TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka Zoo officials have revealed that of the four rare Sumatran tiger cubs born there earlier this week, three are male and one is female.
Photo courtesy Topeka Zoo
The tiger cubs will soon be named. Zoo director Brendan Wiley says the female’s name will be decided by zoo staff, docents, interns and volunteers, and one of the males will named by a family that has long supported the zoo. Another will be named by Blind Tiger Brewery, a zoo business partner. The last cub’s name will be selected through a public voting contest. The public has until Oct. 27 to choose from the names Badar, Eka or Lestari.
Hundreds of people watched as streaming webcams captured Sumatran tiger Jingga giving birth to the four cubs on Monday.
The 24/7 Travel Stores across Kansas are helping to fight hunger in their communities.
Food Bank Fill-Up is a 10-day event in which five cents for every gallon of gas sold at 24/7 Travel Stores is donated to local food banks. The event is scheduled for Monday through October 31.
Hunger is so often an invisible tragedy in communities. The 24/7 Travel Stores’ idea is that by partnering with their customers and local food banks, they can help to improve their communities.
Food banks that will benefit from the Food Bank Fill-up program include the following.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and searching for suspect.
Just after 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a walk-in shooting call at St. Joseph Hospital, 3600 E. Harry, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, police located the a 35-year-old male victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was in critical condition.
The investigation revealed the victim and a group of unknown individuals got into a verbal argument outside the Lion’s Den Club, 6305 E. Harry. Multiple gunshots were then fired by an unknown suspect which struck the victim. A patron at the club transported him to the hospital, according to Davidson.
Anyone with any additional information on this case, please call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407.
SHAWNEE COUNTY —After a stop in Wichita late Thursday to support Kansas Secretary of State and Gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, Vice President Mike Pence spent a portion of Friday visiting with members of the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing Base in Topeka.
Honored to talk with members of the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing Base in Topeka, Kansas! They’re patriots, and I’m thankful for their service to the Nation as they protect our freedom, our families, and our very way of life. pic.twitter.com/wEhi8Ad093
Great to see courageous members of our Armed Forces at @22ARW this morning in Kansas. Honored to meet them and grateful for everything they do to keep our Nation safe. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vnPyXY7LoP
The Vice President also took time to meet with members of law enforcement community in Topeka before attending a reception for Kansas 2nddistrict congressional candidate Steve Watkins.
Honored to meet with members of law enforcement in Topeka. They’re working every day to protect our safety & we’re grateful for their extraordinary service to Kansas families. pic.twitter.com/xHH1LhhzBN
The 18th annual Hays alley cleanup for residential refuse customers starts Oct. 22.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
You can start putting that unwanted junk out now for the 18th annual Hays alley cleanup which will start Mon., Oct. 22.
“This is a great opportunity to clean out your shed, attic, garage, basement or whatever else you might have,” says Marvin Honas, solid waste superintendent.
The free program is available to Hays residential refuse customers and will begin with curbside customers.
“We don’t want that stuff sitting along the streets any longer than necessary,” Honas explained.
Once the curbside collections are made, the four crews will move on to the alleys. Each site stop will be limited to 20 minutes. There is no set schedule.
Residents should sort their items into four piles:
1. Tree limbs andBrush–No longer than 12 feet in length or 6 inches in diameter
2.Construction and Demolition Debris–Lumber, drywall, bricks, sinks, tubs, wires, fencing, etc. (Please pull or bend over nails and place small quantities of concrete, bricks, and plaster in containers)
3.White Goods/Metals–Guttering, siding, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, metal swing sets, etc.
4. Municipal Waste (All other items)–Furniture, carpet, TVs, foam, etc.
Items that will not be collected are tires, batteries, household hazardous waste, or medical waste. Tires should be disposed of at the Ellis County Landfill, and hazardous waste and batteries should be disposed of at the Ellis County Hazardous Waste Facility. Medical waste can be taken to the Ellis County Health Department.
According to Honas, the white goods will be recycled after they’re taken to the Ellis County Waste Transfer Station.
“The transfer station brings in another company that crushes this stuff and bales it and then it is recycled.”
The trees and limbs will also have a second life.
