K-State Scientists Discover Nitrogen Pollution in Private Wells in Central Kansas
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. (KNS) - Scientists are alerting some south-central Kansans that their drinking water contains too much nitrogen pollution. Kansas State University, Barton County Community College and Dodge City Community College teamed up to test private wells that rely on the Great Bend Prairie Aquifer. So far, half the wells they’ve tested contain too much nitrate. Farm fertilizer and feedlots are typical sources of this kind of pollution. Thoroughly treating water at home can cost thousands of dollars. But overexposure to nitrates is dangerous for babies. Scientists are also investigating possible links to cancer and other serious illnesses.
The study, spearheaded by K-State, is helping families in central Kansas learn what’s in their water. Matthew Kirk, a geology professor at K-State, says half the wells tested so far contain too much nitrogen pollution. “Most of the well owners that I've talked to... this isn't something that's really on their radar," he said. "They're kind of left on their own to some extent to deal with this and figure out what to do.”
Such chemicals can make babies seriously ill. Scientists are also investigating possible links to cancer and other conditions in children and adults. (Read more.)
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Person Found Dead in Kansas River Identified as Edgerton Woman
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Lawrence Times) - The body of a woman pulled from the Kansas River last week has now been identified. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says the victim is 57-year-old Melinda Sue McCluskey, who was last known to have lived in rural Edgerton. The Lawrence Times reports that the woman's body was discovered December 21 floating in the water about 300 yards east of the Bowersock Dam in Lawrence. Detectives say there's no indication of foul play. Family members had reported McCluskey missing on December 3rd.
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Kansas Sales Tax on Food Set to Fall in January
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansans will see lower costs at the grocery store in 2024. The state is set to cut the state sales tax on food items in half starting Monday (January 1). The state sales tax on food will go from 4% to 2%. It's the second of three reductions laid out in legislation approved by lawmakers and signed into law by the governor. The food tax law applies to many grocery and bakery items and bottled drinks. It does NOT apply to ready-to-eat prepared foods, tobacco, alcohol or non-food grocery items, like kitchen supplies. While the state sales tax is being phased out, local sales taxes will still apply.
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Missouri Workers Get Boost in Minimum Wage in 2024; Not So in Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KNS/KCUR) - Minimum wage workers in Missouri will earn more starting January 1st. But Kansas minimum wage workers will continue to make $7.25 an hour. Missouri’s new minimum wage is $12.30 an hour, a thirty cent bump. It’s one of twenty-two states to hike the minimum wage in 2024. Kansas – and 19 other states – use the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t increased since 2009. Missouri has been steadily raising its minimum since voters approved regular hikes in 2018. A 2024 effort to get additional increases on the ballot this November would bring the minimum up to 15 dollars in Missouri by 2026.
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Freshman QB Avery Johnson Leads Kansas State Past No. 19 N.C. State in Pop-Tarts Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards and rushed for 71. He directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman's Wildcats. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack. Both teams finished 9-4.
Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday night. Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards, rushed for 71 and directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman's Wildcats (9-4). "We knew we needed to finish the drive strong and put the game away," Johnson said. "Credit to those guys up front. Fifteen plays isn't easy. They dominated and we ultimately got into the end zone."
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack (9-4), who fell short of winning 10 games for the second time in program history. "I look back to what could I have done differently because we didn't get the job done," Armstrong said. "I felt like I did what I had to do to be ready and prepared. We just didn't get the job done."
Giddens had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, his only catch of the game, and ran for a 4-yard TD early in the second that made it 14-0.
Kansas State led 21-7 late in the second quarter and 21-10 at halftime, but N.C. State rallied in the third quarter, thanks in part to some trickery. Trent Pennix ran for a 60-yard touchdown on a fake punt with 1:50 left in the period. But the 2-point try failed, allowing the Wildcats to maintain a 21-19 lead.
Johnson and Giddens took over from there. Giddens had six rushes for 25 yards on a drive that took 7:24 off the clock and concluded with Johnson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Jayce Brown with 2:48 remaining. "Some of those times a young player may force a throw when he is scrambling and he doesn't see anybody open," Klieman said. "He threw the ball away and avoided a number of sacks for a loss of yards. He's 1-0 as a quarterback. He made big-time play after big-time play." Jacob Parrish intercepted Armstrong on N.C. State's next play from scrimmage.
FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT
Both teams ran successful fake punts. Kansas State punter Jack Blumer called his own number in the second quarter for a 30-yard gain that set up Giddens' rushing TD. N.C. State had its biggest play on a direct snap to Pennix, a tight end, from the punt formation that he took all the way to the end zone.
CENTURY CLUB
Armstrong became N.C. State's first 100-yard rusher of the season. He had come close on a few occasions, with 96 yards against both Connecticut and Wake Forest. Giddens had his fifth game this season with 100 yards rushing or more. This was his second-highest rushing total behind a 207-yard effort against UCF.
ELUSIVE DOUBLE DIGITS
N.C. State's lone 10-win season came in 2002, when it went 11-2 with Phillip Rivers at quarterback.
EAT ME
One gimmick of the Pop-Tarts Bowl was a mascot that organizers described as edible. After Kansas State was awarded the trophy, the human mascot named "Strawberry" was lowered into a giant replica toaster, and an edible look-alike was ushered out. Klieman and Johnson took bites of the oversized treat before other Wildcats players crowded around for a snack.
UP NEXT
Kansas State can look forward to having both Johnson and Giddens back in 2024.
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Kansas Universities Demolish Old Buildings to Save Millions on Deferred Maintenance
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) — The state of Kansas is removing 20 university buildings to save millions of dollars on performing deferred maintenance on those buildings. The Kansas Board of Regents allocated $16.5 million to turn the buildings into rubble across university campuses. The Kansas Reflector reports that the demolition work will eliminate the need for an estimated $80 million in deferred maintenance. Nearly 40 state university buildings have been identified for demolition in the future, which could save the schools about $250 million in cost avoidance on repairs to roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling and other systems that deteriorate over time.
University buildings that have been demolished or will be demolished include Oliver Hall at the University of Kansas and an old gymnasium at Kansas State University. Elsewhere, Pittsburg State University is getting rid of Shirk Hall. Wichita State University plans to eliminate Brennan Hall, while Emporia State will demolish the Butcher Educational Center.
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KU Study Reveals Retail Pharmacists Are Unhappy with Pay, Benefits, Working Conditions
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) — A study by the University of Kansas finds pharmacy workers at retail stores are dissatisfied with their pay and benefits compared to workers at independent pharmacies. Angela Gist-Mackey is an associate professor at KU and lead author of the study, which surveyed more than 200 pharmacy workers in retail and independent pharmacies in Missouri and Kansas. Gist-Mackey says the type of pharmacy setting plays a big role. Although chain pharmacy and independent pharmacy employees are paid the same, they have different opinions on pay. “What was interesting is how chain pharmacists and pharmacy technicians feel about their pay is very different," she said. "They’re dissatisfied. And maybe it’s because what I have to put up with in my chain pharmacy workplace doesn’t seem worth the pay.” This fall, employees at Walgreens and CVS stores across the nation walked out over pay and staffing. Gist-Mackey says the walkouts support their theory.
The KU survey found pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working at retail stores, like Walgreens or CVS, are dissatisfied with working conditions and pay. Amanda Applegate is with the Kansas Pharmacists Association, which helped administer the survey. Applegate says pharmacy work is hard in general, but retail pharmacists tend to have a lot more distractions than workers at independent or hospital pharmacies. “In a hospital environment, you don’t necessarily have somebody walking by you and asking where the steaks on sale are. Or, you know, where the tylenol is," she said. Applegate says corporations have made some adjustments, but overall, many retail pharmacy employees say their ranks remain stretched thin.
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Kansas Highway Patrol Releases Christmas Holiday Traffic Report
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted nearly 450 motorists during the Christmas holiday reporting period, which started last Friday and ended just before midnight Monday, on Christmas Day. State troopers investigated two fatality accidents. The Highway Patrol says two people were killed in separate accidents but neither fatality involved the use of alcohol. The report says Kansas has now recorded three straight years with zero DUI-related fatalities during the Christmas holiday reporting period.
The report says seven people were arrested for DUI during the holiday weekend and 370 motorists were cited for speeding.
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Garden City Man Accused in 2020 Murder
FINNEY COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) — Agents from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation have arrested a Garden City man in connection with a murder that happened more than three years ago. Agents arrested 44-year-old Oscar Corrales, of Garden City, Wednesday afternoon in connection with the December 2020 death of 35-year-old Alexander Perez, of Ulysses. WIBW TV reports that Corrales was arrested at the Finney County Jail where he was already being held on unrelated charges. He is now charged with second-degree murder.
