MANHATTAN -One of the masons currently working on Kansas State University’s East Memorial Stadium found a letter inside an old tobacco can after removing a stone on the stadium’s east side, according to a social media report from Kansas State Historical Society’s Preservation Office.

The letter, written in 1928 was turned over to the University.

The letter reads “Dear Folks, Will place a not[e] in wall as it may some day be found and perhaps the men that Built it will be dead and forgotten.

We are having nice weather was 18 above zero this morning. Hope when this is opened things will be better for the working man than [now?].

Mason got $10 per day and labor $3.20 there will have to be a change soon or the labor will be out of luck.

Please print this if found.”

The letter was signed CK Bell, Geo H Bell, W. Sowell, Jim Kelley, Ray [Disney?] Good luck.”

The Kansas State Historical society added, “Buildings are built by real people for real people; we love these little reminders.”

HUTCHINSON– The NJCAA, the national governing body of two-year college athletics, and the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68 are set to sign a 25-year contract that solidifies the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will stay at the Hutchinson Sports Arena until 2041, according to a media release.

Hutchinson has been the home to the NJCAA’s premier basketball championship since 1949 and the event is known locally as “The Tournament.”

Last April, the Hutchinson community sent a clear message to the NJCAA when they voiced their overwhelming support for The Tournament by voting to approve a 0.35 percent sales tax increase to fund a $29.5 million renovation to the Sports Arena. This helped set the stage for the contract extension.

“Without the support of the Hutchinson community, keeping The Tournament here for the next 25 years would not be possible”, said LeAnn Cox, Vice President of Operations and Tourism for the Greater Hutchinson Convention/Visitors Bureau. “The Tournament brings an estimated $1.3 million economic impact to our community which drives much-needed revenues to our hotels, restaurants and retail locations.”

The planned improvements include replacing the plumbing, electrical and heating systems and adding air conditioning and new locker rooms. Additional plans include a new main entrance, lobby and ticketing area, multi-purpose rooms, more restrooms, three full-sized practice gyms, a Hall of Fame and a new weight room. Additional seating compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be also be created on the upper level of the arena.

According to Jerry Ricksecker, American Legion representative and longtime tournament chairman, “The American Legion has partnered with the NJCAA for over 67 years. We rely on our 200 volunteers who are willing to give their time towards putting on The Tournament each year. For some volunteers, this amounts to a year-long commitment. We’re honored that we’ve been able to sign a contract for The Tournament through 2041 and that the NJCAA has confidence in our ability to host a successful championship.”

The NJCAA is the second-largest intercollegiate athletic association in the United States, with over 500 member colleges, and nearly 60,000 student-athletes competing in 48 national championships each year.

“Hutchinson holds a special place in the heart of the NJCAA and we are excited to continue returning to Hutchinson every March,” said Mary Ellen Leicht, Executive Director of the NJCAA. “The Sports Arena renovations will have a positive impact on the student-athletes who earn the right to compete in one of the best collegiate championships in the country.”

A formal signing of the contract will occur during a ceremony hosted by the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and Convention/Visitors Bureau at the Sports Arena on Monday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this historic event.

GENEVA (AP) — The Latest on developments regarding the Zika virus (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

The World Health Organization has announced that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an “extraordinary event” that merits being declared an international emergency.

The agency convened an emergency meeting of independent experts on Monday to assess the outbreak after noting a suspicious link between Zika’s arrival in Brazil last year and a surge in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads.

Although WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said there was no definitive proof that the Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, is responsible for the birth defects, she acknowledged on Thursday that “the level of alarm is extremely high.”

 

Dr Chan: The Committee advised that the assoc between #ZikaVirus & #microcephaly constitutes an “extraordinary event”

— WHO (@WHO) February 1, 2016

 

 

In the United States, Zika has been reported in Arkansas, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois and University officials in Virginia say a College of William and Mary student contracted the Zika virus while traveling in Central America over winter break.

The last such public health emergency was declared for the devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people.

WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year.

___

1:15 p.m.

The World Health Organization has begun a crisis meeting considering whether the explosive spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus — which is linked to birth defects in the Americas — should be declared a global health emergency.

The closed-door teleconference meeting of experts is considering whether international efforts to fight the outbreak should be immediately ramped up, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said. The U.N. health agency last declared an emergency over the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. A similar declaration was made for polio the year before.

Such emergency declarations are meant as an international SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts to stop the outbreak, as well as prompting research into possible treatments and vaccines.

SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect in connection with a burglary of a laundry room.

A 27-year-old man accused of stealing Patrick E. Dale, 27, Salina was seen by witnesses taking a commercial washer and dryer from a laundry room at an apartment complex in the 2100 Block of East Crawford just after 1:20a.m. on Sunday, according to Police Captain Mike Sweeney.

The appliances along with floor mats were taken from the laundry room in the pickup Dale was driving when it was stopped near Oakdale Park.

The value of the items stolen is placed at $1,240.

Dale was booked into jail on requested charges of burglary, theft, and damage to property.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Payday lender Speedy Cash blames the coming slow tax refund season and regulatory challenges for layoffs at its corporate office and U.S. call center, both located in Wichita.

