RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Tuesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a vehicle pulled out in front of a motorcycle driven by 61-year-old Rick Runion in the 500 Block of&nbsp;&nbsp;Fort Riley Blvd. 

This caused Runion to make an evasive maneuver which resulted in him downing his motorcycle.&nbsp; EMS transported Runion was transported to Via Christi&nbsp; for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Tuesday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a vehicle pulled out in front of a motorcycle driven by 61-year-old Rick Runion in the 500 Block of&nbsp;&nbsp;Fort Riley Blvd. This caused Runion to make an evasive maneuver which resulted in him downing his motorcycle.&nbsp; EMS transported Runion was transported to Via Christi&nbsp; for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Motorcyclist injured in Riley County accident

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports.

“USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement.

In total, 66 organizations will be funded under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, or RAPP. The USDA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fas.usda.gov/programs/regional-agricultural-promotion-program">launched</a>&nbsp;the $1.4 billion program in October in order to develop new export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond the traditional partnerships with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and China.

“What this program really provides is an opportunity for us not only to expand geographically the opportunities for trade, but also the products that can be made available,” Vilsack said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to diversify in a variety of different ways to grow market opportunity.”

The program focuses on tapping U.S. exports into new markets in regions such as South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

“When you have the major markets, as we’ve had, where 60 to 65% of what we export goes into four or five markets, that can create a sense of complacency,” Vilsack said.

Vilsack said the funding would be an important step in building wealth in rural areas of the United States.

“We want to make sure our foreign-market development programs and agricultural trade in general work for the full spectrum of American agricultural producers, regardless of their size, their location, their product or target market,” he said. “By investing in exports, we’re investing in the future of American agriculture and rural communities.”

Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who leads the Senate Committee on Agriculture, joined the call with reporters. She said that USDA investing in exports is crucial to growing American agriculture.

“The bottom line is (to) create new revenue for the folks that have the riskiest business in the world,” Stabenow said. “This is a really important way to support them.”

According to a list provided by the USDA, some of the grant recipients include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716210763832.png" alt="Photo USDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports.“USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement.In total, 66 organizations will be funded under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, or RAPP. The USDA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fas.usda.gov/programs/regional-agricultural-promotion-program">launched</a>&nbsp;the $1.4 billion program in October in order to develop new export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products beyond the traditional partnerships with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and China.“What this program really provides is an opportunity for us not only to expand geographically the opportunities for trade, but also the products that can be made available,” Vilsack said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to diversify in a variety of different ways to grow market opportunity.”The program focuses on tapping U.S. exports into new markets in regions such as South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.“When you have the major markets, as we’ve had, where 60 to 65% of what we export goes into four or five markets, that can create a sense of complacency,” Vilsack said.<h2>‘The riskiest business in the world’</h2>Vilsack said the funding would be an important step in building wealth in rural areas of the United States.“We want to make sure our foreign-market development programs and agricultural trade in general work for the full spectrum of American agricultural producers, regardless of their size, their location, their product or target market,” he said. “By investing in exports, we’re investing in the future of American agriculture and rural communities.”Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who leads the Senate Committee on Agriculture, joined the call with reporters. She said that USDA investing in exports is crucial to growing American agriculture.“The bottom line is (to) create new revenue for the folks that have the riskiest business in the world,” Stabenow said. “This is a really important way to support them.”According to a list provided by the USDA, some of the grant recipients include:<ul>
 <li>The Hazelnut Marketing Board in Oregon and Washington state will receive $455,000 to conduct market research and trade missions in several countries in Africa.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The U.S. Dairy Export Council, based in Virginia, will receive $10 million to expand its presence in Africa by using the funds to study and develop dairy import regulations and regulatory frameworks in those markets.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The U.S. Meat Export Federation based in Colorado will be awarded $21 million to expand its export efforts to new markets throughout Africa. It will also expand its investment in the convenience-store industry in South Korea, Central America and Colombia.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Brewers Association in Colorado will be awarded $2 million to partake in the craft beer scene in Southeast Asia, by participating in the region’s premier brewing trade show and festival and bring buyers from that region to top trade shows in the US.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Cranberry Institute in Massachusetts will receive $1 million to conduct trade education seminars and other events to identify opportunities in India, Brazil, Colombia and Southeast Asia.</li>
 </ul>

USDA to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a Dodge Journey driven by Lojean Oleen, 80, Dwight, Kansas, failed to stop at a red light in the 1100 block of Poyntz Ave.

The SUV struck a Honda Civic driven by Benjamin Nyberg, 91, Manhattan.

EMS transported Oleen to Via Christi for treatment. The RCPD&nbsp;cited for failure to stop at the red light.&nbsp; Nyberg was not injured.

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Tuesday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a Dodge Journey driven by Lojean Oleen, 80, Dwight, Kansas, failed to stop at a red light in the 1100 block of Poyntz Ave.The SUV struck a Honda Civic driven by Benjamin Nyberg, 91, Manhattan.EMS transported Oleen to Via Christi for treatment. The RCPD&nbsp;cited for failure to stop at the red light.&nbsp; Nyberg was not injured.

Kan. woman hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN - City of Manhattan's Senior Planner, Ben Chmiel gives an overview of the Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan, which goes before the <a href="https://www.cityofmhk.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=9194">Manhattan City Commission for the second reading on Tuesday, May 21.</a>

More information about the <a href="https://cityofmhk.com/3160/Beyond-Tomorrow-Downtown-Plan">Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan can be found here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716323890357.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>by BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - City of Manhattan's Senior Planner, Ben Chmiel gives an overview of the Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan, which goes before the <a href="https://www.cityofmhk.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=9194">Manhattan City Commission for the second reading on Tuesday, May 21.</a><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U6-6CqtW1r0?si=Yn-WcepeFqGrj2di" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>More information about the <a href="https://cityofmhk.com/3160/Beyond-Tomorrow-Downtown-Plan">Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan can be found here.</a>

Second reading of the Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan presented at MHK City Commission meeting

By BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

MANHATTAN - On Tuesday, May 21st, Winfried(Wynn) Butler, former mayor of the city of Manhattan, made <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/3b983dcc-7663-43b1-8898-59c00fd570da">his first appearance at Manhattan Municipal Court for alleged DUI</a>.

Butler appeared in court with his lawyer. Butler pled not guilty to the charge of <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/73dca288-9ecb-43c8-a9d3-bf22b0b2f5e0">driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;.</a>

Butler is charged with DUI following an incident on May 8th, when his vehicle entered Candlewood Liquor store.

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/1eb1632e-ed16-4249-a414-541d6af70f9e">Butler resigned from his position as mayor</a> on May 9th, following his arrest.