“We do chip all the trees that we collect. The chips are taken down to the Parks Department, (1546 Highway 40 Bypass), which uses them for their tree farm. A lot of landscapers do use the wood chips and citizens are also welcome to take them, free of charge.”
Last year’s alley cleanup yielded 850,000 pounds of junk. “We usually range between 750 and 850 thousand pounds,” Honas said, “although the first year we did this after not offering it for some time, we picked up 1.5 million pounds. It’s leveled out since then.”
Honas also noted the alley cleanup will not affect the regular collection of refuse and recyclables.
For more details, contact the Hays Solid Waste Department at 785-628-7350 or check the city’s website.
TOPEKA – More than 200 babies are stillborn each year in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is committed to helping families prevent this tragedy, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), puts families at greater risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, loss of productivity and makes them four times more likely to get divorced.
Governor Jeff Colyer has designated October as Stillbirth Awareness Month. The annual awareness campaign comes just after the launch of a new initiative in Kansas to prevent stillbirths, called Count the Kicks.
“We are partnering with health care providers, midwives and doulas, county health departments, birthing hospitals, community groups and others to ensure that all women know the importance of counting their baby’s movements daily in the third trimester,” said KDHE Secretary Jeff Andersen. “Throughout October KDHE and partners will been honoring Stillbirth Awareness Month by talking about our efforts to prevent loss due to stillbirth with the Count the Kicks campaign.”
Count the Kicks is a proven stillbirth prevention public health campaign that empowers expectant parents to track their baby’s movements in the third trimester and has the potential to save 60 babies every year. The campaign encourages families to contact a physician if they notice a reduction in fetal movement, so medical attention can be sought before it’s too late.
The Kansas Count the Kicks campaign was launched in August and has proven to be impactful. More than 100 orders for materials have been submitted; more than 1,000 Kansans have visited the Count the Kicks website; more than 100 Kansans have “liked” Count the Kicks on Facebook; and more than 350 Kansas moms have downloaded the free Count the Kicks app to track movements.
Through KDHE, providers can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials at www.countthekicks.org and start using these materials in their practices right away. Moms everywhere can download the FREE Count the Kicks app, which is available in the Google Play and iTunes online stores. The app, available in English and Spanish, allows expectant moms to monitor their babies’ movement, record the history, set a daily reminder, count for single babies and twins.
The Kansas Count the Kicks campaign is supported by KDHE with funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under grant number #B04MC31488 and title Maternal and Child Health Services.
Preston / city of RussellCity Manager Toby Dougherty announced Friday the appointment of Shane Preston as the new deputy fire chief for the Hays Fire Department. He will assume his duties Nov. 13.
Preston comes to Hays from the city of Russell where he started as a firefighter in 2000. He worked his way up the ranks until May 2013 when he became Russell’s fire chief.
Preston comes to the City of Hays with an Associate of Applied Science and completion of KU’s Certified Public Manager program.
EMPORIA — Rachel Muirhead of Hays is part of the Emporia State University Homecoming musical, “Pippin.”
First produced on Broadway in 1972, the show with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (of “Wicked” and “Godspell” fame) and book by Roger O. Hirson recently completed a successful national tour after a celebrated and award-winning New York revival in 2013.
“Pippin” presents a timely and powerful message about finding your place in a confusing world that is filled with possibilities. The story follows young prince Pippin (the son of Charlemagne) who is on a quest for an extraordinary life but is wrapped up in politics, war, family squabbles and love. “Pippin” also feature a mysterious and enchanting troupe of performers who help to tell the story. Led by a mysterious Leading Player, they sing, dance, perform acrobatics and magic tricks as they advance the action of the musical.
A senior, Muirhead plays Catherine.
Jim Bartruff is directing “Pippin,” his 12th ESU Homecoming musical. Co-directing is Lindy Bartruff, who is also the choreographer.
“This is a musical about doing a musical. At this stage in my career it seemed we could look back on and reflect over everything we’ve done together,” Jim Bartruff said. “And when you get an opportunity to do a show with great music, with a strong story to tell and that is about something you love doing, you have to take it on.”
The show features the scenic and lighting designs of Nancy Pontius with costumes designed by Susan Williams. It is under the technical direction of Chris Lohkamp with Amanda Dura as the costume shop manager. Penelope Speedie returns as the music director with Stephen Holbert as her assistant music director. The production pianist is Melinda Groves.
