( Photos courtesy of 1st Infantry Division veteran Phyllis Fitzgerald )

Lt. Gen. ( Ret. ) Perry Wiggins delivered the keynote remarks during&nbsp; a Run for the Wall visit to Junction City Sunday evening. "I think it's important that we do recognize the ones that sacrificed everything for this nation."

 Approximately 200 riders and other support personnel made Junction City a stopping point on their cross county ride from California to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Junction City. Wiggins said serving in combat and the cloth of the nation builds a bond which is hard to describe. "Those of you that are wearing the leathers and rode in on those big impressive motorcycles, you're completing a promise. That promise is we will never forget our fallen, our missing in action or our POW's.&nbsp;

The riders left I-70 and came up Washington Street to Heritage Park where there was a ceremony attended by the travel group and members of the community. There was a wreath laying at the base of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the Park.

Afterwards the riders were provided an evening meal at the Eagles Lodge. They will receive breakfast provided by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association at the Eagles Lodge.

Run for the Wall reminds us of those who sacrificed for our nation

GEARY COUNTY&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday night in Junction City, according to a media release from the agency.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, a female subject called 911 to report that a man was outside her home, waving a handgun and threatening her and another female subject with it. She lived in the 700 block of West 11th&nbsp;St. in Junction City.&nbsp;

Minutes later, several officers from the Junction City Police Department responded to the area. As they arrived, officers spotted a man matching the suspect’s description fleeing the area. They chased the man on foot. During the chase, officers saw that the man had a gun, heard gunshots coming from his direction, and observed him pointing the gun at them.

As one officer caught up to the suspect, between two houses in the 600 block of West 11th&nbsp;St., a confrontation occurred and the officer fired at the man striking him multiple times.

Officers then rendered aid to the man. EMS responded and took over life-saving measures. The man was identified as Carlton Solton, Jr., 36, of Junction City. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

EMS transported Solton to the Geary Community Hospital. He was later flown to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Solton underwent surgery and is receiving further treatment in the intensive care unit.

Junction City, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Junction City.

A spokesperson for the KBI told 13 NEWS Saturday they were asked by JCPD to investigate an officer-involved shooting around 5:15 p.m. in the 600 Block of West 11th Street.

One Junction City man was shot and taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.

No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

KBI investigates officer-involved shooting in Junction City

Symphony at Sunset annual D-Day Commemoration Concert will be a highlight Saturday, June 4th, on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.&nbsp;

Salina based Every Day Lights will perform at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 1st Infantry Division Band at 7 p.m. and the Salina Symphony at about 8:30 p.m. Food and beverage vendors will open at 4 p.m.

There will be multiple programs leading up to the concert including the World War II Emerging Scholars Symposium. There will also be the temporary exhibit Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin &amp; the Art of War. This traveling exhibit from Pritzker Military Museum &amp; Library runs June 4th through Nov. 27th in Abilene. This retrospective&nbsp; of&nbsp; work by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, Bill Mauldin, is about our nation's time of war, civil rights and social justice.

No weapons or outside alcohol are permitted on federal property. Small, soft-sided coolers are allowed, however all bags are subject to inspection. Dress for the elements and bring your lawn&nbsp; chairs and blankets.

Symphony at Sunset Returns to Eisenhower Presidential Library

Saint Francis Xavier High School seniors received their diplomas during graduation on Saturday. The three class members included Valedictorian Lauryn Peterson, Salutatorian Clarissa Okara and Jacob Copas.

Guest Speaker Dan Culbertson told the graduates that their generation would take technology to new and dizzying dimensions, and also challenged them to continue their quest for knowledge. He said that they should set goals, take the detours that pop up and learn from them.&nbsp;"Continue to care and make share your including faith, hope and love."

Commencement was held in the Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Saint Francis Xavier High School holds commencement

Geary County Commissioners are scheduled to be in session on Monday from 10 a.m. until about 12:30 p.m. at the County Office Building.&nbsp;

Among the agenda items are weekly reports by the finance officer, interim health department administrator, human resources director and the county clerk.&nbsp;

County schedules short meeting on Monday

Geary County Historical Society staff and members are working to raise funds for a local match share of a new museum roof project. Grant funding will pay 80% of the cost but about $10,000 needs to be raised for the local share.

