Thursday, July 28, 2011

News for Thursday July 28, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

The public is invited to attend a student poster session on campus will take place next week. The Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Academy in Sustainable Bioenergy will host the session as the conclusion of the summer program and will feature bioenergy research.

The session will take place next Wednesday at 9:30am in the Fiedler Atrium. For more information, you can call 785-532-2029.

A Manhattan area rancher is one of 16 people named to the Governor’s new Council of Economic Advisers. KMAN reports Jan Lyons has been involved with the National Cattelman’s Beef Association and is looking forward to the challenge.

Lyons part of a family operation raising Angus Cattle in the Flint Hills of Kansas on McDowell Creek Road and at another ranch near Alta Vista. The new council will be asked to coordinate strategic planning and economic development. It also is expected to evaluate state policies and agency performance as well as conduct research on topics such as tax competitiveness and regulations.

STATE NEWS

The Kansas Highway Patrol has reopened eastbound Interstate 70 west of Topeka following a long standoff with a man barricaded inside a recreational vehicle. The 25-mile stretch was closed in both directions a little after 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Eastbound lanes were opened shortly after the man was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Officials expected to open westbound lines quickly. The patrol had closed the highway to protect motorists in case of gunfire. No details about the man were immediately released.

NATIONAL NEWS

Early Wednesday morning, 71-year-old Alex Trebek and his wife were sleeping in a San Francisco hotel when an intruder broke into their room, grabbing money and valuables. Trebek proceeded to chase the burglar down the hall, but was unsuccessful to catch the suspect, rupturing his Achilles tendon in the process.

The suspect, 56-year-old Lucinda Moyers was later arrested and charged with felony burglary and receiving stolen property.

SPORTS

Three former Wildcats signed free agent contracts with NFL teams yesterday. Long snapper Corey Adams agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, Defensive back Stephen Harrison signed with the San Diego Chargers, and one of 2010’s top kick returners William Powell signed with the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL season begins on September 8th.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

News for Tuesday July 26, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

--Kansas State’s next Landon lecture series speaker was announced this past weekend. Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson will speak October 26th at McCain Auditorium. The Wednesday morning event at 10:30 is free and open to the public.

Simpson speaks across the country on current events, the nation’s economic future, and role of congress in society. He’s well-known for his 1997 book “right in the Old Gazoo: a lifetime of scrapping with the Press.”

Simpson served in the Wyoming legislature for 13 years, later becoming governor and a three term U.S. Senator. After retiring from the senate in 1996 he joined Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of government, where he was a visiting lecturer and director of the Institute of Politics.

--A 50-year-old Arkansas man was arrested after a hazardous material incident in which he was involved led to a 25-mile stretch of Interstate 70 being closed until 10:30 p.m. Monday, said Junction City Police Chief Tim Brown.
Christopher Spence, 50, of Conway, Ark., allegedly called the Junction City/Geary Dispatch Center at 10:32 a.m. Monday and advised that a hazardous material had been placed in Room 123 of the Junction City Ramada Inn, 1133 S. Washington.

As of Monday night, police weren’t identifying the hazardous material.
An FBI spokeswoman said late Monday that preliminary tests found no explosive threat or suspicious content inside the truck.
This led to the reopening of the hotel at 4:30pm and I-70 six hours later.

Reports from Junction City Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

STATE NEWS

--Kansas is promoting its redesigned government website as “fresher-looking” and easier to navigate.

The home page www.kansas.gov links visitors not only to state officials and agency sites but to their social media sites and blogs.
A new mapping feature is designed to help people find state government offices, as well as colleges, parks, libraries and lakes.

NATIONAL NEWS

--Rival Democratic and Republican plans to raise the government's borrowing ability have thrust Congress into a standoff just one week away from a potentially devastating debt crisis.

While addressing the nation Monday night, President Obama says that we can’t allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington's political warfare.
CBS News reports that with an August 2nd deadline rapidly closing, Congress and the White House have limited options to avoid a potential government default that could send the already weak economy into a damaging swoon.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

--The results of singer Amy Winehouse’s autopsy signifies no determined cause of death. People Magazine reports that Toxicology tests will be performed and will results in a matter of two to four weeks.

