Fort Riley officials said via social media on Saturday that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded their boil water advisory. All Fort Riley residents may resume normal water usage.

The boil water advisory was first placed into effect on Thursday following a water main break.&nbsp; Designated areas of the Post were impacted. Water access was restored on Friday, and again, the boil water advisory was lifted on Saturday.

UPDATE:Fort Riley officials said via social media on Saturday that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded their boil water advisory. All Fort Riley residents may resume normal water usage.The boil water advisory was first placed into effect on Thursday following a water main break.&nbsp; Designated areas of the Post were impacted. Water access was restored on Friday, and again, the boil water advisory was lifted on Saturday.

Boil Water Advisory at Fort Riley has been rescinded

High 45°	Cooler. Rain in the morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

High 45°	Cooler. Rain in the morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Rain is in the forecast for Monday

MANHATTAN —A 22-year-old man is confined in the Riley County Jail after a 3-month criminal investigation and 2 active grass fires in rural Riley County on Friday night.

Samuel Gilbert, a Riley County volunteer firefighter, was arrested on two counts of Arson, according to a media release from the RCPD.&nbsp; He is currently being held on a $10,000 bond.

Gilbert was taken into custody around 11:55 p.m. Friday near a pasture fire at the intersection of Alert Road and Sherman Road. The other fire reported that night was on land near Fairview Church Road and Calvary Road.&nbsp;

In November 2019, the Riley County Fire Department requested assistance from the RCPD to investigate a series of suspicious grass fires occurring in northern Riley County. &nbsp;Following analysis of the past fire response, a criminal investigation was initiated and led by Patrol Officers assigned to the North County.

&nbsp;If you have any information on these crimes, please contact RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1572454008797.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN —A 22-year-old man is confined in the Riley County Jail after a 3-month criminal investigation and 2 active grass fires in rural Riley County on Friday night.Samuel Gilbert, a Riley County volunteer firefighter, was arrested on two counts of Arson, according to a media release from the RCPD.&nbsp; He is currently being held on a $10,000 bond.Gilbert was taken into custody around 11:55 p.m. Friday near a pasture fire at the intersection of Alert Road and Sherman Road. The other fire reported that night was on land near Fairview Church Road and Calvary Road.&nbsp;In November 2019, the Riley County Fire Department requested assistance from the RCPD to investigate a series of suspicious grass fires occurring in northern Riley County. &nbsp;Following analysis of the past fire response, a criminal investigation was initiated and led by Patrol Officers assigned to the North County.&nbsp;If you have any information on these crimes, please contact RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.

Riley County volunteer firefighter arrested for alleged arson

Nine Junction City Blue Jay wrestlers have qualified for the Class 6A State Wrestling Tournament that is scheduled next Friday and Saturday in Park City, near Wichita. According to Blue Jay Athletics Twitter the wrestlers and their weight classes include:

Zane Thornton went 5-1 to finish third in the 132 pound weight class at Regionals. Fourth place finishes were turned in by Zach Putrusky at 106 pounds, Patrick Foxworth at 120 and Cameron Beasley at 138 pounds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582433914958.png" alt="blue jay.png" />
 <figcaption>blue jay.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Nine Junction City Blue Jay wrestlers have qualified for the Class 6A State Wrestling Tournament that is scheduled next Friday and Saturday in Park City, near Wichita. According to Blue Jay Athletics Twitter the wrestlers and their weight classes include:106- Zach Putrusky120- Patrick Foxworth 126- Ashton Schreiner132- Zane Thornton 138- Cameron Beasley152- CJ Neuman170- James Hancock182- Chris Owens195- Isaiah ZinkanZane Thornton went 5-1 to finish third in the 132 pound weight class at Regionals. Fourth place finishes were turned in by Zach Putrusky at 106 pounds, Patrick Foxworth at 120 and Cameron Beasley at 138 pounds.

Nine Blue Jay wrestlers will advance to state

K-State Athletics has announced that groundbreaking has occurred on the South Endzone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Fans at the K-State - Texas basketball game Saturday had an opportunity to view the groundbreaking via the video board in Bramlage Coliseum.

The Athletics Department has now raised $75.7 million of the $105 million Building Champions capital initiative announced last fall through donations from members of the Ahearn Fund and Wildcat Nation. The initiative also includes the construction of a new volleyball arena, Olympic performance training center and a new football indoor facility and outdoor practice field. A total of 83 gifts have been made toward the capital initiative.

According to K-State Athletics, the south end zone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, which is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2021 football season at a total cost of $52 million, will include a new club / suite / loge premium seating area, expanded Legends Room event space and upgraded restrooms and concessions on the south concourse. The project will also extend the northwest and northeast entrances to Bramlage Coliseum by 17.5 feet - adding nearly 4,500 square feet of additional concourse space inside Bramlage.

During construction of the South End Zone project, the southwest and southeast corner bleacher seating areas will be removed, while the northeast and northwest entrances to Bramlage Coliseum will be impacted and the Legends Room area will be closed for the 2020-2021 basketball season. There will be two new video boards in the southwest and and southeast corners of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

K-State Athletics has announced that groundbreaking has occurred on the South Endzone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Fans at the K-State - Texas basketball game Saturday had an opportunity to view the groundbreaking via the video board in Bramlage Coliseum.The Athletics Department has now raised $75.7 million of the $105 million Building Champions capital initiative announced last fall through donations from members of the Ahearn Fund and Wildcat Nation. The initiative also includes the construction of a new volleyball arena, Olympic performance training center and a new football indoor facility and outdoor practice field. A total of 83 gifts have been made toward the capital initiative.According to K-State Athletics, the south end zone project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, which is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2021 football season at a total cost of $52 million, will include a new club / suite / loge premium seating area, expanded Legends Room event space and upgraded restrooms and concessions on the south concourse. The project will also extend the northwest and northeast entrances to Bramlage Coliseum by 17.5 feet - adding nearly 4,500 square feet of additional concourse space inside Bramlage.During construction of the South End Zone project, the southwest and southeast corner bleacher seating areas will be removed, while the northeast and northwest entrances to Bramlage Coliseum will be impacted and the Legends Room area will be closed for the 2020-2021 basketball season. There will be two new video boards in the southwest and and southeast corners of Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Groundbreaking occurs on latest K-State facility master plan project

Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year and the C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year awards were presented at the annual Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce banquet Friday evening.

