TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Revenue announced today that the new standard license plate design, “To the Stars,” is now available. The new design was overwhelmingly chosen by Kansans in a December 2023 public vote, winning 53% of the total vote. The “To the Stars” design will replace the current “Ad Astra” standard license plate designs.

The design features the Kansas Statehouse Dome within a cutout of the state set against a blue, white, and yellow gradient background. Paying tribute to our state motto, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” the phrase “To the Stars” is inscribed along the bottom of the design.

The new design will be used for all new plate issuances, including replacements for any remaining embossed plates. Kansans, who were issued a plate with the “Ad Astra” design as the replacement for their embossed plate, will not be reissued another plate with the new design. However, any Kansan who has the “Ad Astra” design but wants the “To the Stars” design can visit their local county treasurer's office to transfer their registration to a plate with the new design.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724166634631.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Kansas Department of RevenueTOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Revenue announced today that the new standard license plate design, “To the Stars,” is now available. The new design was overwhelmingly chosen by Kansans in a December 2023 public vote, winning 53% of the total vote. The “To the Stars” design will replace the current “Ad Astra” standard license plate designs.The design features the Kansas Statehouse Dome within a cutout of the state set against a blue, white, and yellow gradient background. Paying tribute to our state motto, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” the phrase “To the Stars” is inscribed along the bottom of the design.The new design will be used for all new plate issuances, including replacements for any remaining embossed plates. Kansans, who were issued a plate with the “Ad Astra” design as the replacement for their embossed plate, will not be reissued another plate with the new design. However, any Kansan who has the “Ad Astra” design but wants the “To the Stars” design can visit their local county treasurer's office to transfer their registration to a plate with the new design.

New "To the Stars" standard license plate to begin appearing on Kansas vehicles  

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/mccain" target="_blank">McCain Performance Series</a>&nbsp;kicks off the season with country star Aaron Watson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.

For more than 20 years, Aaron Watson has traveled the land as country music's ultimate underdog troubadour — an independent artist with the spirit of the American frontier in his veins and a self-made empire to match. Working without corporate backers, he reached the Top 10 of Billboard's country album chart five separate times, including "The Underdog," his 2015 set that landed at number one. 

Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724165434231.jpeg" alt="The McCain Performance Series kicks off with country music star Aaron Watson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. Tickets are on sale now." />
 <figcaption>The McCain Performance Series kicks off with country music star Aaron Watson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. Tickets are on sale now.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/mccain" target="_blank">McCain Performance Series</a>&nbsp;kicks off the season with country star Aaron Watson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5.For more than 20 years, Aaron Watson has traveled the land as country music's ultimate underdog troubadour — an independent artist with the spirit of the American frontier in his veins and a self-made empire to match. Working without corporate backers, he reached the Top 10 of Billboard's country album chart five separate times, including "The Underdog," his 2015 set that landed at number one. Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays. Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours.Division of Communications and Marketing

Aaron Watson opens McCain Performance Series season

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged theft in Manhattan.

Just after 3p.m. Monday, officers filed a report of theft in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Walmart reported an unknown suspect left the store with approximately $1,099 in unpaid merchandise. 

Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged theft in Manhattan.Just after 3p.m. Monday, officers filed a report of theft in the 100 block of Bluemont Avenue, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Walmart reported an unknown suspect left the store with approximately $1,099 in unpaid merchandise. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: Suspect took $1,000 in merchandise from store in Manhattan

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report August 20

&nbsp; The City of Manhattan said that the&nbsp; Anderson Avenue reconstruction project will be ongoing this week. After completing curb and gutter repairs and complex base repairs last week, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shillingconstruction?__cft__[0]=AZWHX7y_NciSGd0_vIXEoAjVJyqF2nTXU3EdgXpSmjHE4uP5RwSpfoFSWnYaqeTHWGxx0WR5TAXiuT7HuwbkIMhcXdBgdyhFF0_sabG62wLbKbqQCrR3YHoSkC2HIF2GSWGxvraCPNfLDcD9xJfk2XGOegzPGY5goWN_xoQvV3fu0hwgCuysLXBWgo9f5LyLx8HWnXOiyJVrzcqfsVvQtKAX0KKocKu3T8VJwcIVKQxVkQ&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Shilling Construction Company Inc.</a> will be installing the new asphalt overlay this week and into next week.

Shilling anticipates it will take 8 to 10 working days to complete all of the asphalt work, then permanent striping will occur on the new lanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; The City of Manhattan said that the&nbsp; Anderson Avenue reconstruction project will be ongoing this week. After completing curb and gutter repairs and complex base repairs last week, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shillingconstruction?__cft__[0]=AZWHX7y_NciSGd0_vIXEoAjVJyqF2nTXU3EdgXpSmjHE4uP5RwSpfoFSWnYaqeTHWGxx0WR5TAXiuT7HuwbkIMhcXdBgdyhFF0_sabG62wLbKbqQCrR3YHoSkC2HIF2GSWGxvraCPNfLDcD9xJfk2XGOegzPGY5goWN_xoQvV3fu0hwgCuysLXBWgo9f5LyLx8HWnXOiyJVrzcqfsVvQtKAX0KKocKu3T8VJwcIVKQxVkQ&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Shilling Construction Company Inc.</a> will be installing the new asphalt overlay this week and into next week. Shilling anticipates it will take 8 to 10 working days to complete all of the asphalt work, then permanent striping will occur on the new lanes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anderson Ave. reconstruction continues

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a carjacking in Manhattan.

Just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a 27-year-old woman reported a group of individuals approached battered her, took her property to include her car keys, car and threatened her before leaving the area. 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a carjacking in Manhattan.Just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, a 27-year-old woman reported a group of individuals approached battered her, took her property to include her car keys, car and threatened her before leaving the area. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD investigating carjacking

&nbsp; MANHATTAN — Thirty-four students in the&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Arts and Sciences</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University have received research awards from the college for summer and fall 2024.The awards aim to provide students with impactful, paid research experiences alongside faculty mentors.

The $1,000 scholarships are offered in fall, spring and summer with deadlines of May 1, Nov. 1 and March 1, respectively. Undergraduate students enrolled full-time in any major in the college are eligible to apply.

More information about the award program is on the college's&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/research/undergraduate/" target="_blank">student research and creative inquiry opportunities</a>&nbsp;webpage. The college is committed to providing research or practical learning opportunities for all of its students.