SPORTS

--The Royals finished a lengthy ball game early this morning against the Boston Red Sox. After being delayed 2 hours and 21 minutes past the original start time due to rain, the two teams began playing the game at 8:30 Central Time.
After giving up a run in the second the Royals answer late in the game to force extra innings. After playing five extra sets the Royals came out victorious 3-1.
Starting Pitcher Kyle Davies continues to improve his game, throwing for seven innings giving up six hits on just one earned run and six strikeouts.
The two met again tonight at Fenway Park, first pitch at 6:10pm.

Monday, July 25, 2011

News for Monday July 25, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

Looking for an opportunity to help others? Volunteers are still needed for the Kansas State University Blood Drive. Those who volunteer will be needed from 8am to 5pm on Wednesday in the Student Union. The drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross and more information about the drive you can contact Kristi Ingalls at 785-456-9773.

Due to the Wildcat Creek flooding earlier this summer, a task force has been put together to address the issue. A total of 17 members from the city, county, and state are contributing efforts to prevent future flooding in the area. KMAN reports that the group wants to manage the area and prevent the flooding without doing serious damage to the creek and other tributaries.

The group will meet this week and present information and other visual aids that will allow them to study the affected area.

STATE NEWS

A Kansas nurse who diluted morphine-based solutions at a Halstead nursing home is expected to be in federal court for sentencing.

Deborah Riggs, of Goddard, pleaded guilty in December to one count each of consumer product tampering and adulteration of a drug. She is scheduled to be sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson.

Riggs was accused of diluting the morphine solutions intended for five patients at the Halstead Health and Rehabilitation Center. The nursing home told The Associated Press last year that no patients actually received the diluted medicine, which was taken from a seldom-used overflow area.

A near drowning led to the early closure of a public swimming pool in Hutchinson on Saturday. The Hutchinson News reported that a 2-year-old boy was found unconscious Saturday in a 3-foot-deep area at the Salt City Splash Aquatic Center.

A lifeguard and manager worked to resuscitate the boy until emergency workers arrived.
The boy ultimately regained consciousness and was taken to Promise Regional Medical Center where he was in stable condition Saturday night.

NATIONAL NEWS

The teenage outdoor education students, having progressed to the point of being on their own in the vast Alaska wilderness, were lined up single file for a river crossing when the grizzly burst with fury into the front of the line, badly mauling two in the group and injuring two more.

Hospital spokeswoman Crystal Bailey said the two mauled teens are listed in serious condition after troopers earlier said the injuries were life-threatening.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Amy Winehouse, the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home.
Police confirmed that the 27-year-old female was pronounced dead at her home in Camden Square northern London; the cause of death was not immediately known. London Ambulance Services said Winehouse had died before the two ambulance crews it sent arrived at the scene.

SPORTS

The Sunflower Showdown will once again be on national display this winter, as the Big 12 Conference and ESPN announced pairings for its Big Monday men's basketball telecasts on Thursday.

The Showdown, which is presented by Dillons, will be played at Bramlage Coliseum on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at 8 p.m. CST. It will mark the second consecutive season that the Manhattan portion of rivalry will be broadcast on ESPN's Big Monday telecast, while it will be the third year in a row that ESPN has broadcast the game to a national audience.

The Royals broke their four game winning streak yesterday, falling to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0. Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb threw for seven innings striking out two on six hits. The Royals left eight runners on base through the game with six of those being in scoring position. Kansas City heads to Boston tonight for four game series, first pitch at 6:10.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

News for Tuesday July 19, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

Kansas State University officials say the struggling economy has not hurt gifts to the school’s foundation. The university said in a news release Monday that it received a record $107 million in contributions to the KSU Foundation in the last fiscal year. More than 44,500 alumni and others contributed during the last fiscal year.
Of the $107 million, $67 million was in cash, real estate or appreciated securities.

The other $40 million was pledges and deferred gifts, which the university will receive at a later date.
The university received four gifts of $5 million or more and nine gifts between $1 million and $5 million.


The Alpha Delta Xi sorority house has been vandalized.

KMAN reports sometime between the 25th of May and the 16th of June a unknown suspect shot out 15 windows at the sorority, and heavily damaged the front door. The suspected weapon is a BB gun.
The total dollar loss is estimated to be around 22-hundred dollars, with Riley County Police still investigating the crime.