The 2019 Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year honor goes to Ward and Brenda Morgan. They have worked to help revitalize downtown with the creation of the Green Apple Bike Program and most recently opened Manhattan's newest attraction, the Midwest Dream Car Collection. Last year they set up a donor advised fund at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation for $17 million.

Ward and Brenda Morgan are the 53rd recipients of the Citizen of the Year award and the first to receive the honor as a couple.

Lisa Sisley was selected the 2019 C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year recipient. Her long service to the Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee and its predecessor, the Public Affairs Committee, are the basis for the award selection. Sisley has been instrumental in helping shape the Chamber's public policies over the past 10 years, and as chair of this committee she helped lead efforts to transition between the two committee formats. She has played a key role in writing the Chamber's legislative policy document over much of the last decade, and has been a facilitator of civil discussions among groups of people with sometimes differing viewpoints.

Most recently Sisley has been a leader in advocating for the city's economic development funds and other positions the Chamber has taken on public issues. She is the 31st recipient of the C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year award.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582430742261.jpeg" alt="Ward and Brenda Morgan" />
 <figcaption>Ward and Brenda Morgan</figcaption>
 </figure>Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year and the C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year awards were presented at the annual Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce banquet Friday evening.The 2019 Lud Fiser Citizen of the Year honor goes to Ward and Brenda Morgan. They have worked to help revitalize downtown with the creation of the Green Apple Bike Program and most recently opened Manhattan's newest attraction, the Midwest Dream Car Collection. Last year they set up a donor advised fund at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation for $17 million.Ward and Brenda Morgan are the 53rd recipients of the Citizen of the Year award and the first to receive the honor as a couple.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582430677755.jpeg" alt="Lisa Sisley" />
 <figcaption>Lisa Sisley</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Sisley was selected the 2019 C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year recipient. Her long service to the Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee and its predecessor, the Public Affairs Committee, are the basis for the award selection. Sisley has been instrumental in helping shape the Chamber's public policies over the past 10 years, and as chair of this committee she helped lead efforts to transition between the two committee formats. She has played a key role in writing the Chamber's legislative policy document over much of the last decade, and has been a facilitator of civil discussions among groups of people with sometimes differing viewpoints.Most recently Sisley has been a leader in advocating for the city's economic development funds and other positions the Chamber has taken on public issues. She is the 31st recipient of the C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year award.

Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce presents annual awards

The Open Door Homeless Shelter, Junction City - Geary County United Way and Food Pantry of Geary County will jointly host a chili feed on March 14 at the Open Door.

According to Open Door Executive Director Mickey Davies the hours for the chili feed will be 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The cost for a meal will be $5. Proceeds raised will be split between the three organizations.

The Open Door Homeless Shelter, Junction City - Geary County United Way and Food Pantry of Geary County will jointly host a chili feed on March 14 at the Open Door.According to Open Door Executive Director Mickey Davies the hours for the chili feed will be 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The cost for a meal will be $5. Proceeds raised will be split between the three organizations.

Chili feed fundraiser planned at the Open Door

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team Soldiers returned to Ft. Riley this past October from a deployment to Poland. Sergeant First Class Zachary Ballard said once they occupied their location in Trezvien, Poland they were able to experience the culture of food, customs and how the Polish view Americans.&nbsp;

Ballard said the Soldiers accomplished a lot including a culminating event involving a 10-day field exercise. "In a five month span we able to accomplish what would take approximately one year of training."

Environmental considerations with weather were a challenge for the troops during their deployment.

Living arrangements included the use of twelve 100-man tents for a two-to three month period followed by the use of 'Alaska' tents that housed twelve Soldiers.

1st Lieutenant Trevor Prindle served as a platoon leader for a rifle platoon. "My role is to design training and empower my NCO's to carry out that training." Prindle arrived in Poland in June after the deployment had begun. He credited the U.S. training for being well organized.&nbsp; "We have a set of rules that we follow within regulations and doctrine that we live by when it comes to training. " He noted that the Polish training structure seemed very minimal.

The troops from Fort Riley also spent time at at military base in Germany.

Prindle and Ballard briefed a Society of the 1st Infantry Division Fort Riley chapter meeting audience&nbsp; about the recent deployment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582390442429.jpeg" alt="1st Combat Brigade Team representatives including 1st. Lieutenant Trevor Prindle ( left ) and Sergeant 1st Class Zachary Ballard ( right ) posing with Society of the 1st Infantry Division Chapter Director Phyllis Fitzgerald," />
 <figcaption>1st Combat Brigade Team representatives including 1st. Lieutenant Trevor Prindle ( left ) and Sergeant 1st Class Zachary Ballard ( right ) posing with Society of the 1st Infantry Division Chapter Director Phyllis Fitzgerald,</figcaption>
 </figure>1st Armored Brigade Combat Team Soldiers returned to Ft. Riley this past October from a deployment to Poland. Sergeant First Class Zachary Ballard said once they occupied their location in Trezvien, Poland they were able to experience the culture of food, customs and how the Polish view Americans.&nbsp;Ballard said the Soldiers accomplished a lot including a culminating event involving a 10-day field exercise. "In a five month span we able to accomplish what would take approximately one year of training."Environmental considerations with weather were a challenge for the troops during their deployment.Living arrangements included the use of twelve 100-man tents for a two-to three month period followed by the use of 'Alaska' tents that housed twelve Soldiers.1st Lieutenant Trevor Prindle served as a platoon leader for a rifle platoon. "My role is to design training and empower my NCO's to carry out that training." Prindle arrived in Poland in June after the deployment had begun. He credited the U.S. training for being well organized.&nbsp; "We have a set of rules that we follow within regulations and doctrine that we live by when it comes to training. " He noted that the Polish training structure seemed very minimal.The troops from Fort Riley also spent time at at military base in Germany.Prindle and Ballard briefed a Society of the 1st Infantry Division Fort Riley chapter meeting audience&nbsp; about the recent deployment.

