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Month: July 2019

KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 7/5/19

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khaz cheesy joke logo 20110802On The Ball

Once there was a golfer whose drive landed on an anthill.

Rather than move the ball, he decided to hit it where it lay. He gave a mighty swing. Clouds of dirt and sand and ants exploded from the spot. Everything but the golfball. It sat in the same spot.

So he lined up and tried another shot. Clouds of dirt and sand and ants went flying again. The golf ball didn’t even wiggle.

Two ants survived. One dazed ant said to the other, “Whoa! what are we going to do?”

Said the other ant: “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get on top of the ball!”

 

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KU Study: AI identifies ‘Kissing Bugs’ that spread Chagas disease

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KU NEWS SERVICE

LAWRENCE — New research from the University of Kansas shows machine learning is capable of identifying insects that spread the incurable disease called Chagas with high precision, based on ordinary digital photos. The idea is to give public health officials where Chagas is prevalent a new tool to stem the spread of the disease and eventually to offer identification services directly to the general public.

Chagas is particularly nasty because most people who have it don’t know they’ve been infected. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 20 percent to 30 percent of the 8 million people with Chagas worldwide are struck at some later point with heart rhythm abnormalities that can bring on sudden death; dilated hearts that don’t pump blood efficiently; or a dilated esophagus or colon.

Left, an example image of an individual of Triatoma dimidiata. (A) Raw image and (B) final image with background removed digitally. Courtesy Khalighifar, et al. Right, this image shows that with more data (such as digital images of triatomine), the accuracy of deep learning used by the KU researchers increases whereas prior techniques plateau after a certain point. (Courtesy MDPI under a Creative Commons license)

The disease is caused most often when triatomine bugs — more commonly known as “kissing bugs” — bite people and transmit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi into their bloodstreams. Chagas is most prevalent in rural areas of Mexico, Central America and South America.

A recent undertaking at KU, called the Virtual Vector Project, sought to enable public health officials to identify triatomine that carry Chagas with their smartphones, using a kind of portable photo studio for taking pictures of the bugs.

Now, a graduate student at KU has built on that project with proof-of-concept research showing artificial intelligence can recognize 12 Mexican and 39 Brazilian species of kissing bugs with high accuracy by analyzing ordinary photos — an advantage for officials looking to cut the spread of Chagas disease.

Ali Khalighifar, a KU doctoral student at the Biodiversity Institute and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, headed a team that just published findings in the Journal of Medical Entomology. To identify the kissing bugs from regular photos, Khalighfar and his colleagues worked with open-source, deep-learning software from Google, called TensorFlow that is similar to the technology underpinning Google’s reverse image search.

“Because this model is able to understand, based on pixel tones and colors, what is involved in one image, it can take out the information and analyze it in a way the model can understand — and then you give them other images to test and it can identify them with a really good identification rate,” Khalighifar said. “That’s without preprocessing — you just start with raw images, which is awesome. That was the goal. Previously, it was impossible to do the same thing as accurately and certainly not without preprocessing the images.”

Khalighifar and his coauthors — Ed Komp, researcher at KU’s Information and Telecommunication Technology Center, Janine M. Ramsey of Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Rodrigo Gurgel-Gonçalves of Brazil’s Universidade de Brasília, and A. Townsend Peterson, KU Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and senior curator with the KU Biodiversity Institute — trained their algorithm with 405 images of Mexican triatomine species and 1,584 images of Brazilian triatomine species.

At first, the team was able to achieve, “83.0 and 86.7 percent correct identification rates across all Mexican and Brazilian species, respectively, an improvement over comparable rates from statistical classifiers,” they write. But after adding information about kissing bugs’ geographic distributions into the algorithm, the researchers boosted the accuracy of identification to 95.8 percent for Mexican species and 98.9 percent for Brazilian species.

According to Khalighifar, the algorithm-based technology could allow public health officials and others to identify triatomine species with an unprecedented level of accuracy, to better understand disease vectors on the ground.