STATE NEWS

Eleven Army medical teams are competing at Fort Riley for the
right to be called the best of the best.

The competition at the northeast Kansas post began Monday.
Teams went through a medical simulation training center where
they had to treat lifelike mannequins for combat injuries on a
realistic battlefield.
Today's events included a confidence course, with teams
navigating 10 obstacles including scaling a high wall.

A coroner said a southern Kansas man who was found dead while riding his bicycle died with heat as a factor. Dr. Lacie Gregory said 47-year-old Larry Godfrey's death will be considered a natural death. He was diabetic and was on medication, which led to cardiovascular collapse. But Gregory told The Winfield Courier that heat was a factor in Godfrey's death.

The Sumner County Sheriff's Department said Godfrey's body was found on Saturday near Oxford, lying near his bicycle.

NATIONAL NEWS

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an air traffic controller for allegedly working while drunk at an air traffic center in Longmont, Colorado, an FAA official confirms to CBS News.

The unidentified controller, reportedly a veteran and former union rep, was allegedly six hours into his shift July 5 when a random drug and alcohol test administered onsite showed his blood alcohol level in excess of the legal limit for ATC employees on the job, which is .04, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

There will be no storybook ending for Borders. The 40-year-old book seller could start liquidating its 399 remaining stores as early as Friday.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based chain, which helped pioneer the big-box bookseller concept, is seeking court approval to liquidate after it failed to receive any bids that would keep it in business. The move adds Borders to the list of retailers that have failed to adapt to changing consumers' shopping habits and survive the economic downturn, including Circuit City Stores Inc., Blockbuster and Linens N’ Things.

SPORTS

Frank Myers Field at Tointon Family Stadium will undergo a facelift beginning this week with the installation of the AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D60 infill system.

The new infill turf will be installed over the entire field, replacing not only the artificial infield and warning track areas that were constructed in 2006, but the natural grass outfield and bullpen areas, as well. The field art will have a Powercat behind home plate with a large “KS” featured in center field.

The Royals dropped the first of their three game home series with the White Sox last night, 5-2. Starter Kyle Davies pitched an slightly improved performance giving only two earned runs and sitting down nine batters. The two go at it again tonight at 7:10pm.

Monday, July 18, 2011

News for Monday July 18, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

A few youth groups are defining the lines of art this summer. Both the Young Artists programs and Young Curators programs are designed to provide real-life museum and art experiences at the Beach Museum of Art. The two will hold an open house on July 30th, featuring works of art inspired by the current works on display at the museum. Those who attend will take a tour of museum as well as have an opportunity to create some of their own art. For more information you can contact Martha Scott at 785-532-7718.

A rape case that traces back to 1981 concluded on Friday.
Daniel Brewer pleaded no contest to one rape charge, and guilty to another charge of rape on Friday afternoon in Riley County’s District III court. The rape charges were class B felonies with the maximum sentences for 15 to life for both counts, but Brewer changed his pleas in exchange for a plea bargain that releases him under his own recognizance bond until the sentencing date of September 27th. The plea bargain also agrees to a sentence of five years house arrest under the jurisdiction of the State of New York.

STATE NEWS

Garden City officials are challenging the 2010 census count for their city.
City Planner Sam Henderson said the city has submitted a challenge U.S. Census Bureau. The federal agency said in June that Garden City lost 6.3 percent of its population between 2000 and 2010, dropping from 28,000 to 26,658 residents.
The Garden City Telegram reported that city officials believe the true population is between 28,000 and 30,300. City officials said getting the numbers correct is important because it determines the city's eligibility for federal funds.

A 21-year-old Topeka man has set a strange record.
Justin Werner was notified by the folks at Guiness World Records that the tonsils he had removed in January are the largest in the world.
One of his tonsils was 2.1 inches long, 1.1 inches wide and 0.7 inch thick. The other as 1.9 inches long, 1 inch wide and .7 inch thick. He was notified in June that his tonsils easily beat the previous record held by Justin Dodge of Milwaukee. Werner says he finds the record humorous, but he feels relieved after many years of chronic sore throats and serious snoring problems.