The following students received College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Awards for summer 2024:Darius Skillen, mathematics and Spanish,&nbsp;Cheney, mentored by Rebecca Bender, modern languages; Steven Walsh, history,&nbsp;Junction City, mentored by Mary Kohn, English; and Kutina Cabrera, psychology and French,&nbsp;Lenexa, mentored by Kathleen Antonioli, modern languages. Tabitha Ellwood, music and English literature,&nbsp;Little River, mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music, theatre, and dance; Joseph Pondillo, political science and social transformation studies,&nbsp;Manhattan, mentored by Lisa Tatonetti, English; and August Barrett-Fox, history and political science,&nbsp;Newton, mentored by Eric Brandom, history. Jonathan Williams, anthropology,&nbsp;Ottawa, mentored by Benjamin McCloskey, modern languages and history; Ethan Chapman, political science and pre-law,&nbsp;Overland Park, mentored by Benjamin McCloskey, modern languages and history; and Taz Zeigler, microbiology,&nbsp;Salina, mentored by Vanessa Ante, biology. From out of country: Jiwoo Jung, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology,&nbsp;South Korea, mentored by Susan Brown, biology. The following students received College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Awards for fall 2024:Kenzie Liby, psychology,&nbsp;Berryton, mentored by Michael Young, psychological sciences; Gus Howard, fine arts,&nbsp;Bremen, mentored by Shreepad Joglekar, art; and Clara Pitkin, social transformation studies and nursing,&nbsp;Fort Leavenworth, mentored by Valerie Padilla Carroll, social transformation studies.From&nbsp;Hays: Mark Rack, psychology and social work, mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences; and Jocelyn Rigler, biology, mentored by Mary Cain, psychological sciences. Hannah Trechter, psychological sciences,&nbsp;Junction City, mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences; and Alyssa Probst, medical biochemistry,&nbsp;Lawrence, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry. From&nbsp;Manhattan: Camille Carrier, microbiology, mentored by Pankaj Baral, biology; Carson Cole, chemistry, mentored by Peter Sues, chemistry; Samuel Gido, mathematics and computer science, mentored by Natalia Rojkovskaia; and Veronica Knight, chemistry, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry.Emily Cummings, molecular biology,&nbsp;Overland Park, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, biology; and Jillian Rockley, medical biochemistry and integrated health studies,&nbsp;Rose Hill, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, biology.From&nbsp;Salina: Maya Daily, chemical sciences, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry; and Keat Robinson, biology, mentored by Katsura Asano, biology. From&nbsp;Wamego: Annika Wiebers, dance and the human experience and agricultural communications, mentored by Kate Digby, music, theatre, and dance.From&nbsp;Wichita: Adrienne Pamatmat, biology and pre-medicine, Vanessa Ante, biology; and Evan Gnagy, visual communication design, mentored by Valerie Padilla Carroll, social transformation studies.From out of state: Hera Hessenius, piano performance,&nbsp;Sahuarita, Arizona, mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music, theatre, and dance; Riley Blitt, biological systems engineering and pre-medicine,&nbsp;Colorado Springs, Colorado, mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry; and Jonathan Ulmer, biochemistry and pre-pharmacy,&nbsp;Hampton, Virginia, mentored by Katsura Asano, biology.From out of country: Prabhleen Kaur, chemical sciences and biochemistry,&nbsp;India, mentored by Dan Higgins, chemistry; Moussa Gacko, biology,&nbsp;Senegal, mentored by Arjun Nepal, physics; and Zanri Pieterse, human health biology,&nbsp;South Africa, mentored by Ruth Welti, biology.

&nbsp; MANHATTAN — Thirty-four students in the&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">College of Arts and Sciences</a>&nbsp;at Kansas State University have received research awards from the college for summer and fall 2024.The awards aim to provide students with impactful, paid research experiences alongside faculty mentors. The $1,000 scholarships are offered in fall, spring and summer with deadlines of May 1, Nov. 1 and March 1, respectively. Undergraduate students enrolled full-time in any major in the college are eligible to apply.More information about the award program is on the college's&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/research/undergraduate/" target="_blank">student research and creative inquiry opportunities</a>&nbsp;webpage. The college is committed to providing research or practical learning opportunities for all of its students.The following students received College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Awards for summer 2024:Darius Skillen, mathematics and Spanish,&nbsp;Cheney, mentored by Rebecca Bender, modern languages; Steven Walsh, history,&nbsp;Junction City, mentored by Mary Kohn, English; and Kutina Cabrera, psychology and French,&nbsp;Lenexa, mentored by Kathleen Antonioli, modern languages. Tabitha Ellwood, music and English literature,&nbsp;Little River, mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music, theatre, and dance; Joseph Pondillo, political science and social transformation studies,&nbsp;Manhattan, mentored by Lisa Tatonetti, English; and August Barrett-Fox, history and political science,&nbsp;Newton, mentored by Eric Brandom, history. Jonathan Williams, anthropology,&nbsp;Ottawa, mentored by Benjamin McCloskey, modern languages and history; Ethan Chapman, political science and pre-law,&nbsp;Overland Park, mentored by Benjamin McCloskey, modern languages and history; and Taz Zeigler, microbiology,&nbsp;Salina, mentored by Vanessa Ante, biology. From out of country: Jiwoo Jung, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology,&nbsp;South Korea, mentored by Susan Brown, biology. The following students received College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Awards for fall 2024:Kenzie Liby, psychology,&nbsp;Berryton, mentored by Michael Young, psychological sciences; Gus Howard, fine arts,&nbsp;Bremen, mentored by Shreepad Joglekar, art; and Clara Pitkin, social transformation studies and nursing,&nbsp;Fort Leavenworth, mentored by Valerie Padilla Carroll, social transformation studies.From&nbsp;Hays: Mark Rack, psychology and social work, mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences; and Jocelyn Rigler, biology, mentored by Mary Cain, psychological sciences. Hannah Trechter, psychological sciences,&nbsp;Junction City, mentored by Natalie Barlett, psychological sciences; and Alyssa Probst, medical biochemistry,&nbsp;Lawrence, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry. From&nbsp;Manhattan: Camille Carrier, microbiology, mentored by Pankaj Baral, biology; Carson Cole, chemistry, mentored by Peter Sues, chemistry; Samuel Gido, mathematics and computer science, mentored by Natalia Rojkovskaia; and Veronica Knight, chemistry, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry.Emily Cummings, molecular biology,&nbsp;Overland Park, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, biology; and Jillian Rockley, medical biochemistry and integrated health studies,&nbsp;Rose Hill, mentored by Kathrin Schrick, biology.From&nbsp;Salina: Maya Daily, chemical sciences, mentored by Patrica Calvo, chemistry; and Keat Robinson, biology, mentored by Katsura Asano, biology. From&nbsp;Wamego: Annika Wiebers, dance and the human experience and agricultural communications, mentored by Kate Digby, music, theatre, and dance.From&nbsp;Wichita: Adrienne Pamatmat, biology and pre-medicine, Vanessa Ante, biology; and Evan Gnagy, visual communication design, mentored by Valerie Padilla Carroll, social transformation studies.From out of state: Hera Hessenius, piano performance,&nbsp;Sahuarita, Arizona, mentored by Slawomir Dobrzanski, music, theatre, and dance; Riley Blitt, biological systems engineering and pre-medicine,&nbsp;Colorado Springs, Colorado, mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry; and Jonathan Ulmer, biochemistry and pre-pharmacy,&nbsp;Hampton, Virginia, mentored by Katsura Asano, biology.From out of country: Prabhleen Kaur, chemical sciences and biochemistry,&nbsp;India, mentored by Dan Higgins, chemistry; Moussa Gacko, biology,&nbsp;Senegal, mentored by Arjun Nepal, physics; and Zanri Pieterse, human health biology,&nbsp;South Africa, mentored by Ruth Welti, biology.

 Thirty-four students receive $1,000 research awards from College of Arts and Sciences

RILEY COUNTY—A Manhattan man was arrested after an accident that occurred just before 1:30a.m. Sunday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, 21-year-old Devin Phelps of Manhattan, lost control of a vehicle in the 300 Block of North 9th Street and collided with three parked vehicles.&nbsp;

Phelps was arrested in the 1100 Block of Freemont Street on requested charges of DUI, aggravated battery, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $7,000 bond, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY—A Manhattan man was arrested after an accident that occurred just before 1:30a.m. Sunday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, 21-year-old Devin Phelps of Manhattan, lost control of a vehicle in the 300 Block of North 9th Street and collided with three parked vehicles.&nbsp;Phelps was arrested in the 1100 Block of Freemont Street on requested charges of DUI, aggravated battery, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $7,000 bond, according to the RCPD.