“In the future, we’re hoping to develop an application or a web platform of this model that is constantly trained based on the new images, so it’s always being updated, that provides high-quality identifications to any interested user in real time,” he said.

Khalighifar now is applying a similar approach using TensorFlow for instant identification of mosquitoes based on the sounds of their wings and frogs based on their calls.

“I’m working right now on mosquito recordings,” he said. “I’ve shifted from image processing to signal processing of recordings of the wing beats of mosquitoes. We get the recordings of mosquitoes using an ordinary cell phone, and then we convert them from recordings to images of signals. Then we use TensorFlow to identify the mosquito species. The other project that I’m working right now is frogs, with Dr. Rafe Brown at the Biodiversity Institute. And we are designing the same system to identify those species based on the calls given by each species.”

While often artificial intelligence is popularly portrayed as a job-killing threat or even an existential threat to humanity, Khalighifar said his research showed how AI could be a boon to scientists studying biodiversity.

“It’s amazing — AI really is capable of doing everything, for better or for worse,” he said. “There are uses appearing that are scary, like identifying Muslim faces on the street. Imagine, if we can identify frogs or mosquitoes, how easy it might be to identify human voices. So, there are certainly dark sides of AI. But this study shows a positive AI application — we’re trying to use the good side of that technology to promote biodiversity conservation and support public health work.”

Images: Left, an example image of an individual of Triatoma dimidiata. (A) Raw image and (B) final image with background removed digitally. Courtesy Khalighifar, et al. Right, this image shows that with more data (such as digital images of triatomine), the accuracy of deep learning used by the KU researchers increases whereas prior techniques plateau after a certain point. Courtesy MDPI under a Creative Commons license.

NW Kansas family looks beyond traditional farm business to focus on lettuce, herbs

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The Buck family of Grinnell, Kansas grow lettuce and herbs. From left, Wade Buck, Shayna Buck, Daniel Buck and Carol Buck.

Couple works with K-State specialists on food safety practices

K-State Research and Extension

Daniel and Carol Buck may be farming in the middle of wheat country, but they’re growing crops of a different sort in northwest Kansas. The Bucks grow lettuce and herbs for sale to grocery stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals and individuals in a hydroponic green house on their 4B Farms near Grinnell.

The couple started their produce business in January 2018 and quickly developed a market. Because they’re growing in a greenhouse, they’re able to grow year round and don’t have the problems with wildlife that other growers do. They rely mostly on Facebook and word of mouth for marketing and say they’ve taken advantage of K-State Research and Extension/ Kansas Department of Agriculture training to learn the ins and outs of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) produce safety rule requirements. They’ve also participated in a Good Agricultural Practices workshop to help them prepare for GAPs audits by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The food safety challenges in California and Arizona actually benefitted us,” Daniel Buck said of nationwide recalls of romaine lettuce linked to E. coli illnesses in the past couple of years. The Bucks were able to keep selling romaine because they had documented their food safety practices and could demonstrate that their romaine was not tainted. That was especially important earlier this year during a recall. The couple had just added a big customer – the Hays Medical Center, a part of the University of Kansas Health System. “We were the only supplier of romaine that could continue to sell (during the recall) to one of their hospitals.”

“With just Carol and I handling (their lettuce and herbs), it minimizes the chances of food safety problems,” Daniel Buck said.

Participating in K-State Research and Extension/Kansas Department of Agriculture workshops has helped keep basic food safety practices in the forefront of the couple’s business, they said, adding that many of those practices are common sense. One of the important things they’ve changed, however, since working with Extension Produce Safety Associate Cal Jamerson, is to stop wearing gloves as they harvest lettuce and herbs. Going without gloves is allowed in the FSMA guidelines.