Troops provide briefing for Society of 1st Infantry Division Fort Riley chapter members

There will be a joint Junction City / Geary County / USD 475 meeting at the C. L. Hoover Opera House on Monday at 5 p.m.

Topics on the agenda include an update on progress of the new Junction City High School project by USD 475, an update on City projects including those related to the new high school project, and a Geary Community Hospital report by Geary County.

There will be a joint Junction City / Geary County / USD 475 meeting at the C. L. Hoover Opera House on Monday at 5 p.m.Topics on the agenda include an update on progress of the new Junction City High School project by USD 475, an update on City projects including those related to the new high school project, and a Geary Community Hospital report by Geary County.

Joint meeting of city-county-school district leaders is scheduled Monday

MANHATTAN — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire on Friday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The small fire inside a cooler at the stadium was quickly contained. Estimated $10,000 in damage to food, according to a social media report from the Manhattan Fire Department. They reported no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582377140213.png" alt="Photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire on Friday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.The small fire inside a cooler at the stadium was quickly contained. Estimated $10,000 in damage to food, according to a social media report from the Manhattan Fire Department. They reported no injuries.

Small fire at Bill Snyder Family stadium

The Junction City Blue Jay boys Class 4A State Championship basketball team was honored Friday night at the Shenk Gym. There was a reception for them at the school and some members of the program in 1970 were recognized at halftime of the boys basketball game against Topeka West.

The team went 19-5 and defeated Coffeyville in the state championship game.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582348561239.jpeg" alt="Members of the JCHS 1970 Class 4A state championship team" />
 <figcaption>Members of the JCHS 1970 Class 4A state championship team</figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City Blue Jay boys Class 4A State Championship basketball team was honored Friday night at the Shenk Gym. There was a reception for them at the school and some members of the program in 1970 were recognized at halftime of the boys basketball game against Topeka West.The team went 19-5 and defeated Coffeyville in the state championship game.&nbsp;

State championship basketball team honored

WACO, Texas (AP) — Udoka Azubuike had 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and No. 3 Kansas held on to beat No. 1 Baylor 64-61. That ended the Bears' 23-game winning streak, and come Monday, likely their five-week hold on the No. 1 spot in the AP poll. 

The 24-3 Jayhawks have won 12 in a row since their first-ever home loss to Baylor on Jan. 11. They had a 10-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes left before Baylor cut it to one in the final seconds. Jared Butler led the 24-2 Bears with 19 points but missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

WACO, Texas (AP) — Udoka Azubuike had 23 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and No. 3 Kansas held on to beat No. 1 Baylor 64-61. That ended the Bears' 23-game winning streak, and come Monday, likely their five-week hold on the No. 1 spot in the AP poll. The 24-3 Jayhawks have won 12 in a row since their first-ever home loss to Baylor on Jan. 11. They had a 10-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes left before Baylor cut it to one in the final seconds. Jared Butler led the 24-2 Bears with 19 points but missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Kansas wins Big 12 showdown with Baylor

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Courtney Ramey scored a career-high 26 points, Texas caused havoc for Kansas State on the defensive end, and the Longhorns cruised to a 70-59 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday. 

Donovan Williams added 12 points and Matt Coleman III returned from the first missed game of his college career to also score 12, keeping the Longhorns firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble as March draws near. Xavier Sneed had 15 points and Makol Mawien 14 for the Wildcats, who have lost seven straight for the first time since 2001.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Courtney Ramey scored a career-high 26 points, Texas caused havoc for Kansas State on the defensive end, and the Longhorns cruised to a 70-59 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday. Donovan Williams added 12 points and Matt Coleman III returned from the first missed game of his college career to also score 12, keeping the Longhorns firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble as March draws near. Xavier Sneed had 15 points and Makol Mawien 14 for the Wildcats, who have lost seven straight for the first time since 2001.

