Mondelez Global says it’s voluntarily recalling some of its Ritz Cracker products over potential risk of salmonella.
The Hanover, New Jersey-based company says it’s recalling 16 varieties of Ritz Cracker Sandwiches and Ritz Bits products in the U.S. The products contain whey powder, which its supplier has recalled due to the potential presence of salmonella.
Mondelez says no illnesses have been reported yet. Symptoms of salmonella include fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the young, elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Sunday fire that destroyed a Kansas home.
Sunday morning fire in Topeka -photo courtesy WIBW TV
Just after 1a.m., fire crews responded a structure fire at 1726 SW Harrison in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin. Minutes after firefighters arrived, the roof and walls began to collapse.
There were no injuries reported. The estimated dollar loss $81,000, according to Martin.
Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northeast wind around 7 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Wednesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
ThursdayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — The 17 people killed when a tourist boat sank in a Missouri lake were remembered Sunday during a service attended by hundreds of people in the tourism community of Branson.
A church bell at Williams Chapel at College of the Ozarks chimed 17 times for those who died Thursday at Table Rock Lake.
More than a dozen survivors of the tragedy, along with their family and friends, filled the front pews of the church to organ music. Although a patrolman guarded their privacy, he allowed one attendee, Carmen Lawson, to deliver pink and red roses after the service to a family that lost nine loved ones.
“It was such a tragedy,” said Lawson, 61, of Branson, who delivered the flowers. “I feel for the family.”
Branson Mayor Karen Best recalled the desperate family members who turned to City Hall for information about their loved ones.
“We started putting faces with names. Those who were once strangers to us quickly became family,” Best said. “They were a part of our community. And we did what families do. We held hands, we wept and we prayed together.”
She praised the people who tried to save others from drowning, calling them “heroes who did everything in their power to save lives.”
The service was held at the college near the site of the accident, which happened as winds approached hurricane strength. The city and college hosted the remembrance for the victims.
“Today we are all family,” said College of the Ozarks President Jerry C. Davis. “We are here to comfort those who have been affected by this tragedy in so many, many ways.”
Online fundraisers had raised more than $400,000 for the Indiana family’s funeral expenses by Sunday afternoon.
GoFundMe spokeswoman Katherine Cichy says it’s verified one campaign that’s raising money. Ingrid Coleman Douglas says a second campaign is also legitimate.
Others killed were from Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois.
During the closing benediction, Nixa Fire Chaplain Steve Martin said of the victims that while “most of them are visitors … they are not strangers to us.”
THOMAS COUNTY — Five people were injured in an accident just before 6p.m. Sunday in Thomas County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Suzuki SLT driven by Rebecca Sexton, 66, Canton, OH., was northbound on U.S. 83 just north of the Interstate 70 Oakley exit.
The driver did not see a Kenworth semi driven by Jared Lewis, Mount Juliet, 39, TN, coming from behind. The Suzuki made a U-Turn and ran into the side of the semi.
Sexton and passengers Alexandria Sexton, 22; Derek Sexton, 15; Anabel Sexton, 6; Audreanna Sexton, 15; all of Canton, OH., were transported to the Logan County Hospital.
Lewis and a 14-year-old in the Suzuki were not injured. All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. (AP) — A man has been found guilty of illegally possessing a cache of homemade pipe bombs discovered on a family hunting property last year.
Reinbold -photo Otter Tail County Jail
Investigators allege 41-year-old Eric James Reinbold, Oklee, Minnesota, also kept a notebook outlining plans for violently overthrowing the government.
Jurors convicted Reinbold on Friday of possessing an unregistered destructive device. Sentencing is set for Nov. 16.
Last fall, Reinbold’s relatives reported finding a tote bag that contained about a half-dozen pipe bombs, other material for homemade explosives and a receipt in Reinbold’s name from a website that sells fuses.
Federal prosecutors charged him in January. That was months after he was arrested in Kansas with cash, camping gear and a passport just days after authorities swept his rural northern Minnesota home.