Raise the Roof Fitness Fair was a local fundraiser on what&nbsp; turned out to be a chilly Saturday, that drew a relatively light turnout on the Historical Museum grounds. Heather Hagedorn, Historical Society Director, said there was a group that did yoga. "Then we did some mixed fit hip hop dancing and gymnastics for some kids. "Martial arts boxing was another activity.

Funds raised Saturday came from entry fees paid by those who attended and from raffles.

There were a lot of businesses and organizations that provided service on Saturday. The current roof on the museum is 35 years old and needs to be replaced.

Historical Solciety hosts Raise the Roof Fitness Fair

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is scheduled June 14 at 10 a.m. in Junction City. The run will begin at the Grant Ave. gate, crossing over Washington St. south on Jefferson to 6th St to Heritage Park.

Police said last year was one of the best years of attendance and the goal is to increase that number this year. To do that they are planning to give participants options for the run. One will be to go the full length and the other will be to run half.

Shirts will be available to purchase for $25. You may register online to run or purchase a shirt at http://www.junctioncity-ks.gov/.&nbsp;

Police noted that the start time is currently 10 a.m. but that time could be subject to change.

Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will occur in June

May 22nd through June 4 are the dates for the Click It or Ticket campaign. Junction City police said travelers can expect increased police presence on local streets as the JCPD joins 160 other law enforcement agencies in vigorously enforcing Kansas occupant restraint and other traffic laws as part of the campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to drastically reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries that occur when unbelted drivers and passengers are involved in traffic crashes.

This effort is supported by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Click It or Ticket campaign begins Sunday

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.4% in April. This was unchanged from 2.4% in March and a decrease from 3.5% in April 2021.

“While the unemployment rate remained steady at 2.4% over-the-month, it has seen significant improvement over-the-year as more Kansans move from unemployed to employed,” said Secretary Amber Shultz.  

The jobless rate in Geary County fell from 3.8 percent in March to 3 percent in April. Most counties across the region have an unemployment rate below 2 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 500 from March. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 100 over the month, while government increased by 600.

“Preliminary estimates for April indicate little change over-the-month for seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in Kansas,” said Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen. “Small gains reported for multiple industries were offset by a decline in professional and business services. Despite the monthly decline for professional and business services, the industry has added jobs over-the-year.”

Since April 2021, Kansas seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 22,900. This change is due to an increase of 23,400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 500 government jobs.

Another big drop in the jobless rate in Geary County

RILEY COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Friday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota RAV 4 driven by&nbsp;Stroud, Brandon JL Stroud, 15, Manhattan, was westbound on Marlatt Avenue and attempted to turn south on to Kansas 113. 

The driver failed to yield. A 1994 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp;Thaemert, Todd A. Thaemert, 59, Manhattan, struck the Toyota.

EMS transported a patient in the Toyota identified as 14-year-old Jackson West of Manhattan to Children's Mercy for treatment of serious injuries, according to the KHP.&nbsp; EMS also transported Stroud, Thaemert, and another passenger in the Toyota Arion Blanton to Via Christi. A third passenger in the Toyota was not transported.&nbsp; All five were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Adult, 3 Manhattan teens hospitalized after crash

Junction City Police Department's Community Involvement Unit will be hosting Movies at the Park. 

Movies will be shown at Heritage Park at 6th St. and Washington St.

Movies at the Park begin in June

By TYLER HENRY JC Post contributor

The Salina Liberty waltzed into Sioux City and handed the last undefeated team in the CIF their first loss on Saturday defeating the Bandits 39-30.

With this big bounce-back win the Liberty have clinched one of this year’s six playoff berths at 5-3 while Sioux City stays atop the standings at 7-1.

The top two scoring defenses in the league came to play in the first half as neither team would find the scoreboard through the first quarter, and Salina preserved their shutout through the intermission.

Sioux City battled but the Liberty remained in control from wire to wire, taking the lead on a second-quarter field goal from Jimmy Allen and never looking back.