Butler's next court appearance is Wednesday, June 26th at 4:00pm at the <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvK7sAk4m8KrEvFq7">Manhattan Municipal Court</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716305106763.png" alt="Winfried(Wynn) Butler waiting outside Manhattan Municipal Court, photo submitted by community member" />
 <figcaption>Winfried(Wynn) Butler waiting outside Manhattan Municipal Court, photo submitted by community member</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - On Tuesday, May 21st, Winfried(Wynn) Butler, former mayor of the city of Manhattan, made <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/3b983dcc-7663-43b1-8898-59c00fd570da">his first appearance at Manhattan Municipal Court for alleged DUI</a>.Butler appeared in court with his lawyer. Butler pled not guilty to the charge of <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/73dca288-9ecb-43c8-a9d3-bf22b0b2f5e0">driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;.</a>Butler is charged with DUI following an incident on May 8th, when his vehicle entered Candlewood Liquor store.<a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/1eb1632e-ed16-4249-a414-541d6af70f9e">Butler resigned from his position as mayor</a> on May 9th, following his arrest.Butler's next court appearance is Wednesday, June 26th at 4:00pm at the <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/mvK7sAk4m8KrEvFq7">Manhattan Municipal Court</a>.&nbsp;

Former MHK mayor pleads Not Guilty to DUI charges from May 8th incident

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $3.5 million will be awarded to 13 projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Innovative Technology Program. The program makes investments that improve safety, access, or mobility and implement new transportation technology.&nbsp;

“My administration is delivering technological advancements&nbsp;to increase transportation safety in every corner of the state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Through collaboration with local entities, this investment supports innovative transportation improvements in rural and urban communities.”&nbsp;

All transportation system projects are eligible for Innovative Technology funding. Examples of projects selected for technology upgrades in this round include aviation and rail upgrades, traffic engineering and school zone enhancements, and truck simulators for CDL (commercial driver’s license) program expansion.&nbsp;

State funding for the 13 projects will be enhanced by a minimum 25% local match from each recipient, resulting in a total innovative technology investment of more than $5.3 million. The program is part of the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE.

“New and emerging technologies offer the potential for a safer, more efficient transportation system,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “This latest round of Innovative Technology projects demonstrates how Kansas communities are proactively turning to technology to improve operations for now and the future.”&nbsp;

KDOT - Awarded Innovative Technology Projects

Advanced UAS Flight Operations and Simulation Center Kansas State University-Salina Saline County Amount: $1,000,000

Rail Freight Bulk Scale Bestifor Republic County Amount: $959,925

Clean-Agent Fire Suppression System Salina Regional Airport Saline County Amount: $900,000

Truck Simulators for CDL Program Expansion Seward County Community College Seward County Amount: $335,625

Safety View Software Application City of Overland Park Johnson County: $131,249

Traffic Signal Battery Back-Ups City of Great Bend Barton County Amount: $58,802

El Dorado Street Condition Assessment with AI City of El Dorado Butler County: $52,500

Replace School Crossing Lights and Signage City of Rossville Shawnee Amount: $21,000

Noninvasive Barrier Repair Lightweight System Kansas State University Riley County: $18,682

Jet Plain Road Runner Road Grader Trailer Greeley County Amount: $14,437

Digital Speed Sign City of Olsburg Pottawatomie County Amount: $7,500

Radar Speed Sign City of Valley Falls Jefferson County Amount: $6,217

School Zone Sign Enhancement Pottawatomie County Amount: $6,000

Total Amount:&nbsp; &nbsp;$3,511,937

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701368603184.png" alt="KDOT" />
 <figcaption>KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedGovernor Laura Kelly announced today that $3.5 million will be awarded to 13 projects through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Innovative Technology Program. The program makes investments that improve safety, access, or mobility and implement new transportation technology.&nbsp;“My administration is delivering technological advancements&nbsp;to increase transportation safety in every corner of the state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Through collaboration with local entities, this investment supports innovative transportation improvements in rural and urban communities.”&nbsp;All transportation system projects are eligible for Innovative Technology funding. Examples of projects selected for technology upgrades in this round include aviation and rail upgrades, traffic engineering and school zone enhancements, and truck simulators for CDL (commercial driver’s license) program expansion.&nbsp;State funding for the 13 projects will be enhanced by a minimum 25% local match from each recipient, resulting in a total innovative technology investment of more than $5.3 million. The program is part of the Kelly administration’s bipartisan 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE.“New and emerging technologies offer the potential for a safer, more efficient transportation system,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “This latest round of Innovative Technology projects demonstrates how Kansas communities are proactively turning to technology to improve operations for now and the future.”&nbsp;<h2>KDOT - Awarded Innovative Technology Projects</h2>Advanced UAS Flight Operations and Simulation Center Kansas State University-Salina Saline County Amount: $1,000,000Rail Freight Bulk Scale Bestifor Republic County Amount: $959,925Clean-Agent Fire Suppression System Salina Regional Airport Saline County Amount: $900,000Truck Simulators for CDL Program Expansion Seward County Community College Seward County Amount: $335,625Safety View Software Application City of Overland Park Johnson County: $131,249Traffic Signal Battery Back-Ups City of Great Bend Barton County Amount: $58,802El Dorado Street Condition Assessment with AI City of El Dorado Butler County: $52,500Replace School Crossing Lights and Signage City of Rossville Shawnee Amount: $21,000Noninvasive Barrier Repair Lightweight System Kansas State University Riley County: $18,682Jet Plain Road Runner Road Grader Trailer Greeley County Amount: $14,437Digital Speed Sign City of Olsburg Pottawatomie County Amount: $7,500Radar Speed Sign City of Valley Falls Jefferson County Amount: $6,217School Zone Sign Enhancement Pottawatomie County Amount: $6,000Total Amount:&nbsp; &nbsp;$3,511,937

Gov. Kelly announces more than $1.5M in local innovation technology programs

K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee says food safety&nbsp;needs to be&nbsp;part of summer parties, especially when those get-togethers involve grilling food outdoors.

Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says food safety&nbsp;needs to be&nbsp;part of summer parties, especially when those get-togethers involve grilling food outdoors.

“To start with,”&nbsp;she said,&nbsp;“wash your hands.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;the No. 1 step before you start handling any food, and then&nbsp;wash them again&nbsp;after&nbsp;you’ve&nbsp;handled any&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;raw meat.”

Much like&nbsp;cooking food indoors, home chefs need to keep a food thermometer close at hand, Blakeslee said. For meat, there are three temperatures that consumers should store&nbsp;to&nbsp;memory:

⦁ 145&nbsp;degrees Fahrenheit for steaks, roasts, chops, fish and other whole cuts of meat.

⦁ 160 F for ground meat, including beef, pork and lamb.

