TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka couple has donated $1 million to Washburn University.

The school says the gift comes from businessman Mike McPherson and his wife, Belinda. The money is being used to renovate Morgan Hall to create a center where students can apply for admission, meet with advisers, register for classes, pay tuition and learn about scholarships and financial aid.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Welcome Center is planned for Oct. 23.

Belinda McPherson taught and coached at Washburn in the 1970s. Her husband, Mike, and his brother, Bruce, are the founders of McPherson’s Constructors Inc., which manages construction projects in several states. The brothers also partnered with another man to form a company that develops multi-family units and retail space.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University has partnered with Westar Energy to build one of the largest enclosed flight facilities for unmanned aircraft systems in the nation.

The university said in a news release Wednesday that the UAS Pavilion on Kansas State’s campus in Salina aims to allow students to conduct flight training and research. It also gives outside industries an arena for company training.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Oct. 21 on Kansas State’s Salina campus.

Kansas State Salina was the second university in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in UAS, and has doubled its enrollment in the program every year since it began in 2011. This fall the university added a second bachelor’s degree in drone design and integration.

Westar is interested in using drones for infrastructure inspections.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY -A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. on Wednesday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Tahoe driven by Justice Rexrode, 19, Junction City, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Kansas 99.

The SUV went off the roadway to the right. The driver overcorrected and the SUV went across the highway to the left and overturned in the median.

Rexrode was transported to Geary County Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

TOPEKA -Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins’ (KS-02) Annual Jobs Fair is scheduled to be held on Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Ag Hall at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. The jobs fair is free, open to the public, and welcomes any business currently seeking employees.

Job seekers are not required to register, but may find more information about the Jobs Fair at www.lynnjenkins.house.gov/2015-jobs-fair/.

Employers interested in having a table at the jobs fair may register online or call Melissa Underwood at (785) 234-5966.

“The jobs fair is an opportunity for our friends and neighbors who are struggling to find work or looking for a new start to connect with employers that are actually hiring,” said Congresswoman Jenkins. “We already have several businesses signed up to attend and we will continue to add to this list over the next couple weeks. Last year’s event drew hundreds of Kansans and I am confident we will build on that success and help connect more hardworking folks with employers across Kansas.”

WHAT:Congresswoman Jenkins Annual Jobs Fair

WHEN:Thursday, October 15, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Topeka Expocentre, Agriculture Hall, One Expocentre Drive, Topeka, KS 66612

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka officials say the city will pay a $10,000 fine for the accidental release of 3 million gallons of raw sewage into the Kansas River earlier this year.

The $10,000 fine is part of a consent agreement reached between the city and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The city says the money will come from the city’s wastewater fund.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the agreement also requires Topeka to implement an emergency notification plan. That plan would involve warning residents of Lawrence, Olathe and Johnson County Water District No. 1 within 24 hours of finding a hazardous sewage release.

Doug Gerber, deputy city manager, says the April 17 spill was caused by an internal power failure, which has since been addressed “multiple times over.”

Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -The Kansas Communities that Care Survey is given each year to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students throughout the state.

The survey has been a valuable source of information on factors that determine student success in schools. There was no state data to compare Great Bend to but there was data from the rest of Barton County.

USD 428 Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum John Popp says the district found out that less than 80 percent of their students speak English as their primary language at home.

“We actually have more and more of our families speaking something other than English as their primary language at home,” said Popp. “It’s not something to worry about but something to note because those kids come to school with extra challenges,” he said.

78 percent of the students in the four classes took the survey, but Popp and Superintendent Brad Reed said the most recent data was not as valuable since there was no state data.

The survey also shows nearly 80 percent of the Great Bend students surveyed mentioned they had not consumed beer, wine, or hard liquor in the past 30 days. The survey is optional and students need to have a parent’s signature to participate.

HUTCHINSON- Law enforcement authorities in Reno County are investigating an SUV accident on Wednesday afternoon.

