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Year: 2019

Now That’s Rural: Clara Reyes, Dos Mundos

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Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Two worlds. When a person from one country comes into a different country, it can feel to them like they have entered another world. That feeling caused one woman to create a bilingual newspaper so as to help others through such transitions. She has gone on to provide outstanding leadership for the Hispanic community in the Kansas City region.

Clara Reyes is the founder and owner of Dos Mundos, which literally translated means Two Worlds. Dos Mundos is the Spanish and English language newspaper in Kansas City.

Clara grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She wanted to pursue a career as a dentist and graduated from the University of Guadalajara. In 1964, she traveled to Kansas City to explore pursuing her education in dentistry. While there, she met Manuel Reyes and a romance ensued.

After a brief courtship, he followed her to Guadalajara where they were married. Then they moved to his home area in Overland Park.

“When I came from Mexico, I didn’t know any English,” Clara said. She quickly found that tasks which came easy to a U.S. citizen, such as opening a checking account or paying a telephone bill, were monumental challenges for someone unfamiliar with the language or the culture. She wished she had a bicultural, Spanish-language aid to help her adapt to her new country.

Clara spent several years as a student, homemaker, mother of two and then a real estate agent in Kansas City. “I saw people from Mexico who wanted to buy a house but didn’t know how to get loans or sign up for utilities,” Clara said.

She set out to find assistance for them. “I went to the gas company and they said, `Yes, we want to help and we have bilingual information, but we don’t know how to disseminate it,’” Clara said. The Chamber of Commerce indicated something similar. “They said, `We need some way to communicate with the Hispanic community.’”

In 1981, with support of her husband and children, Clara began a bilingual newspaper which could help inform the Hispanic community. “We started with a typesetter in our basement,” Clara said. The newspaper was called Dos Mundos, meaning two worlds. The company logo shows two globes connecting with each other.

Rather than producing the paper only in Spanish, she chose to use both Spanish and English. “We did it in bilingual form because we wanted others to read and know our needs also,” Clara said.

Dos Mundos was the first bilingual newspaper in Kansas City. It has now grown to become the largest and most read Hispanic paper in the area. The company’s market profile shows that the circulation region extends beyond Kansas City to rural communities such as Oskaloosa, Ottawa and Mound City, population 694 people. Now, that’s rural.

Clara Reyes’ company also operates three Spanish music and language radio stations in Kansas City. She is extremely active in community affairs.

Clara has served as president of the Coalition of Hispanic Women against Cancer, was a co-founder of the Southwest Boulevard Business Association, and has been a board member for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the National Federation of Hispanic Owned Publications, the Salvation Army, and many more. She has also received the international Ohtli Award from the Mexican consulate in Kansas City.

“Clara Reyes was our Huck Boyd Lecture speaker several years ago, and it was so interesting to learn how she started Dos Mundos with the help of her husband and children,” said Gloria Freeland, director of the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media in K-State’s A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. “For more than 35 years, her publication has filled a real need in her community and beyond. Her work demonstrates that communication can be used to unite people and strengthen communities.”

For more information, see www.dosmundos.com.

Two worlds. Just as the Dos Mundos newspaper has helped to connect the Hispanic world with the English one, Clara Reyes has been a leader in connecting people in Kansas City. In doing so, she has made a world of difference.

Political shifts, sales slump cast shadow over gun industry

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By LISA MARIE PANE ,  Associated Press
When gunmakers and dealers gather this week in Las Vegas for the industry’s largest annual conference, they will be grappling with slumping sales and a shift in politics that many didn’t envision two years ago when gun-friendly Donald Trump and a GOP-controlled Congress took office.
Some of the top priorities for the industry — expanding the reach of concealed carry permits and easing restrictions on so-called “silencers” — remain in limbo, and prospects for expanding gun rights are nil for the foreseeable future.Instead, fueled by the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the federal government banned bump stocks and newly in-charge U.S. House Democrats introduced legislation that would require background checks for virtually every firearm sale, regardless of whether it’s from a gun dealer or a private sale.

Even without Democrats’ gains in November’s midterm elections, the industry was facing a so-called “Trump slump,” a plummet in sales that happens amid gun rights-friendly administrations. Background checks were at an all-time high in 2016, President Barack Obama’s last full year in office, numbering more than 27.5 million; since then, background checks have been at about 25 million each year.

Gary Ramey, owner of Georgian gunmaker Honor Defense, says the mood at last year’s SHOT Show, which stands for Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade, was subdued. He’s expecting the same this year.