Following two lackluster performances under center, Vincent Espinoza was replaced by Javin Kilgo, who became the fourth different QB to start a game for the Liberty this season.

After taking a half to get to grips, Kilgo put on a show, completing 14-18 for 152 yards and tossing three touchdowns without a pick including two to Demarius Washington to put Salina on top 29-6.

Washington quickly established himself as a go-to receiver for Kilgo, hauling in half of his completions for 115 yards to go along with the pair of touchdowns.

The Liberty defense did their part all throughout forcing two critical turnovers including a fumble recovery in the end zone by Anthony Love for a big early touchdown.

Sioux City outscored Salina 24-10 to close out the game but it was far too little far too late as the Liberty secured the series split with their long-time rival.

It was also a triumphant return for the former Special Teams Player of the Year Jimmy Allen as the kicker tacked on eight points including two field big goals in the nine-point victory.

The Liberty will return to Salina next week for their final home game of the 2022 season hosting the 0-8 Topeka Tropics while the Bandits travel to Billings for a battle of the current top-two teams.

Kilgo dazzles in debut as Liberty hand Bandits first loss

With just three games remaining on the regular-season calendar the Salina Liberty will head north for a Saturday rematch against the Sioux City Bandits.

The Bandits lead the CIF as the only undefeated team left standing at 7-0 while Salina comes in at 4-3, fresh off a tough loss to the Omaha Beef.

“I thought that was a great defensive ballgame,” Liberty HC Heron O’Neal said. “Our offense didn’t play as well as it needed to across the board and that was our worst offensive output since I’ve been here. That was an eye-opener and we’ll be looking to shake things up and maybe bring some new people in. We know what we need to do moving forward.”

Any future Salina success will hinge on new quarterback Vincent Espinoza, who still has the full confidence of the coaching staff despite a few recent lackluster performances.

“I think he's is settling in nicely,” O’Neal said. “This is his first real live-action with the indoor game and we’ve put a lot on him but he’s been about where we hoped he would be. He has to be better but we have to be better around him to fix this offense.”

The Liberty will need to look sharp this week against a Bandits team that boasts the top scoring offense (51.1 ppg) and the second-best scoring defense (31 ppga) in the CIF.

“They have a very physical defense and they’ve got Dajon Emory who’s one of the top three defensive linemen in this league,” he said. “Offensively quarterback Lorenzo Brown sat out last week but he should be ready to go and he’s a front runner for MVP in my opinion as a dual-threat who’s won five national titles.”

Despite missing a game Brown remains third in the league in almost every passing category, completing 60% of his passes for just shy of 800 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

“We have to make plays when we have opportunities,” O’Neal said. “We can’t drop interceptions or miss chances to strip a ball and we have to be sound up front and in our linebacker core to stop the run.”

While the Salina offense has struggled at times this season, the defense has remained as steady as ever and enters this week as the most dominant in the league, holding opponents to just 26 points per game on average.

“I’ve been impressed with how our defense has stood by our offense in practices and in games despite the low output,” he said. “They could easily be pointing the finger but we haven’t had that at all and that togetherness has been great to see.”

Kickoff between the Liberty and Bandits is set for 7:05 pm in Sioux City and as always, the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.

Top-two defenses collide as Liberty travel to Sioux City

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas State men’s basketball team will play host to longtime rival Nebraska in the Wildcat Classic on Saturday, December 17 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Tickets will be available for season ticket holders to purchase during the renewal process starting Monday, June 6. Tickets for the general public and K-State students will go on sale later this fall.

Tickets for season ticket holders are priced at $150 for courtside, $40 for lower-level sides, $25 for lower-level corners and $15 for lower-level ends and upper-level sides at the T-Mobile Center.

The game will be the second in a 3-game series between the former conference foes after the Wildcats earned a 67-58 win over the Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska on December 19, 2021. The schools were supposed to open the series at the T-Mobile Center on December 19, 2020, but it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final game is scheduled for Bramlage Coliseum during the 2023-24 season.