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Lenexa Police Arrest 50 People for Retail Theft, Drugs, Other Crimes
LENEXA, Kan. (KMBC) - Police in Lenexa have arrested nearly 50 people this month during a special operation to crack down on retail theft. KMBC TV reports that those arrested face charges of theft, felony theft, possession of stolen property, illegal drugs, counterfeiting, child endangerment and driving under the influence. Police also arrested suspects with outstanding warrants. The special operation in Lenexa began on December 12th and concluded December 23rd.
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Illinois Suspends Star Basketball Player Accused in Kansas Rape Case
UNDATED (AP) - Illinois has suspended basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. after he was charged with rape for an alleged incident that happened when the football team played at the University of Kansas in September. Illinois suspended Shannon Thursday from "all team activities, effective immediately," a day after the Douglas County District Attorney in Lawrence issued a warrant for his arrest.
Chicago-area attorney Mark Sutter said Shannon is "innocent." Prosecutors in Douglas County charged Shannon on December 5 with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The complaint says the accuser was born in 2005.
The rape charge carries a sentence of 12 to 54 years in prison, while the battery charge carries a fine of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail. Cheryl Cadue, public information officer for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office, said the office was limited in what it could say about the case because it was pending. She directed questions to the sheriff's office. The probable cause affidavit was not immediately released.
The alleged incident happened when Shannon attended the Illini's football game at Kansas on September 8. He was not part of the school's traveling party. Shannon traveled to Lawrence Thursday and turned himself in to authorities. He was released on a $50,000 bond, and the school said he was returning to Champaign. Sheriff's office spokesman George Diepenbrock said his booking photo would not be released.
"Since September, when these allegations surfaced, Terrence has cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation, declaring his innocence from the beginning," Sutter said in a statement. "Now, several months later, my office learned that formal charges were filed against him in Lawrence. In less than 24 hours, my client responded, and he voluntarily surrendered to local authorities for processing and release. Terrence is innocent of these charges, and he intends to take his case to trial."
Illinois said it has been aware since late September that police in Lawrence were investigating Shannon but had "yet to receive actionable information" until Wednesday. "The University and DIA (Division of Intercollegiate Athletics) have shown time and again that we have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct," athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "At the same time, DIA policy affords student-athletes appropriate levels of due process based on the nature and severity of the allegations. We will rely on that policy and our prior experiences to manage this situation appropriately for the University and the involved parties."
In his second season at Illinois after three years at Texas Tech, Shannon is second in the Big Ten in scoring at 21.7 points per game. Only Purdue's Zach Edey is averaging more. No. 11 Illinois has a home game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. Whitman is scheduled to address the media prior to the game. Coach Brad Underwood's availability with reporters on Thursday was canceled.
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#2 KU MBB Takes on Wichita State in KC Saturday Afternoon
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The second-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will play cross-state rival Wichita State at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City Saturday afternoon. It'll be the first time the two teams have played each other since the Jayhawks lost to the Shockers in the NCAA tournament eight years ago. It's only a one-year deal for the schools to play, but Jayhawks coach Bill Self says it's important. "You don't want to have another school in your state have bragging rights over you until you actually do play again and we don't know when that would be," he said. KU enters the game with an 11-and-1 record. The Shockers are 8-and-4. Tipoff is at 3 pm.
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Jayhawk QB Jason Bean Invited to Hula Bowl College All-Star Game
LAWRENCE, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean has accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 Hula Bowl, known as the country’s premier college football All-Star Game. During Hula Bowl week, all NFL teams will be represented by their top talent scouts. WIBW TV reports that 100 of the top senior athletes from across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan will play at the game, which takes place in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, January 13th.
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Bengals Visit Chiefs in AFC Title Game Rematch as Both Teams Fight for the Playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Bengals are visiting the Chiefs on Sunday in a rematch of the past two AFC championship games. But this time both teams are fighting for the playoffs with two games to go in the regular season. Cincinnati's chances of an AFC wild card took a big hit in last week's loss to Pittsburgh, but a win over the reigning Super Bowl champions would get coach Zac Taylor's team right back in the hunt. Kansas City squandered a chance to clinch its eighth straight West Division title with last week's lackluster loss to the Raiders, but they could sew it up Sunday with a win or by getting some help in other games.