“There was no one to beat up. You didn’t have President Obama to put up in PowerPoint and say ‘He’s the best gun salesman, look what he’s doing to our country,'” he said.

“Numbers are down,” he added. “You can’t deny it.”

Robert J. Spitzer, chairman of political science at the State University of New York at Cortland and a longtime watcher of gun issues, said that not only have shifting politics made it difficult for the gun industry to gain ground but high-profile mass shootings — like the Las Vegas shooting that happened just miles from where the SHOT Show will be held and the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting — also cast a pall.

“After the Parkland shooting, (gun rights’ initiatives) were kind of frozen in their tracks,” Spitzer said. “Now there’s no chance that it’s going anywhere.”

It’s easier to drive up gun sales when there’s the threat or risk of gun-rights being restricted, he said. “It’s harder to rally people when your target is one house of Congress. It just doesn’t have the same galvanizing effect.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show has been held annually for more than four decades. This year more than 60,000 will attend the event that runs Tuesday through Friday — from gun dealers and manufacturers to companies that cater to law enforcement. There’s a wait list for exhibitors that is several hundred names long and it will have some 13 miles of aisles featuring products from more than 1,700 companies.

Last year’s show in Las Vegas was held just months after a gunman killed 58 people and injured hundreds at an outdoor music festival. The massacre was carried out by a gunman armed with bump stocks, which allow the long guns to mimic fully automatic weapons.

Organizers last year restricted media access to trade journalists. This year’s show will again allow reporters from mainstream media to attend.

Gun-control advocates are rejoicing in the gun industry’s misfortunes of late and chalking it up to not just shifting attitudes among Americans but a shift in elected political leaders.

“Without a fake menace in the White House to gin up fears, gun sales have been in a Trump slump and, as a result, the NRA is on the rocks,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Joe Bartozzi, the new president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said the industry isn’t disturbed by the drop in gun sales or the shift in federal politics. While Democrats who ran on gun-control platforms made huge gains in the House, he sees the Senate shifting to the other end of the spectrum.

“Having been in the industry for over 30 years and seeing the trends of gun sales ebb and flow over time, it’s very hard to put your finger on any one specific issue as to why this happens. It’s just the cyclical nature of the business,” he said.

Trump’s campaign was bolstered by about $30 million from the National Rifle Association and when he took office, the industry had hoped that a host of gun rights would be enacted. The Trump administration quickly nixed an Obama-imposed rule that made it more difficult for some disabled people to purchase and possess firearms.

But other industry priorities, such as reciprocity between states for carrying certain concealed firearms and a measure that would ease restrictions on purchasing suppressors that help muffle the sound when a gun is fired, failed to gain traction.

For now, Bartozzi said his organization is focused on a measure that would expand public gun ranges, funded by an existing tax on firearms and ammunition sales that supports conservation, safety programs and shooting ranges on public lands. The hope is that increasing the number of public ranges will encourage more people to become hunters.

Kansas woman dies after crash into semi, bridge rail

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FINNEY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Finney County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Civic driven by  Tuyen T. Nguyen, 50, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 83 two miles south of Garden City.

The vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a semi in the axle and then in the axle of the trailer.

Following the impact, the Honda continued northbound and struck the guard rail for the bridge.

Nguyen was transported to the hospital in Garden City where she died. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.  The semi driver Douglas A Brittenham, 59, North Platte, was not injured.

Lawson’s double-double lifts No. 9 KU past No. 24 Cyclones

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Dedric Lawson had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Devon Dotson hit the clinching free throws with 5.9 seconds left and ninth-ranked Kansas held on to beat No. 24 Iowa State 80-76 on Monday night

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Dedric Lawson had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Devon Dotson hit the clinching free throws with 5.9 seconds left and ninth-ranked Kansas held on to beat No. 24 Iowa State 80-76 on Monday night.

Marcus Garrett added 16 points and Lagerald Vick had 14 for the Jayhawks (16-3, 5-2 Big 12), who blew a late lead at West Virginia over the weekend but this time slammed the door down the stretch.

Iowa State (14-5, 4-3) got within 72-71 on a driving layup by Marial Shayok with 1:44 to go, but Garrett followed a swap of empty possessions with a layup. Michael Jacobson hit a free throw for the Cyclones, but Lawson’s 3 from the top of the key made it 77-72 with 22.3 seconds left.

Shayok added the last of his team-high 26 points for Iowa State, and after Dotson made the second of two free throws, Tyrese Haliburton made two of his own to get within 78-76 with 7.5 seconds left.