COFFEY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 11a.m. Sunday in Coffey County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford F350 driven by William B. Castle, 80, Clearwater, was southbound on U.S. 75 seven miles south of Burlington.
The pickup rear-ended a 1999 Hyundai Tiburon driven by Kelly Leon Minor, 36, Neosho Falls, that was stopped to make a left turn onto Kansas 58 and yielding to a Freightliner semi driven by Jason Lee Brammer, 36, Frankfort.
The pickup then crossed the center and collided head-on with the semi
Castle was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Jones Mortuary. Minor was transported to the Coffey County Hospital. Brammer was not injured.
All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Cosmos, friends and family make for a great way to kick off my 95th birthday celebrations. Thank you all for your kind words and well wishes. I hope you all have a great day! pic.twitter.com/OaQD8nmR8Y
— U.S. Senate History (@SenateHistory) July 22, 2018
Wishing a happy 95th birthday to @SenatorDole! An American hero and dedicated Kansan, I’m honored to call him a friend and mentor. pic.twitter.com/AYbeB0TZMn
Join us in wishing #Kansan, Bob Dole a very happy birthday! He served as the 15th and 18th U.S. Senate majority leader. He was the 47th chairman of the Republican National Committee and was the republican presidential candidate in 1996. #kansashistorypic.twitter.com/FWhhTjy4Cp
Dole served Kansas in Congress for 35 years. He left the Senate in 1996 for his campaign against President Bill Clinton. Congress recently awarded him a Congressional Gold Medal.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Friday issued a high-risk warning for West Nile virus infections (WNV) for northcentral, southcentral, and southwest Kansas. Northeast, southeast, and northwest Kansas are at moderate risk for WNV infections.
KDHE image
West Nile virus can be spread to people through mosquito bites, but it is not spread from person to person. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop swelling of the brain or brain tissue, that in some cases, can result in death. There are no vaccines or medications to treat WNV. People who have had WNV before are considered immune.
“Know your risk and take action to prevent mosquito bites to protect yourself and your family against West Nile virus”, said Dr. Greg Lakin, State Health Officer.”
KDHE recommends the following prevention measures:
When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient on skin and clothing, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Follow the directions on the package.
Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times, or consider staying indoors during these hours.
The elderly or those with a weakened immune system should consider limiting their exposure outside during dusk and dawn, when the Culex species mosquitos are most active.
Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
Horses can also be infected with WNV. Talk with your veterinarian about vaccinating your horse to protect them against WNV.
Most WNV infections occur in the late summer and early fall. Although there have been no cases of WNV reported to KDHE in 2018 there have been more than 600 cases of the most severe form of WNV and 30 deaths in Kansas from 1999-2017.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides this webpage with additional information about West Nile virus and preventing mosquito bites: https://www.cdc.gov/features/StopMosquitoes/. For questions about West Nile virus or other Arboviral diseases contact the KDHE Epidemiology hotline at 877-427-7317.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More than a month after tariffs were issued by President Donald Trump’s administration on imported raw materials and finished goods, Wichita manufacturers said they’re holding their own.
Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union so far aren’t having a notable impact on small aircraft suppliers, like McGinty Machine Co., or original equipment manufacturers, like RV Products.
“We’re not seeing a big effect on the bottom line,” said Don McGinty, who owns the 70-year-old company.
The tariffs on steel and aluminum took effect June 1, followed by a round of tariffs aimed at Chinese goods this month.
Between the imposition of retaliatory tariffs from those countries and a growing list of the tariffs the U.S. plans to impose on thousands of other China imports, other Wichita manufacturing executives worry about what that will mean for their companies in the long term.
“Clearly tariffs could impact us,” said Tom Gentile, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems. “We’re one of the largest users of aluminum in the world because we make so many metallic aircraft still, but the tariffs on the goods themselves is not necessarily material. It’ll be several million dollars but that will be manageable.”
Gentile said he’s hopeful for a resolution so the tariffs don’t negatively impact the commercial airplane business.