The Bengals and Chiefs are accustomed to playing each other for a spot in the Super Bowl when the snow begins to fly. On Sunday, they are merely playing to get into the playoffs.
The Bengals (8-7) have won three of their last four games to keep their AFC wild-card hopes alive, but they desperately need to beat Kansas City (9-6) to give themselves a good shot at making the postseason field. And the Chiefs have lost three of their last four and still need a win, or some help from Las Vegas and Denver, to clinch their eighth straight AFC West title. "It's so unpredictable year to year what teams are going to rise up," said Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who has managed to keep his team in the hunt for a third straight playoff appearance despite losing Joe Burrow just 10 games into the season. "You look around the AFC, across the board and the teams still in it," Taylor continued, "it's just going to come down to who can figure out how to win and keep the momentum going a little bit."
The Bengals' momentum was stanched last week in Pittsburgh, where they allowed the Steelers to race to a 24-0 halftime lead in a 34-11 defeat. Jake Browning, who has played well in Burrow's place, threw three interceptions in the game. "Obviously it's been a different quarterback," Browning said, "but we've gone on runs before, and had to play before where it's like, 'Hey, let's focus on one game at a time.' So we just have to focus on playing the Chiefs and whatever happens, happens."
The last outing for the Chiefs was perhaps the worst performance since coach Andy Reid took over in Kansas City. The Chiefs lost to the Raiders 20-14 on Christmas in a game that saw Las Vegas return a fumble for a touchdown and get a pick-6 thrown by Patrick Mahomes on consecutive plays.
Now, the defending Super Bowl champions no longer have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC with two games to go. "We're still in first place in the AFC West. We have one more game to win the division," Mahomes said. "We understand it's not going to be easy. But if we continue to work, we win this game and go to the playoffs, we know we can do what we set out to do at the beginning of this season, and that's get to the Super Bowl."
BANGED-UP BENGALS
The Bengals could be without Ja'Marr Chase, their Pro Bowl wide receiver, who missed practice earlier in the week to rehab his ailing shoulder. Chase has shredded the Chiefs over the years, including a game in January 2022 in which he caught 11 passes for a franchise-record 266 yards and three touchdowns. Cincinnati was also waiting to see how top cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt fared in practice this week. He was cleared to return from an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve, opening a 21-day window to active him or end his season.
CHIEFS CONCERNS
Injuries are also a concern in Kansas City, where five starters were missing from practice early in the week: CBs L'Jarius Sneed (calf) and Jaylen Watson (illness), RB Isiah Pacheco (concussion), LT Donovan Smith (neck) and WR Kadarius Toney. The Chiefs could get WR Mecole Hardman back this week. He has been practicing, but has not been activated off IR.
BABY ON BOARD
Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who spent two Pro Bowl seasons in Kansas City, celebrated the birth of his son, Sonny, moments after stepping off the field in Pittsburgh last week. Brown watched the birth over FaceTime from the locker room. "For me, football is kind of everything right now. You don't really get this opportunity back. You don't get the opportunity to see a birth, either," he said. "For me, it was important to be there with the guys in Pittsburgh and to be out there with them."
BANKING ON BIG PLAYS
The Chiefs' offense has been known for its big plays over the years, but Mahomes is averaging just 6.6 yards through the air per attempt this season, the sixth-worst mark in the AFC. And thanks in part to the fact Kansas City's wide receivers have more dropped passes than any other team, his average completed air yards is better only than Bears backup Tyson Bagent. But the Bengals could offer a chance for Mahomes, who already has thrown a career-worst 14 interceptions, to open it up. They allowed the Steelers' George Pickens to have TD catches of 66 and 86 yards last week.
CAMERAS ARE WATCHING
Several times this season TV cameras have caught Chiefs players in moments of frustration. It was Mahomes charging after an official after an offside penalty on Kadarius Toney in a loss to Buffalo, and it was Travis Kelce last week, when their star tight end chucked his helmet at the bench and Reid refused to give it back to him. "When you've won a lot of games," Reid said, "your tolerance level for not doing as well as you should goes down. Things happen. That's the great part about it: This is emotional. The game of football is an emotional game."
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