K-State men's basketball will play Nebraska in Kansas City next December 

Fourteen Junction City Blue Jay and Lady Jay track and field athletes will compete in the State Track Meet at Cessna Stadium in Wichita next Friday and Saturday, May 27th and 28th.

Junction City finished fourth in the boys competition and sixth in girls competition at a Class 6A Regional Meet in Topeka on Thursday, where the top four finishers in events qualified for state.

Highlights for the Blue Jay boys included:

--Tyler Atkins finishing first in the 800 meters in 1:58.53, second in the 3200 meters 9:58.31 and second in the 1600 meters in&nbsp; 4:31.68

--Ethan Agudzi-Addo third in the 300 meter hurdles 42.52 and third in the high jump 6"

-- Josiah Delva, fourth 400 meter dash, 52.29

--4 x 400 relay team third, Josiah Delva, Anthony Kemp, Jayden Reutzel, Malijah Byers 3:28.02

--Keghan McConnell second shotput 48 and second discus 156'

-- Highlights for the Lady Jays included:

--Lorna Rae Pierce third 3200 meter run 11:47.63

--Nhubia Coney third 100 meter dash 12.33, third 400 meter dash 59.93, third 26.34200 meter dash&nbsp;

--Brynna York fourth 1600 meter run 5:38.92

--4 x 100 relay third 50.66 Patience Okemba, Nhubia Coney, Shamiyah Joyner, Jayda Harris

--Jayda Harris second triple jump 33'8.75"

JCHS qualifies 14 athletes for the State Track Meet

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Luis Robert homered and drove in four runs as the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Kansas City Royals 7-4 to win the five-game series. Robert delivered a pair of RBI singles before hitting a two-run homer into the left field stands in the eighth. His sixth home run of the season capped Chicago’s sixth come-from-behind win. Pinch-hitter Adam Engel gave the White Sox their first lead with an RBI single in the seventh off Gabe Speier that broke a 4-all tie. Tim Anderson had two hits, two walks and two RBIs, recording his 10th multi-hit outing in his last 18 games for the White Sox. Chicago took three of five from the Royals, when the White Sox also won three of five.

Royals lose final game of the series to the White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez homered and fellow rookie Emmanuel Rivera hit a go-ahead triple to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Chicago White Sox 6-2. Witt, Melendez and Rivera each had two hits. Rivera’s sinking liner escaped a diving Adam Engel for a triple that drove in Melendez with the tiebreaking run in the sixth. In his return from the COVID-19-related injured list, Giolito labored early, needing 54 pitches to complete the first two innings, allowing four hits and two walks. After Witt’s leadoff homer in the third, Giolito struck out six of the next seven batters and permitted only a pair of singles before being lifted after five innings.

Royals get home runs to help defeat the White Sox

Junction City fell to Lawrence Free State 1-0 in the first round of their Class 6A Regional Baseball Tournament in Lawrence Wednesday. The Blue Jays end the season 8-13 while Lawrence Free State improved to 14-7.

Blue Jay coach James Denton said the Firebirds scored the only run of the game in the sixth inning via a walk, a single, and an attempt by Junction City to turn a double play on an infield ground ball where the baseball ended up going into right field. That left the bases loaded for Free State, who then went on to score the winning run in that sixth inning.&nbsp;

Denton credited Blue Jay pitcher Jordan Kell for an outstanding effort, noting he really competed strong. He also told the team after the game that they "were awesome. I was so proud of them." He credited the Blue Jays for competing hard for seven innings, noting he felt that Junction City won the energy battle in the contest. Lawrence Free State was the top seed going into the regional.

According to Blue Jay Athletics twitter in softball Junction City lost to Garden City 8-0 in the first round of their Class 6A Regional Tournament in Garden City. The Lady Jays finished the season 6-15 while Garden City improved to 17-4.

Seasons end for JCHS baseball and softball teams

There will be K-8th grade boys and girls basketball camp June 9-10 at the Bradley Gym at the Saint Xavier School. The hours will be 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Email to cama@saintxrams.org to reserve spots or sign up in the St. Xavier School office. Pay by cash or check. Make checks payable to Saint Xavier. The deadline is June 6th.