NATIONAL NEWS

The next step in the weeks-long saga over how to increase the government's borrowing cap is to let House tea party forces try it their way.
CBS News reports a Republican "cut, cap and balance" plan set for a House vote Tuesday would condition a $2.4 trillion increase in the so-called debt limit on an immediate $100 billion-plus cut from next year's budget and adoption by Congress of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Harry Potter cruised by the Dark Knight this weekend into first place in the box office record books. The Deathly Hallows Part 2 took in $168.6 million domestically in its first three days, breaking the previous record from 2008’s Batman thriller. Worldwide, the film topped $475 million in a matter of days, putting it on course to become the franchise's first billion-dollar worldwide hit.

SPORTS

The Royals dropped the finale of their four game series in Minnesota on Sunday, 4-3. The boys in blue sink further into last place in the Central Division now 12 games back of the division leading Cleveland Indians. Kansas City returns home tonight to open a six game home stand versus the White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch tonight at 7:10.

Friday, July 15, 2011

News for Friday July 15, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

The attorney for a former Riley County police detective who was fired for alleged misconduct is suing a county board and some former colleagues. Former detective Mark Bylkas is alleging that he was fired, and later falsely accused of a crime, after he reported misconduct of fellow officers.

KMAN reports that the federal lawsuit was filed Thursday against the Riley County Law Board, board director Brad Schoen and three Riley County police officers.

Bylkas was arrested in May 2010 on allegations of official misconduct and theft. He was investigating narcotics when he was suspended before being fired. Riley County officials have not provided many specifics of his alleged crimes.
The case is being handled by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas attorney general's office.

STATE NEWS

A 22-year-old Wichita man with a history of diagnosis and treatment for paranoid schizophrenia will be tried for the February stabbing death of his grandmother. At a hearing Thursday, the public defender for Marrell Tisdale argued for a charge of second-degree murder.

But Sedgwick County District Judge Jeff Syrios ordered Tisdale to be tried for first-degree murder, with the trial tentatively set for Sept. 6. The Wichita Eagle reports that homicide detective Dan Harty testified that Tisdale told police he thought that killing Lott would give him the strength he needed to kill himself, which he had repeatedly attempted since he was a child.

Two people were shot early this morning at an east Wichita night club. Wichita Police say the shooting happened around 1:47 a.m. at Club Rodeo. The victims were taken to a local hospital in critical condition with police still investigating the incident.

NATIONAL NEWS

While many were shocked by Casey Anthony's not guilty verdict in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, some apparently sided with Anthony and have been sending her money in the mail to buy snacks and other items in jail, a report says. CBS News reports Most of the charitable strangers are men, but some women have sent money as well. Due to credit for time served and good behavior, Anthony is scheduled to be released on Sunday.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Harry Potter wasn’t the only new film to be released this weekend. Disney’s Winnie the Pooh makes its debut today. The G-rated movie will have the entire Pooh gang on a quest to find their beloved Christopher Robin. The film features the voices of John Cleese as the narrator and Craig Ferguson as Owl.


SPORTS

The Minnesota Twins used the fifth inning to over power a three run Royals lead last night. Twins DH Trevor Plouffe hit a two run home run after Minnesota already scored two runs in inning. The Twins would take on another four runs to win it, 8-4. The two will meet again tonight at 7:10 as the Royals look to rebound.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

News for Thursday July 14, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

A new Kansas State minor is offering major opportunities for engineering students and professionals across the country.
Enabled by the Big 12 Engineering Consortium, students from K-State's College of Engineering, other Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited institutions and working professionals can expand their knowledge and their employment opportunities through K-State's new minor in nuclear engineering. The minor will be offered to students this fall, courses linked with it will be offered in the classroom as well as online.

The construction of a new exhibit at the Sunset Zoo will begin on Saturday at 10:30am with its ground breaking. The exhibit received funding through a 170-thousand dollar donation from Dr. Richard Woodard in memory of his late son. It has been determined that two Gibbons, members of the lesser ape family will be featured in the new exhibit. Gibbons are typically found in Southeast Asia and with addition to the zoo, Sunset will have a total of 340 animals.