Those temperatures include&nbsp;products that&nbsp;are smoked, cooked on a grill or indoors. The recommended temperatures relate to the internal temperature of the meat.&nbsp;

“Without a food thermometer,&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;very subjective”&nbsp;as to whether the meat&nbsp;is&nbsp;cooked&nbsp;properly, Blakeslee said.&nbsp;Judging doneness by color or pressing the meat with your finger&nbsp;are&nbsp;also subjective, she noted.

To&nbsp;more accurately measure for doneness, insert the&nbsp;tip of the thermometer&nbsp;into the center of the meat.&nbsp;With a digital thermometer, the&nbsp;temperature sensor is normally in the tip, so&nbsp;those&nbsp;can be inserted into the top of the meat product.

“But the ideal way to do it – like with a hamburger – is to insert it from the side,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“That is the best way to reach the center of the product.”

A thermometer with a dial display is another option.&nbsp;

“If you look on the stem of a dial face thermometer, there should be a dimple, about halfway up the stem. Insert this type of thermometer into the food so that the little dimple gets into the meat product&nbsp;to get&nbsp;an accurate measurement,"&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;

Keep meat cold until&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;ready to use&nbsp;it

Resist the temptation to let meat sit on a counter for long&nbsp;periods of time.&nbsp;“You could let it warm up a little bit (before cooking) – about 30 minutes. But please refrain from letting it sit out for hours. That invites any bacteria&nbsp;that could be&nbsp;on the meat to start growing, and cooking may not destroy all of the bacteria.”

Freeze meat that&nbsp;won’t&nbsp;be used&nbsp;soon after you buy it

If planning an event, consider buying meat 2-3 days before cooking it. Otherwise, Blakeslee said,&nbsp;“you need to freeze it.”

Frozen meat&nbsp;is best thawed&nbsp;in the refrigerator, not on a countertop.&nbsp;“Plan&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;for thawing,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“The amount of thawing time&nbsp;you’ll&nbsp;need depends on the size of your meat product.”

Steaks can typically be thawed&nbsp;in a refrigerator in 24 hours. A brisket might take 3-4&nbsp;days

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods&nbsp;cold

Side dishes are usually cold foods; keep them in a refrigerator until&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;ready to serve them. Ice chests are handy for chilling side dishes. Cold foods should be kept at 40 F or lower, while&nbsp;hot foods should be&nbsp;kept&nbsp;at 140 F or higher.

Store food and eat leftovers&nbsp;promptly

Store food within 1-2 hours of serving them. Foods should be divided into shallow containers and placed in the refrigerator.&nbsp;

“Today’s&nbsp;refrigerators are very efficient, so you do not need to set them on the counter until they cool,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.

Leftovers should be eaten&nbsp;within 3-4&nbsp;days,&nbsp;otherwise&nbsp;transferred to the freezer for later use.&nbsp;“We all need to work better at reducing food waste,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“One way to do that is managing leftovers. Leftovers are great; they make an easy lunch or quick supper, or you can re-purpose them into a completely different meal.”

Blakeslee said mayonnaise often gets a bad rap for being a food safety concern, but the&nbsp;popular&nbsp;dressing is high in acid and can fend for itself.

“Mayonnaise is not the problem,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“It’s&nbsp;what you mix into the mayonnaise&nbsp;that&nbsp;can be the problem.&nbsp;Cooked&nbsp;potatoes,&nbsp;hard boiled&nbsp;eggs…those are the ingredients that need refrigeration to reduce food safety risks.j

“The mayonnaise is just holding the mixture together and adds flavor,”&nbsp;she adds.&nbsp;“So, give mayonnaise a break.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;how you handle the rest of the ingredients in the potato salad that&nbsp;really&nbsp;matters.”

Blakeslee publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter/">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on being safe and healthy. More information is also available from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices in Kansas.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716304523390.png" alt="Ground meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, measured with a food thermometer, said K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee. Image Courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Ground meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, measured with a food thermometer, said K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee. Image Courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research Extension&nbsp;K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee says food safety&nbsp;needs to be&nbsp;part of summer parties, especially when those get-togethers involve grilling food outdoors.Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says food safety&nbsp;needs to be&nbsp;part of summer parties, especially when those get-togethers involve grilling food outdoors.“To start with,”&nbsp;she said,&nbsp;“wash your hands.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;the No. 1 step before you start handling any food, and then&nbsp;wash them again&nbsp;after&nbsp;you’ve&nbsp;handled any&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;raw meat.”Much like&nbsp;cooking food indoors, home chefs need to keep a food thermometer close at hand, Blakeslee said. For meat, there are three temperatures that consumers should store&nbsp;to&nbsp;memory:⦁ 145&nbsp;degrees Fahrenheit for steaks, roasts, chops, fish and other whole cuts of meat.⦁ 160 F for ground meat, including beef, pork and lamb.⦁ 165 F for all types of poultryThose temperatures include&nbsp;products that&nbsp;are smoked, cooked on a grill or indoors. The recommended temperatures relate to the internal temperature of the meat.&nbsp;“Without a food thermometer,&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;very subjective”&nbsp;as to whether the meat&nbsp;is&nbsp;cooked&nbsp;properly, Blakeslee said.&nbsp;Judging doneness by color or pressing the meat with your finger&nbsp;are&nbsp;also subjective, she noted.To&nbsp;more accurately measure for doneness, insert the&nbsp;tip of the thermometer&nbsp;into the center of the meat.&nbsp;With a digital thermometer, the&nbsp;temperature sensor is normally in the tip, so&nbsp;those&nbsp;can be inserted into the top of the meat product.“But the ideal way to do it – like with a hamburger – is to insert it from the side,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“That is the best way to reach the center of the product.”A thermometer with a dial display is another option.&nbsp;“If you look on the stem of a dial face thermometer, there should be a dimple, about halfway up the stem. Insert this type of thermometer into the food so that the little dimple gets into the meat product&nbsp;to get&nbsp;an accurate measurement,"&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;<h2>Some food safety tips Blakeslee offers:</h2>Keep meat cold until&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;ready to use&nbsp;itResist the temptation to let meat sit on a counter for long&nbsp;periods of time.&nbsp;“You could let it warm up a little bit (before cooking) – about 30 minutes. But please refrain from letting it sit out for hours. That invites any bacteria&nbsp;that could be&nbsp;on the meat to start growing, and cooking may not destroy all of the bacteria.”Freeze meat that&nbsp;won’t&nbsp;be used&nbsp;soon after you buy itIf planning an event, consider buying meat 2-3 days before cooking it. Otherwise, Blakeslee said,&nbsp;“you need to freeze it.”Frozen meat&nbsp;is best thawed&nbsp;in the refrigerator, not on a countertop.&nbsp;“Plan&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;for thawing,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“The amount of thawing time&nbsp;you’ll&nbsp;need depends on the size of your meat product.”Steaks can typically be thawed&nbsp;in a refrigerator in 24 hours. A brisket might take 3-4&nbsp;daysKeep hot foods hot and cold foods&nbsp;coldSide dishes are usually cold foods; keep them in a refrigerator until&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;ready to serve them. Ice chests are handy for chilling side dishes. Cold foods should be kept at 40 F or lower, while&nbsp;hot foods should be&nbsp;kept&nbsp;at 140 F or higher.Store food and eat leftovers&nbsp;promptlyStore food within 1-2 hours of serving them. Foods should be divided into shallow containers and placed in the refrigerator.&nbsp;“Today’s&nbsp;refrigerators are very efficient, so you do not need to set them on the counter until they cool,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.Leftovers should be eaten&nbsp;within 3-4&nbsp;days,&nbsp;otherwise&nbsp;transferred to the freezer for later use.&nbsp;“We all need to work better at reducing food waste,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“One way to do that is managing leftovers. Leftovers are great; they make an easy lunch or quick supper, or you can re-purpose them into a completely different meal.”‘Give Mayo a Break’Blakeslee said mayonnaise often gets a bad rap for being a food safety concern, but the&nbsp;popular&nbsp;dressing is high in acid and can fend for itself.“Mayonnaise is not the problem,”&nbsp;Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“It’s&nbsp;what you mix into the mayonnaise&nbsp;that&nbsp;can be the problem.&nbsp;Cooked&nbsp;potatoes,&nbsp;hard boiled&nbsp;eggs…those are the ingredients that need refrigeration to reduce food safety risks.j“The mayonnaise is just holding the mixture together and adds flavor,”&nbsp;she adds.&nbsp;“So, give mayonnaise a break.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;how you handle the rest of the ingredients in the potato salad that&nbsp;really&nbsp;matters.”Blakeslee publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter/">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on being safe and healthy. More information is also available from&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices in Kansas.</a>