Manhattan man accused of DUI after crash into 3 parked vehicles

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report August 19

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723990466797.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report August 18

MANHATTAN— Interim City Manager Jason Hilgers has announced that Assistant City Manager&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fe4f2d33bb&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Wyatt Thompson</a>, who oversees major projects and the Building Services Division, has been appointed as interim director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fc946b0576&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Public Works Department</a>, starting&nbsp;Aug. 18.

The Public Works Department provides services and facilities including streets and traffic control devices, storm drainage and flood protection systems, public buildings, and water and wastewater systems.

Under the direction of the Deputy City Manager, the Director of Public Works is responsible for leading, planning, and managing all activities and operations of the department’s 135 full-time employees, its three divisions, and a nearly $50 million annual budget.

“Wyatt has done a great job of project management in his current role, including overseeing the Animal Shelter contract with&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=791d9a76e1&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Prairie Paws</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=9df8b811e5&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">CiCo Park project</a>,” Hilgers said. “I have every confidence in him to be able to add these additional duties to his portfolio and excel in doing so for as long as is needed.”

Thompson will take over for interim director&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=048ec55e56&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Lynden Lawson</a>. “This interim appointment will provide our&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=db86a3afdc&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">incoming City Manager</a>&nbsp;with time to make an organizational development decision on operations,” Hilgers explained.

During this interim appointment, Thompson will supervise the administrative support team, Engineering Division, and Street, Fleet, and Stormwater operations team. He also will supervise Public Utilities until&nbsp;September 3, when incoming Director of Public Utilities&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=01575a9b23&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Kevin Niles</a>&nbsp;will begin employment.

City of Manhattan releaseMANHATTAN— Interim City Manager Jason Hilgers has announced that Assistant City Manager&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fe4f2d33bb&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Wyatt Thompson</a>, who oversees major projects and the Building Services Division, has been appointed as interim director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fc946b0576&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Public Works Department</a>, starting&nbsp;Aug. 18.The Public Works Department provides services and facilities including streets and traffic control devices, storm drainage and flood protection systems, public buildings, and water and wastewater systems.Under the direction of the Deputy City Manager, the Director of Public Works is responsible for leading, planning, and managing all activities and operations of the department’s 135 full-time employees, its three divisions, and a nearly $50 million annual budget.“Wyatt has done a great job of project management in his current role, including overseeing the Animal Shelter contract with&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=791d9a76e1&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Prairie Paws</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=9df8b811e5&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">CiCo Park project</a>,” Hilgers said. “I have every confidence in him to be able to add these additional duties to his portfolio and excel in doing so for as long as is needed.”Thompson will take over for interim director&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=048ec55e56&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Lynden Lawson</a>. “This interim appointment will provide our&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=db86a3afdc&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">incoming City Manager</a>&nbsp;with time to make an organizational development decision on operations,” Hilgers explained.During this interim appointment, Thompson will supervise the administrative support team, Engineering Division, and Street, Fleet, and Stormwater operations team. He also will supervise Public Utilities until&nbsp;September 3, when incoming Director of Public Utilities&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=01575a9b23&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">Kevin Niles</a>&nbsp;will begin employment.

 Interim Director of Public Works appointed for Manhattan

St. Marys, Kansas (AP) —An employee of a rural Kansas school district repeatedly shoved a teenager with Down syndrome into a utility closet, hit the boy and once photographed him locked in a cage used to store athletic equipment, a lawsuit claims.

The suit filed Friday in federal court said the paraprofessional assigned to the 15-year-old sent the photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, comparing the teen to an animal and “making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.”

The teen's parents alleged in the suit that the paraprofessional did not have a key to the cage and had to enlist help from other district staff to open the door and release their son, who is identified in the complaint only by his initials. The suit, which includes the photo, said it was not clear how long the teen was locked in the cage.

The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff and the district, which enrolls around 1,100 and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Topeka.

No attorneys are listed for the district in online court records and phone messages and emails left with district staff were not immediately returned.

The suit said the teen’s placement in the closet and cage stemmed from “no behaviors whatsoever, or for minor behaviors” that stemmed from his disability.

The paraprofessional also is accused in the suit of yelling derogatory words within inches of the teen’s face on a daily basis and pulling and yanking the teen by the shirt collar around the school at least once a week.

At least once, the paraprofessional struck the teen in the neck and face, the suit said. The teen who speaks in short, abbreviated sentences, described the incident using the words “hit," “closet” and the paraprofessional's first name.

The suit said the paraprofessional also made the teen stay in soiled clothing for long periods and denied him food during lunchtime.

The suit said some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher who oversaw the paraprofessional, as well as the district's special education director. But the suit said neither of them intervened, even though there had been other complaints about the paraprofessional’s treatment of disabled students in the past.

The suit said the defendants described their treatment of the teen as “tough love” and “how you have to handle him.”

The suit said the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency. However, when the parents raised concerns, a district employee reported them to the agency, citing abuse and neglect concerns, the suit said.

No criminal charges are listed in online court records for the paraprofessional or any of the employees named in the suit. And no disciplinary actions are listed for staff in a state education department database.

The suit said the teen's behavior deteriorated. The suit said he refuses to leave his home out of fear, quit using his words and increasingly punches himself in the head.

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 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHSt. Marys, Kansas (AP) —An employee of a rural Kansas school district repeatedly shoved a teenager with Down syndrome into a utility closet, hit the boy and once photographed him locked in a cage used to store athletic equipment, a lawsuit claims.The suit filed Friday in federal court said the paraprofessional assigned to the 15-year-old sent the photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, comparing the teen to an animal and “making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.”The teen's parents alleged in the suit that the paraprofessional did not have a key to the cage and had to enlist help from other district staff to open the door and release their son, who is identified in the complaint only by his initials. The suit, which includes the photo, said it was not clear how long the teen was locked in the cage.The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff and the district, which enrolls around 1,100 and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Topeka.No attorneys are listed for the district in online court records and phone messages and emails left with district staff were not immediately returned.The suit said the teen’s placement in the closet and cage stemmed from “no behaviors whatsoever, or for minor behaviors” that stemmed from his disability.The paraprofessional also is accused in the suit of yelling derogatory words within inches of the teen’s face on a daily basis and pulling and yanking the teen by the shirt collar around the school at least once a week.At least once, the paraprofessional struck the teen in the neck and face, the suit said. The teen who speaks in short, abbreviated sentences, described the incident using the words “hit," “closet” and the paraprofessional's first name.The suit said the paraprofessional also made the teen stay in soiled clothing for long periods and denied him food during lunchtime.The suit said some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher who oversaw the paraprofessional, as well as the district's special education director. But the suit said neither of them intervened, even though there had been other complaints about the paraprofessional’s treatment of disabled students in the past.The suit said the defendants described their treatment of the teen as “tough love” and “how you have to handle him.”The suit said the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency. However, when the parents raised concerns, a district employee reported them to the agency, citing abuse and neglect concerns, the suit said.No criminal charges are listed in online court records for the paraprofessional or any of the employees named in the suit. And no disciplinary actions are listed for staff in a state education department database.The suit said the teen's behavior deteriorated. The suit said he refuses to leave his home out of fear, quit using his words and increasingly punches himself in the head.

Lawsuit: School employee locked teen with Down syndrome in closet, storage cage

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
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Riley County Arrest Report August 17

TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in July. This is an increase from 3.0% in June and an increase from 2.6% in July 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 from June. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,900 over the month, while government decreased by 5,600.