Dotson was immediately fouled on the inbound and this time he made both of his free throws.

It allowed the Jayhawks to escape with a split of the season series after getting blown out at Hilton Coliseum earlier this month. It also kept Kansas from falling a game behind the Cyclones in what has already become a jammed race for the Big 12 championship.

Dotson finished with 11 points for Kansas. Talen Horten-Tucker had 16 for the Cyclones, while Jacobson finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Weiler-Babb had 10 points.

The Cyclones took the lead in the opening minutes of the first half and never really relinquished it, even though the Jayhawks kept making brief runs that threatened to push them ahead.

Iowa State maintained control with crisp passing, balanced offense and enough rebounding, while the Jayhawks relied heavily on Lawson, who had 15 points and eight boards at the break.

The fact that Kansas was always a possession or two from taking the lead ramped up the nervous energy inside Allen Fieldhouse, turning it into a powder keg. And it finally erupted when Lagerald Vick slammed an ally-oop in transition to give the Jayhawks a 55-53 lead with 10:23 to go.

Lindell Wigginton and Horten-Tucker had chances to stop the run, but they combined to miss three straight foul shots. It eventually reached 14-0 when K.J. Lawson scored on a scooping layup, giving the Jayhawks a 61-53 advantage with 8 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Foul trouble soon became a problem for both teams.

Ochai Agbaji, who provided a big lift off the bench in the first half, fouled out for Kansas on a loose ball with 6:32 to go. Horten-Tucker soon picked up his fourth, and the Cyclones’ Cameron Lard was on the floor for about a minute before fouling out with no points and two rebounds.

Kansas still led 69-62 when Wigginton knocked down a 3-pointer. Jacobson added a free throw, then made a spectacular defensive play before hitting a 3 of his own to knot the game 69-all.

From there, it call came down to the final couple minutes.

TITLE REUNION

Four members of the Jayhawks’ 2008 national championship team were seated behind the Kansas bench in an impromptu reunion: Sasha Kaun, Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins and Brandon Rush. All of them but Kaun have their names hanging in the rafters of the Phog.

BIG PICTURE

Iowa State’s hot shooting staked the Cyclones to an early lead, but a series of timeouts by coach Steve Prohm did little to slow down the Jayhawks during their big second-half run. And when Iowa State had chances to stop it at the foul line, a series of misses cost dearly.

Kansas improved to 14-2 at Allen Fieldhouse under coach Bill Self, and is now 38-3 since the 2013-14 season when coming off a loss. The Jayhawks also avoided falling to 4-3 to start Big 12 play for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

UP NEXT

Iowa State visits Mississippi on Saturday in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.

Kansas travels to Rupp Arena on Saturday to play No. 8 Kentucky.

Windy, wet Tuesday

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Tuesday Patchy freezing drizzle before 7am, then patchy snow and freezing drizzle between 7am and 11am, then a chance of snow after 11am. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 21 by 2pm. Wind chill values as low as 2. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight.

WednesdaySunny, with a high near 42. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 25. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

ThursdayPartly sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery.

Thursday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 18.

FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Update: 9-year-old Kansas boy dies in accidental shooting

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SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that left a 9-year-old boy dead.

Family have established a GoFundMe page after the death of Royale Spencer

Just before 8:30 a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2200 block of east MacArthur in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a 9-year-old boy who had sustained a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead the scene.

The investigation revealed five juveniles between 9-years-old and 16-years-old were at the home at the time of the incident. The 9-year-old boy was visiting his 11-year-old friend who lived at the home. The two boys were able to manipulate a gun safe open in a bedroom and began playing with guns inside. Through the investigation it is believed, the 11-year-old boy was playing with a gun when it discharged.

The investigation is ongoing and the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a 9-year-old boy died in a shooting at a mobile home park.

Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation –photo courtesy KAKE

Police spokesman Charley Davidson says three children who lived at the home and two of their friends were in the home when the boy was shot Monday morning.

The boy was one of the friends visiting the family.

No further information was immediately available.

Investigators remain at the scene.U

Expanded KanCare benefits for quitting tobacco

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NAMI-KS

TOPEKA – As anyone who has smoked or used other tobacco products knows, it is hard to stop.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do.”

“I’ve tried and tried, and I just can’t quit.”

“I quit once for six months, but then I started up again when my dad died.”

These thoughts likely are all familiar to anyone who has used tobacco.