Grillin' and Chillin'? Remember food safety, says K-State expert

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.&nbsp;

MEGAN MARIE UNDERWOOD, 30, Manhattan, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; Bond $750

JADA JEAN EDMOND, 16, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Processed through North Central Kansas Juvenile Intake

RYAN TIMOTHY INGLETT, 38, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $1,000

JAYDEN JAQUESE TUCKER, 14, Manhattan, Aggravated battery; Knowingly use physical contact in angry/rude manner w/weapon; Processed through North Central Kansas Juvenile Intake

LANDEN RILEY BEARCE, 21, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $158

ANDREW BRADLEY DEPUY, 27, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Bond $2,000

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.&nbsp;MEGAN MARIE UNDERWOOD, 30, Manhattan, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol; 1st conv; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; Bond $750JADA JEAN EDMOND, 16, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Processed through North Central Kansas Juvenile IntakeRYAN TIMOTHY INGLETT, 38, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $1,000JAYDEN JAQUESE TUCKER, 14, Manhattan, Aggravated battery; Knowingly use physical contact in angry/rude manner w/weapon; Processed through North Central Kansas Juvenile IntakeLANDEN RILEY BEARCE, 21, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $158ANDREW BRADLEY DEPUY, 27, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Bond $2,000

Riley County Arrest Report May 21

MANHATTAN — They all came for different reasons and from different sources of inspiration, but the end goal was the same — to help people with broken noses, bacterial infections and any other number of medical maladies.As the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/academics/pa/">physician assistant studies program</a>&nbsp;finishes 27 months of intensive classroom and clinical training, its students are excited to make a difference in treating acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, especially in areas that face health care shortages."Our first cohort set the standard for the program," said Gwen Ferdinand-Jacob, director of the program and a physician assistant herself. "They helped us learn how to best teach students and prepare them for jobs as physician assistants."

K-State's physician assistant graduates are trained to meet common medical needs

K-State's physician assistant program began as a concept several years ago when the university saw a statewide need for more health care providers.Out of Kansas' 105 counties, more than 60 are medically underserved under the state's standard for primary medical care, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1525/List-of-Governor-Designated-Medically-Underserved-Areas-PDF">the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's latest&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1525/List-of-Governor-Designated-Medically-Underserved-Areas-PDF">&nbsp;.</a>A physician assistant studies program was identified as a way to develop medical providers who may not have the advanced knowledge of physicians but would still undergo intense medical training to complete most tasks while still being under the supervision of a fully credentialed physician.Think someone who could help "relieve, but not replace, the doctor role, especially as there's always been physician shortages," said Amy Fitzgerald, academic director for the program and a physician assistant."We're trained in the common," Fitzgerald said. "That's not to say we're not trained in the uncommon, but our goal — and that of most other PA programs — is to train broadly and teach responses to those common injuries and illnesses you'll run into."

K-State's physician assistant studies program started in January 2022 as a 27-month graduate-level program in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/">College of Health and Human Sciences</a>, split between 12 months of deep classroom education — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every single weekday — and 15 months of clinical experience at various sites around the region.Even in the classroom learning portion of their training, the students had the chance to receive hands-on experience with trauma patient simulators in mock exam rooms and virtual 3D anatomical dissection tables.Many physician assistants work in family practice environments, but some may further specialize by pursuing careers in fields such as interventional radiology, cardiothoracic surgery and neurosurgery, among others.Besides the medical training, then, the K-State physician assistant program's instructors focused on teaching students to approach their jobs with professionalism and empathy for their patients, said Ferdinand-Jacob."It's easy to teach the science, because that is often either right or wrong," Ferdinand-Jacob said. "It can be difficult to teach the compassion and care needed to excel as a PA, but this cohort has really developed and grown in those skills these past 27 months."Tavi Garcia, a physician assistant student from a small farm town in&nbsp;Jalisco, Mexico, said he appreciated the smaller class sizes and one-on-one opportunities he had with professors.It's learning he'll take with him as he prepares to work at a health center in rural Idaho after passing his national boards."Through the program, I learned how to really work well with patients and recognize what I could do to help them medically," Garcia said. "I also really loved the focus we had on working with underserved populations, especially here in Kansas."

More health care provider relief is in the K-State pipeline

Now that the initial cohort of physician assistant students has graduated, a second cohort of 40 students is completing clinicals, while the third cohort of 44 students — the program's target size going forward — started classroom instruction in January.While the first cohort has completed their education, the 35 students are preparing to take their national certification exams in the coming weeks. That certification will allow them to obtain their medical licenses in whichever state or jurisdiction they hope to practice in.At any rate, many of the graduates already have jobs lined up contingent on their certification, Fitzgerald said. The initial goal in recruiting students to the program was to get at least 20% from Kansas, since they would be more likely to remain in the state.The program is up to about 50% now, though, and even out-of-state students are seeing opportunities in the Sunflower State.