“You can feel when your hands are dirty, but you can’t feel if your gloves are dirty,” Carol Buck said. In one circumstance, a customer requires gloves and when handling that customer’s produce, they comply with the buyer’s wishes. Otherwise, they harvest without them.

“We have picked Cal’s brain numerous times. He’s a lifesaver,” Carol Buck said.

Jamerson’s position with K-State Research and Extension is funded by the KDA to assist Kansas fruit and vegetable growers in improving the safety of their produce to meet the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements.

K-State is hosting another round of produce food safety trainings this summer and fall, includingFSMA Produce Safety Rule Grower Training:

  • July 11 – Manhattan
  • Aug.2 – Olathe
  • Aug. 26 – Bonner Springs
  • Sept. 6 – Bird City
  • Oct. 3 – Dodge City
  • Nov. 8 – Parsons
  • Nov. 15 – WichitaWorkshops on Writing a (GAPS) Food Safety Plan are planned for:
  • July 12 – Manhattan
  • July 16 – Olathe
  • Oct. 4 – Dodge City

More information about the FSMA and GAP workshops, plus online registration is available athttps://bit.ly/2FFKDsm or contact Jamerson at 913-307-7394 or [email protected].

I-70 bridge repair starting in Russell County

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Starting the week of July 8, the Kansas Department of Transportation will begin work on a bridge repair project on Interstate 70 in Russell County.

Crews will be patching and overlaying both the eastbound and westbound bridges carrying I-70 over the Union Pacific Railroad near Dorrance, or approximately 14 miles east of the I-70 and U.S. 281 junction. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a posted reduced speed through the construction zone. Minor delays not exceeding 5 minutes should be expected.

KDOT expects work to be completed in early December, weather permitting. PCI Roads LLC is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of approximately $434,000.