The company said Monday it eliminated about 7 percent of the jobs at its corporate office and 6 percent of jobs at its call center last week. That amounts to fewer than 50 lost Wichita jobs. The move comes a month after the company laid off about 50 people in the United Kingdom when it closed 10 of its retail locations there.

Speedy Cash employs just under 5,000 people across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Its chief marketing officer, Bill Baker, says its customers’ access to mobile devices is changing the company’s products and how it offers them.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republicans in the Kansas House plan to test support this week for changing how state Supreme Court justices are selected.

House Speaker Ray Merrick said Monday that GOP leaders want to see “where people are” on the issue. House Republicans have scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday caucuses to discuss judicial selection.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has repeatedly called for changing how the justices are selected. He calls the current system undemocratic, but changing it will require amending the state constitution.

A nominating commission led by lawyers screens applicants for Supreme Court vacancies and submits three finalists to the governor. The governor must pick one, and there is no role for legislators.

Some Republicans want to abolish the commission and have the governor make the appointments, subject to state Senate confirmation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man has been rushed to a hospital after jumping out of a sport utility vehicle while fleeing from police.

The Topeka Capital-Journal  reports that the vehicle the man was driving ran over him.

Topeka police Lt. Jennifer Cross said in a news release that the chase started early Sunday after police attempted to stop the SUV driver for running a red light.

Authorities had been looking for the SUV because it was thought to be connected to a domestic dispute.

Police say the pursuit ended when the man jumped out of the driver’s side. He was transported to a local hospital.

NEWTON- Law enforcement authorities in Harvey County are investigating a suspect involved in road rage incident.

Just after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Harvey County 911 received a call from a woman who reported a vehicle following her after she left visiting family in a local retirement home, according to a media release from police.

The woman reported the other vehicle collided with her at 1st and Main in Newton.

The victim drove around the block in an effort to get away from the other vehicle, but found the car waiting for her at 3rd and Main.

The victim remained on the phone with 911 and continued northbound.

The vehicle continued to follow and caused another collision near 12th and Main Street.

The panicked woman reported that she pulled into a restaurant parking lot at the north end of Newton, where it appears the suspect may have caused a third collision.

As officers arrived in the area, the suspect vehicle fled the scene.

Officers and Deputies chased the vehicle north on Main Street and then southbound on Intestate 135.

A Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper deployed road spikes near 1st and Interstate 135.

Unfortunately his hand became tangled in the cordage attached to the spikes and caused an injury when the suspect’s car ran over the spikes. The suspect continued southbound at speeds near 80miles per hour with three flat tires.

The suspect’s vehicle crossed into Sedgwick County where a deputy had another set of spikes deployed.

The suspect’s vehicle unexpectedly veered to the right, entered the ditch and it rolled.

The driver, a woman in her late 20’s, according to police, was treated by EMS at the scene and released to law enforcement custody.

She is being held at the Harvey County Detention Center where she has been booked on numerous charges including aggravated battery, felony flee and elude police, reckless driving, DUI, among others.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — January results from a survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states suggest some improvement in the regional economy but not enough to generate optimism.

A report issued Monday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index jumped to 48.3 in January from 39.5 in December. The figure was 40.7 in November, 41.9 in October, 47.7 in September and 49.6 in August.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the strong U.S. dollar is among the obstacles facing manufacturers.

LARKINBURG, Kan. (AP) — A body has been found near the Nebo State Fishing Lake in Jackson County.

The Topeka Capital-Journal  reports that the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the body was found Sunday afternoon about one-half mile south of the lake, which is 2 miles southwest of Larkinburg.

The body, which has not been identified, was transported to Kansas City for an autopsy. The case is under investigation.

IRON COUNTY – Two Junction City residents were injured in an accident just before 2 a.m. on Monday in Iron County Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Chevy Blazer driven by Brian E. Haslock, 24, Junction City, was traveling on Missouri Highway 49. The driver failed to stop at a stop sign, traveled through the intersection at Missouri 32 and struck an embankment.

Haslock and a passenger Carmen Ocana, 30, Junction City were transported to the hospital in Salem.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy is set to deploy drones to help the electric company perform a variety of tasks like pinpointing storm damage and inspecting wind turbine blades.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the utility obtained a rule exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration last week to begin using two remote-controlled aerial drones. The utility is awaiting final approval from the FAA.

Jason Klenklen, one of Westar’s two qualified drone pilots, says using the drones to do things like inspecting utility towers and lines is safer for all involved.

Westar plans to initially focus on using the drones for emergency line inspections because they can be deployed quickly, which helps restore power faster.

Westar has been working with Kansas State University since 2013 to develop its unmanned aerial program.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who spent 15 years in prison for a killing he didn’t commit says his case is a good example of why the state should repeal its death penalty.

Floyd Bledsoe was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in the 1999 slaying of Camille Arfmann in Oskaloosa. He was freed in December after new DNA evidence was discovered and his brother, Tom, admitted killing Arfmann in a suicide note.

Although he wasn’t sentenced to death, Floyd Bledsoe says his conviction shows how innocent people sometimes are punished for crimes they didn’t commit.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports a bipartisan bill in the Kansas House sponsored by a retired judge would repeal the state’s death penalty for anyone convicted of a capital crime after July 1.