"Our approach, initially, was thinking that most students would have to be from Kansas to want to stay in Kansas," Fitzgerald said. "But that hasn't necessarily turned out to be true, and many of our students are thinking that maybe they too could stay and work in communities around the state."Taylor Niermeier, a physician assistant student from Gove who graduated this spring, plans to return to northwest Kansas, where she has a tentative job with a local health care provider.Niermeier said she is proud to have helped set a standard for the physician assistant program as a member of its inaugural cohort."As a class, we were able to help change and mold the program to fit the needs of students," she said. "We worked with faculty to make this program successful, and we were able to make an impact by bettering the profession and helping it grow."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716299783845.png" alt="Michael Loree, left, and Grayson Bingham practice their examination skills on "Hal Jr.," an advanced patient simulator. The K-State physician assistant program also has adult and infant-sized patient simulators that allow students to practice various medical skills, including airway management, IV placement and trauma treatment, among others. " />
 <figcaption>Michael Loree, left, and Grayson Bingham practice their examination skills on "Hal Jr.," an advanced patient simulator. The K-State physician assistant program also has adult and infant-sized patient simulators that allow students to practice various medical skills, including airway management, IV placement and trauma treatment, among others. </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Rafael GarciaMANHATTAN — They all came for different reasons and from different sources of inspiration, but the end goal was the same — to help people with broken noses, bacterial infections and any other number of medical maladies.As the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/academics/pa/">physician assistant studies program</a>&nbsp;finishes 27 months of intensive classroom and clinical training, its students are excited to make a difference in treating acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, especially in areas that face health care shortages."Our first cohort set the standard for the program," said Gwen Ferdinand-Jacob, director of the program and a physician assistant herself. "They helped us learn how to best teach students and prepare them for jobs as physician assistants."<h2>K-State's physician assistant graduates are trained to meet common medical needs</h2>K-State's physician assistant program began as a concept several years ago when the university saw a statewide need for more health care providers.Out of Kansas' 105 counties, more than 60 are medically underserved under the state's standard for primary medical care, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1525/List-of-Governor-Designated-Medically-Underserved-Areas-PDF">the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's latest&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1525/List-of-Governor-Designated-Medically-Underserved-Areas-PDF">&nbsp;.</a>A physician assistant studies program was identified as a way to develop medical providers who may not have the advanced knowledge of physicians but would still undergo intense medical training to complete most tasks while still being under the supervision of a fully credentialed physician.Think someone who could help "relieve, but not replace, the doctor role, especially as there's always been physician shortages," said Amy Fitzgerald, academic director for the program and a physician assistant."We're trained in the common," Fitzgerald said. "That's not to say we're not trained in the uncommon, but our goal — and that of most other PA programs — is to train broadly and teach responses to those common injuries and illnesses you'll run into."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716299869416.png" alt="Alexa Tkachuck, a member of the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's physician assistant studies program, reviews anatomy using the vertical Anatomage table. The interactive anatomical dissection table allows students to simulate and examine various types of health issues on virtual bodies. " />
 <figcaption>Alexa Tkachuck, a member of the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's physician assistant studies program, reviews anatomy using the vertical Anatomage table. The interactive anatomical dissection table allows students to simulate and examine various types of health issues on virtual bodies. </figcaption>
 </figure>K-State's physician assistant studies program started in January 2022 as a 27-month graduate-level program in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.k-state.edu/">College of Health and Human Sciences</a>, split between 12 months of deep classroom education — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every single weekday — and 15 months of clinical experience at various sites around the region.Even in the classroom learning portion of their training, the students had the chance to receive hands-on experience with trauma patient simulators in mock exam rooms and virtual 3D anatomical dissection tables.Many physician assistants work in family practice environments, but some may further specialize by pursuing careers in fields such as interventional radiology, cardiothoracic surgery and neurosurgery, among others.Besides the medical training, then, the K-State physician assistant program's instructors focused on teaching students to approach their jobs with professionalism and empathy for their patients, said Ferdinand-Jacob."It's easy to teach the science, because that is often either right or wrong," Ferdinand-Jacob said. "It can be difficult to teach the compassion and care needed to excel as a PA, but this cohort has really developed and grown in those skills these past 27 months."Tavi Garcia, a physician assistant student from a small farm town in&nbsp;Jalisco, Mexico, said he appreciated the smaller class sizes and one-on-one opportunities he had with professors.It's learning he'll take with him as he prepares to work at a health center in rural Idaho after passing his national boards."Through the program, I learned how to really work well with patients and recognize what I could do to help them medically," Garcia said. "I also really loved the focus we had on working with underserved populations, especially here in Kansas."<h2>More health care provider relief is in the K-State pipeline</h2>Now that the initial cohort of physician assistant students has graduated, a second cohort of 40 students is completing clinicals, while the third cohort of 44 students — the program's target size going forward — started classroom instruction in January.While the first cohort has completed their education, the 35 students are preparing to take their national certification exams in the coming weeks. That certification will allow them to obtain their medical licenses in whichever state or jurisdiction they hope to practice in.At any rate, many of the graduates already have jobs lined up contingent on their certification, Fitzgerald said. The initial goal in recruiting students to the program was to get at least 20% from Kansas, since they would be more likely to remain in the state.The program is up to about 50% now, though, and even out-of-state students are seeing opportunities in the Sunflower State.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716299906302.png" alt="Taylor Niemeier, a member of the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's physician assistant studies program, practices examination skills on Swathi Punreddy, another member of the cohort. Students learn about and practice hands-on examination skills during the first 12 months of the 27-month program. " />
 <figcaption>Taylor Niemeier, a member of the inaugural cohort of Kansas State University's physician assistant studies program, practices examination skills on Swathi Punreddy, another member of the cohort. Students learn about and practice hands-on examination skills during the first 12 months of the 27-month program. </figcaption>
 </figure>"Our approach, initially, was thinking that most students would have to be from Kansas to want to stay in Kansas," Fitzgerald said. "But that hasn't necessarily turned out to be true, and many of our students are thinking that maybe they too could stay and work in communities around the state."Taylor Niermeier, a physician assistant student from Gove who graduated this spring, plans to return to northwest Kansas, where she has a tentative job with a local health care provider.Niermeier said she is proud to have helped set a standard for the physician assistant program as a member of its inaugural cohort."As a class, we were able to help change and mold the program to fit the needs of students," she said. "We worked with faculty to make this program successful, and we were able to make an impact by bettering the profession and helping it grow."

Kansas needs health care providers. KSU's first physician assistant cohort is stepping up

CLAY COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Monday in Clay County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner semi driven by Omar Meza Martinez, 23, Wichita, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas 15 just south of 25th Road.