STATE NEWS

Authorities in southeastern Kansas say they confiscated about 3,000 marijuana plants from a large growing operation uncovered earlier this week. A tip led officers to the site near the Greenwood County town of Beaumont.
The marijuana was growing on several properties spread over several miles on both sides of U.S. 400. The Kansas Highway Patrol sent up a helicopter that helped spot pockets of plants from the air. Authorities estimate the value of the plants torn up Tuesday at roughly $3 million.
Police found evidence that workers cultivating the marijuana were living on the site. No arrests have been made, and officials were trying to confirm who owns the land.

NATIONAL NEWS

Families with children under six who live in Monroeville, Pa. will soon have one less option when they dine out for family night. Mike Vuick, owner of McDain's Restaurant & Golf Center, near Pittsburgh, says he's had too many complaints from customers about crying babies. So he's no longer allowing young children. This has caused a controversy among customers with some people quite offended. The policy will take effect July 16.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The finale of the Harry Potter film series makes its premiere tonight at midnight to audiences across the nation. For many, The Deathly Hallows Part Two is the most anticipated movie of the summer. The movie series began nearly ten years ago and has produced the most sequels out of any other movie series in its genre.


SPORTS

The Royals return from the All-Star break tonight in Minnesota for a four game series with the 2010 Central Division champs. Left hander Bruce Chen is set to pitch for KC against Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano. First pitch tonight from Target Field is set for 7:10pm. The Royals return home on Monday for a six game home stand next week.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

News for Wednesday July 13, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

A Manhattan High School student has been selected to participate in Kansas State research. Senior Dakie Washington was picked to participate in The American Chemical Society’s Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged program to study chemical research. The program provides $2,500 fellowships to economically disadvantaged students to participate in summer research at an academic, government or industrial laboratory.

A special legislative committee that will redraw the Kansas House, Senate and congressional maps begins a series of public meetings later this month, including one in Manhattan. Legislators will meet with the public to discuss proposed new boundaries for the state’s 125 House seats, 40 Senate seats and four U.S. House districts. The districts are being redrawn to reflect population changes based on the 2010 Census. The meeting will be on Wednesday July 27th from 3:00 to 5:30pm at Kansas State in room 1107 of Fiedler Hall.

STATE NEWS

The last of four defendants facing judgment in the apparently mistaken killing of a 13-year-old Wichita boy will argue he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. Seventeen-year-old Eddie Laurel is on trial in Sedgwick County District Court, charged as an adult with first-degree murder. Laurel and three others were charged with killing middle school student Miguel Andrade, who was shot 10 times early one morning last summer when he answered a knock at his front door. Earlier witnesses have testified that two of the defendants wanted revenge on a man involved in a fight with their brother, but they fired at the wrong house. The Wichita Eagle reports Laurel's attorney will argue the teen was at a house more than 30 miles away when the killing occurred.

NATIONAL NEWS

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign said Tuesday that he will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's far-reaching pledge opposing gay marriage, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to reject it. Two of Romney's rivals for the Republican nomination, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, have signed The Family Leader's 14-point pledge, which calls on the candidates to denounce same-sex marriage rights, pornography, same-sex military accommodations and forms of Islamic law.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Netflix is hiking the minimum price it charges for a combined DVD-by-mail and streaming service to $15.98 from $9.99. The net impact of the change - a 59% increase - will be to force customers to choose between Netflix's unlimited streaming plan and its DVD-by-mail service. Subscribers had previously received a discount for signing up to receive both services.

SPORTS

The Kansas State University Athletic Department announced yesterday that the football team’s opening season games with Eastern Kentucky and Kent State will each kick-off at 6pm. The Cats will open with Eastern Kentucky for the Family Reunion game meanwhile; the Kent State game will include University Family and Band Day.

Last night, the MLB All-Star game took place at Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The American League got on the board first with an Adrian Gonzalez home run, but from then on the National League took over. Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder captured the MVP award after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The National League won the game 5-1 making it the second consecutive year the league has won home field advantage in the World Series.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

News for Tuesday July 12, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

After last weekend’s jazz festival, City Park will host another music event. The 91st Manhattan Municipal Band has played there throughout the summer playing several instrumental numbers including patriotic-themed music. Tonight’s event is free to the public and will feature several musical highlights from the band this summer starting at 7:30pm at the Larry Novell Band Shell.

