Beginning Wednesday, the intersection of 21st and Allen will be opened and the intersection of 19th and Allen will be closed. Allen Street will be closed from north of 18th to south of 21st. The intersection of 20th and Allen remains closed. This work is part of the Allen Street reconstruction project.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution in these areas.
TOPEKA – Although average gas prices nationally have fallen for the past two weeks, Kansas has bucked the trend as one of only eight states experiencing an increase at the gas pumps. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose two cents this week in the Sunflower State to $2.73/gallon.
“After some moderation in prices right around Memorial Day, we’ve experienced a slight jump in gas prices over the last couple of weeks in Kansas,” said Jennifer Haugh, AAA Kansas spokeswoman. “Steady demand and a relatively low gasoline inventory level in our region are the likely reasons we’ve seen some increase in retail prices. We are still pretty fortunate here in the Sunflower State to have the nation’s 10th cheapest average gas prices, 19 cents less than the national average.”
Fortunately, not everyone in Kansas saw gas prices rise this week. Of the 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart below), only three cities (Kansas City, Kan. and Lawrence +9 cents and Wichita +8) saw gas price increases. Emporia (-4) joined Topeka (-2) and Hays (-1) with lower prices, while pump prices in four cities stayed the same.
According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Kensington (Smith County) – $3.01
LOW: Galena (Cherokee County) – $2.55
National Perspective
At $2.92, the national gas price average has dropped four cents since the beginning of June. Today’s average is three cents less than a week ago, six cents more than a month ago and 58 cents more expensive than a year ago. On the week, only eight states saw prices increase while all others dropped by as much as 13 cents or remained stable.
“Gas prices continue to dip across the country, but remain nearly 50-cents more expensive than last summer in every state,” said AAA Kansas’ Haugh. “The higher prices seem to be influencing driving habits. While consumer gasoline demand remains strong, it is slowing and not growing.”
Dropping by 713,000 b/d, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that demand registers – for the first time since mid-January – just under 9 million b/d. This is surprising, as levels have consistently measured above the 9 million mark every week in June since 2015.
Today’s national gas price extremes:
High: California – $3.72
Low: South Carolina – $2.58
Great Lakes and Central States Report
The majority of states in the Great Lakes and Central region are seeing cheaper gas prices on the week. Indiana (-13 cents) saw the only double-digit drop in the country, which brings the state’s gas price average ($2.87) well under the $3 mark it was at last Monday. Other notable week-over-week pump price decreases in the region: Illinois (-7 cents), Wisconsin (-4 cents) and Iowa (-4 cents). However, not every state is seeing this trend. Four states saw prices jump including Kansas (+2 cents), Ohio (+2 cents), Michigan (+2 cents) and South Dakota (+1 cent). With the weekly increase, Michigan’s gas price average is at the $3 mark, making the state’s average the second most expensive in the region behind Illinois ($3.02).
Inventory levels continue to hold slightly above the 52 million bbl mark. According to the latest data released by the EIA, this is the lowest inventory levels of the year for the region and about 2.6 million bbl below levels at this time last year.
In communities across Kansas, farmers’ markets continue to offer homegrown and homemade products. Everything from freshly picked fruits and vegetables to mouthwatering baked goods, fresh eggs, beef, lamb, pork, colorful flower arrangements and assorted bedding plants.
Today, 94 farmers’ markets are registered in the “From the Land of Kansas” program. Another 20-30 probably exist scattered throughout the state.
This access to fresh food and the joy of connecting with a farmer or rancher is something that is resonating with more and more people. Key here is the opportunity for consumers to talk to the people producing the food.
When people have the chance to talk to someone one-on-one, they believe that because the food is grown closer to home, it’s probably better, safer and tastier. There’s also a sense of responsibility from the vendors who stand there and talk to the people buying their goods.
Vendors like markets because they can sell their home-produced products directly to consumers with no middleman. Farmers’ markets are unique because the producer is also the marketer.
In most phases of production agriculture, the producer rarely has a chance to participate in this level of marketing. If a farmer grows wheat for example, he can sell it but has no control over price. In a farmer’s market he can set the price and negotiate with people.
Farmers’ markets are popular with a wide range of people. In university towns like Manhattan and Lawrence international students, accustomed to shopping in markets rather than grocery stores, frequent these establishments. Senior citizens are also regular customers.
Markets are also popular with people who have been transplanted from rural to urban areas. Folks who were raised in rural areas like that connection with the farm.