The Homecoming musical is the first show of the season and institutes ESU Theatre’s new ticketing policy. The new policy centers around advance ticket sales. Tickets purchased in advance will offer a substantial savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance sale tickets for the homecoming musical will be $15 for Premium seats (center section), $12 for second tier seats (side sections) and $8 for student tickets (side sections). Tickets purchased at the door will increase to $20 for premium seats, $15 for second tier seats and $12 for student tickets in the second tier.
Tickets for all ESU Theatre productions can be purchased online at tickets.emporia.edu. Tickets are also available in person from the University Ticket Office in the Memorial Union or by calling 620-341-6378.
“Pippin” will play in the Karl C. Bruder Theatre in King Hall (1301 Market Street) at 7:30 PM Oct. 18-20, 2018 with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Oct. 21.
If Libertarian Party candidate Jeff Caldwell is elected governor of Kansas in November, his first day in office will be a busy one.
His first act will be to pardon all nonviolent cannabis offenses, which he claims will save the state $20 million a year, and he’ll follow that action with an executive order preventing the state from discriminating against any Kansas resident.
“It’s time for legislators to listen to their constituents instead of their buddies and corporate donors,” he said. “I will bring true representation back to Topeka.”
Caldwell, a 32-year-old fourth generation Kansan from Leawood, said other initiatives he will pursue include elimination of the sales tax on food and water, which is one of the highest in the nation, a burden on every Kansan.
“Kansas is one of only seven states in the entire United States that taxes food without a reduced rate or no rate at all,” he said.
He supports the funding of schools, but he believes there is room for a new approach. He would use the savings from full legalization of medical and recreational cannabis and sports betting to cover the cost, rather than relying totally on traditional funding sources.
“Kansas legislators are telling us an improving economy will cover the funding,” he said. But “the unemployment rate in Kansas has been stuck at 3.4 percent for over six months.
“I also will work to pass the Kansas Education Liberty Act … which would bring sources of funding for education from outside of the state. Nonprofit organizations would be created to handle funding next to the current state infrastructure, and the organizations would be funded through donations that are matched with a dollar for dollars tax credit.”
Caldwell said he supports returns education back to local control, but he believes this would require a constitutional amendment to restrict litigation on state aid to districts.
He would couple that with tax credits for corporations to donate more money to the state’s colleges and universities.
One of Caldwell’s chief concerns is governmental transparency. He said he would lead the effort to information citizens of the legislative process.
“I have participated in committee hearings that continuously move, bills get gutted and replaced and legislators’ votes are not recorded when in committee,” he said. Under his administration, “all hearings, sessions and meetings will be recorded, live-streamed and available for public view.”
The Leawood resident said the time has come to overhaul the Department of Children and Families.
“Kansas should launch a complete, comprehensive audit of the DCF, Saint Francis Community Services and KVC Behavioral Healthcare,” he said. “All the abuse and neglect found within the system will be brought to light and handled appropriately. It is time to clean house within Kansas’ child services.
He supports the reintroduction of Kansas House Bill 2751, which would establish the office of the child advocate for children’s protection and services within the Kansas Department of Administration.
The bill creates an ombudsman’s office with the power to investigate, request confidential records, subpoena documents and review how well children are protected by the state.
He is concerned about procedures that in the past have allowed by agencies to hide or eliminate specific details of their failure to protect Kansas children.
His stand on the decriminalization of cannabis use ties in to his belief that children should not be taken away from parents who test positive for THC from marijuana consumption.
Caldwell ran unsuccessfully in 2012 and 2014 for a seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.
“He is a tireless champion for border security,” Trump said. “He’ll fight for you every single day. He doesn’t stop. He’ll protect your family. He’ll protect your children.”
Kobach’s campaign for governor is one of two hotly contested races in Kansas revealing a divide over immigration policy. In the 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Republican Kevin Yoder has rejected the Trump administration’s harshest tactics and rhetoric.
Kobach has made a career out of stoking anti-immigrant sentiment. As secretary of state, he’s pushed for rules to require that people show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. As a private attorney, he worked with cities across the country to help pass ordinances that make hiring or renting to undocumented immigrants unlawful.
At the rally, Kobach warned that immigrants here illegally are a drain on the state’s finances.