Wildcat losing streak extends to seven games

Central Heights 66, Marais des Cygnes Valley 40

Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 73, Heritage Christian 50

Salina Sacred Heart 41, Republic County 34

St. John's Beloit-Tipton 53, Sylvan-Lucas 4

Tescott 38, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 34

University Academy, Mo. 76, KC Christian 27

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Abilene 59, Clay Center 30Andover 99, Newton 78Andover Central 59, Valley Center 46Augusta 65, El Dorado 44BV North 95, Mill Valley 69Baxter Springs 57, Girard 44Beloit 55, Minneapolis 51Berean Academy 55, Goessel 32Bishop Miege 67, BV Southwest 37Bluestem 74, Neodesha 56Bonner Springs 61, Louisburg 54Bucklin 51, Satanta 46Buhler 63, Winfield 44Burlington 74, Osawatomie 64Caldwell 55, Burden Central 49Caney Valley 81, Erie 62Central Heights 66, Marais des Cygnes Valley 40Central Plains 42, Kinsley 32Centre 100, Chase 25Cheney 56, Belle Plaine 51Cimarron 53, Sublette 19Concordia 71, Wamego 61Ellsworth 50, Lincoln 22Elyria Christian 58, Marion 41Emporia 56, Topeka Seaman 45Frontenac 49, Pittsburg Colgan 43Galena 52, Columbus 36Garden Plain 55, Wichita Trinity 54Goddard-Eisenhower 66, Goddard 31Great Bend 57, Dodge City 48Greeley County 47, St. Francis 40Hays 59, Garden City 50, OTHays-TMP-Marian 74, Stockton 51Hesston 45, Nickerson 36Hiawatha 68, Jefferson West 61Hoisington 73, Larned 62Horton 47, Atchison County 28Hoxie 67, Northern Valley 45Hugoton 56, Colby 48Hutchinson Trinity 50, Sterling 43Labette County 58, Coffeyville 54Lakeside 46, Natoma 24Lawrence 50, Lawrence Free State 42Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 73, Heritage Christian 50Lyons 57, Hillsboro 53Madison/Hamilton 0, Lyndon 0Maize 67, Salina Central 48McLouth 53, Oskaloosa 26McPherson 65, Circle 43Mulvane 16, Andale 13Nemaha Central 34, Holton 31Ness City 73, Victoria 29Northern Heights 56, Hartford 20Olathe West 44, Olathe South 39Oswego 64, Chetopa 59Ottawa 71, Baldwin 49Paola 47, Tonganoxie 41Parsons 65, Chanute 35Pawnee Heights 69, Ingalls 59Perry-Lecompton 80, Riverside 62Plainville 69, Hill City 62Pleasant Ridge 57, Jackson Heights 34Riley County 63, Rossville 26Rock Creek 65, Silver Lake 32Rock Hills 66, Thunder Ridge 56Royal Valley 63, Sabetha 43Salina Sacred Heart 41, Republic County 34Salina South 70, Hutchinson 56Scott City 56, Holcomb 48Smoky Valley 49, Halstead 44Solomon 73, Bennington 60South Gray 58, Kiowa County 45Southeast Saline 77, Russell 54Spring Hill 60, Eudora 59St. James Academy 65, Topeka Hayden 54St. John 54, Macksville 33St. John's Beloit-Tipton 53, Sylvan-Lucas 4St. Paul 63, Yates Center 40Tescott 38, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 34Topeka 55, Manhattan 48Topeka West 60, Junction City 52Trego 63, Smith Center 37Triplains-Brewster 65, Cheylin 44Ulysses 63, Goodland 48Uniontown 68, Northeast-Arma 64University Academy, Mo. 76, KC Christian 27Van Horn, Mo. 88, Maranatha Academy 61Wabaunsee 59, Herington 46Washburn Rural 49, Highland Park 45Wellington 60, Clearwater 45Wellsville 52, Santa Fe Trail 47Weskan 50, Western Plains 49West Elk 64, South Haven 53Wheatland-Grinnell 75, Logan 62Wichita Campus 62, Derby 54Wichita Collegiate 60, Rose Hill 45Wichita Heights 57, Wichita North 43Wichita Independent 73, Kingman 54Wichita South 77, Wichita Northwest 55Wichita Southeast 70, Kapaun Mount Carmel 67GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Andale 62, Mulvane 27Anderson County 64, Prairie View 27Andover 58, Newton 30Andover Central 67, Valley Center 34Baldwin 40, Ottawa 34Basehor-Linwood 79, KC Turner 14Beloit 54, Minneapolis 47Bennington 49, Solomon 22Bishop Miege 61, BV Southwest 36Bluestem 56, Neodesha 50Bonner Springs 43, Louisburg 39Bucklin 54, Satanta 22Buhler 48, Winfield 40Caldwell 41, Burden Central 12Caney Valley 48, Erie 30Central Heights 51, Marais des Cygnes Valley 16Central Plains 62, Kinsley 21Chanute 54, Parsons 26Chapman 51, Marysville 39Chase County 44, Centre 35Cheney 58, Belle Plaine 36Chetopa 46, Oswego 22Cheylin 58, Triplains-Brewster 14Cimarron 51, Sublette 39Clay Center 55, Abilene 25Colby 32, Hugoton 23Conway Springs 48, Medicine Lodge 37Derby 59, Wichita Campus 11Dodge City 58, Great Bend 42El Dorado 32, Augusta 25Ellsworth 52, Lincoln 17Elyria Christian 35, Marion 31Eudora 48, Spring Hill 39Flinthills 58, Udall 28Frontenac 37, Pittsburg Colgan 29Galena 35, Columbus 30Garden City 54, Hays 38Girard 61, Baxter Springs 51Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 33, Tescott 30Golden Plains 56, Palco 21Goodland 44, Ulysses 24Halstead 47, Smoky Valley 35Haven 44, Pratt 43Hays-TMP-Marian 64, Stockton 45Hillsboro 34, Lyons 24Hoxie 69, Northern Valley 21Hutchinson 50, Salina South 37Ingalls 69, Pawnee Heights 40Jackson Heights 40, Pleasant Ridge 35Jefferson West 38, Hiawatha 26Junction City 53, Topeka West 46KC Bishop Ward 76, Barstow, Mo. 17Kapaun Mount Carmel 62, Wichita Southeast 49Lakeside 50, Natoma 17Lansing 52, DeSoto 41Lawrence Free State 66, Lawrence 38Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 53, Heritage Christian 41Lyndon 35, Madison/Hamilton 25Maize 59, Salina Central 46Maize South 53, Arkansas City 33McPherson 46, Circle 35Meade 41, Stanton County 38, OTMinneola 64, Fowler 16Nemaha Central 54, Holton 39Nickerson 57, Hesston 49Northern Heights 52, Hartford 35Oberlin-Decatur 52, Quinter 33Olathe Northwest 63, Olathe North 57Osborne 66, Chase 33Otis-Bison 65, Ellinwood 43Paola 48, Tonganoxie 30Perry-Lecompton 58, Riverside 28Plainville 51, Hill City 37Republic County 45, Salina Sacred Heart 42Riley County 45, Rossville 25Rock Creek 45, Silver Lake 35Rural Vista 61, Mission Valley 31SM Northwest 50, SM North 21Sabetha 62, Royal Valley 31Scott City 54, Holcomb 33Shawnee Heights 49, Leavenworth 42Southeast Saline 70, Russell 49Spearville 63, South Central 49St. James Academy 51, Topeka Hayden 37St. John's Beloit-Tipton 63, Sylvan-Lucas 40St. Paul 64, Yates Center 36St. Thomas Aquinas 59, BV West 23Sterling 62, Hutchinson Trinity 44Syracuse 45, Lakin 21Thunder Ridge 59, Rock Hills 22Topeka 66, Manhattan 30Topeka Seaman 49, Emporia 28Trego 55, Smith Center 41Uniontown 55, Northeast-Arma 27University Academy, Mo. 32, KC Christian 28Victoria 37, Ness City 22Wabaunsee 61, Herington 48Wakefield 46, Canton-Galva 43Walsh, Colo. 37, Rolla 28Wamego 49, Concordia 24Washburn Rural 69, Highland Park 31Wellington 54, Clearwater 41Wellsville 38, Santa Fe Trail 25West Elk 44, South Haven 33Wheatland-Grinnell 47, Logan 41Wichita County 74, Dighton 48Wichita Independent 51, Kingman 36Wichita Northwest 55, Wichita South 49Wichita Trinity 64, Garden Plain 48Wichita West 40, Wichita East 35___Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