Without a doubt, farmers’ markets are a community event and a place to socialize. Many shoppers rise early in the morning, so they can talk to people and sometimes more importantly secure the best produce. You remember, the early bird gets the worm.
Shopping in an outdoor venue is also just more fun. There’s nothing like an open-air venue to buy fresh, healthy food.
And after a recent trip I took a couple weeks ago, I listened as a younger shopper told me it’s a serious, part of a socially responsible life.
“I’m buying from people in my own community,” she informed me. “I’m supporting people who I live with.”
Farmers’ markets are also family affairs. Kids are as much a part of the scene as the vendors and customers. In case you hadn’t noticed, kids like to eat too, and they know what they like.
And for the children who help their parents sell products, it’s a primary learning experience. Heck, I’ve seen many a second or third grader making change as Mom hands over the produce.
The friendly relationship between buyers and sellers, the festive atmosphere and the quality produce all make the farmer’s market a popular community event.
While I go to the market mainly for juicy, mouth-watering tomatoes and fresh, brown farm eggs, I sometimes find a real treat, something I haven’t bargained for or something my wife or I can’t replicate at home.
One of my favorite purchases at the downtown Manhattan farmer’s market are homemade tamales and salsa. English shelling peas are another treat. Talk about wonderful.
You know, I’d visit our farmer’s market even if I didn’t buy something, but that’ll never happen because I love to eat too much.
I just like being there. It’s the best show in town.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays city commission recently approved a contract for engineering/design of three traffic roundabouts on north Vine Street.
That work is currently underway and the project should be ready for bid in late 2019. The $398,000 for engineering will be paid out of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) contingency fund.
Improvements to the corridor, which was developed in the 1960s, are estimated at $7.6 million. Current traffic conditions are considered unsafe, lack pedestrian access, and are difficult for visitors and travelers to navigate.
In order to pay for the roundabouts at the intersections of 32nd/33rd, 37th and 41st Streets, city commissioners are considering a charter ordinance to increase the Transient Guest Tax (TGT) rate to 7% from the current 5% TGT levied on all hotel stays in Hays.
According to information presented at the June 7 work session, a 2% TGT increase would generate approximately $416,000 annually to support a 20-year bond in an amount of $6.2 million.
That estimate includes the two new proposed hotels to be built north of Interstate 70, the La Quinta Inns & Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn, said Finance Director Kim Rupp. “We added that in,” he told the commission.
“We’ve been looking at funding opportunities and it’s been discussed before, that with a $1 million contribution from Stormwater Reserves for the portion of the project that would actually be designed to convey the stormwater through the system, a 2% raise in TGT could be used to pay for the rest of the project,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
The current 5% TGT is lower than most peer cities across Kansas. To increase the Transient Guest Tax, the city commission must pass a charter ordinance.
Passing a charter ordinance requires a two-third majority vote of the city commission. After passage, there is a 61-day period where the ordinance could be challenged by a petition of more than 10% of voters who voted in the last city election. If a valid petition is presented, the ordinance would be put to a vote of the Hays residents.
Assuming passage of the ordinance at the Thu., June 14 regular meeting, final publication would be June 25. The protest period would begin, ending on August 25. The Kansas Department of Revenue would be notified on August 27, and the new rate would be implemented on October 1.
In answer to a question from Commissioner Shaun Musil, Dougherty clarified the recently approved TGT benefit for the Hilton Garden Inn development is capped. “They get the 5% right now. Any future increases are retained by the city,” Dougherty explained.
Musil also asked about the possibility of grants for the roundabout project and whether the TGT could be lowered after being raised 2%. “Every time we raise a tax, it seems like everybody says we never lower it,” said Musil.
“If you raise the TGT in anticipation of prepaying the project and there’s added grant monies or the future commission decides we’re only going to do part of the project and not all of it, which would be a lower price tag, the commission could determine what the net income needed to be…They could either modify the TGT down to 1% or leave it at 2% for a shorter duration,” said Dougherty.
Discussion then turned to how TGT monies are used.
“It’s pretty open now,” Musil said, “and it didn’t used to be. We’re using it for funding of outside agencies and I don’t think it should be a blank check just because we have it. I think there should be some accountability.”
Mayor James Meier and Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller agreed.
“Not only accountability, but what are we doing with the money? We have no strategy,” Schwaller contended. “No offense to Melissa (Dixon, CVB Director). She’s been in the job for a year. I’d like to know what she intends to do with the money.”