Saint Xavier will host basketball camp

Director Men's Basketball Communications - K-State

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State will travel to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Wednesday, November 30 to take on the Butler Bulldogs as part of the fourth edition of the Big 12/BIG EAST Battle, the two conferences announced on Wednesday (May 18).

The 10 matchups were jointly determined by the two conferences and will be played on various campuses starting on Tuesday, November 29 and running through Sunday, December 4. Since Butler is the home team, the game will be broadcast on one of FOX Sports’ platforms. Specific television information and game time will be released later.

This will be just the second meeting between the programs and the first since Butler knocked off K-State, 63-56, in the NCAA West Regional Final in Salt Lake City to advance to the 2010 Final Four. It will be the first-ever visit to venerable Hinkle Fieldhouse, which is one of the oldest college basketball arenas still in use opening in 1928.

K-State to Visit Butler in Big 12/BIG EAST Battle

Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;An exclusive fraternity of K-State Football greats will grow by six members later this year, as K-State Athletics has announced the Ring of Honor Class of 2022.

The class, which will be officially inducted the weekend of the season opener against South Dakota, includes linebacker&nbsp;Arthur Brown&nbsp;(2011-12), running back&nbsp;Larry Brown&nbsp;(1967-68), defensive end&nbsp;Darren Howard&nbsp;(1996-99), quarterback&nbsp;Collin Klein&nbsp;(2009-12), wide receiver&nbsp;Tyler Lockett&nbsp;(2011-14) and quarterback&nbsp;Ell Roberson&nbsp;(2000-03).

“Each of these men hold a special place in the history of our program, and it will be an honor to be a part of their induction into our Ring of Honor,” head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;said. “Their hard work and achievements on the field are well-documented, and we are excited to welcome them back to Manhattan for a special induction weekend.”

The Class of 2022 accumulated 31 total All-America citations during their careers, including 11 first-team honors. They have combined to reside in the top 10 of K-State game, single-season or career records on 209 occasions, which includes 48 total school records. The group also includes four Big 12 Champions with Roberson leading the Wildcats to a 35-7 win over No. 1 Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship game, while Arthur Brown, Klein and Lockett were members of the 2012 Big 12 Championship team.

“As with past classes, I am truly honored to have coached five of these special young men who continue to represent Kansas State University in a special manner,”&nbsp;Bill Snyder&nbsp;said. “They are men of character, great leaders, talented football players and great representatives of their highly successful football program and the 16 Goals for Success.”

K-State’s Ring of Honor will now include 20 individuals, and this is the fourth class since the establishment of the honor in 2002, joining the 2008 and 2015 classes. Recognition into the Ring of Honor includes a permanent display of each individual’s name on the façade of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the ring display just inside Gate B on the West Stadium Center concourse and inside the main lobby of the Vanier Family Football Complex.

“This is a tremendous group of players and young men,” Athletics Director&nbsp;Gene Taylor&nbsp;said. “I would like to thank Coach Snyder and Coach Klieman for their involvement in the selection of these new inductees, but more importantly, each individual for all they have done for Kansas State football, our athletics program and our university. It will be a memorable weekend to celebrate their accomplishments.”

The six-member Class of 2022 will join 2002 honorees&nbsp;Lynn Dickey&nbsp;(QB – 1968-70),&nbsp;Steve Grogan&nbsp;(QB – 1972-74),&nbsp;Jaime Mendez&nbsp;(DB – 1990-93),&nbsp;Sean Snyder&nbsp;(P – 1991-92),&nbsp;Gary Spani&nbsp;(LB – 1974-77) and&nbsp;Veryl Switzer&nbsp;(RB – 1951-53); Class of 2008 members&nbsp;David Allen&nbsp;(RB/PR – 1997-2000),&nbsp;Martin Gramatica&nbsp;(PK – 1994-98),&nbsp;Terence Newman&nbsp;(DB – 1999-2002) and&nbsp;Mark Simoneau&nbsp;(LB – 1996-99); and Class of 2015 inductees&nbsp;Michael Bishop&nbsp;(QB – 1997-98),&nbsp;Jordy Nelson&nbsp;(WR – 2005-07),&nbsp;Clarence Scott&nbsp;(DB – 1968-70) and&nbsp;Darren Sproles&nbsp;(RB – 2000-04).

