The Humane Society of the High Plains will host a garage sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in the former Fashion Bug location at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.
Items for sale include a wide variety of furniture and electronics, as well as homemade cookies made by Humane Society members. Proceeds from the sale go toward the spay and neuter fund and other medical costs.
Donations for the sale may be dropped off at Humane Society, 2050 East Hwy. 40 or the former Fashion Bug location in Big Creek Crossing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. The Humane Society asks that no clothes, shoes, baby items or tires be donated.
For more information or to have items picked up, contact the Humane Society of the High Plains at (785) 625-5252.
GREAT BEND – K-State Research and Extension is a statewide network of educators sharing research-based information and expertise on issues throughout Kansas. This integrated system connects Kansas State University to every county through locally based educators who serve as sources of objective information.
Barton County and Ellis County have operated their own respective Extension offices for years, but Barton County Administrator Richard Boeckman said there is discussion on combining the two offices to become more efficient.
Boeckman said Extension staff believes they can use the seven agents – four in Ellis and three in Barton County more efficiently.
“The significant advantages are that they can avoid doubling up with agents, they can avoid repetition,” he said.
The Ellis County Commission held a special meeting in conjunction with Barton County commissioners this week in Great Bend to discuss the proposition.
The discussion of a merger would not reduce staff or services for either Extension office, rather joining forces might allow more projects to be accomplished with seven agents working together.
If the commissioners from both counties decide in favor of the merger, which would start in July 2017, the Extension District would be an independent governing body with the ability to levy its own taxes.
Both counties plan to ask for public input in the coming months before a decision is made.
There are currently 16 other combined Extension Districts throughout Kansas including the Midway District comprised of Ellsworth and Russell counties, the Walnut District made of Rush, Ness, and Lane counties and Logan, Gove and Trego Counties form the Golden Prairie District.
Once upon a time, conservatives were quick to denounce federal power grabs at the expense of the states. Bob Dole even said that he carried a copy of the Constitution’s 10th Amendment in his pocket — that amendment being the one protecting the states’ reserve powers.
Sometimes, states’ rights took on ugly racial overtones. The 1960s-era rallies against federal overreach were really directed at blocking federal efforts to end segregation in the South, and later at racially-charged controversies like court-ordered school desegregation.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
Yet the issue is not just about race. For example, conservatives today still denounce certain federal agencies, none more so than the Environmental Protection Agency, as treading on territory that rightly belongs to state governments.
Then again, times change. The conservative case for less federal power over states rests on the assumption that the states will have lower taxes, fewer regulations, and a more pro-industry climate. Today, states with liberal policymaking majorities often pass laws going well beyond federal regulations. California has done this for years with auto emissions. Oregon recently banned hydrologic fracturing, or “fracking,” for oil and gas, and also pledged to phase out the use of coal for electricity by 2030. Now comes Vermont’s new food labeling law, and Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo and Senator Pat Roberts are none too happy about it.
Set to take effect July 1, Vermont’s law would be the first in the nation requiring the labeling of food containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs, or bioengineered foods). Larger states like California may follow suit. Pompeo and Roberts have led the efforts in the House and Senate, respectively, to preempt the Vermont law. Pompeo got the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” passed in the House, but it failed in the Senate. Nicknamed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” (DARK) act by opponents, the federal legislation relies on the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause, the basis of federal regulatory power since the 1930s.
Most GMO ingredients are either modified to produce their own insecticide, as with cotton and corn, or to resist herbicides and insecticides sprayed on them, as with soybeans and again with corn. A new report on the topic by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine found exaggerated claims on both sides of the controversy. GMOs are not miracle crops, having had little impact on the annual increases in crop yields.
But the researchers also found no evidence of increases in cancer and other illnesses among the general public due to the consumption of GMO foods. Activists continue to object. For example, one study found that genetically engineered soybeans had lower nutritional content and more herbicide glyphosate — aka Monsanto’s Roundup — in the food after processing. The study compared GMO soybeans to those raised conventionally and also to organic soybeans.
The proposed legislation would still allow voluntary or state-regulated labeling of foods that do not contain GMO/bioengineered ingredients. Instead, the issue is whether food that does contain GMOs should be labeled. Pompeo, Roberts, Monsanto and their allies fear that these labels will needlessly scare consumers. Critics counter that they have a right to know what is in their food. The legislation passed the House and died in the Senate but Roberts, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is said to be in informal talks to revive the bill before July 1.
Critics charge Roberts and Pompeo with selling out to Monsanto, but that may not be fair. Conservatives have long advocated limiting government regulation over the private sector. The question is, what happened to another goal—limiting federal interference with the state governments?