The unemployment rate in Riley County is up from 4 percent in June to 4.2 percent in July. The rate in Geary County is also up from from 5 percent to 5.4 percent. The rate in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties is also up.&nbsp;

“Kansas employers in the private sector added jobs in July. However this growth was offset by a decline in government jobs, which resulted in the overall decrease for total nonfarm estimates,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The private sector job growth was led by an increase in professional and business services jobs as well as a continued upward trend for trade, transportation, and utilities.”

Since July 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,100. This change is due to an increase of 22,800 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,700 government jobs.

Click here for the complete Kansas labor market information for July.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723817303630.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in July. This is an increase from 3.0% in June and an increase from 2.6% in July 2023.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 from June. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,900 over the month, while government decreased by 5,600.The unemployment rate in Riley County is up from 4 percent in June to 4.2 percent in July. The rate in Geary County is also up from from 5 percent to 5.4 percent. The rate in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties is also up.&nbsp;“Kansas employers in the private sector added jobs in July. However this growth was offset by a decline in government jobs, which resulted in the overall decrease for total nonfarm estimates,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The private sector job growth was led by an increase in professional and business services jobs as well as a continued upward trend for trade, transportation, and utilities.”Since July 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,100. This change is due to an increase of 22,800 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,700 government jobs.Click here for the complete Kansas labor market information for July.

Jobless rate continues to grow in Riley County

Kirk Hutchinson, Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

FORT RILEY, Kan. – The Fort Riley Mobilization Force Generation Installation (MFGI) hosted the 297th Regional Support Group (RSG) from the Alaska Army National Guard and the 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade (CATB), which mobilized the 2-300 Field Artillery Battalion from the Wyoming Army National Guard (WYARNG) to rehearse Large Scale Mobilization Operations (LSMO).

MOBEX III practiced the mobilization, training and deployment of reserve units for large-scale combat operations anywhere in the world. The Mobilization Support Force (MSF), consisting of U.S. Army Active Component, Army Reserve and National Guard units, assisted both the 189th CATB and the Fort Riley Soldier Readiness Processing site in getting Soldiers of the 2-300 Field Artillery Battalion ready for deployment. The exercise tested the maximum capacity of the MFGI to accurately simulate mobilization of reserve component units and identify issues with mobilization. The MSF allowed the Fort Riley MFGI to bridge the gap between critical needs and long-term contract solutions, replacing essential Active component elements that will deploy according to strategic guidance and efforts.

“The Fort Riley Garrison leadership and staff were integral to the success of MOBEX III,” said Col. Michele Edwards, commander of the 297th RSG, Alaska Army National Guard. “Because MOBEX III is resource intensive, it was imperative for the 189th TSB and the 297th RSG, working for Brig. Gen. Ropers, the Deputy Commanding General - Mobilization, to identify, coordinate, and validate Fort Riley resource requirements not only for this exercise, but in preparation for Large Scale Mobilization Operations.”&nbsp;

During the MOBEX, a series of significant events took place, each contributing to the thorough preparation and training of all units involved. These included medical readiness assessments, individual and crew-served weapons qualification, validation of communications equipment and procedures at their headquarters, and a staff exercise focused on operations planning for an upcoming deployment. The highlight of the event was the qualification and live fire exercise involving the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Fort Riley plays a key role in facilitating mobilization for the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard if called upon to support large-scale combat operations globally. Each year, over 20,000 soldiers from Components 2 and 3 undergo routine training at Fort Riley, strengthening relationships on the Installation that are necessary when conducting Mobilization Operations. Furthermore, it serves as a Power Projection Platform, capable of deploying an armored brigade combat team to any continental U.S. port within 96 hours.

“The MOBEX was an incredible experience, highlighting the dedication and readiness of Soldiers from Alaska, California, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and across the United States,” said Maj. Grant Redmond, a 1st Inf. Div. spokesperson. “It’s amazing to see that these units can mobilize and deploy anywhere in the world, demonstrating our capability to respond to global challenges swiftly and effectively.”

Kirk Hutchinson, Supervisory Public Affairs SpecialistUSAG Fort Riley Public Affairs OfficeFORT RILEY, Kan. – The Fort Riley Mobilization Force Generation Installation (MFGI) hosted the 297th Regional Support Group (RSG) from the Alaska Army National Guard and the 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade (CATB), which mobilized the 2-300 Field Artillery Battalion from the Wyoming Army National Guard (WYARNG) to rehearse Large Scale Mobilization Operations (LSMO).MOBEX III practiced the mobilization, training and deployment of reserve units for large-scale combat operations anywhere in the world. The Mobilization Support Force (MSF), consisting of U.S. Army Active Component, Army Reserve and National Guard units, assisted both the 189th CATB and the Fort Riley Soldier Readiness Processing site in getting Soldiers of the 2-300 Field Artillery Battalion ready for deployment. The exercise tested the maximum capacity of the MFGI to accurately simulate mobilization of reserve component units and identify issues with mobilization. The MSF allowed the Fort Riley MFGI to bridge the gap between critical needs and long-term contract solutions, replacing essential Active component elements that will deploy according to strategic guidance and efforts.“The Fort Riley Garrison leadership and staff were integral to the success of MOBEX III,” said Col. Michele Edwards, commander of the 297th RSG, Alaska Army National Guard. “Because MOBEX III is resource intensive, it was imperative for the 189th TSB and the 297th RSG, working for Brig. Gen. Ropers, the Deputy Commanding General - Mobilization, to identify, coordinate, and validate Fort Riley resource requirements not only for this exercise, but in preparation for Large Scale Mobilization Operations.”&nbsp;During the MOBEX, a series of significant events took place, each contributing to the thorough preparation and training of all units involved. These included medical readiness assessments, individual and crew-served weapons qualification, validation of communications equipment and procedures at their headquarters, and a staff exercise focused on operations planning for an upcoming deployment. The highlight of the event was the qualification and live fire exercise involving the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).Fort Riley plays a key role in facilitating mobilization for the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard if called upon to support large-scale combat operations globally. Each year, over 20,000 soldiers from Components 2 and 3 undergo routine training at Fort Riley, strengthening relationships on the Installation that are necessary when conducting Mobilization Operations. Furthermore, it serves as a Power Projection Platform, capable of deploying an armored brigade combat team to any continental U.S. port within 96 hours.“The MOBEX was an incredible experience, highlighting the dedication and readiness of Soldiers from Alaska, California, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and across the United States,” said Maj. Grant Redmond, a 1st Inf. Div. spokesperson. “It’s amazing to see that these units can mobilize and deploy anywhere in the world, demonstrating our capability to respond to global challenges swiftly and effectively.”

Fort Riley Hosts Mobilization Exercise

Bee a part of the buzz! Join the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC)&nbsp;for Pollinator Palooza on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate nature’s unsung heroes that keep our world in bloom.

This exciting event is a collaboration between the FHDC and passionate partners dedicated to raising awareness about the vital pollinators in our ecosystem. This is sure to be a day filled with fun, education, discovery, and appreciation for pollinators. 