High School basketball result

The Junction City Blue Jays have 12 wrestlers, the entire varsity team, still in the Class 6A Regional heading into day two of that tournament at Washburn Rural.

Zach Petrusky at 106 pounds, Zane Thornton at 132 and Cameron Beasley in the 138 pound weight class all reached the semifinals before losing on Friday.

Wrestlers are working to qualify for the state tournament next week.

The Junction City Blue Jays have 12 wrestlers, the entire varsity team, still in the Class 6A Regional heading into day two of that tournament at Washburn Rural.Zach Petrusky at 106 pounds, Zane Thornton at 132 and Cameron Beasley in the 138 pound weight class all reached the semifinals before losing on Friday.Wrestlers are working to qualify for the state tournament next week.

Regional wrestling update

Junction City High School varsity basketball games split their contests on Winter Homecoming night at the senior high. The Lady Jays ( 3-15 ) defeated Topeka West 53-46 while the Blue Jays ( 7-11 ) fell to Topeka West 60-52 at the Shenk Gym.

In the boys game Junction City jumped out to an 18-8 first quarter lead but the Chargers roared back to go up at halftime and never trailed again. Junction City players hit four 3-point shots in the first period but only two the rest of the game. Topeka West capitalized on the 3-point shot seven times with six of those coming from guard Bryson Bitler.&nbsp; The Chargers also used a strong 2-2-1 defense to trap and force the Blue Jays into some turnovers.

Junction City will play at Seaman on Tuesday.

In the girls game the Lady Jays led by 11 at halftime before Topeka West climbed to within one point at 37-36 early in the fourth quarter. The Lady Jays then on track offensively. They were by Andrea Davis, who scored 15 point while Mellana Davis had 19 points in the win.

The Lady Jays also play at Seaman Tuesday night.

Junction City High School varsity basketball games split their contests on Winter Homecoming night at the senior high. The Lady Jays ( 3-15 ) defeated Topeka West 53-46 while the Blue Jays ( 7-11 ) fell to Topeka West 60-52 at the Shenk Gym.In the boys game Junction City jumped out to an 18-8 first quarter lead but the Chargers roared back to go up at halftime and never trailed again. Junction City players hit four 3-point shots in the first period but only two the rest of the game. Topeka West capitalized on the 3-point shot seven times with six of those coming from guard Bryson Bitler.&nbsp; The Chargers also used a strong 2-2-1 defense to trap and force the Blue Jays into some turnovers.Junction City will play at Seaman on Tuesday.--In the girls game the Lady Jays led by 11 at halftime before Topeka West climbed to within one point at 37-36 early in the fourth quarter. The Lady Jays then on track offensively. They were by Andrea Davis, who scored 15 point while Mellana Davis had 19 points in the win.The Lady Jays also play at Seaman Tuesday night.

Lady Jays win while Blue Jays fall in basketball Friday night

OLATHE, KAN. (AP) — A&nbsp;Shawnee man admitted Friday that he threatened to kill a 13-year-old girl's family if she did not send nude photos of herself to him.

Logan Clements, 23, pleaded guilty in Johnson County District Court to electronic solicitation of a minor, blackmail and sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors dismissed rape and sexual exploitation of a child charges.

Clements was charged in January 2019 after the Overland Park girl's parents found photos their daughter had sent.

Police say Clements came to the girl's house believing they were going to have sex but he was arrested.

The two met online and the girl told Clements she was 18, according to court documents. After his arrest, Clements said he at first thought the girl was 18 or 19 but later believed she was 14 or 16.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582317666637.png" alt="Logan Clements -photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Logan Clements -photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, KAN. (AP) — A&nbsp;Shawnee man admitted Friday that he threatened to kill a 13-year-old girl's family if she did not send nude photos of herself to him.Logan Clements, 23, pleaded guilty in Johnson County District Court to electronic solicitation of a minor, blackmail and sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors dismissed rape and sexual exploitation of a child charges.Clements was charged in January 2019 after the Overland Park girl's parents found photos their daughter had sent.Police say Clements came to the girl's house believing they were going to have sex but he was arrested.The two met online and the girl told Clements she was 18, according to court documents. After his arrest, Clements said he at first thought the girl was 18 or 19 but later believed she was 14 or 16.Clements will be sentenced April 2.

Kansas man admits threatening girl's family to get nude photos

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More than 50 personnel at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas may have been exposed to dangerous levels of a compound linked to cancer that was found inside an aircraft hangar last year, according to internal memos.

<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article240484866.html" target="_blank">Contamination&nbsp;</a>by hexavalent chrominium, the subject of the case featured in the movie “Eric Brockovich”, was documented in multiple base memos from October 2019 to January 2020, McClatchy reported. The chemical can be used as an anti-corrosion agent and “is found in paints and primers used on the KC-135 and to a lesser extent the KC-46.”

A November test found that an airman had been exposed to levels almost six times higher than the permissible exposure limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It warns that exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause respiratory diseases, kidney, liver or abdominal damage and various cancers, the Wichita Eagle reported.

One memo noted exhaust filers and protective gear should have limited contamination and the risk of exposure to the area used for painting. It determined that dust contamination is present on most surfaces in hanger 1124 North and presents a contact hazard to unprotected workers. It also noted detection of the chemical in the break room and on the floor near the supervisor’s desk, according to an October memo.