Schwaller was quick to add that Dixon was doing a “wonderful job.”
“If we can use the money to build roundabouts, how come we can’t pay people to mow the Vine Street median using the Transient Guest Tax? Why does it have to be out of the Parks budget?
“We really need to have a strategy if we’re going to raise the TGT,” repeated Schwaller. “How’s the money going to be spent by both the city, outside agencies, and to improve Vine Street, which is the gateway – the entry – to the city?”
The CVB budget is funded by Transient Guest Taxes and is used for the promotion of Hays, including funding to a number of outside agencies. The city’s General Fund monies come primarily from a city sales tax.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs also supported coming up with a strategy for using CVB dollars.
“We’ve criticized other groups for having excess money and not having a strategy and here we sit at CVB with the same thing.
“I’m sure Melissa (Dixon) would jump in on this,” Jacobs said. “I think it’s great to bring this up before the city budget process and figure out what the strategy looks like.”
“We agree,” Dougherty chimed in. “We’ve already begun the discussion process.”
By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post
HILL CITY — It seemed like just a normal western Kansas Memorial Day with some severe weather here and there. Flash flood warning alerts went out to cellphones around the Hill City area and, like most western Kansas natives assume, flash flood warnings in places of drought are usually nothing to be too concerned about.
In just a matter of 15 minutes, the town of Hill City was ravaged by a flash flood. Homes, trailers, businesses, fences, pipes and fields were all victims of the water that accumulated in the town of about 1,400 people.
Just a couple days prior to the flood, Hill City hosted the Todd Toll Memorial Softball Tournament at the Boyd-Powers Sports Complex. The complex featured a softball field, two baseball fields and a professional field. It was originally built to house the Hill City semi-professional baseball team, the Hill City Athletics, in the 1950s and 1960s. Crowds of up to 1,000 fans would show up to these games and, years later, as small-town baseball started to disappear, the community dedicated the fields to Bob Boyd and Darrell Powers — and slowly built up the fields to a beautiful complex through donations and community support.
“The entire fields were donated and they have been added onto over time,” said Shannon Toll, daughter of the late Todd Toll, for whom the tournament was named. “People came from all over the state and they loved the fields. I had people come up to me and tell me that these were the best fields in northwest Kansas next to Fort Hays State (Larks Park).”
The Todd Toll Memorial Softball Tournament was the largest Hill City had hosted in years, bringing in 15 teams from as far as Wichita and more than 200 fans.
“A couple of the top teams that finished in the tournament loved the fields so much that they donated their winnings back to the tournament to host again next year, and this was before the storm even happened,” Toll said.
Just as it seemed baseball and softball would make a comeback in Hill City, two days later the flood compromised the electrical and lighting systems, the clay was completely gone, fences were pushed over, foundations had caved in and the concession stands were wiped out. What wasn’t physically effected was chemically effected.
“Baseball and softball were making a comeback in Hill City with these fields. We were starting to get Legion teams together, and we were going to try and get a high school team started,” Toll said. “The whole thing came fast and destroyed all of it. It’s a complete new project, and we have to wipe the slate clean.”
After Toll found out about the fields, she immediately sprung into action to start a petition with Rusty Harmon, Tawny Ashbaugh, the families of Bob Boyd and Darrell Powers, as well as a number of others to see how many people would be on board to try to save the complex. Support for the petition was huge and, in a city meeting last week, organizers presented the petition and the city agreed to open a donation account.
“My dad was a county commissioner, carpenter, rancher and farmer. He was always involved in community and I grew up with these people. Our parents grew up together and went to school together,” Toll said. “They’re not just my friends and neighbors … they’re my family, and I believe we have the strength to get back on base.”
If you would like to donate, all checks can be addressed to Heal Hill City’s Home Plate, P.O. Box 22, Hill City, KS 67642. This is a 501(c)3 and the funds are going through the Graham County Recreation Commission. You can sign the petition by clicking on this link.
For any questions or more information, call or text Shannon Toll at 785-627-2111.
SINGAPORE (AP) — The Latest on the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in Singapore (all times local):
A joint declaration signed by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says the U.S. has committed to providing “security guarantees” to the North.
The document signed at the end of the pair’s historic summit in Singapore on Tuesday also says Kim “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
.@POTUS and Chairman Kim Jong Un sign a document after their meeting at the #SingaporeSummit pic.twitter.com/xC3iHlitYx
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 12, 2018
It’s unclear exactly what Trump has promised Kim in terms of security. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to say Monday whether guarantees might include withdrawing U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula.