All activities are included with admission and perfect for all ages.The temporary exhibit,&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fa2438966a&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Amazing Butterflies</a>, is the perfect introduction to the amazing world of pollinators. After guests make their way through the maze, they can participate in these fun activities with our educators:

Learn more about Pollinator Palooza at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e5b2a01187&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/pollinators</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723816328089.png" alt="photo Flint Hills Discovery Center" />
 <figcaption>photo Flint Hills Discovery Center</figcaption>
 </figure>Flint Hills Discovery CenterBee a part of the buzz! Join the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC)&nbsp;for Pollinator Palooza on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate nature’s unsung heroes that keep our world in bloom.This exciting event is a collaboration between the FHDC and passionate partners dedicated to raising awareness about the vital pollinators in our ecosystem. This is sure to be a day filled with fun, education, discovery, and appreciation for pollinators. All activities are included with admission and perfect for all ages.The temporary exhibit,&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=fa2438966a&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Amazing Butterflies</a>, is the perfect introduction to the amazing world of pollinators. After guests make their way through the maze, they can participate in these fun activities with our educators:<ul>
 <li>Pollinator Parkour – Hop from one safe pollinator habitat to the next!</li><li>Pollen Pursuit – Pollination is vital to the life cycle of all flowering plants. Successful pollination results in healthy fruit and fertile seeds, which allows plants to reproduce. Pollinators are the ones who do the grunt work of moving pollen grains from flower to flower.</li><li>Beautiful Pollinators – Enjoy brightening up our prairie while coloring pollinator coloring pages.</li>
 </ul>Community partners activities:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=3eaf6fa353&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Sunset Zoo</a>: Migration Mayhem - Monarch butterflies face many challenges as they make their 2000-mile migration from Canada to Mexico. Will participants be able to dodge predators, ride the warm winds, and find enough food as they make their journey? Sometimes, survival is a game of chance!</li><li><a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=26ad920d70&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">MHK Pollinator Pockets</a>: Learn more about the city's Pollinator Pockets and how to create your own.</li><li><a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=ac10fbfe4a&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation</a>: Get information on pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts.</li><li><a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=af0f0d5f4c&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Riley County Extension Master Gardeners</a>: Make origami butterflies, get a butterfly tattoo&nbsp;on your hand, and learn more about the Riley County Extension Master Gardener organization and activities.</li><li><a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=5ee11177c2&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Grassland Groupies</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=d381b4f161&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">Prairie Garden Trail</a>&nbsp;Tours and Bug Hike with FHDC staff at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., plus information on native gardening and a bee senses activity.</li><li>Jack Sytsma,&nbsp;FHDC volunteer and doctoral student: Ongoing flowering plants presentation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.</li>
 </ul>Learn more about Pollinator Palooza at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=e5b2a01187&amp;e=ae94a9aa01" target="_blank">www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/pollinators</a>.

Pollinator Palooza at the Flint Hills Discovery Center

Flint Hills Volunteer Center will host the 9/11 Day of Remembrance on September 8th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at the Manhattan City Park. “This year, our goal is to honor and respect those who serve and protect through a day of service” said Lori Bishop, Executive Director.

In 2002, family members of those killed and injured on 9/11 joined with first responders and others to create “9/11 Day” to annually and forever encourage all Americans to remember and pay tribute on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks through acts of service, including volunteerism, and to keep Americans’ promise to “Never Forget.”

On September 8th, local first responders will be inside the Wefald Pavilion to give away 400 pairs of shoes to elementary school children in grades K-5.&nbsp;

Fort Riley will have a static display consisting of EOD bomb robot, suit, MP displays such as military working dogs, patrol car, and soldiers with equipment. Riley County Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department, KSU Police, RCFD #1 and Emergency Management and&nbsp; EMS will participate.

The Riley County Police Department will host a picnic inside the Pavilion at 5:00 pm that is free and open to the public for the first 250 guests.

Special thanks to our hosts and sponsors: Flint Hills Volunteer Center, Kansas Volunteer Commission, Volunteer Kansas, Flint Hills Veterans Coalition, Briggs Auto, Manhattan Military Relations, Parker Hannifin, Bank of the Flint Hills, Armed Forces Community Foundation, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and Chase Life Chiropractic.

By Lori BishopFlint Hills Volunteer CenterFlint Hills Volunteer Center will host the 9/11 Day of Remembrance on September 8th from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at the Manhattan City Park. “This year, our goal is to honor and respect those who serve and protect through a day of service” said Lori Bishop, Executive Director.In 2002, family members of those killed and injured on 9/11 joined with first responders and others to create “9/11 Day” to annually and forever encourage all Americans to remember and pay tribute on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks through acts of service, including volunteerism, and to keep Americans’ promise to “Never Forget.”On September 8th, local first responders will be inside the Wefald Pavilion to give away 400 pairs of shoes to elementary school children in grades K-5.&nbsp;Fort Riley will have a static display consisting of EOD bomb robot, suit, MP displays such as military working dogs, patrol car, and soldiers with equipment. Riley County Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department, KSU Police, RCFD #1 and Emergency Management and&nbsp; EMS will participate.The Riley County Police Department will host a picnic inside the Pavilion at 5:00 pm that is free and open to the public for the first 250 guests.Special thanks to our hosts and sponsors: Flint Hills Volunteer Center, Kansas Volunteer Commission, Volunteer Kansas, Flint Hills Veterans Coalition, Briggs Auto, Manhattan Military Relations, Parker Hannifin, Bank of the Flint Hills, Armed Forces Community Foundation, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and Chase Life Chiropractic.

9/11 Day of Remembrance

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged aggravated battery involving a pair of scissors.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp; police filed a report of aggravated battery in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue, according to the Riley County&nbsp; Police Department activity re port.&nbsp;

Two men, ages 73 and 41, reported they were battered with a pair of scissors by a juvenile. &nbsp;The victims were treated for their injuries on-site and did not require transport to the hospital.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged aggravated battery involving a pair of scissors.Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday,&nbsp; police filed a report of aggravated battery in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue, according to the Riley County&nbsp; Police Department activity re port.&nbsp;Two men, ages 73 and 41, reported they were battered with a pair of scissors by a juvenile. &nbsp;The victims were treated for their injuries on-site and did not require transport to the hospital.Police released no additional details.

RCPD investigating juvenile's scissors attack on 2 adults

Riley County Police Director Brian Peete has informed the county commission that Pare One crimes in July were about 11% below the five-year average. Year to date they are down 21.5% from that average.&nbsp;

Violent crimes showed a decrease of 10% in July and about 12% year to date per the five-year period. There were 12 aggravated batteries and four aggravated assaults.

Property crimes were down about 11% and year to date 23.1% below the five-year average. Twelve burglaries and 11 larcenies from motor vehicles were reported along with nine auto thefts and two arson incidents.

Peete noted that there was a recent rash of auto thefts, and the Riley County Police Department and there are significant leads. Authorities hope to resolve those cases in the next few weeks. DUI cases were up slightly.&nbsp;

Motor vehicle accidents increased above the five-year average.

By Dewey TerrillLittle Apple PostRiley County Police Director Brian Peete has informed the county commission that Pare One crimes in July were about 11% below the five-year average. Year to date they are down 21.5% from that average.&nbsp;Violent crimes showed a decrease of 10% in July and about 12% year to date per the five-year period. There were 12 aggravated batteries and four aggravated assaults.Property crimes were down about 11% and year to date 23.1% below the five-year average. Twelve burglaries and 11 larcenies from motor vehicles were reported along with nine auto thefts and two arson incidents.Peete noted that there was a recent rash of auto thefts, and the Riley County Police Department and there are significant leads. Authorities hope to resolve those cases in the next few weeks. DUI cases were up slightly.&nbsp;Motor vehicle accidents increased above the five-year average.( Cover photo - Pixabay )

Part One crimes show decrease in Riley County

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report a vehicle driven by Dalton Stover, 27, Chapman, struck a 23-year-old pedestrian in a crosswalk at the intersection of S. Manhattan Avenue and Poyntz. 