To respond effectively to critics, these two Kansas legislators need to better-define their conservatism.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
HUTCHINSON — A Kansas man, originally charged with kidnapping a woman, saw that charge dismissed on Thursday. He was arraigned on the other a variety of additional charges
Michael Meeks, 46, Hutchinson, entered a not guilty plea for aggravated burglary, criminal threat and two misdemeanor counts of battery in Reno County court.
He’s alleged to have battered two victims by choking them at a residence in the 300 block of West 14th Street in Hutchinson.
The state believed he forced a female victim into his truck and drove her to Wichita.
The victim denied that happened. She also denied that he forced his way into the home. The homeowner testified to just the opposite and said Meeks threatened to kill his cousin over possibly selling a girlfriend drugs and taking items from her apartment.
Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen had found that there was insufficient evidence that the kidnapping occurred, so she dropped that charge.
A tentative trial date is set for September 13 and a motion deadline of Aug. 12.
HAYS, Kan. – El Dorado rallied with two runs in the seventh inning and two in the eighth and knock off the Hays Larks 4-3 Thursday night to salvage the final game of their three-game series at Larks Park. The Larks (6-1, 2-1 JL) did all of their damage in the third. Jax Biggers scored in a throwing error then Austin O’Brien and Devlin Grandberg followed with RBI singles to put Hays up 3-0.
Larks manager Frank Leo on his team’s first loss of the season
Game Highlights
The Broncos (4-2, 1-2 JL) used back-to-back singles to start the seventh and scored on a two-out base hit from Grant Ware, who had been hitless on the season, and a bases loaded walk to Nick Hammeke. They would get the go-ahead run across on Ethan Maxey’s two-out single an inning later.
The Larks, who were held to one hit after the fourth inning, loaded the bases in the eighth but back-to-back strikeouts of Jacob Boston and Garrett McKenzie ended the threat. Nebraska-Kearney’s Chase Gulzow set the Larks down in order in the ninth and gets the save.
New Mexico’s Austin Isenhart allowed two runs on four hits over an inning of relief and suffered the loss in his Larks debut. Starter Augie Gillardo gave up one run on five hits over six innings.
New Mexico’s Austin Bell had three of the Larks eight hits and drove in a run.
The Larks are on the road for nine of their next 12 starting Friday night with the first of three at Haysville. The Aviators, who won the Jayhawk League South Division and championship series a year ago, moved to 3-0 in league play with a win over Liberal Thursday night.
Thursday’s Jayhawk League results
El Dorado 4, Hays 3
Bethany 11, Wellington 2
Dodge City 13, Derby 8
Haysville 7, Liberal 5
MANHATTAN- A Manhattan landmark, Varney’s Bookstore will close their Manhattan store at 623 North Manhattan in Aggieville, and all other locations at the end of June.
The store originally opened in 1890 and sold a variety of items from textbooks to KSU clothing apparel and school supplies.
General Manager Steve Levin confirmed the decision to close the store, noting the landscape of textbook sales has changed,
“With many college courses no longer using books, and instead online course materials, it has become difficult to compete.”
Among other factors cited by Levin was the loss of a contract with KSU to operate the bookstore in the K-State Student Union.
Varneys also has a store in the Manhattan Town Center Mall and the Central Mall in Salina.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.– The Kansas City Royals have selected A.J. Puckett, a right-handed pitcher from Pepperdine University, with their top selection in the First-Year Player Draft, 67th overall in the second round.
Puckett, 21, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, went 9-3 with a 1.27 ERA as a junior, posting the third-best ERA in West Coast Conference history. His season included a 45.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak for the Waves, the third-longest streak in modern college baseball history.
Expect a warm period into early next week with above average high temperatures. Our average highs for this time of year is in the mid 80s. There are only slight chances for mainly late afternoon and evening thunderstorms each day.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. South wind 9 to 17 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 9 to 15 mph.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 94. South wind 9 to 16 mph.
Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 70. South wind 9 to 15 mph.
SundayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind 8 to 16 mph.
Sunday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
MondayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
NEW YORK (AP) – NEW YORK (AP) – Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura has been suspended nine games and Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado has been penalized four games after their brawl earlier this week.
Major League Baseball also fined each played an undisclosed amount Thursday.
Ventura and Machado both have appealed their suspensions. They can continue to play until the process is complete.
Ventura hit Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning Tuesday night in Baltimore. Machado charged the mound and punched Ventura in the head as the benches emptied.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. South wind 9 to 17 mph.
DOUGLAS COUNTY – A Kansa man was injured in an accident just before 10pm on Thursday in Douglas County.