A notice was issued in October to personnel warning of the hangar contamination and underlined “NO FOOD OR DRINK are authorized in the North Bay of Hangar 1124.”

The base encouraged any personnel who believe they were exposed to the chemical to report it.

McConnell said in a statement that it is aware of the exposure hazard and has taken steps to protect personnel. It said only mission essential personnel trained to work with hexavalent chromium have access to the hangar.

“The hangar also is limited to a single entry control point with specified decontamination zones and rigorous cleaning procedure, and exposure-level testing is conducted regularly,” according to the base statement.

But McClatchy reported that a January email from a base bioenvironmental engineer to a chief medical officer indicates contamination may have spread and could impact operations.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — More than 50 personnel at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas may have been exposed to dangerous levels of a compound linked to cancer that was found inside an aircraft hangar last year, according to internal memos.<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article240484866.html" target="_blank">Contamination&nbsp;</a>by hexavalent chrominium, the subject of the case featured in the movie “Eric Brockovich”, was documented in multiple base memos from October 2019 to January 2020, McClatchy reported. The chemical can be used as an anti-corrosion agent and “is found in paints and primers used on the KC-135 and to a lesser extent the KC-46.”A November test found that an airman had been exposed to levels almost six times higher than the permissible exposure limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It warns that exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause respiratory diseases, kidney, liver or abdominal damage and various cancers, the Wichita Eagle reported.One memo noted exhaust filers and protective gear should have limited contamination and the risk of exposure to the area used for painting. It determined that dust contamination is present on most surfaces in hanger 1124 North and presents a contact hazard to unprotected workers. It also noted detection of the chemical in the break room and on the floor near the supervisor’s desk, according to an October memo.A notice was issued in October to personnel warning of the hangar contamination and underlined “NO FOOD OR DRINK are authorized in the North Bay of Hangar 1124.”The base encouraged any personnel who believe they were exposed to the chemical to report it.McConnell said in a statement that it is aware of the exposure hazard and has taken steps to protect personnel. It said only mission essential personnel trained to work with hexavalent chromium have access to the hangar.“The hangar also is limited to a single entry control point with specified decontamination zones and rigorous cleaning procedure, and exposure-level testing is conducted regularly,” according to the base statement.But McClatchy reported that a January email from a base bioenvironmental engineer to a chief medical officer indicates contamination may have spread and could impact operations.

Cancer-linked chemical found inside Kansas aircraft hanger

TOPEKA, KAN. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are considering blocking the sale of raw milk or requiring farmers to include warning labels on packaging after the state abandoned a law prohibiting farmers from advertising raw milk outside their farm.

The state stopped enforcing the ban after Shepherd’s Gate Dairy operators Mark and Coraleen Bunner filed a lawsuit against the state in October.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the state Department of Agriculture settled the lawsuit in November resulting in the end of the ban. Schmidt admitted the law was “plainly unconstitutional.”

Pasteurized milk undergoes a heating process to kill pathogens. Raw milk that comes straight from a cow or goat is much more likely to carry salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

But those who drink and sell raw milk think of it as an all-natural product that brings people closer to the source of their food.

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee endorsed a bill Thursday that would allow the on-farm sale of raw, unpasteurized milk, so long as each container sold labels it as such. It goes next to the Senate for debate, possibly next week.

It remains unclear how the Legislature as a whole would vote. A bill to ban the sale of raw milk have also been proposed.

“I think that people should have the choice to eat what they want,” said Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco. “We have a lot of other substances we know are not good for people and we allow those.”

While state legislators decide on an approach, consumers and farmers in consumers are weighing in on both sides of the issue.

“Our consumers of raw milk educate themselves. They’re not stupid people,” said Mary Powell, a Longton resident with more than 30 years of livestock experience.

Aaron Pauly, who milks 160 cows on his farm in Sedgwick County, said the bill would stop unregulated sales to uninformed members of the public.

“There’s a certain nostalgia associated with the way our grandparents or even our great-grandparents operated the farms and the food they ate,” Pauly said. But society has progressed “to a higher standard of living.”

Tucker Stewart, a Kansas Livestock Association lobbyist, said labeling is important because the state banned the advertising law. Raw milk can now be advertised to more people, he added.

“You might not be targeting those consumers who really understand the dangers of raw milk,” Stewart said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582479084207.png" alt="Sen. Marci Francisco courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Marci Francisco courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are considering blocking the sale of raw milk or requiring farmers to include warning labels on packaging after the state abandoned a law prohibiting farmers from advertising raw milk outside their farm.The state stopped enforcing the ban after Shepherd’s Gate Dairy operators Mark and Coraleen Bunner filed a lawsuit against the state in October.Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the state Department of Agriculture settled the lawsuit in November resulting in the end of the ban. Schmidt admitted the law was “plainly unconstitutional.”Pasteurized milk undergoes a heating process to kill pathogens. Raw milk that comes straight from a cow or goat is much more likely to carry salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria, according to the Food and Drug Administration.But those who drink and sell raw milk think of it as an all-natural product that brings people closer to the source of their food.The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee endorsed a bill Thursday that would allow the on-farm sale of raw, unpasteurized milk, so long as each container sold labels it as such. It goes next to the Senate for debate, possibly next week.It remains unclear how the Legislature as a whole would vote. A bill to ban the sale of raw milk have also been proposed.“I think that people should have the choice to eat what they want,” said Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco. “We have a lot of other substances we know are not good for people and we allow those.”While state legislators decide on an approach, consumers and farmers in consumers are weighing in on both sides of the issue.“Our consumers of raw milk educate themselves. They’re not stupid people,” said Mary Powell, a Longton resident with more than 30 years of livestock experience.Aaron Pauly, who milks 160 cows on his farm in Sedgwick County, said the bill would stop unregulated sales to uninformed members of the public.“There’s a certain nostalgia associated with the way our grandparents or even our great-grandparents operated the farms and the food they ate,” Pauly said. But society has progressed “to a higher standard of living.”Tucker Stewart, a Kansas Livestock Association lobbyist, said labeling is important because the state banned the advertising law. Raw milk can now be advertised to more people, he added.“You might not be targeting those consumers who really understand the dangers of raw milk,” Stewart said.