K-State unveils six-member Ring of Honor Class of 22

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising consumers to double-check their jars of Jif peanut butter.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-peanut-butter-may-2022">Click here to see mor</a>e on the products in the recall

Jif’s creamy, crunchy, natural and reduced fat peanut butters have been linked to a salmonella outbreak across 12 states that has left 14 ill, with two people being hospitalized. 

Side effects from salmonella poisoning include fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The J.M. Smucker Co. announced a voluntary recall Friday of some Jif peanut butter products for potential salmonella contamination. The company says jars with lot codes 1274425 through 2140425 have been recalled and should be discarded. Jif is sold at retailers nationwide.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled Jif brand peanut butter that have lot code numbers 1274425 through 2140425,&nbsp;only if the first seven digits end with 425 (see photo example and Product List with UPC Codes below). This product has a two-year shelf life so consumers should check any Jif peanut butter in their home.

FDA recommends that if you have used the recalled Jif brand peanut butter that have lot code numbers 1274425 through 2140425 and the first seven digits end with 425, you should wash and sanitize surfaces and utensils that could have touched the peanut butter. If you or someone in your household ate this peanut butter and have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/salmonella-salmonellosis">symptoms</a>&nbsp;of salmonellosis, please contact your healthcare provider

Salmonella: Jif peanut butter products recalled 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just before 4:30 a.m. Sunday in Topeka.

Police responded to&nbsp;28th and Adams for a report of a single vehicle traffic accident, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.

First responders found a 17-year-old boy from Topeka, unresponsive in the roadway. American Medical Response arrived and declared the boy deceased at 4:33 a.m.

Police have not reported the boy's name or additional details.

Police investigating crash that killed Kansas teen

HUTCHINSON— Amtrak’s Southwest Chief will return to full service Monday. The train service was reduced to five days per week due to staffing shortages caused by the pandemic.&nbsp;

“We still have a lot of hiring to do but we’re able to have enough hiring and enough cars back in service, post pandemic, to restore service on the Southwest Chief,” Amtrak Spokesperson Marc Magilari said. “We’re very glad to be back doing that across central Kansas and the full route of the Southwest Chief.”

Despite hiring more than 1500 people this spring, Magilari says the staff shortages continue. The shortages are across the board from maintenance crews to conductors and locomotive engineers.

“We need several thousand more nationally,” Magilari said. “Whether they’re conductors or engineers or the people who work to maintain our trains from the mechanical department, we need to get some more people on board.”

While the Chief is back to seven days per week, the staffing issues are still limiting service elsewhere.

“We’re still not back to 100% service elsewhere in the country,” Magilari said. “In New Orleans we’re not running daily trains that are normally daily…we’re still not restoring all of our service even here in the Chicago area.”

Amtrak is also working to get their fleet of cars and locomotives up and running again but staffing shortages are slowing that process. Because of that the Chief will be running with fewer coaches.

“I would expect our train will remain undersized throughout the summer,” Magilari said. “Because when the pandemic was at its worst, we were directed not to fill every job that opened, and we didn’t and now we’re trying to catch up.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chief runs from Chicago to Los Angeles and serves Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Dodge City and Garden City in Kansas. In a non-pandemic environment, Amtrak serves about 6,000 passengers each year in Hutchinson.

Southwest Chief returns to full service across Kansas

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal shooting of his wife as she was driving a vehicle with a 4-year-old child in the backseat, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

At the time of the shooting, the vehicle was in front of Central Patrol for the Kansas City Police Department.

Elliott P. Nevels, 34, faces charges of Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

According to court records, Kansas City police saw a man dressed in black sprinting from the area of 1200 E. Linwood after persons reported hearing shots. Officers found the victim, 37-year-old Christina Nevels deceased in the driver's seat. She later was determined to have died from gunshot wounds. Officers also found a 4-year-old child screaming in the back seat. Video surveillance showed a the defendant running from the area. The defendant told police he shot the victim and ran from the scene.