A copy of the text snapped by a photographer at the signing summit says Trump and Kim also discussed how to build “a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula” in their talks.
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2:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have signed a joint document in which they commit to working “toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
The document signed by the leaders at their historic summit Tuesday also says they will join efforts “to build a lasting and stable peace regime” on the Korean Peninsula.
The White House has yet to release the document’s text. But it was photographed by the news media during a signing ceremony.
The document lays out four broad commitments. It says the sides “commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.”
And it says they will commit to recovering the remains of prisoners of war and those missing in action.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2018
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2:15 p.m.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has left the small Singapore island that was the site of his meeting with President Donald Trump.
Kim’s convoy was left Sentosa Island on Tuesday afternoon after he signed a document with the American president, who stayed behind at the hotel where the two leaders met.
Both leaders characterized the document they signed as historic though neither provided details. Trump says the details would come later.
The summit was the first between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
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5:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump says he really believes North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is going to make good on his promise to denuclearize.
Trump said Tuesday near the end of a lengthy press conference in Singapore that he may be wrong about Kim, but he’ll never admit it.
Trump jokes that he “may stand before you in six months and say, ‘Hey, I was wrong.'” But he says, “I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that.”
Trump appeared to be in a good spirits as he answered questions for almost an hour following a day of meetings with Kim and other North Korean officials.
He ended by congratulating reporters and saying he’s eager to “take it a little bit easy” now that the highly anticipated summit is over.
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5:20 p.m.
President Donald Trump says he thinks “we’ll probably need another summit”— or at least a second meeting — with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as they discuss Kim’s commitment to denuclearization.
But Trump told reporters in Singapore on Tuesday that he and Kim were able to cover far more ground than he’d expected.
He says, “We’re much further along than I would have thought.”
Trump answered reporters’ questions at a free-wheeling press conference before returning to the U.S.
He appeared to be enjoying himself as he went back and forth with the press.
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5:20 p.m.
President Donald Trump says North Korea has a “substantial arsenal” of nuclear weapons and the summit should have happened five years ago.
At a news conference Tuesday after his meeting with Kim Jong Un, Trump discussed efforts to press him to get rid of its nuclear weapons.
The president says that the U.S. doesn’t have a lot of intelligence on the country but that “we have enough intelligence to know that what they have is very substantial.”
The president says Kim understands what the U.S. has been pushing for in the talks. Trump says, “I think he’s going to do these things.”
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5:15 p.m.
The spokesman for the Iranian government is warning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that President Donald Trump could nullify any nuclear deal with North Korea.
The semi-official Fars news agency quotes Mohammad Bagher Nobakht as saying Tuesday: “We are facing a man who revokes his signature while abroad.”
Nobakht’s remarks are the first by an Iranian official after Trump and Kim concluded their nuclear summit.
While flying for talks with Kim on Sunday, Trump rejected an agreement signed by the leaders of the G-7 countries at their summit in Canada.
The U.S. also pulled out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran in May.
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5:10 p.m.
President Donald Trump says discussions over the next steps to take with North Korea will be happening soon.
Trump said Tuesday after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore that “We’re getting together next week to go into the details.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2018
It’s unclear where those discussions will take place or which North Korean officials will be involved.
But he says the talks will include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton.
A joint agreement signed by the two leaders earlier Tuesday says the U.S. and North Korea have committed to hold follow-up negotiations, led by Pompeo and “a relevant high-level DPRK official” at the “earliest possible date.”
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10:10 a.m.
President Donald Trump is sounding optimistic about his ability to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program after a lengthy one-on-one meeting with leader Kim Jong Un.
#SingaporeSummit
(📸@AP @EvanVucci) pic.twitter.com/JK9qfsd2xc— Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) June 12, 2018
Trump said Tuesday at the beginning of expanded discussions with aides from both countries that “We will solve a big problem” and “a big dilemma.”
He talked about the pair achieving “tremendous success together” and predicts that “it will be successful. It will be done.”
It was hard to hear the president and Kim over the constant clicking of camera shutters, and it remains unclear precisely what he was referring to.
But Kim appeared to echo the president’s optimism.
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9:55 a.m.
President Donald Trump says that his one-on-one meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was “very, very good” and that the two have an “excellent relationship.”
Trump and Kim met for about 40 minutes Tuesday one-on-one, joined only by interpreters.
Trump made the comments as he and Kim walked together along balcony as they headed to a larger meeting with aides.