— KDOT

HPD Activity Log June 28-30 & July 1-2

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The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 28  traffic stops Fri., June 28, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Theft (general)–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:11 AM
Animal Call–3000 block E 14th St, Hays; 2:26 AM
Driving Under the Influence–1400 block Hall St, Hays; 2:40 AM
Theft (general)–500 block Halladay St, Hays; 7:30 AM
Parking Complaint–1300 block MacArthur Rd, Hays; 8:08 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block Oak St, Hays; 6/27 9:30 PM; 6/28 9:30 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–100 block E 14th St, Hays; 10:46 AM
Found/Lost Property–1000 block W 39th St, Hays; 11:53 AM
Animal At Large–4th and Main, Hays; 12:55 PM
Animal At Large–15th St and Hall St, Hays; 1:27 PM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block E 41st St, Hays; 3:39 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12:49 PM
Animal At Large–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 4:12 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1900 block E 25th St, Hays; 4:37 PM
Suspicious Activity–2300 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:04 PM
Criminal Trespass–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 10:45 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1000 block  W 37th St, Hays; 10:53 PM
Water Use Violation–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 10:52 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 17  traffic stops Sat., June 29, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suicidal Subject–400 block W 8th St, Hays; 12:46 AM
Drug Offenses–1100 block E 27th St, Hays; 3:23 AM
Animal Bite Investigation–200 block Ash St, Hays; 9:33 AM
Water Use Violation–3000 block Columbine Dr, Hays; 10:22 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4100 block Vine St, Hays; 10:58 AM
Theft (general)–1100 block E 27th St, Hays; 11:08 AM
Animal At Large–300 block W 32nd St, Hays; 11:55 AM
Theft (general)–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:56 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–2700 block Ash St, Hays; 12:42 PM
Suicidal Subject–1200 block Main St, Hays; 1 PM
Stalking–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 2:43 PM
Suspicious Activity–300 block Main St, Hays; 3:20 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–1800 block Main St, Hays; 4:17 PM
Suicidal Subject–800 block Vine St, Hays; 5:46 PM
Found/Lost Property–200 block W 11th St, Hays; 6:26 PM
Theft (general)–1300 block Western Plains Dr, Hays; 7:12 PM
Theft (general)–200 block Ash St, Hays; 7 PM; 8:30 PM
Mental Health Call–700 block Vine St, Hays; 9:50 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1300 block Elm St, Hays; 5 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 20  traffic stops Sun., June 30, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suspicious Activity–200 block E 15th St, Hays; 1:51 AM
Water Use Violation–500 block E 17th St, Hays; 3:46 AM
Domestic Disturbance–1600 block Main St, Hays; 4:34 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 4 AM; 5:45 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 6:39 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–1400 block Pine St, Hays; 6/29 10 PM; 6/30 11 AM
Theft (general)–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 11:41 AM
Suspicious Activity–2000 block Metro Ln, Hays; 1:34 PM
Found/Lost Property–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 8:21 PM
Suspicious Person–200 block W 17th St, Hays; 9 PM; 9:30 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 10:26 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1300 block MacArthur Rd, Hays; 10:28 PM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block Vine St, Hays; 10:41 PM
False Report–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 10:46 PM
Drug Offenses–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 11 PM
Stalking–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 11:40 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 14 animal calls and conducted 13  traffic stops Mon., July 1, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 3:29 AM
MV Accident-Pedestrian–13th St and Canterbury Dr, Hays; 5:37 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–400 block E 18th St, Hays; 7:03 AM
Animal At Large–500 block W 23rd St, Hays; 019 07:28:06 AM
Theft (general)–1700 block Western Plains Dr, Hays; 8:47 AM
Dead Animal Call–26th and Vine St, Hays; 11:27 AM
Suicidal Subject–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 11:53 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block W 23rd St, Hays; 12:09 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 12:16 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1000 block W 15th St, Ellis; 12:22 PM
Animal At Large–2900 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 1:37 PM
Water Use Violation–2900 block Barclay Dr, Hays; 2:30 PM; 2:48 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–170 block Sunset Trl, Hays; 2:56 PM
Theft (general)–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 6/5 3:06 PM
Animal Injured–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 3:10 PM
Theft (general)–500 block E 14th St, Hays; 3:25 PM
Theft (general)–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 6/6 4:37 PM
Theft (general)–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 6/11 4:37 PM
Theft (general)–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 6/17 4:37 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–3100 block Vine St, Hays; 5:12 PM
Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 5:47 PM
Water Use Violation–500 block E 19th St, Hays; 7:18 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–200 block E 24th St, Hays; 7:39 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–1200 block Milner St, Hays; 5 PM; 6:30 PM
Mental Health Call–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:33 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1000 block Elm St, Hays; 8:57 PM
Water Use Violation–1200 block E 22nd St, Hays; 11:12 PM
Disorderly Conduct–800 block Ash, Hays; 11:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 28 traffic stops Tue., July 2, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

44 – Traffic Stop–100 block E 17th St, Hays; 1:20 AM
Mental Health Call–2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 2:12 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–100 block W 25th St, Hays; 7/1 6 PM; 7/2 7 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 8:06 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–2400 block Lincoln Dr, Hays; 8:10 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–500 block Allen St, Hays; 6/29 9 PM; 6/30 12 PM
Credit Card Violations–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 9:14 AM
Animal Call–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 9:20 AM
Document Service–1500 block Montgomery St, Hays; 10:04 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 12:01 AM; 8 AM
Theft (general)–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 2:19 PM
Animal Call–100 block E 11th St, Hays; 6:50 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:57 PM
Found/Lost Property–500 block W 37th St, Hays; 9:11 PM
Animal Call–1600 block W 28th St, Hays; 9:48 PM
Battery – Domestic–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 10:17 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 10:44 PM
Curfew Violation–3300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:05 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1000 block Elm St, Hays; 11:36 PM

Possible firework related death reported in Colby on Thursday

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Colby Police Department

COLBY — On July 4 at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Colby Police Department received a 911 call of a male juvenile who had been severely injured by a possible firework. EMS and law enforcement personnel arrived and began treating the juvenile.