EMS transported the&nbsp; man to Via Christi for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; The RCPD cited Stover for failure to yield the right of way.

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report a vehicle driven by Dalton Stover, 27, Chapman, struck a 23-year-old pedestrian in a crosswalk at the intersection of S. Manhattan Avenue and Poyntz. EMS transported the&nbsp; man to Via Christi for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; The RCPD cited Stover for failure to yield the right of way.

RCPD: Vehicle struck pedestrian in crosswalk

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Friday, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) announced the opening of his 2024 military service academy nomination applications. Rep. Mann invites students from the Big First District who wish to pursue an education at one of the U.S. military service academies to complete and submit their applications ahead of the September 27 deadline.

“It is an honor to nominate brave young Americans from the Big First District to our U.S. service academies,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann. “Each year, I am inspired by our applicants’ willingness to answer the call to service. Their patriotism and sense of duty make me believe that our brightest days are yet to come.”

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to the following U.S. service academies:

Receiving a nomination from a Congressional office is the first step in the process of attending a service academy. A nomination does not guarantee admission. If an individual receives a nomination from a congressional office, they must next receive an appointment from the service academy.

If you, or a student you know, would like more information about attending one of the U.S. service academies, or have questions about the application process, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Hk2yDqGmlTsLHoBzpM-ddXVV7f-QkOx4wZP0Ik1Arq6bd5iFFbuScfmnGcbf6aqwAuOM-T0tIIO2WYVv65MV7wwRYAERidzASS55iDpTfYGt5geqow9wp9e1zsCJB58tI2sPc42kwpRaLW3Ut-SVDTc3Y48ivZN65yjUugUywkpgvhgTVICuHEV2iS8DqaQP&amp;c=ZTzH6GqpHCG7BMqnIQjx4vAqKCFb6346-uIwtMGhEk43PSMN4y0W3g==&amp;ch=sRKTJqlq_IAnE8bfuPEj9LotHyvzt8EwBHzZ8tEhoDsgppIJNbRLpQ==" target="_blank">Mann.House.Gov/services/military-academy-nominations</a>&nbsp;for more details on the nomination process, or contact Rep. Mann's office at (785) 370-7277.

The deadline to submit all application materials is&nbsp;September 27, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. CT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637681449641.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. — Friday, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) announced the opening of his 2024 military service academy nomination applications. Rep. Mann invites students from the Big First District who wish to pursue an education at one of the U.S. military service academies to complete and submit their applications ahead of the September 27 deadline.“It is an honor to nominate brave young Americans from the Big First District to our U.S. service academies,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann. “Each year, I am inspired by our applicants’ willingness to answer the call to service. Their patriotism and sense of duty make me believe that our brightest days are yet to come.”Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to the following U.S. service academies:<ul>
 <li>U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY</li><li>U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD</li><li>U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO</li><li>U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY</li>
 </ul>Receiving a nomination from a Congressional office is the first step in the process of attending a service academy. A nomination does not guarantee admission. If an individual receives a nomination from a congressional office, they must next receive an appointment from the service academy.If you, or a student you know, would like more information about attending one of the U.S. service academies, or have questions about the application process, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Hk2yDqGmlTsLHoBzpM-ddXVV7f-QkOx4wZP0Ik1Arq6bd5iFFbuScfmnGcbf6aqwAuOM-T0tIIO2WYVv65MV7wwRYAERidzASS55iDpTfYGt5geqow9wp9e1zsCJB58tI2sPc42kwpRaLW3Ut-SVDTc3Y48ivZN65yjUugUywkpgvhgTVICuHEV2iS8DqaQP&amp;c=ZTzH6GqpHCG7BMqnIQjx4vAqKCFb6346-uIwtMGhEk43PSMN4y0W3g==&amp;ch=sRKTJqlq_IAnE8bfuPEj9LotHyvzt8EwBHzZ8tEhoDsgppIJNbRLpQ==" target="_blank">Mann.House.Gov/services/military-academy-nominations</a>&nbsp;for more details on the nomination process, or contact Rep. Mann's office at (785) 370-7277.The deadline to submit all application materials is&nbsp;September 27, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. CT.

Mann opening service academy nomination process

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723817146585.png" alt="" />
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Riley County Arrest Report August 16

Long, long ago in a land far, far away, bread wheat came into existence. Researchers are still unlocking the secrets of the wild relatives of that ancient wheat to improve modern-day varieties - and a collection of seeds housed on Kimball Avenue in Manhattan is key to this work.&nbsp;

Bikram Gill and John Raupp with K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center sat down with Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations, on a recent episode of the “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast to share wheat’s origin story and how the collection continues to provide valuable genetic resources for modern wheat breeding programs.&nbsp;

To understand this potential, one must go way back to the origin of wheat as a species in the Fertile Crescent - where the crop helped start human civilization more than 10,000 years ago. At that time, wheat did not yet exist. It would take two major evolutionary events that mixed three different grass species to make the first bread wheat genome.&nbsp;

The first stop on this timeline was the merger of two wild ancestors that resulted in the eventual creation of wild emmer wheat (genome formula AB).&nbsp;

“As a species in nature, nature produced bread wheat around half a million years ago,” Gill said. “Two grasses, they happened to have fun. They hybridized - and that produced bread wheat.”&nbsp;

The second stop on the timeline came more than 10,000 years ago when that wild emmer wheat was combined with an ancient goatgrass (genome formula D). That genetic mix resulted in the first crop cultivated by humankind.&nbsp;

“In some farmer’s field, some goat grass hybridized with emmer wheat, which originated in Syria,” Gill said. “And that farmer was smart enough, he selected that plant. And that’s our bread wheat.”&nbsp;

From there, Mother Nature kept mixing in wild wheat relatives to this new bread wheat - and farmers selected the most successful versions to plant again.&nbsp;

“After wheat originated, these wild wheats kept cross-hybridizing with domesticated wheat,” Gill said. “There were no breeders, but nature was doing breeding for the first 10,000 years. They were cross-pollinating and farmers were selecting new types out of that.”&nbsp;

This origin story is important because it explains why the wheat genome is so complex. Wheat is a hexaploid, meaning it has six sets of seven chromosomes. Most genes in wheat exist in three copies - one each from those A, B and D genomes. As a result, there are 16 billion DNA letters in the wheat genome - the human genome has three billion letters - meaning you could type out the genetic code of wheat in 12-point font and the type will go around the world.&nbsp;

This triplication and redundancy make wheat very hard to genetically analyze.&nbsp;

“It’s essentially three different genomes coexisting in one,” Gill said. “It’s like three married people living in one house. Each can be independent, so that causes the problem. How do you sleep in one room without messing it up? Wheat is a very elegant genetic system.”&nbsp;

While hard to pick through, that complexity also makes wheat a more durable crop.&nbsp;

“This is called genetic buffering,” Gill said. “It’s almost like there are three soldiers or three genes. So, one goes out, the second one is there. The second goes out, the third one is there. Wheat can tolerate the extremes of environment because of this buffering caused by the redundancy of the genes.”&nbsp;

With this understanding of the origin and complexity of wheat - how does that relate to wheat breeding programs? Fast forward to 1979 when Gill did a postdoctoral fellowship at K-State and was first exposed to the genetic stocks used to map genes and breed wheat. He took that experience with him to his second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California-Riverside, where he was blown away by the genetic diversity of a collection of wild weeds.&nbsp;