Bruce M. Stoecklein, 45, Arlington, escaped serious injury after he crashed his SUV following a long erratic drive down US-50 Wednesday.

Reno County 911 reported they were receiving calls over the noon hour of a vehicle driving the wrong way down on U.S. 50 and forcing vehicles, including a semi near Partridge, off the road.

The SUV eventually got on the four-lane section of U.S. 50 and Kansas 61 near Pleasantview and continued east at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle left the road, vaulted over two fences before coming to rest in a farm field near Whiteside.

Stoecklein was treated at the scene by EMS and was then escorted to an ambulance for a trip to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Cargill has announced plans to spend about $50 million on upgrades at its Wichita soybean processing plant.

The Wichita Eagle reports the company’s planned upgrade project is expected to be completed in 2017. The company also expects to increase production by 30 percent.

Cargill has operated the plant since the 1960s and also recently completed a $10 million product line expansion its oil dressing refinery plant, which processes most of the soybean oil produced on the site.

MANHATTAN — With a focus on national growth and an aim to meet the needs of tomorrow’s careers, Kansas State University Salina is changing its name to Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, according to a media release.

The Kansas Board of Regents approved the name change at its Oct. 14 meeting. The new name is effective immediately.

The polytechnic campus — which will focus on teaching theory through hands-on, interdisciplinary and applied learning — is the only campus of its kind in the state of Kansas. While the name is changing, the polytechnic campus still remains one of the four campuses in the Kansas State University system. The other three campuses include the Manhattan campus, Olathe campus and Global campus.

“A polytechnic identity not only provides a much-needed niche for Kansas State University in the immediate region, but also aligns with our teaching and research mission,” said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president. “The career-based learning and hands-on research at our polytechnic campus will play a vital role as we strive to become a Top 50 public research university by 2025.”

The name change reflects the Salina campus’ 50-year mission as a polytechnic campus, said Verna Fitzsimmons, CEO and dean of Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus.

“Since its inception 50 years ago, the campus has consistently provided an educational environment that focuses on applied learning, professional programs and connections to industry,” Fitzsimmons said. “We are ready to take that tradition into the next 50 years, and identifying ourselves as a polytechnic campus perfectly represents who we are and the experience our future students will have here.”

Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus will retain the College of Technology and Aviation, while merging the academic departments of aviation, engineering technology, and arts, sciences and business to create the School of Integrated Studies. The creation of a school will build on the diverse student and faculty population and better manage resources, Fitzsimmons said.

Through a polytechnic campus transformation, Kansas State University will continue contributing to the revitalization of Salina and the surrounding community.

“The Salina community has invested into the growth and success of this campus and we are grateful to have such loyal support,” said Fitzsimmons. “We believe this transformation will greatly increase our value within Salina and we’re proud to be able to give back to our neighbors and friends as well as contribute to the current revitalization of the city.”

Staff and faculty at the Salina campus have worked for the past 18 months to develop a proposal for an academic realignment of the campus. Wednesday’s approved proposal reflects the work of the College Committee on Planning for the College of Technology and Aviation and the College Advisory and Planning Committee. These committees led a series of campus discussions during the 2013-14 academic year, which culminated in the presentation of the draft proposal to faculty and staff in January 2015.

The name change request was reviewed by the Council of Chief Academic Officers and the Council of Presidents at the September Kansas Board of Regents meeting. Both councils approved the recommendation to be placed on the board’s agenda for October.

For more information, visit the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus website.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department employees got a surprise visit from a television “Parks and Recreation” star.

 

Garry/Jerry/Terry/Gary from “Parks & Rec” stopped by to say congrats to @lprdks for all their hard work! pic.twitter.com/KmWo9f08ML

— City of Lawrence KS (@lawrenceks) October 13, 2015

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Lawrence parks employees gathered Tuesday to celebrate their recent recognition from a national parks group.

Actor Jim O’Heir, star of NBC’s ‘Parks and Recreation,” showed up to present the department with its Gold Medal Award finalist plaque from the National Recreation and Park Association. Lawrence Parks and Recreation was one of four 2015 finalists for the award, which recognizes excellence in parks and recreation management. The department ultimately lost to St. George Leisure Services in St. George, Utah.