The vehicle entered the east ditch, rolled once and came to rest on its wheels. EMS transported Martinez to Salina Regional Health Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CLAY COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Monday in Clay County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner semi driven by Omar Meza Martinez, 23, Wichita, was&nbsp; northbound on Kansas 15 just south of 25th Road.The vehicle entered the east ditch, rolled once and came to rest on its wheels. EMS transported Martinez to Salina Regional Health Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after semi rolls

TREVOR MCKINZIE SMITH, 26, Conway Springs,&nbsp;Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt; 450 grams; Distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant; 3.5 - &lt;100 grams; Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt; 450 grams; Distribute substance in 65-4105(h); Dose 10 - &lt; 100 units; Distribute substance in 65-4105(h); Dose 10 - &lt; 100 units; Distribute substance in KSA 65-4105(h); &lt; 3.5 grams; Use communication facility; In the commission of a felony drug violation; Use communication facility; In the commission of a felony drug violation; Bond $8,000

MATTHEW KENNETH DE ANGELIS, 35, Manhattan, Failure to appear; Remains confined to Riley County Jail

ANGELO NATHANAEL GARCIA, 22, Fort Riley, Failure to appear; Bond $1,000

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.&nbsp;TREVOR MCKINZIE SMITH, 26, Conway Springs,&nbsp;Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt; 450 grams; Distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant; 3.5 - &lt;100 grams; Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt; 450 grams; Distribute substance in 65-4105(h); Dose 10 - &lt; 100 units; Distribute substance in 65-4105(h); Dose 10 - &lt; 100 units; Distribute substance in KSA 65-4105(h); &lt; 3.5 grams; Use communication facility; In the commission of a felony drug violation; Use communication facility; In the commission of a felony drug violation; Bond $8,000MATTHEW KENNETH DE ANGELIS, 35, Manhattan, Failure to appear; Remains confined to Riley County JailANGELO NATHANAEL GARCIA, 22, Fort Riley, Failure to appear; Bond $1,000

Riley County Arrest Report May 20

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend arrest.

Just after 12a.m. Saturday, police arrested 38-year-old Brandon Colson of Manhattan in the 1000 block of Laramie Street, according to the RIleyi County Police Department activity report.

Colson was arrested on requested charges of abuse of a child. 

 Total bond was set at $100,000. Colson was confined at the time of this report.&nbsp;Colson has previous convictions for burglary, forgery and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716215407983.png" alt="Colson has previous convictions for burglary, forgery and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Colson has previous convictions for burglary, forgery and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend arrest.Just after 12a.m. Saturday, police arrested 38-year-old Brandon Colson of Manhattan in the 1000 block of Laramie Street, according to the RIleyi County Police Department activity report.Colson was arrested on requested charges of abuse of a child. Total bond was set at $100,000. Colson was confined at the time of this report.&nbsp;Colson has previous convictions for burglary, forgery and aggravated escape from custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

Manhattan man accused of child abuse 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest.

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police arrested 26-year-old Trevor Smith of Conway Springs, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Smith was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for 8 counts of sale/distribution of a controlled substance. Smith remains jail on a bond of $8,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;He has a previous conviction for drug distribution,&nbsp; possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716214505277.png" alt="Smith-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest.Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police arrested 26-year-old Trevor Smith of Conway Springs, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Smith was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for 8 counts of sale/distribution of a controlled substance. Smith remains jail on a bond of $8,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;He has a previous conviction for drug distribution,&nbsp; possession, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

RCPD reports arrest of alleged drug dealer

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after another alleged DUI arrest.

Just after 4:30p.m. on Saturday, police arrested 39-year-old Russell Harmon in the 400 block of 3rd Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. &nbsp;Harmon was arrested on the probable cause offense of driving under the influence- 4th or subsequent conviction.&nbsp;

On May 5, the RCPD reported Harmon's arrest on similar allegations.

Harmon remains jailed on a $5,000 bond.&nbsp;  In 2014, the Kansas Department of Corrections reported Harmon was in their custody for Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs - 3rd or subsequent conviction, for a conviction in Wabaunsee County.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after another alleged DUI arrest.Just after 4:30p.m. on Saturday, police arrested 39-year-old Russell Harmon in the 400 block of 3rd Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. &nbsp;Harmon was arrested on the probable cause offense of driving under the influence- 4th or subsequent conviction.&nbsp;On May 5, the RCPD reported Harmon's arrest on similar allegations.Harmon remains jailed on a $5,000 bond.&nbsp; In 2014, the Kansas Department of Corrections reported Harmon was in their custody for Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs - 3rd or subsequent conviction, for a conviction in Wabaunsee County.

Manhattan man accused of DUI for 2nd time this month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For a ninth straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the May survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

"The farm sector is, I won't call it struggling, but it's moving sideways to down," said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. "Look no further than John Deere that came out with their announced income, which was not good. Farm equipment sales are down, this is the first time since 2020 that we've had a pullback in farm land prices. If you look at cash rents, they were almost flat from three or four years ago."

Part of the challenge in surveying bankers to find out about farmers right now, is that bankers are having their own problems.

"I would argue that they get some of their own banking sector issues connected to the farm sector," Goss said. "That obviously has a strong connection, but it's not everything. Bank deposits were down. Those who deposit money in the banks are moving money around to get higher returns. That puts pressure on the bank. It's another indicator. We saw interest rates, they're much higher, what they charge for operating loans. Also, farm land sale financing, that was still high. Interest rates are causing some difficulties for the farm sector and the banking sector."

Goss also believes that the overall numbers being provided on economic conditions in some respects just aren't something you can count on.

"The BLS that does the monthly survey of hiring and employment, they're getting it wrong," Goss said. "Those numbers are just not reliable coming out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. How do you know? They do a quarterly estimate, which revises the monthly estimate. The quarterly estimate has 95% of the companies across America. The monthly survey includes 1% of the businesses across America. That 1% sample, I would argue, is quite unreliable. We may in fact determine later on, that we are in a recession right now."