Gill started to form a vision of a resource that would combine the two - a collection of wild wheat relatives with unlocked genetic potential and a wheat breeding program that could replicate Mother Nature’s process of pulling in traits to make better varieties for farmers to plant.&nbsp;

In 1980, Gill wrote a grant and flew on a small plane to Hutchinson, the then-headquarters of the Kansas Wheat Commission to pitch his idea.&nbsp;

“They had never funded K-State until then,” Gill said. “I presented my vision - we want to establish the Wheat Genetics Resource Center because that’s where we’re going next. A yield bump is going to come from this because of that genetic diversity. Nobody knew what wild wheats were in the Great Plains at that time. I said I know that this is where the next big evolution is.”&nbsp;

Backed by approval from K-State’s wheat breeder at the time, the commissioners agreed to provide the seed money. Gill gathered an initial collection of 500 genetic lines, including seeds from collections in Japan, Israel, Russia and other countries. He immediately dove into early projects identifying Hessian fly resistance and leaf rust resistance in lines of Aegilops tauschii (Tausch's goatgrass), which was relatively easy to cross into wheat.&nbsp;

“We are just doing what happened in nature,” Gill said. “That’s how bread wheat arose, so we are essentially repeating the same process except we’re doing it in the lab.”&nbsp;

Raupp has served as the curator of the Wheat Genetics Resource Center since August 1980. He noted the collection is up to about 4,200 lines, ranging from Aegilops tauschii which grows anywhere from Turkey to western China to one species that is only found in the Sinai peninsula of Egypt and a little bit into Israel.&nbsp;

It’s his job to maintain the stocks of this genetic material, making sure scientists and breeders have access to the seeds they need to complete projects. That doesn’t mean these seeds only sit in a gigantic refrigerator. To maintain their integrity, the seeds must be planted, grown either in a greenhouse or an outdoor plot and often hand-harvested to replenish seeds before they are no longer viable.&nbsp;

“While they’re easy to grow, they require a lot of time to clean and maintain,” Raupp said. “My biggest job is just maintaining the collection so we have enough seed on hand to provide the researchers so that they can do their work.”

Today, Raupp noted he annually fulfills about 100 different requests for those seeds from researchers in neighboring states to those in countries on the other side of the planet. Aided by modern research techniques like genetic sequencing and CRISPR, these researchers continue to unlock more of that ancient genetic potential to improve the wheat varieties of tomorrow - from sawfly resistance to higher protein content to how root morphologies aid drought resistance.&nbsp;

“It’s been a gold mine,” Harries said. “You go treasure hunting in this collection that you’ve created here. A lot of the traits that we have for stripe rust, leaf rust and viral traits all come from those wild wheat relatives. And that work is far from over.”&nbsp;

Learn more about wheat’s origin story and K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center by listening to the full “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast episode at&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001JuOekSeJQqvEsujwaZSZNxLe0ZyeBIEgstQoJpvLmFuUXIi29D2C02uDZ499BedEw7UHcLBpWTLslTbhkJdw5X3g96NAyiBolKzO5SNJTvA95NJFULCjpFVGT9lR8dAbhKRaBUBHKt52n3u7DvwBXuGjC4KCcJoj&amp;c=_vSML-JiDS3UeUXxIsJZG3AAvstNyFEni-W1wV9-9geQdUQVesCckA==&amp;ch=WLRsVm7FG9bLo0mk_PgAAcaCK9pwJOgM6DkI2ypFg5Rwy25VpvmPHA==" target="_blank">WheatsOnYourMind.com</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655426692793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatLong, long ago in a land far, far away, bread wheat came into existence. Researchers are still unlocking the secrets of the wild relatives of that ancient wheat to improve modern-day varieties - and a collection of seeds housed on Kimball Avenue in Manhattan is key to this work.&nbsp;Bikram Gill and John Raupp with K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center sat down with Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations, on a recent episode of the “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast to share wheat’s origin story and how the collection continues to provide valuable genetic resources for modern wheat breeding programs.&nbsp;To understand this potential, one must go way back to the origin of wheat as a species in the Fertile Crescent - where the crop helped start human civilization more than 10,000 years ago. At that time, wheat did not yet exist. It would take two major evolutionary events that mixed three different grass species to make the first bread wheat genome.&nbsp;The first stop on this timeline was the merger of two wild ancestors that resulted in the eventual creation of wild emmer wheat (genome formula AB).&nbsp;“As a species in nature, nature produced bread wheat around half a million years ago,” Gill said. “Two grasses, they happened to have fun. They hybridized - and that produced bread wheat.”&nbsp;The second stop on the timeline came more than 10,000 years ago when that wild emmer wheat was combined with an ancient goatgrass (genome formula D). That genetic mix resulted in the first crop cultivated by humankind.&nbsp;“In some farmer’s field, some goat grass hybridized with emmer wheat, which originated in Syria,” Gill said. “And that farmer was smart enough, he selected that plant. And that’s our bread wheat.”&nbsp;From there, Mother Nature kept mixing in wild wheat relatives to this new bread wheat - and farmers selected the most successful versions to plant again.&nbsp;“After wheat originated, these wild wheats kept cross-hybridizing with domesticated wheat,” Gill said. “There were no breeders, but nature was doing breeding for the first 10,000 years. They were cross-pollinating and farmers were selecting new types out of that.”&nbsp;This origin story is important because it explains why the wheat genome is so complex. Wheat is a hexaploid, meaning it has six sets of seven chromosomes. Most genes in wheat exist in three copies - one each from those A, B and D genomes. As a result, there are 16 billion DNA letters in the wheat genome - the human genome has three billion letters - meaning you could type out the genetic code of wheat in 12-point font and the type will go around the world.&nbsp;This triplication and redundancy make wheat very hard to genetically analyze.&nbsp;“It’s essentially three different genomes coexisting in one,” Gill said. “It’s like three married people living in one house. Each can be independent, so that causes the problem. How do you sleep in one room without messing it up? Wheat is a very elegant genetic system.”&nbsp;While hard to pick through, that complexity also makes wheat a more durable crop.&nbsp;“This is called genetic buffering,” Gill said. “It’s almost like there are three soldiers or three genes. So, one goes out, the second one is there. The second goes out, the third one is there. Wheat can tolerate the extremes of environment because of this buffering caused by the redundancy of the genes.”&nbsp;With this understanding of the origin and complexity of wheat - how does that relate to wheat breeding programs? Fast forward to 1979 when Gill did a postdoctoral fellowship at K-State and was first exposed to the genetic stocks used to map genes and breed wheat. He took that experience with him to his second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California-Riverside, where he was blown away by the genetic diversity of a collection of wild weeds.&nbsp;Gill started to form a vision of a resource that would combine the two - a collection of wild wheat relatives with unlocked genetic potential and a wheat breeding program that could replicate Mother Nature’s process of pulling in traits to make better varieties for farmers to plant.&nbsp;In 1980, Gill wrote a grant and flew on a small plane to Hutchinson, the then-headquarters of the Kansas Wheat Commission to pitch his idea.&nbsp;“They had never funded K-State until then,” Gill said. “I presented my vision - we want to establish the Wheat Genetics Resource Center because that’s where we’re going next. A yield bump is going to come from this because of that genetic diversity. Nobody knew what wild wheats were in the Great Plains at that time. I said I know that this is where the next big evolution is.”&nbsp;Backed by approval from K-State’s wheat breeder at the time, the commissioners agreed to provide the seed money. Gill gathered an initial collection of 500 genetic lines, including seeds from collections in Japan, Israel, Russia and other countries. He immediately dove into early projects identifying Hessian fly resistance and leaf rust resistance in lines of Aegilops tauschii (Tausch's goatgrass), which was relatively easy to cross into wheat.&nbsp;“We are just doing what happened in nature,” Gill said. “That’s how bread wheat arose, so we are essentially repeating the same process except we’re doing it in the lab.”&nbsp;Raupp has served as the curator of the Wheat Genetics Resource Center since August 1980. He noted the collection is up to about 4,200 lines, ranging from Aegilops tauschii which grows anywhere from Turkey to western China to one species that is only found in the Sinai peninsula of Egypt and a little bit into Israel.&nbsp;It’s his job to maintain the stocks of this genetic material, making sure scientists and breeders have access to the seeds they need to complete projects. That doesn’t mean these seeds only sit in a gigantic refrigerator. To maintain their integrity, the seeds must be planted, grown either in a greenhouse or an outdoor plot and often hand-harvested to replenish seeds before they are no longer viable.&nbsp;“While they’re easy to grow, they require a lot of time to clean and maintain,” Raupp said. “My biggest job is just maintaining the collection so we have enough seed on hand to provide the researchers so that they can do their work.”Today, Raupp noted he annually fulfills about 100 different requests for those seeds from researchers in neighboring states to those in countries on the other side of the planet. Aided by modern research techniques like genetic sequencing and CRISPR, these researchers continue to unlock more of that ancient genetic potential to improve the wheat varieties of tomorrow - from sawfly resistance to higher protein content to how root morphologies aid drought resistance.&nbsp;“It’s been a gold mine,” Harries said. “You go treasure hunting in this collection that you’ve created here. A lot of the traits that we have for stripe rust, leaf rust and viral traits all come from those wild wheat relatives. And that work is far from over.”&nbsp;Learn more about wheat’s origin story and K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center by listening to the full “Wheat’s on Your Mind” podcast episode at&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001JuOekSeJQqvEsujwaZSZNxLe0ZyeBIEgstQoJpvLmFuUXIi29D2C02uDZ499BedEw7UHcLBpWTLslTbhkJdw5X3g96NAyiBolKzO5SNJTvA95NJFULCjpFVGT9lR8dAbhKRaBUBHKt52n3u7DvwBXuGjC4KCcJoj&amp;c=_vSML-JiDS3UeUXxIsJZG3AAvstNyFEni-W1wV9-9geQdUQVesCckA==&amp;ch=WLRsVm7FG9bLo0mk_PgAAcaCK9pwJOgM6DkI2ypFg5Rwy25VpvmPHA==" target="_blank">WheatsOnYourMind.com</a>.&nbsp;