The juvenile was transported to the hospital, but the injuries proved to be fatal.

The investigation into the death of the local juvenile is ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

The Colby Police Department is being assisted by the Kansas State Fire Marshall’s Office with the investigation.

Relics tour to sweep through Salina Diocese

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Fr. Carlos Martins, priest with Companions of the Cross, gives a presentation before viewing the relics.

Submitted

A Treasures of the Church relics tour will be on display in four churches in the Salina Diocese July 30 through Aug. 2. This tour, sponsored by Divine Mercy Radio, will include 150 relics. 

Relics that are part of this display are St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Faustina Kowalska. The supreme highlight is one of the largest relics of the Church’s claim to the True Cross in the world and a piece of the veil that, according to sanctioned tradition, is believed to have belonged to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Each night of the exhibit will begin at 7 p.m. with a multi-media presentation on the Catholic Church’s use of relics that is scriptural, catechetical and devotional. This presentation will take place in the church, followed by veneration of the relics in the parish hall.

Relics are displayed in a reliquary. This relic is a piece of the veil worn by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The relics schedule is as follows:

July 30, Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 731 Pierre, Manhattan.

July 31, St. Mary Queen of the Universe Church, 230 E. Cloud, Salina.

Aug. 1, St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 2901 E. 13th St., Hays.

Aug. 2, Sacred Heart Church, 585 N. French, Colby.

Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or Jesus. Scripture supports devotion to relics, especially in terms of healing. Here are a couple of examples:

“When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha, the man came back to life and rose to his feet” (2 Kings 13:20-21).

“The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might ‘touch’ them” (Acts 5:12-15).

The Catholic church has three classes of relics. First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh. Second class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book (or fragments of those items). Third class relics are those items that a saint touched or that have been touched to a first, second or another third-class relic of a saint.

The faithful are encouraged to bring rosaries, holy cards and other devotional items to be touched to the relics.

Treasures of the Church, run by Father Carlos Martins, is a ministry of evangelization leading to a renewal of the Catholic faith for many people.

There is no cost to attend the exhibit. However, a basket will be available for a freewill offering to help the Treasures of the Church ministry to continue.

Lindor, Ramirez help Indians sweep Royals with 8-4 clincher

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Indians manager Terry Francona looked over at bench coach Brad Mills midway through Thursday’s game against the Royals and said, ‘Gosh, they’re letting us just hang around.”

It wasn’t long until Cleveland took advantage of it.

Francisco Lindor drove in the go-ahead runs during a six-run seventh inning, Jose Ramirez homered twice and Carlos Santana pushed his on-base streak to 27 games as the Indians rallied to beat bumbling Kansas City 8-4 on Thursday and complete a three-game sweep.

Tyler Naquin and Jason Kipnis also drove in runs for the suddenly red-hot Indians, who beat the Royals — losers of four straight and seven of eight — for the fifth time in six meetings.

“They were just letting us hang around and hang around,” Francona sad, “and all of a sudden some good things happen, and we have a big inning and it snowballs from there.”

Adam Cimber (4-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief as the Indians’ bullpen bailed out Zach Plesac. Their ineffective starter allowed three runs and three hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

Kansas City only managed three more hits in a game delayed 2½ hours at the start by rain.

“Cimber threw 30 pitches,” Francona said, “but I didn’t see any reason to take him out.”

Still, the Royals were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the seventh when Jorge Lopez (1-7) coughed up hits to the only four batters he faced. Kevin Plawecki and Bobby Bradley started the inning with singles, and Naquin doubled home Plawecki before Lindor laced a two-run single to give Cleveland the lead.

Lindor later scored as the Indians proceeded to score six times in the inning.

“I’ve got no excuse,” Lopez said. “I fell behind to the first guy. Threw a right-down-the-middle curveball. The next guy, tried to look for a ground ball, like I always try to get. Unfortunately, I didn’t have it. They found the holes and they kept going.”