The National Bureau of Economic Research won't put out a number until late summer.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595014550898.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post&nbsp;HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For a ninth straight month, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) sank below growth neutral, according to the May survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy."The farm sector is, I won't call it struggling, but it's moving sideways to down," said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. "Look no further than John Deere that came out with their announced income, which was not good. Farm equipment sales are down, this is the first time since 2020 that we've had a pullback in farm land prices. If you look at cash rents, they were almost flat from three or four years ago."Part of the challenge in surveying bankers to find out about farmers right now, is that bankers are having their own problems."I would argue that they get some of their own banking sector issues connected to the farm sector," Goss said. "That obviously has a strong connection, but it's not everything. Bank deposits were down. Those who deposit money in the banks are moving money around to get higher returns. That puts pressure on the bank. It's another indicator. We saw interest rates, they're much higher, what they charge for operating loans. Also, farm land sale financing, that was still high. Interest rates are causing some difficulties for the farm sector and the banking sector."Goss also believes that the overall numbers being provided on economic conditions in some respects just aren't something you can count on."The BLS that does the monthly survey of hiring and employment, they're getting it wrong," Goss said. "Those numbers are just not reliable coming out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. How do you know? They do a quarterly estimate, which revises the monthly estimate. The quarterly estimate has 95% of the companies across America. The monthly survey includes 1% of the businesses across America. That 1% sample, I would argue, is quite unreliable. We may in fact determine later on, that we are in a recession right now."The National Bureau of Economic Research won't put out a number until late summer.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Goss: Farm sector 'sideways to down'

ZACHARY DEWAYNE TILTON, 36, Ogden, Driving while suspended; 3rd or subsequent conviction; Bond $500

HORASHIO ANTOINE PRITCHETT, 44, Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship; Bond $5,000

MARCUS EDWARD WASHINGTON, 40, Topeka, Failure to appear; Remains confined to Riley County Jail

ANGELO NATHANAEL GARCIA, 22, Fort Riley, Disorderly conduct; Brawling or fighting; Bond $750

ALLYSON FRANCINE GANN, 37, Manhattan, Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner; Bond $500

JACOB JEREMY MENDENHALL, 45, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Bond $2,000

EVA MARIE CLEARY, 19, Manhattan, Driving while suspended; 2nd or subsequent conviction; Bond $3,000

RUSSELL CHANCE HARMON, 39, Manhattan, Driving under the influence; 4th or subsequent; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; w/in 3 hrs; Bond $5,000

HARLEY CAPRI CARLSON, 26, Manhattan, Failure to appear; Bond $1,000

DONNITHAN MAURICE JONES, 31, Dodge City, Failure to appear; Bond $500

DAVID NIRUN TUNYANONT, 24, Manhattan, Domestic battery; Knowing rude physical contact w/family member or dating relationship; Bond $2,000

BRANDON WAYNE COLSON, 38, Manhattan, Abuse of a child; Knowingly torture or cruelly beat/strike/kickbeat child under 6yrs old; Bond $100,000

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.&nbsp;Arrest Report from May 18:ZACHARY DEWAYNE TILTON, 36, Ogden, Driving while suspended; 3rd or subsequent conviction; Bond $500HORASHIO ANTOINE PRITCHETT, 44, Domestic battery; Knowing or reckless bodily harm to family/person in dating relationship; Bond $5,000MARCUS EDWARD WASHINGTON, 40, Topeka, Failure to appear; Remains confined to Riley County JailArrest Report from May 19:ANGELO NATHANAEL GARCIA, 22, Fort Riley, Disorderly conduct; Brawling or fighting; Bond $750ALLYSON FRANCINE GANN, 37, Manhattan, Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner; Bond $500JACOB JEREMY MENDENHALL, 45, Manhattan, Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt;$1000; Bond $2,000EVA MARIE CLEARY, 19, Manhattan, Driving while suspended; 2nd or subsequent conviction; Bond $3,000RUSSELL CHANCE HARMON, 39, Manhattan, Driving under the influence; 4th or subsequent; blood/breath .08 or &gt;; w/in 3 hrs; Bond $5,000HARLEY CAPRI CARLSON, 26, Manhattan, Failure to appear; Bond $1,000DONNITHAN MAURICE JONES, 31, Dodge City, Failure to appear; Bond $500DAVID NIRUN TUNYANONT, 24, Manhattan, Domestic battery; Knowing rude physical contact w/family member or dating relationship; Bond $2,000BRANDON WAYNE COLSON, 38, Manhattan, Abuse of a child; Knowingly torture or cruelly beat/strike/kickbeat child under 6yrs old; Bond $100,000

Riley County Arrest Report May 18/19

&nbsp;This week,&nbsp; Wabaunsee County Emergency Management contacted the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Emergency Response and Investigations Division to assist in the investigation of an exhibit that may have had deteriorating artifacts located inside the&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Historical Society and Museum, 227 Missouri Avenue in Alma, according to a media release from the State Fire Marshal.

A strategic plan was put in place with all responding agencies to investigate, assess and safely remove the materials from the museum and then proper disposal of the items.

Deteriorating chemicals can be dangerous if not handled properly. The OSFM commended the&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Historical Society and Museum and Marci Spaw, museum director, for handling this incident in a way that kept everyone safe. The museum is back open for business.

Responding agencies included the following Topeka Police Bomb Squad; Topeka Fire HazMat;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Sheriff’s department;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Emergency Management;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Fire District No. 6; FBI Joint Terrorism Task force with fire personnel from KC Metro; an ATF rep from KC Metro; and the Emergency Response Division/HazMat and Investigation’s Division from the OSFM.

&nbsp;This week,&nbsp; Wabaunsee County Emergency Management contacted the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Emergency Response and Investigations Division to assist in the investigation of an exhibit that may have had deteriorating artifacts located inside the&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Historical Society and Museum, 227 Missouri Avenue in Alma, according to a media release from the State Fire Marshal.A strategic plan was put in place with all responding agencies to investigate, assess and safely remove the materials from the museum and then proper disposal of the items.Deteriorating chemicals can be dangerous if not handled properly. The OSFM commended the&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Historical Society and Museum and Marci Spaw, museum director, for handling this incident in a way that kept everyone safe. The museum is back open for business.Responding agencies included the following Topeka Police Bomb Squad; Topeka Fire HazMat;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Sheriff’s department;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Emergency Management;&nbsp;Wabaunsee&nbsp;County Fire District No. 6; FBI Joint Terrorism Task force with fire personnel from KC Metro; an ATF rep from KC Metro; and the Emergency Response Division/HazMat and Investigation’s Division from the OSFM.

Bomb disposal units clear dangerous materials from Wabaunsee Co. museum

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 2.8% in April. This is an increase from 2.7% in March and an increase from 2.7% in April 2023, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Labor.

“The Kansas unemployment rate for April was 2.8%,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “The state has maintained an unemployment rate below 3.0% since October 2021.”

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,000 from March.

The unemployment rate in Riley County is down from 2.7 percent in March to 2..5&nbsp; percent in April. The rate in Geary County also dropped from from 4.1 to 3.7&nbsp; percent. The rate in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties also saw a decline.

Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 1,700 over the month, while government increased by 300.

“Kansas continued to add jobs in April, with total nonfarm job estimates increasing by 2,000 jobs over the month,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The state has experienced significant job growth over the past three months, with average monthly gains of 4,900 jobs.”

Since April 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 23,000. This change is due to an increase of 17,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,500 government jobs.