A large mercury spill in Manhattan brought out the Manhattan Fire Department, the State Hazmat response team, and EPA officials Sunday. The spill involved one pound of mercury at the Beta Sigma Psi house at 1200 Centennial Drive. While the spill actually occurred a few weeks ago, Fire dept officials weren’t notified until Sunday. The EPA remains on the scene, and it is expected that the building will have to remain unoccupied for at least two weeks. While it’s not illegal to own mercury, it’s not been disclosed what the intention was of the person who had a five pound container of the substance, with the one pound spilling.

STATE NEWS

Gov. Sam Brownback heads to southwestern Kansas this week for a fresh look at conditions caused by persistent drought. Brownback toured the rain-deprived counties of Finney, Gray, Haskell and Meade in early May. On Wednesday he plans to visit Morton, Stevens and Seward counties, in the southwestern-most corner of the state. Nearly half of Kansas has been declared in a drought emergency because of extreme conditions for the past year.

A Kansas family returned from a fishing trip with more than mere fish to show for their outing. Lorraina Fortine was 39 weeks pregnant and scheduled for a C-section Monday. But her doctor told her she wouldn't go into labor before then, so the family headed Friday to Cheney Lake for the weekend to celebrate her 3-year-old's birthday. But her new baby wouldn't wait.
Fortine told KWCH-TV she woke up Saturday morning in labor, had a few small contractions, and gave birth - in her tent. The newborn girl is named Summer Fortine coming into the world weighing seven pounds, 13 ounces.

NATIONAL NEWS

Alcohol was a likely factor in the death of a 14-year-old Northern California girl after she and three friends apparently drank vodka mixed with soda during a weekend sleepover, authorities said Monday. Paramedics found Takeimi Rao of Santa Rosa dead in her bedroom around 9 a.m. CBS News reports Sonoma County officials say an autopsy was performed on Monday they are now awaiting toxicology tests that could take up to two weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Today, the EA Sports annual College Football game hits retail shelves. “NCAA Football 12” for X-box 360 and Playstation3 adds new features this year including an ability for users to work their way up a staff to a head coach position. With the 2010 conference realignments on mind, players can now move teams from conference to conference and even change the number of teams each has.

SPORTS

The father-son tandem of Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano and Jose Cano captured the Home Run Derby victory last night. Cano battled with Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in the final round squeezing out the derby by one home run. Out of the total eight hitters representatives from the American League hit 76 home runs compared to 19 from the National League. All Star festivities continue tonight at 6:30 with the All-Star game from Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ.

Monday, July 11, 2011

News for Monday July 10, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

A University organization will take their knowledge of crops on the road this fall. K-State Research and Extension will host a crop production field day on Wednesday August 17th at Ottawa University’s East-Central Experiment Field. Several K-State presenters will discuss topics of crop production from Nutrient Management in Eastern Kansas Soils to Soil Pit Evaluation of Strip-Till. For more information on the event you contact Research and Extension at 242-56-16.

A Wamego man has died in an accident in Anderson County. 42-year-old Ronald Winterman died after his 2003 Acura MDX drove left of center on U.S. 169 and collided with a semi-truck. Winterman was northbound when the accident occurred last Wednesday. He was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled into an east ditch. The semi’s driver, 63-year-old Gerald Schneider of Hillsboro was taken to the Anderson County Hospital.

STATE NEWS

Four northwest Kansas post offices have been reviewed for possible closure. The state is currently reviewing 32 post offices, discussing possible closure in result of the declining amount of mail. A total of three post offices in Smith County and one post office in Ness County have been added to the list of possible closure. The Hays Daily News reports each of the station’s workload is less than two hours a day.

Two people from the southeast Kansas town of Cherryvale have died in a crash near the intersection of U.S. 169 and U.S. 400.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says the accident happened late Saturday when the driver of a pickup truck failed to come to a halt at a stop sign before getting onto U.S. 169. The truck crashed into a car headed south on the highway, causing both vehicles to roll into a ditch.
The driver of the car, 41-year-old Cindy P. Blake, and her passenger, 46-year-old Jeffrey J. Blake, were killed.
The patrol says the truck's driver wasn't hurt.