The Royals’ meltdown wasted another solid start by Homer Bailey, who allowed two runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Bailey still has not lost a game since June 1.

“It’s not just Lopez,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of his bullpen. “They’ll have good outings then a not-good outing. We were trying to put it all together in our minds.”

Plesac faced the minimum through the first two innings, but he appeared to struggle with his grip when a muggy afternoon followed all the rain. At one point, Francona and a trainer came out with a towel so that Plesac could dry off his hands and arms.

It didn’t seem to do much for his ability to throw strikes.

Cam Gallagher singled in the third, Terrence Gore walked and Whit Merrifield singled before Adalberto Mondesi laid down a squeeze bunt that the fleet-footed shortstop turned into an RBI base hit.

Hunter Dozier walked later in the inning, and Jorge Soler’s bases-loaded walk gave the Royals a 3-1 lead and brought Francona to the mound again — this time to summon a reliever.

A.J. Cole and Tyler Clippard joined Cimber in keeping the Indians in the game, and their offense got them within a run in the fifth. Two innings later, that offense gave them the lead for good.

STATS AND STREAKS

The Indians have had five sweeps of at least three games this season. Three have come in their past six series. … Cleveland scored 21 runs on 33 hits during the series. … The Royals have led in 60 of 88 games but have blown a league-leading 30 of them. … Gallagher homered in the ninth.

SAL’S RECOVERY

Yost acknowledged catcher Salvador Perez (Tommy John surgery) is making progress in his recovery, and that “he’s itching to start catching sides.” Perez had surgery in spring training and is aiming to be back next spring. “There’s no throwing involved. He can’t,” Yost said.”

SOLER’S SNUB

Yost wasn’t surprised Soler was snubbed for next week’s All-Star Home Run Derby, despite having hit 23 this season. “You know that old saying, ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire?'” Yost asked. “I couldn’t smell no smoke. I wasn’t surprised. I thought he’d be a great pick for it, though.”

UP NEXT

The Royals wrap up their pre-All-Star break slate with three games in Washington starting Friday night, when RHP Brad Keller (4-9, 4.63 ERA) takes the mound. The Indians have Friday off before closing the first half with a pair of games in Cincinnati this weekend.

Kansas inmate ordered to stand trial for attack on jailer

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HUTCHINSON (AP) — A Kansas prison inmate serving 50 years for a brutal murder has been ordered to stand trial for attempted rape last year of a female correctional officer.

The Hutchinson News reports a judge found sufficient evidence to bind 42-year-old Tanner Lee Green over for trial on Wednesday on alternate counts of attempted rape, aggravated sexual battery, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

The corrections officer testified Green grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. The two struggled until she was able to push her panic alarm on her belt to summon help.

A prison investigator testified cameras in the cellblock captured the assault.

Green was convicted of first-degree murder in 2000. His lengthy criminal record includes aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated escape and other crimes.

Robert Wm. Bruce Sr.

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Robert Wm. Bruce Sr., 83, of Hoisington, Kansas, died July 2, 2019, at home with his family by his side.

He was born January 4, 1936, in Richmond, California, to William and Henrietta (Hokemeyer) Bruce. He married Kathleen M. Kennedy on November 1, 1974, in Ness City, Kansas.

He enjoyed visiting , going to the casino, playing cards with friends, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Kathleen; one son, Robert Wm. Bruce, Jr. and wife Teresa of Hoisington, two daughters, Helen Brown of Hemet, California, and Betty Bergman and husband Ken of Peck, Idaho; special friend, Tina Sisson; 15 grandchildren and soon to be 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Linda Walker, one son, Christopher Bruce, and one grandson, Seth Contreras.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life Service will be announced at a later date. Inurnment will be in Minnesota.

Memorials may be made to the Robert Wm. Bruce, Sr. Memorial Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

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