O’Heir, who starred as Garry on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” for several seasons, has been performing in the Kansas City area in a local production.

Salina Post

SALINA — Two employees of a south Salina chiropractic clinic suffered minor injuries, and one was transported to the hospital, after a vehicle struck the front of and went into the business Wednesday morning.

Connie Stewart, 71, Salina, was parking her vehicle just before 11 a.m. in front of Temple Chiropractic Clinic, 2100 S. Ninth, when she mistakenly hit the accelerator rather than the brake, causing the vehicle to go over a curb and into the front of the building, according to Salina Police Officer Kyle Jacobs.

The vehicle went through a small brick wall and into the business.

Jacobs said that two employees that were working inside the business sustained minor injuries. One was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for further treatment.

Stewart was not injured. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — A federal agreement requires a Kansas pharmaceutical plant accused of gender discrimination to pay about $400,000 in back wages and hire more women.

The U.S. Department of Labor says the Hospira plant in McPherson was accused of hiring a smaller percentage of women than men and paying the women less than their male counterparts in 2012.

The Hutchinson News reports that Hospira doesn’t admit any liability in the settlement and says it believes plant hiring practices have been fair.

The Labor Department says Hospira received applications for pharmacy attendant positions from 160 women, of whom 15 were hired. The company also received 199 applicants from men, of whom 45 were hired.

Hospira will hire 11 more women and pay $400,000 in back wages and interest to women denied jobs.

 NEWTON- The cause of Tuesday’s fatal fire in Newton remains under investigation.

Bruce Rempel, 63, died in the apartment building fire according to the Newton Fire Department.

The blaze  occurred just after 10 p.m. at the 7 story Midtown Towers on 9th Street.

Firefighters were called after a report of smoke in the building, according to a fire department media release.

Upon arrival, crews noted fire venting out a 6th floor window on the south side of the apartment complex.

There were also reports of residents trapped on the upper floors and many could be seen looking out the windows.

Utilizing the fire department connection to extend hose lines from the standpipe in the stairwells, firefighters attack the blaze and began evacuating residents, many physically disabled, through the stairwells.

Some of the residents were carried downstairs by firefighters and Newton police officers.

One of the apartments was fully involved with fire and crews found an adult male who was assessed and pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to the fatality, two residents were treated at the scene but declined medical transport.

Residents of lower floors were allowed to remain in their apartments if they desired.

Residents of upper floors were evacuated due to heavy smoke conditions and sheltered at the First Church of the Nazarene across the street from the fire.

Harvey County Support Services and Hesston EMS crews medically monitored all displaced occupants.

American Red Cross Disaster Services responded and established overnight sheltering and accommodation for those who needed it.

There were no injuries to emergency responders, although a medical monitoring and rehab station was established for them due to the extreme and prolonged efforts required during the operation.

Over 30 firefighters and EMS personnel from Newton, Hesston, and Walton were involved, along with more than a dozen law enforcement officers from Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff’s office.

Investigators from Newton Fire, EMS and Newton Police Department are working the case.

—————-

NEWTON- One person died in an apartment building fire in Newton on Tuesday night.

Newton Fire/EMS reported on social media that crews were called to the report of a smoke smell at Mid-Town Towers apartment complex on north 9th street just after 10p.m. Tuesday.

First-arriving crews found fire on the sixth floor.

The fire was extinguished, however crews had  to evacuate residents from the heavy smoke and return other residents to uninvolved apartments.

Uninjured residents whose apartments were involved were evacuated to a nearby church while some victims were treated on the scene.

North Main street was temporarily closed to traffic during the fire.

Officials are working with the State Fire Marshal to determine the cause of the fire. Name of the victim has not been released.

Off duty personnel were called to staff fire, EMS stations in Newton Tuesday night along with fire, EMS personnel from Hesston, Halstead, and Walton.