News for Wednesday July 20, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

The next phase of a plan to remove a former chemical waste landfill is under way. The former chemical waste landfill North of K-State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium, is where university chemical waste was disposed of in the 1960s and 1970s.
This removal project began in January with the installation of a groundwater treatment system to collect any contaminated water and pump into the treatment system for cleaning.
University environmental officials say they will now begin the waste characterization phase. This phase will consist of opening four separate investigative trenches to better understand what is buried at the site.

Today at the Riley County Fairgrounds a couple food exhibits will take place at three o’clock. Entrants in the Open Class and 4-H Food Preservation exhibits will have their items judged at Pottorf Hall. Along with contest, the 4-H items will be sold this evening from 4pm – 7pm and will open back up tomorrow morning. For more information on the fair you can go to Riley County Fair.com.

STATE NEWS

Harper County authorities today destroyed an estimated 4,000 marijuana plans that were discovered growing near the Chikaskia River.
KWCH in Wichita says officials found the marijuana while following up on a tip from a Danville resident. Officials estimated the marijuana was worth about $4 million.

Kansas wildlife officials say they caught a flathead catfish weighing at least 80 pounds last week while measuring and weighing fish.

Craig Johnson, the lake's fisheries biologist, says the flathead was caught Friday while he and others were electro-fishing at the lake. They send jolts of electricity into the water to stun blue catfish, which are weighed and then released back into the water. The shocking boat was in water about 30 feet deep over the old Walnut River channel when the flathead floated to the surface. The fish was later released.

NATIONAL NEWS

American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years and splitting the order between aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus. The airline expects the new, better-mileage planes will save money on fuel and provide more enticing amenities to passengers.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

David and Victoria Beckham's newborn daughter, Harper Seven Beckham, is already setting trends - and she's not even two weeks old.
Sales of Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" reportedly soared after it was revealed that the Beckhams named their daughter after the author.

Britain's Daily Mail reports that sales of the book - which was first published in 1960 - went up 123 percent on the U.K.'s Amazon website after David mentioned the inspiration behind the baby girl's name.

SPORTS

Kansas State sophomore running back Bryce Brown was named to the 2011 Preseason All-Big 12 team after a vote of various media members who cover the league, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Brown is the second-straight Wildcat running back to be named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, as Daniel Thomas was honored prior to the 2010 season. A native of Wichita, Kan., Brown sat out the 2010 season after transferring from Tennessee. In 12 games for the Volunteers in 2009, Brown rushed 101 times for 460 yards and three touchdowns. Brown will see his first game action with K-State on September 3rd.