Kansas legislators contemplate raw milk ban, warning labels

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman found with a stolen handgun and drugs.

Just after 11:30 p.m. February 13, two police officers stopped a 1997 Honda Prelude at St. Francis and Mt. Vernon in Wichita for a traffic violation, according to officer Charley Davidson.

 During the stop, officers had contact with 21-year-old Kylie Yauch of Newton who was in possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen handgun. The gun had been stolen from a vehicle the previous day.

Police had arrested Yauch on February 8, after she was stopped driving a stolen vehicle. She was arrested on charges of criminal deprivation of property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license.

She was booked on requested charges of possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a seat belt violation for the February 13, arrest.

Police reminded the public to not leave guns unsecured in a vehicle. Take them with you, leave them at home or purchase a lockbox.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582386768557.png" alt="Yauch photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Yauch photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman found with a stolen handgun and drugs.Just after 11:30 p.m. February 13, two police officers stopped a 1997 Honda Prelude at St. Francis and Mt. Vernon in Wichita for a traffic violation, according to officer Charley Davidson. During the stop, officers had contact with 21-year-old Kylie Yauch of Newton who was in possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen handgun. The gun had been stolen from a vehicle the previous day.Police had arrested Yauch on February 8, after she was stopped driving a stolen vehicle. She was arrested on charges of criminal deprivation of property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license.She was booked on requested charges of possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a seat belt violation for the February 13, arrest.Police reminded the public to not leave guns unsecured in a vehicle. Take them with you, leave them at home or purchase a lockbox.

Police: Kan. woman had stolen handgun during traffic stop

By MICHELLE TYRENE JOHNSON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-could-ban-discrimination-against-workers-black-hairstyles-dreadlocks-and-braids#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Emily Brown runs a non-profit in the Kansas City area. She is a black
 woman who wears her hair naturally. In 2016, she was invited to speak 
at a national conference, but one of the board members pulled her aside.

“You know, I think you’re smart,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/seg-1-hair-discrimination-seg-2-abandoned-kansas-city">Brown told the story recently on KCUR's Central Standard</a>.
 "But I’m concerned, you know, that people in the room may not fully 
hear you because of your hair. You should consider straightening your 
hair, you know, before you take this trip.”

The invitation to speak was a big deal, Brown said, and this board member made her doubt herself.

“It
 really made me think twice on my decision to wear my hair natural,” 
Brown said. “Are people not listening to me here in rooms in Kansas City
 because of this hair?”

In Kansas, this question could be a legal
 issue. Earlier this year, Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau introduced 
Senate Bill 250 — also known as the CROWN Act — which would amend the 
definition of race in state law to cover “hair texture and protective 
hairstyles.” CROWN stands for Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for
 Natural Hair.

California was the first state to pass a similar law, followed by New York and New Jersey.

The
 bill primarily addresses discrimination in schools and the workplace 
against African Americans hairstyles such as dreadlocks, braids, weaves,
 twists and naturals.

Michele Watley, the founder of an advocacy 
organization for black women called Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, was among
 those who testified before the Senate's Federal and State Affairs 
Committee in support of the bill.

“It’s an important issue here in the Midwest, for black women across 
the region," Watley said. "Regardless of their political affiliations, 
economic status, education level, we’ve all dealt with this issue at one
 point in our lives or another."

Watley pointed out that Chiefs 
player Patrick Mahomes is well known for his textured, curly hair. &nbsp;But 
Mahomes, who is biracial with a black father, might have a different 
response if he worked in Kansas as something other than a Superbowl 
hero.

“If Patrick Mahomes worked in certain work spaces or went 
to certain schools, he might find that he had to straighten or cut his 
hair in order to graduate, in order to attend school, in order to keep 
his job,” Watley said.

Straightening black hair, and keeping it 
straight, is neither simple nor inexpensive, Watley said. Chemical 
relaxers, a common alternative to straightening hair, can be damaging to
 the hair itself. Studies show they are linked to other health problems,
 such as cancer.

“The undue burden and physical harm and risk is, far outweighs trying
 to adhere to a Eurocentric standard of beauty that we can not naturally
 meet and is narrow,” Watley said.

At&nbsp; the statehouse hearing on 
the act, others agreed with Watley's position, including Kenya Cox, 
executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.

“We
 had no idea of how many women would contact us, how many stories we 
would read about on Facebook and how many individuals were suffering in 
silence,” Cox told the committee.

The Kansas Chamber of Commerce,
 in a written statement to the committee obtained by the Associated 
Press, said that such a law could affect an employer’s ability to 
enforce a dress code or even comply with some safety standards.

Sen.
 Richard Hilderbrand, a Republican from Galena, said he supports the 
bill but is concerned about whether there is enough clarity on what is 
considered a historically cultural hairstyle if individuals from other 
groups raise the issue.

“Who decides what that is?” Hilderbrand asked.

Leah
 Fliter, the advocacy and outreach specialist for the Kansas Association
 of School Boards, said the organization is neutral on the proposed 
bill. However, Fliter said, the concern is that if you spell out what 
can’t be discriminated against, it could possibly open the door to more 
discrimination.

“If I can’t discriminate against someone based on
 hair styles or what color T-shirts they are wearing, then I can 
discriminate against them based on other things," Fliter said.

The
 bill has not yet moved out of committee. Twenty-two other states are 
also considering passing similar legislation, including Missouri.