“The bigger concern is if those tariffs trigger a trade war,” he said. “And that you start to get some slowdown in traffic or movement of goods and people between regions. And that would be much more concerning.”
The United Way of Ellis County will be having their Second Annual Day of Action on July 26th and once again, the United Way is calling on our communities to help collect supplies that will benefit the partner agencies. The United Way will be accepting donations at their offices, 205 E. 7th – Suite 111.
Last year the United Way used the Pacesetter Kick-off to establish their first Day of Action. They had accepted over 700 donated office supply items for the partner agencies. This year they hope to surpass that number.
Examples of items needed are pens, staples, paper, paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenexes. For more information go to www.liveunited.us/day-action.
This year, UWEC is doing something new and different.
In conjunction with their Day of Action, they will be holding a county-wide Business Campaign Kick-off on Thursday, July 26th, 2018 at 4 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the Hadley Center. If your business is interested in participating in the Business Kick-off, please call 785-628-8281 for more information and to request a campaign packet.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated assault and have a suspect in custody.
DECLERK-photo Shawnee Co.
Just after 5p.m. Saturday, police responded to a report that an aggravated assault victim had arrived at a Topeka hospital, according to St. Jason Cooper.
Officers learned the man was assaulted with a knife in the 5200 block of SW West Drive in Topeka. The victim had non-life threatening injuries, according to Cooper.
Officers located a crime scene at a single apartment within the complex just west of 10th and Fairlawn.
Several witnesses and one suspect were taken into custody at the scene in connection with the investigation.
Late Saturday, police arrested Gwyndell Declerck Jr, 31, for crimes relating to the stabbing.. He was booked into Department of Corrections.
A youth in foster care receives instructions on how to use his laptop.
DCF
TOPEKA – Hundreds of young people age out of the Kansas foster care system each year. Many of them leave with a lack of support systems and resources to start their lives as independent adults. In an effort to get them started on the right foot, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) recently offered several computer camps across the state, where the youth (ages 16 to 20) receive free computers and instruction.
“We want all youth in care to be supported and thrive,” DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said. “Each year we hold these camps to help ensure that youth aging out of the foster care system have the right tools to succeed.”
The first camp was held Monday, July 9, in Wichita. A second camp was held Wednesday, July 11, in Overland Park, and the final camp took place Friday, July 13, in Topeka. The camp includes eight hours of instruction on word processing, spreadsheets and Power Point applications to prepare them for employment, managing personal finances and pursuing post-secondary education. Youth also learn how to search and apply for work and complete job applications. One assignment during the camp involves developing a personalized budget. Instructors also educate participants on internet safety and security.
All camp participants received a laptop, two-year warranty, printer, mouse and a laptop backpack.
At the end of the camp, participants receive a laptop, two-year warranty, printer, mouse and a laptop backpack. This year, 142 young people participated in the computer camps.
“The youth that participate in these camps are not only given technology, but they are armed with the necessary tools to navigate adulthood. To ensure that all youth aging out of the foster care system receive all the necessary supports and services, we encourage youth to enroll for our Independent Living services,” said Prevention and Protection Services (PPS) Director Patricia Long.
This initiative is paid for by the federal Chafee grant, which is 80 percent federal funds, with a mandatory 20 percent State General Funds match. This is the 14th year for the camp.
Additional services are offered to youth who age out of foster care, through the DCF Independent Living program:
Financial support for post-secondary education and/or certified training programs
Room and board assistance
Transportation costs
Books and materials related to education
Leadership opportunities
Medical services through the age of 26.
To be eligible for Independent Living services, young people must have been in foster care after age 15 and likely to age out of care, graduated from high school or completed their GED while in foster care, or had a finalized adoption or guardianship placement after the age of 16.
The Hanover, New Jersey-based company says it’s recalling 16 varieties of Ritz Cracker Sandwiches and Ritz Bits products in the U.S. The products contain whey powder, which its supplier has recalled due to the potential presence of salmonella.