But did you know chances for successfully stopping tobacco use increase if medications and counseling are used together?

That is why a newly expanded program for KanCare patients is exciting news for people who want to quit and stay quit.

For the first time, KanCare is covering quit smoking medications and counseling, for multiple quit attempts per year. These include:

  • Tobacco cessation medications, including the nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, nasal spray, Chantix or Zyban
  • Combinations of cessation medications, like the patch and gum
  • Counseling services, from a health care provider, to support patients while they try to quit.
  • For as many times as it takes you to find the right combination and quit for good

This means if you don’t succeed the first time, it doesn’t end there. With the help of your health care provider, it is possible to try more than one option.

If you are still looking for a reason to quit, try these:

  • Your health and appearance will improve
  • More money and time to do the things you want to do
  • Your loved ones

For KanCare patients who use tobacco, ask your health care provider about the expanded benefits today. Chances are better than ever that this time the quit will be for good.

An information card about the expanded benefits can be downloaded here for providers and their patients.  Contact [email protected] to order a supply of these information cards.

Kan. man hospitalized after ejected in I-70 crash

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WABAUNSEE COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Acura driven by John K. Mwithiga, 24, Lawrence, was westbound on Intestate 70 just west of Spring Creek Road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle after partially entering the snow covered median.

The vehicle slid across the westbound lanes of I-70, entered the ditch, went up an embankment, crashed through a KDOT fence, rolled and the driver was ejected.

Mwithiga was transported to the hospital in Topeka. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP

Kansas Humane Society reports records set in 2018

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Humane Society says it set a record for the number of homes or placements it found for animals last year.

The agency says it placed 11,204 animals and had a 94 percent save rate last year.

The Humane Society said its save rate increased by 50 percent since it moved into its new facility in Wichita in 2009.

The organization says 8,432 animals were adopted in 2018, and another 1,955 were transferred to rescue partners. Another 710 animals were reunited with their owners and 107 were transferred to partner shelters.

The group also reported that it performed 2,281 donor-subsidized spay and neuter surgeries for animals last year. The agency also expanded its program to find placements for feral or semi-social cats.

HOOPS HIGHLIGHTS: Hays girls win Colby tourney, fast start for Plainville’s Dewey

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By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post

Hays High girls dominate Orange and Black Classic
The Hays High girls went into the Orange and Black Classic in Colby with a 4-3 record and won three games over the weekend to win the tournament. Hays outscored its three opponents 177-105 with victories over Goodland 59-36, Scott City 68-50 and Colby in the championship game 50-19.

The 19 points allowed against Colby is a tournament record in a championship game. Coach Alex Hutchins was awarded the Tom Bowen Coach’s Award. Kallie Leiker was named to the All-Academic team. Savannah Schneider and Brooke Denning each made the All-Tournament team. You can listen to highlights and the coach interview by clicking here.

The Hays High boys finished fourth at the Orange and Black Classic with an 83-53 victory over Christian Heritage out of Oklahoma. Hays shot a season-high 52 percent from the field and season high 44 percent from three making a season-high 12 three pointers. You read about the recap of the game, including highlights and the coach interview here.

Both the girls and boys take on Salina Central at home on Friday.

TMP boys finish 2nd at the MCL Tournament
The TMP boys played Phillipsburg in the championship game of the MCL tournament for the second straight year on Saturday, falling 60-46 to the Panthers. Jared Mayers lead the way for the Monarchs with 16 points including this dunk:

The TMP girls finished third at the MCL tournament with a 45-39 victory over Smith Center Saturday.

Osborne boys win back-to-back NPL tournaments, Thunder Ridge girls win NPL again
The Osborne Bulldogs grabbed the win over St. John’s/Tipton Catholic to win the NPL tournament last week. Osborne improves to 12-0 and is currently ranked No. 10 in a loaded 1A class.

The Thunder Ridge Lady Longhorns won their sixth NPL tournament title in a row with a 47-26 win over Osborne.

OVERTIME

Plainville’s Dewey having a stellar junior season
Plainville’s Aubree Dewey is averaging 29.9 points, 3.7 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. Dewey, a 5-foot-6 junior, had a career high 38 points against Ellsworth in December. She has scored 30 or more points in seven games this year. Plainville is 6-5 but have lost four of those five games by less than 10 points. Plainville is coached by former Fort Hays State star Kate Lehman.

Have highlights you want to share for next week’s Hoops Highlights? Email them to C.D. DeSalvo. Photos are encouraged!

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