Prosecutors requested a bond $150,000 cash only.

Child in the car when man killed his wife near KCPD station

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-8dd6bfbee3046be4c774c53d4517c870">the first of several flights</a>&nbsp;expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children.

President Joe Biden authorized the use of Air Force planes for the effort, dubbed “Operation Fly Formula,” because no commercial flights were available.

The formula weighed 78,000 pounds. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden flew from South Korea to Japan.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Indianapolis to greet the arrival of the first shipment.

The flights are intended to provide “some incremental relief in the coming days” as the government works on a more lasting response to the shortage, Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, said Sunday.

Deese told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Sunday’s flight brought 15% of the specialty medical grade formula needed in the U.S., and because of various actions by the government, people should see “more formula in stores starting as early as this week.”

Longer term, he said, the U.S. needs more formula providers “so that no individual company has this much control over supply chains.”

The Biden administration has struggled to address the nationwide shortage of formula, particularly hypoallergenic varieties. The crisis follows the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-a4205025fc781b1fb902cdd9e1264b41">closure of the nation’s largest domestic manufacturing plant in Michigan in February</a>&nbsp;due to safety issues.

The White House has said 132 pallets of Nestle Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula was to leave Ramstein Air Base in Germany for the U.S. Another 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula were expected to arrive in the coming days. Altogether, about 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of the three formulas, which are hypoallergenic for children with cow’s milk protein allergies, are expected to arrive this week.

Indianapolis was chosen because it is a Nestle distribution hub. The formula will be offloaded into FedEx semitractor-trailers and taken to a Nestle distribution center about a mile away where the company will do a standard quality control check before distributing the supplies to hospitals, pharmacies and doctor’s offices, according to an administration official on site.

In a statement Sunday, the White House said a Pentagon-sourced FedEx Express flight of Nestlé S.A. formula from Ramstein Air Base would be bound for a Nestle facility in Pennsylvania.

Nestle said that over the past few months it has worked “around the clock” to address the formula shortage and help meet demand.

“We have significantly increased the amount of our formulas available to consumers by ramping up production and accelerating general product availability to retailers and online, as well as through hospitals and home health care for those most vulnerable,” the company said in a release.

“At Nestle we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to get parents and caregivers the formula they need so their children can thrive,” it added. “We prioritized these products because they serve a critical medical purpose as they are for children with cow’s milk protein allergies.”

Under “Operation Fly Formula,” the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services are authorized to request Department of Defense support to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster, according to the USDA.

Alfamino is primarily available through hospitals and home health care companies that serve patients at home.

U.S. regulators and the manufacturer, Abbott Nutrition,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-politics-science-e4aef87dfb74039f1612ca5279e85227">hope to have its Michigan plant reopened</a>&nbsp;next week, but it will take about two months before product is ready for delivery. The Food and Drug Administration this week eased importation requirements for baby formula to try to ease the supply crunch, which has left store shelves void of some brands and some retailers rationing supply for parents nervous about feeding their children.

78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in US

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/16/why-an-ambitious-effort-to-overhaul-kansas-water-management-fell-short/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/01/09/nonrenewable-resource-as-western-kansas-dries-up-legislature-revisits-water-policy/">dire state of water in western Kansas</a> is not in dispute. The aquifer Kansans out west rely on to irrigate crops and provide drinking water <a target="_blank" href="http://news.ku.edu/2022/03/23/groundwater-levels-fall-across-western-and-central-kansas">dropped by a foot in 2021</a>.&nbsp;

“If you look at charts as to where it
 was … when they started irrigating and now, it’s alarming,” said the 
House Water Committee chairman, Rep. Ron Highland, R-Wamego.&nbsp;

The Ogallala Aquifer has just 10 
years left in one county in the extreme western part of the state, where
 groundwater supplies towns and irrigates crops in an otherwise arid 
countryside.&nbsp;

How to handle the drying out of the huge swaths of Kansas’ farmland is a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/20/we-cant-wait-15-years-legislative-committee-works-to-overhaul-kansas-water-policy/">point of serious contention</a>.
 Tension between the rights of farmers and the reality that water is 
running out stalled a massive effort this session to get a handle on the
 state’s most precious resource.&nbsp;

After a year of study and 
legislators’ visit to Garden City, where the Arkansas River bed sits 
dry, it appeared that the Kansas House Water Committee was ready to 
raise water issues to a cabinet-level position, grant more independence 
to the state’s chief engineer and demand more oversight of local 
agencies charged for decades with stopping depletion of the aquifers.