NATIONAL NEWS

When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they might right. CBS NEWS reports that a mother in Longview gave birth to 16-pound baby over the weekend. Previously she was diagnosed gestational diabetes, which doctors speculate may have been the cause for such a large infant. Along with weighing 16-pounds the baby was measured in length at two feet.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

For the second week in a row, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is a top the box office. Grossing nearly 50-million dollars over the weekend, the film has now received an estimated amount of 261-million dollars. The third installment of the Transformers series was released in the U.S. on Tuesday June 28th and is the first of trilogy to be show in 3D.

SPORTS

K-STATE JUNIOR LINEBACKER ARTHUR BROWN HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE 2011 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCH LIST. THE TROPHY IS AWARDED EACH YEAR TO THE NATION’S TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER. BROWN JOINS 86 OTHER PLAYERS ACROSS THE U.S. ON THE LIST AND IS THE FIRST WILDCAT TO BE NAMED TO THE LIST SINCE IAN CAMPBELL IN 2008.

THE ROYALS DROPPED THE FINALE OF THEIR FOUR GAME SERIES WITH THE DETROIT TIGERS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, 2-1. TIGERS ALL-STAR PITCHER JUSTIN VERLANDER PITCHED NEARLY EIGHT INNINGS GIVING UP ONE RUN AND SITTING DOWN NINE BATTERS. THE ROYALS HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE BALL GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, WITH A ERIC HOSMER DOUBLE, BUT HE WAS LATER CAUGHT STEALING THIRD AND MIKE MOUSTAKAS GROUNDED OUT RIGHT AFTER. THE ROYALS WILL HEAD TO MINNESOTA ON THURSDAY FOR A FOUR GAME SET WITH THE TWINS.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

News for Thursday July, 7th, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

More than 125 students are spending their time conducting research at Kansas State this summer. Areas being researched include biology, ecology, physics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and chemistry. Students from several programs are also participating in summers seminars, attending special networking events, and learning to apply for graduate school.

A Fort Riley soldier found dead on Tuesday has been identified. The body of 29-year-old Aaron Evilsizer of Junction City was found with a gunshot wound to the head that appeared to be self-inflicted. The Junction City Police report the cause of death has yet to be determined.

STATE NEWS

A Kansas judge has refused to dismiss a charge of aggravated indecent liberties against a former Lawrence church youth leader. Christopher Cormack had argued that prosecutors filed the charges after the state's five-year statute of limitations had expired. But Douglas County prosecutors contended they acted within the law because Cormack had spent four of those years out of the state. Cormack is a former youth ministry coordinator at Trinity Lutheran Church. He's accused of having an illegal sexual relationship with a girl beginning in 1999, when he was 28 and she was 15.

NATIONAL NEWS

President Obama proposed cuts to Social Security yesterday. CBS News reports that Obama hopes to reduce the deficit by as much as four trillion dollars over the next decade. The administration would only agree to cuts to Social Security benefits in exchange for reducing some eliminating some tax breaks that benefit the wealthy and certain industries, including oil and gas firms.


ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Dunder Mifflin Sabre has a new CEO named Robert California. The role portrayed by James Spader in the season seven finale of The Office will replace the former CEO of the company played by actress Cathy Bates. Bates will star in another role in her own NBC series called, “Harry’s Law”. NBC reports season eight of The Office will begin filming on July 25th.

SPORTS

Former Kansas State basketball player Jacob Pullen told an athletic department official this afternoon that he hasn’t signed a contract with a Turkish professional team. The Kansas City Star reports Media relations assistant Tom Gilbert said he spoke with Pullen, who said he hadn’t signed to play with Antalya, a Turkish Basketball League club. Eurobasket, an overseas professional basketball web site, reported earlier today that Pullen had signed with the team.

The Royals concluded their series with the Chicago White Sox last night, winning 4-1. Starting pitcher Bruce Chen pitched through six innings giving up only one run on four hits. Chen improves to 5-2 on the season tying colleague Luke Hochevar for the most wins on the staff. Kansas City comes home tonight to play the Detroit Tigers at 7:10pm.