Trump was flanked in the larger meeting by chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton. They sat across the table from Kim and his team.
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9:20 a.m.
President Donald Trump is predicting that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have “a terrific relationship” as they meet face to face for the first time.
Trump said Tuesday after meeting Kim that he’s feeling “really great.” He says, “We’re going to have a great discussion and a terrific relationship.”
Kim says through an interpreter that it “was not easy to get here” and that there “were obstacles but we overcame them to be here.”
The two men are expected to meet on their own for the better part of an hour, with only a pair of interpreters in the room.
That decision has raised concerns about the risk of holding such a monumental meeting with barely anyone to bear witness.
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9:05 a.m.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are sharing a historic handshake as they meet for the first time.
.@POTUS Donald J. Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore. #SingaporeSummit pic.twitter.com/CWhiLO4dAa
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 12, 2018
The two clasped hands for a long while Tuesday as they posed for photos in front of a row of U.S. and North Korean flags. Trump then directed Kim to walk down a hallway, where they briefly spoke.
It’s the first ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and North Korean leader.
Trump and Kim arrived not long ago on Singapore’s Sentosa Island, the site of their unprecedented summit. It’s aimed at settling a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.
The two will huddle alone for roughly 45 minutes before being joined by aides for a larger meeting and working lunch.
Trump has said he’ll know within minutes whether a deal can be made.
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8:35 a.m.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived at Singapore’s Sentosa Island, where he’ll be meeting shortly face-to-face with President Donald Trump.
The two men are expected to share a handshake before they meet alone with a pair of interpreters for roughly 45 minutes while their entourages wait nearby.
After the intimate huddle, they’re scheduled to hold a larger meeting and working lunch. Trump’s chief of staff, national security adviser and secretary of state are among those expected to join.
The meeting is the first sit-down between a sitting U.S. president and North Korean leader and is meant to settle a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
Trump earlier defended his decision to meet with Kim, tweeting that North Korea has already released three detainees and that missile tests have halted.
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Today Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Isolated thunderstorms could develop as early as 5 pm, generally anywhere in south central Kansas. Additionally, storms will likely be movin pic.twitter.com/S6J6LxoGKl
— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) June 12, 2018
Tonight A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. East wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northeast after midnight.
Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 9 to 13 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South southeast wind 8 to 15 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 98. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Breezy.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 99. Breezy.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on weapons charges.
Just before 6p.m. Monday, police stopped a vehicle in the 1500 Block of SW Fillmore in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
The driver of the vehicle, Dominic Redmon, 22, Topeka was arrested under suspicion of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The handgun located was found to be stolen in Horton, Kansas, according to Jones.
COWLEY COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just after 3p.m. Monday in Cowley County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Robert D. Juden, 68, Winfield, was turning northbound on U.S. 77 at Madison Avenue. The pickup struck a westbound 2009 Aprilia motorcycle driven by James H. Jones, 66, Arkansas City.
Jones was transported to South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center where he died. Juden was not injured.
Jones was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a convicted Kansas felon for alleged child sex crimes.
Charges: Aggravated indecent liberties w/ child; Offender <18
cause child <14 to fondle
Just after 11p.m. Saturday, police responded to report from a parent involving inappropriate behavior with a 31-year-old man and two children under the age of 10 at a Salina home, according to police Sgt. James Feldman.
Police arrested Charles Ferris Jr., of Salina for the alleged crime of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Ferris has previous convictions in Saline County for theft, burglary and criminal trespass.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities arrested a man for alleged battery of a police horse.
According to officer Charley Davidson, police arrested a 36-year-old man at the end of Riverfest activities in Wichita Saturday night. As crowds were leaving police arrested the man in the 300 Block of west Douglas after he slapped a mounted unit horse in the nose.
The man was booked on requested charges of battery of a police animal, according to Davidson. The horse was not injured.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state board says a Kansas congressman’s title will appear on the Republican primary ballot to distinguish him from a challenger with the same first and last names.
The State Objections Board decided Monday that GOP voters in the 4th District in the Wichita area will choose between Rep. Ron Estes and Ron M. Estes. Both are from Wichita.
The secretary of state’s office devised the plan. But Democratic candidate Laura Lombard objected and said the listing would give the congressman an unfair advantage in the Aug. 7 primary.
But the all-GOP board led by Secretary of State Kris Kobach concluded that trying to distinguish the candidates by middle initials still would prove too confusing to voters.
The challenger did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