<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==">Click here for complete</a> Kansas labor market information for April

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715954877089.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 2.8% in April. This is an increase from 2.7% in March and an increase from 2.7% in April 2023, according to a statement from the Kansas Department of Labor.“The Kansas unemployment rate for April was 2.8%,” said Secretary Amber Shultz. “The state has maintained an unemployment rate below 3.0% since October 2021.”Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2,000 from March.The unemployment rate in Riley County is down from 2.7 percent in March to 2..5&nbsp; percent in April. The rate in Geary County also dropped from from 4.1 to 3.7&nbsp; percent. The rate in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties also saw a decline.Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 1,700 over the month, while government increased by 300.“Kansas continued to add jobs in April, with total nonfarm job estimates increasing by 2,000 jobs over the month,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The state has experienced significant job growth over the past three months, with average monthly gains of 4,900 jobs.”Since April 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 23,000. This change is due to an increase of 17,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,500 government jobs.<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==">Click here for complete</a> Kansas labor market information for April

Jobless rate in Riley Co. and across the region continues to decline

MANHATTAN - USD 383 Manhattan Ogden Schools has announced the new principal for Oliver Brown Elementary School is Amber Cook.

Since 2021, Cook served as the Early Childhood Center Principal in USD 475 Geary County Schools.

From 2016-2021, she was a 5th grade and 3rd grade classroom teacher in the Gardner Edgerton School District.&nbsp;

Cook has also been the Title 1 Elementary teacher/Intervention Coordinator for Lawrence Public Schools in 2015-2016.

In 2007, Cook began her career in education as a classroom teacher in Lawrence.

She received her Bachelor of Arts&nbsp;in Elementary Education from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in School Leadership from Baker University.

“I am honored and excited to join the Oliver Brown Elementary School community,” states Cook. “I am committed to building upon the school's achievements and fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel supported and valued, alongside their parents and families as our partners in education.” 

“We are excited for Mrs. Amber Cook to join our team as the Principal of Oliver Brown Elementary School,” states Superintendent Eric Reid. “She possesses the skill set needed to advance Oliver Brown toward its full potential. We are looking forward to supporting her in making the most of this leadership opportunity to benefit students, families, and staff.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715980865058.jpeg" alt="Amber Cook, photo courtesy USD 383" />
 <figcaption>Amber Cook, photo courtesy USD 383</figcaption>
 </figure>by BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostMANHATTAN - USD 383 Manhattan Ogden Schools has announced the new principal for Oliver Brown Elementary School is Amber Cook.Since 2021, Cook served as the Early Childhood Center Principal in USD 475 Geary County Schools.From 2016-2021, she was a 5th grade and 3rd grade classroom teacher in the Gardner Edgerton School District.&nbsp;Cook has also been the Title 1 Elementary teacher/Intervention Coordinator for Lawrence Public Schools in 2015-2016.In 2007, Cook began her career in education as a classroom teacher in Lawrence.She received her Bachelor of Arts&nbsp;in Elementary Education from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in School Leadership from Baker University.“I am honored and excited to join the Oliver Brown Elementary School community,” states Cook. “I am committed to building upon the school's achievements and fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel supported and valued, alongside their parents and families as our partners in education.” “We are excited for Mrs. Amber Cook to join our team as the Principal of Oliver Brown Elementary School,” states Superintendent Eric Reid. “She possesses the skill set needed to advance Oliver Brown toward its full potential. We are looking forward to supporting her in making the most of this leadership opportunity to benefit students, families, and staff.”Cook officially begins her role in July.

USD 383 announces newly hired principal for Oliver Brown Elementary

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_QapUV_xYo?si=MR_64btnWHxJsyzR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.

🎤Forward Ever: U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall

OGDEN - On Thursday May 16, around 8:15 pm, crews from Riley County Fire District #1 were paged out to Ogden on the report of a vehicle fire.

When crews arrived on the 100 block of 8th Street, they found 2 vehicles on fire and the fire had spread to a neighboring mobile home.

Twenty-four fire personnel and volunteers responded to the fire with 6 fire apparatus to extinguish the fire.

Both vehicles are a total loss and the mobile home received minor damage. Total damage for the incident is $82,000.

Both RCPD and the Kansas Fire Marshal are investigating the fire.&nbsp;

Just after 9:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated arson and arson in connection with the fire, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 57-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man reported a known suspect pour gas onto a vehicle and set it on fire.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715961023964.jpeg" alt="photo courtesy of Riley County Fire District #1" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy of Riley County Fire District #1</figcaption>
 </figure>by BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostOGDEN - On Thursday May 16, around 8:15 pm, crews from Riley County Fire District #1 were paged out to Ogden on the report of a vehicle fire.When crews arrived on the 100 block of 8th Street, they found 2 vehicles on fire and the fire had spread to a neighboring mobile home.Twenty-four fire personnel and volunteers responded to the fire with 6 fire apparatus to extinguish the fire.Both vehicles are a total loss and the mobile home received minor damage. Total damage for the incident is $82,000.No injuries were reported.Both RCPD and the Kansas Fire Marshal are investigating the fire.&nbsp;Just after 9:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated arson and arson in connection with the fire, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 57-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man reported a known suspect pour gas onto a vehicle and set it on fire.Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers. Using <a href="https://rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a> allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD, Kansas Fire Marshal investigating alleged arson in Ogden

The annual Run for the Wall event is this weekend in Junction City.&nbsp;This&nbsp;is year 34 of official rides for Run for the Wall, and they have made an annual stop in Junction City for over 20 years.&nbsp;

Bonnie Templeton, Assistant Director of the Junction City Committee for Run for the Wall, said more than 300 riders&nbsp;are expected&nbsp;on Sunday evening and that over 300 flags will be handed out. "We anticipate the riders to arrive between 5:30 and 5:45 on Sunday afternoon," Templeton said. "We would like everyone to be in Heritage Park no later than 5:00 p.m. to pick up flags."&nbsp;

The riders will come off I-70 and make their way down Washington, where there will then be a ceremony in Heritage Park.&nbsp;68th District House of Representative Nate Butler will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe annual Run for the Wall event is this weekend in Junction City.&nbsp;This&nbsp;is year 34 of official rides for Run for the Wall, and they have made an annual stop in Junction City for over 20 years.&nbsp;Bonnie Templeton, Assistant Director of the Junction City Committee for Run for the Wall, said more than 300 riders&nbsp;are expected&nbsp;on Sunday evening and that over 300 flags will be handed out. "We anticipate the riders to arrive between 5:30 and 5:45 on Sunday afternoon," Templeton said. "We would like everyone to be in Heritage Park no later than 5:00 p.m. to pick up flags."&nbsp;The riders will come off I-70 and make their way down Washington, where there will then be a ceremony in Heritage Park.&nbsp;68th District House of Representative Nate Butler will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.&nbsp;Following the ceremony and event,&nbsp;the riders will be provided&nbsp;with dinner at the Eagles, and on Monday morning, before departure, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will provide a breakfast.&nbsp;

Local