Wheat Scoop: Wheat's origin story

The Riley County Historical Museum has announced the retirement of long time Curator of Archives and Library, Linda Glasgow. She has worked for the Riley County Historical Museum for 32 years, and has recently announced her official retirement for this fall, October 1. 

Linda, we thank you for your service to the County and we are grateful for all of your contributions toward the recording and preservation of our community history."

The public can attend her retirement celebration on Friday, September 20 from 1-3pm on the grounds of the Goodnow House/Museum.&nbsp;

The Riley County Historical Museum has announced the retirement of long time Curator of Archives and Library, Linda Glasgow. She has worked for the Riley County Historical Museum for 32 years, and has recently announced her official retirement for this fall, October 1. Linda, we thank you for your service to the County and we are grateful for all of your contributions toward the recording and preservation of our community history."The public can attend her retirement celebration on Friday, September 20 from 1-3pm on the grounds of the Goodnow House/Museum.&nbsp;

Historical Society Curator of Archives and Library will retire

Authorities report that some clever criminals are trying to impersonate the EPA with fraudulent EPA Notice of Violation letters. The letters even include the EPA logo. Please note, official government organizations typically use a .gov domain, like <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fepa.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1JyInc76svI5M0LdEp3Sl8QSyf4VeEMhxyszqfOXjOPtW98AX2DMy7mPQ_aem_tbKVsDrFqKyM_8QyaQMwLg&amp;h=AT2J0JsV2dXme0KXaXyxP91rH78UDit6Eg2XlUYMdc1VWfQbxB5s_tr5fn-RwURoXdlAlRx2QiR4Y0x8OrlFmVXzusZc-Te9uYdLinGIlie0feg0buWVcpHhjMDRFv2BWmNy-jKWRbSHhKmSUqxi&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3FyoiNhJEQZ6N3vGwysQ7YNzEXNDrx2oWjzi06m1nA9UWdahCEyhP62zY42E_OHvQSRZJ1lfzGyyZ2XY4lZWEGH5zCUzh9gOtzqdmAGcKF8qRmhxJ-2lxcjWLAfydSxoPGOOYvZmZiI0LfggQZg8so7TGsuure6uEaS2VDqAxUdbWvKGeIDNRLHvT-jH_-xfFTTaysz1BZGntz6QnxpkHPOaL3h3QfYGcr" target="_blank">epa.gov</a> and <a href="http://rileycountyks.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1B-D_P9354AYCkAQHr6r58dcYx1Qm1vp7gPapcH2Mrt56r0gUjX0Z0DIM_aem_IG24q4iCCi-BeOssSndmCA" target="_blank">rileycountyks.gov.</a> The .gov domains are only available to U.S. government organizations. If you receive a violation notice, you are encouraged to contact the EPA directly to verify authenticity.

The notice was listed on social media via Riley County.

You can report fraud involving the EPA by calling ( 888 ) 546-8740.

Authorities report that some clever criminals are trying to impersonate the EPA with fraudulent EPA Notice of Violation letters. The letters even include the EPA logo. Please note, official government organizations typically use a .gov domain, like <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fepa.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1JyInc76svI5M0LdEp3Sl8QSyf4VeEMhxyszqfOXjOPtW98AX2DMy7mPQ_aem_tbKVsDrFqKyM_8QyaQMwLg&amp;h=AT2J0JsV2dXme0KXaXyxP91rH78UDit6Eg2XlUYMdc1VWfQbxB5s_tr5fn-RwURoXdlAlRx2QiR4Y0x8OrlFmVXzusZc-Te9uYdLinGIlie0feg0buWVcpHhjMDRFv2BWmNy-jKWRbSHhKmSUqxi&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3FyoiNhJEQZ6N3vGwysQ7YNzEXNDrx2oWjzi06m1nA9UWdahCEyhP62zY42E_OHvQSRZJ1lfzGyyZ2XY4lZWEGH5zCUzh9gOtzqdmAGcKF8qRmhxJ-2lxcjWLAfydSxoPGOOYvZmZiI0LfggQZg8so7TGsuure6uEaS2VDqAxUdbWvKGeIDNRLHvT-jH_-xfFTTaysz1BZGntz6QnxpkHPOaL3h3QfYGcr" target="_blank">epa.gov</a> and <a href="http://rileycountyks.gov/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1B-D_P9354AYCkAQHr6r58dcYx1Qm1vp7gPapcH2Mrt56r0gUjX0Z0DIM_aem_IG24q4iCCi-BeOssSndmCA" target="_blank">rileycountyks.gov.</a> The .gov domains are only available to U.S. government organizations. If you receive a violation notice, you are encouraged to contact the EPA directly to verify authenticity.The notice was listed on social media via Riley County.You can report fraud involving the EPA by calling ( 888 ) 546-8740.

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