But <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2686/">a bill</a> meant to do all that died without ever seeing a debate on the House floor. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/01/shooting-themselves-in-the-foot-committee-guts-kansas-bill-to-protect-water/">Committee members voted to essentially gut the bill</a> with an amendment backed by agricultural groups.&nbsp;

“My fear is that, ultimately, they 
have so much power that they don’t have to come to the table if they 
don’t want to, and that’s going to be to the demise of our rural 
communities in western Kansas,” said Rep. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland 
Park, the committee’s ranking Democrat.

Highland won’t seek reelection and 
will leave office in January without seeing his efforts culminate in any
 legislation passed. But to him, not all is lost.&nbsp;

House members and senators will keep 
studying declining water in western Kansas and quality issues in the 
east before they introduce legislation for the next session, with far 
more time for stakeholders to take a look before hearings and 
negotiations begin. Meanwhile, state auditors will take a look at 
groundwater management districts in southern and western Kansas that 
have been charged since the 1970s with overseeing water conservation 
with mixed success.&nbsp;

“We want to know how much conservation they’ve actually done…and we want to know where the money goes,” Highland said.&nbsp;

For more than 75 years, the right to use water in Kansas has been governed by a simple idea: “first in time, first in right.”

Farmers who irrigate crops hold water
 rights, which are considered property rights. Those who have held them 
longer have seniority over newer water right holders, and they’re 
entitled to a certain number of acre-feet of water.

Farmers and ranchers —&nbsp;and, as a result, the Kansas Livestock Association — take that right seriously.

“First and foremost, we want to 
protect those property rights, and while we do understand and are 
concerned about declining levels of the Ogallala Aquifer, I think, from 
our perspective, we’re always concerned when government tries to 
interfere with those property rights,” said Aaron Popelka, vice 
president of legal and government affairs with the Kansas Livestock 
Association.

Getting them to use less, Highland said, is an uphill climb.&nbsp;

During meetings in Garden City, “several
 of the farmers that irrigate said, ‘I’m going to pump it dry, and then 
move away,’” Highland said. “But … the other side of the coin is those 
that want to keep something for the grandchildren and great 
grandchildren.”

But in parts of the state, Kansas has
 over appropriated water rights. Water users have the right to use more 
water than exists, setting up a conflict between farmers’ legal property
 rights of today and the reality of tomorrow.

It was against this backdrop that 
Highland introduced a 293-page bill restructuring state agencies that 
deal with water and creating a cabinet secretary dedicated to the 
issue.&nbsp;

The bill would have given autonomy to
 the state’s chief engineer, tasked with administering Kansas’ water 
rights laws. Right now, the engineer reports to the state’s secretary of
 agriculture, which Highland argues puts the engineer at risk of being 
overruled by a political appointee. It would have raised fees that, in 
some cases, haven’t changed in 40 years to fund water projects.&nbsp;

The most controversial element of the
 original bill would have given more power to residents residing within 
groundwater management districts who do not hold water rights. Right 
now, to serve on the board of a groundwater management district, someone
 must own at least 40 contiguous acres or a right to withdraw water on 
their property.

But the challenges to Highland’s efforts to do something about water in western Kansas were swift and severe.&nbsp;

The bill was unveiled weeks into the 
session, and critics said they weren’t given enough time to study it. 
Some objected entirely to the idea of altering groundwater management 
districts or said conservation efforts should be led from the local 
level.&nbsp;

“Some of the best solutions out there
 have been done by the local farmers and ranchers themselves,” Popelka 
said. “And while I think some folks would like to see more, there’s a 
certain level where you got to kind of let those things develop 
organically.”

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