evasive maneuver, left the roadway and rolled down the hill.

Segura-Manon was transported to KU Medical Center. The KHP reported he was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

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