“It’s time to put Kansans first, not illegal aliens,” he said. Once again the crowd cheered in approval.
That sentiment plays well with voters who helped Trump win Kansas by a wide margin in 2016. It also plays in rural parts of the state where some people are anxious about immigrants bringing crime.
However, the influential Kansas Farm Bureau couldn’t agree on who to endorse for governor. Rich Felts, the group’s president, said Kobach’s hardline stance on immigration may have factored in the lack of consensus.
And Kobach’s rhetoric may also hurt him with voters in the growing suburbs of Kansas City.
That’s where Rep. Yoder is taking a more moderate tone when it comes to immigration. He’s been endorsed by Trump but didn’t appear at the rally.
Yoder supports Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and the border wall but has said he’s also willing to work across the aisle.
“I … supported a Democratic plan that would make sure that DACA kids can’t be deported,” Yoder told host Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up To Date. “I also supported a Democratic plan that would ensure that we can’t separate parents from their children.”
Yoder came to the aid of an Indian woman who lost her legal status in the United States after her husband was murdered in a hate crime in Olathe. Sunayana Dumala has endorsed the congressman in a new ad.
Yoder is clearly trying to win over moderates, but his approach has alienated some further to the right, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
“Your family history shouldn’t be allowed to thwart the president’s immigration agenda, and frankly imperil the party’s prospects in the midterms,” she told her television audience.
Yoder eventually backed away from the Democratic plan citing concerns that it would allow millions of people to potentially make fraudulent claims and take advantage of the system.
The 3rd District is increasingly home to wealthy, college educated people. And it’s skewing more Democratic. Hillary Clinton narrowly won the district in the presidential race two years ago.
“You know, [Yoder] really hasn’t walked away from Trump’s policies,” said University of Kansas political science professor Patrick Miller. “Yet he’s attempted to say things or express concern over things like children being detained that might seem more sympathetic to what’s really a swing district that he represents.”
To further demonstrate he’s the centrist in the race, Yoder has tried to make his Democratic challenger, Sharice Davids, seem too radical for his district.
“Certainly, I’ve had moderate people tell me they don’t like the gubernatorial nominee,” Yoder said. “But for the same reason you shouldn’t like [Sharice Davids] for Kansas.”
He’s focused a lot of attention on comments she made about defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Congressional Republicans’ super PAC and Yoder’s campaign have both turned those comments into attack ads. Davids put out her own ad saying they twisted her words.
It’s unclear which strategy will work for the two Republicans — reaching out to moderates, or ignoring them and relying on Trump’s base.
Brian Grimmett, based at KMUW in Wichita, is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a statewide collaboration between KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett.
Scholars across the world are now able to access monographs written and published by FHSU faculty and staff, online through Fort Hays Studies Series on Forsyth Library’s FHSU Scholars Repository.
“We do a lot of really great scholarship here at Fort Hays State, and because these are now indexed in Google Scholar they are really discoverable by everybody,” said Elizabeth Chance, digital curation librarian at Forsyth Library. The monographs span from 1937 to 2010.
One monograph has not been put online. Chance is still looking for a copy of “Big Creek and Its Fishes” by Joe Tomelleri, Mark Eberle, and Guy Ernsting. Chance said she would “greatly appreciate” a donation so they can complete the series on the repository.
To get a publication on the repository, Chance has to have three copies. “Because we have to destroy a copy in the process, we keep one full run in circulation, we have one full run in the archives, and one we can take apart,” said Chance.
Chance and Kaylee Brin, a Hays junior studying sociology, started work on this project in February. “I was mainly responsible for scanning the series and utilizing Photoshop to ensure the best quality for the documents,” said Brin. “It is humbling to know that I have helped people to read the series online.”
Chance and Brin were able to get the whole series online in seven months. “Kaylee was just instrumental in this whole thing,” said Chance.
The next projects include getting all FHSU master’s theses and University Leaders online.
The Scholars Repository went live in January 2016. Since then, FHSU’s Reveille yearbook collection has been uploaded to the site. In September, the newest collection was added.
The 24/7 Travel Stores across Kansas are helping to fight hunger in their communities.
Listen as the ‘Voice of the Chiefs’ Mitch Holthus recaps last week’s loss at New England and previews this Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.