Michelle Tyrene Johnson is a reporter at KCUR 89.3 and part of the public radio collaborative <a href="https://sharingamerica.news/">Sharing America</a>,
 covering the intersection of race, identity and culture. This 
initiative, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, includes 
reporters in Kansas City, St. Louis, Hartford, Connecticut and Portland,
 Oregon. She can be contacted at <a href="mailto:michelle@kcur.org">michelle@kcur.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582302539927.jpeg" alt=" Emily Brown was questioned about her natural hair at the non-profit organization where she is founder and CEO. Shannon Lockwood / Courtesy of Emily Brown" />
 <figcaption> Emily Brown was questioned about her natural hair at the non-profit organization where she is founder and CEO. Shannon Lockwood / Courtesy of Emily Brown</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE TYRENE JOHNSON <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-could-ban-discrimination-against-workers-black-hairstyles-dreadlocks-and-braids#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Emily Brown runs a non-profit in the Kansas City area. She is a black
 woman who wears her hair naturally. In 2016, she was invited to speak 
at a national conference, but one of the board members pulled her aside.“You know, I think you’re smart,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/seg-1-hair-discrimination-seg-2-abandoned-kansas-city">Brown told the story recently on KCUR's Central Standard</a>.
 "But I’m concerned, you know, that people in the room may not fully 
hear you because of your hair. You should consider straightening your 
hair, you know, before you take this trip.”The invitation to speak was a big deal, Brown said, and this board member made her doubt herself.“It
 really made me think twice on my decision to wear my hair natural,” 
Brown said. “Are people not listening to me here in rooms in Kansas City
 because of this hair?”In Kansas, this question could be a legal
 issue. Earlier this year, Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau introduced 
Senate Bill 250 — also known as the CROWN Act — which would amend the 
definition of race in state law to cover “hair texture and protective 
hairstyles.” CROWN stands for Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for
 Natural Hair.California was the first state to pass a similar law, followed by New York and New Jersey.The
 bill primarily addresses discrimination in schools and the workplace 
against African Americans hairstyles such as dreadlocks, braids, weaves,
 twists and naturals.Michele Watley, the founder of an advocacy 
organization for black women called Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, was among
 those who testified before the Senate's Federal and State Affairs 
Committee in support of the bill.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582302603151.jpeg" alt=" Michele Watley, who is founder of Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet, has natural hair that she straightens. Credit Michelle Tyrene Johnson / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Michele Watley, who is founder of Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet, has natural hair that she straightens. Credit Michelle Tyrene Johnson / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s an important issue here in the Midwest, for black women across 
the region," Watley said. "Regardless of their political affiliations, 
economic status, education level, we’ve all dealt with this issue at one
 point in our lives or another."Watley pointed out that Chiefs 
player Patrick Mahomes is well known for his textured, curly hair. &nbsp;But 
Mahomes, who is biracial with a black father, might have a different 
response if he worked in Kansas as something other than a Superbowl 
hero.“If Patrick Mahomes worked in certain work spaces or went 
to certain schools, he might find that he had to straighten or cut his 
hair in order to graduate, in order to attend school, in order to keep 
his job,” Watley said.Straightening black hair, and keeping it 
straight, is neither simple nor inexpensive, Watley said. Chemical 
relaxers, a common alternative to straightening hair, can be damaging to
 the hair itself. Studies show they are linked to other health problems,
 such as cancer.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582302635754.jpeg" alt=" Beauty shops usually carry a large number of chemical kits to straighten black hair. Credit Michelle Tyrene Johnson / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Beauty shops usually carry a large number of chemical kits to straighten black hair. Credit Michelle Tyrene Johnson / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>“The undue burden and physical harm and risk is, far outweighs trying
 to adhere to a Eurocentric standard of beauty that we can not naturally
 meet and is narrow,” Watley said.At&nbsp; the statehouse hearing on 
the act, others agreed with Watley's position, including Kenya Cox, 
executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.“We
 had no idea of how many women would contact us, how many stories we 
would read about on Facebook and how many individuals were suffering in 
silence,” Cox told the committee.The Kansas Chamber of Commerce,
 in a written statement to the committee obtained by the Associated 
Press, said that such a law could affect an employer’s ability to 
enforce a dress code or even comply with some safety standards.Sen.
 Richard Hilderbrand, a Republican from Galena, said he supports the 
bill but is concerned about whether there is enough clarity on what is 
considered a historically cultural hairstyle if individuals from other 
groups raise the issue.“Who decides what that is?” Hilderbrand asked.Leah
 Fliter, the advocacy and outreach specialist for the Kansas Association
 of School Boards, said the organization is neutral on the proposed 
bill. However, Fliter said, the concern is that if you spell out what 
can’t be discriminated against, it could possibly open the door to more 
discrimination.“If I can’t discriminate against someone based on
 hair styles or what color T-shirts they are wearing, then I can 
discriminate against them based on other things," Fliter said.The
 bill has not yet moved out of committee. Twenty-two other states are 
also considering passing similar legislation, including Missouri.Michelle Tyrene Johnson is a reporter at KCUR 89.3 and part of the public radio collaborative <a href="https://sharingamerica.news/">Sharing America</a>,
 covering the intersection of race, identity and culture. This 
initiative, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, includes 
reporters in Kansas City, St. Louis, Hartford, Connecticut and Portland,
 Oregon. She can be contacted at <a href="mailto:michelle@kcur.org">michelle@kcur.org</a>.

Kan. could ban discrimination against workers for dreadlocks, braids 

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Like millions of other Americans in the 1950s and ’60s, Duane Ruth-Heffelbower spent his formative years learning to tie knots, build campfires and pitch tents with the Boy Scouts, whose wholesome, God-fearing reputation was burnished by Normal Rockwell’s magazine-cover paintings of fresh-faced Scouts, brave, courteous and cheerful.

Read the Quivira Scout Council's statement on the National Council <a href="https://311whx2ma3db342y603efdm0-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2020/02/Information-Regarding-National-Council-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy.pdf">Chapter 11 Bankruptcy here</a>

Though he’s no longer involved in Scouting, the 70-year-old Mennonite minister from Fresno, California, has followed the slow deterioration of the Boy Scouts of America from afar and cringes to think what this week’s bankruptcy filing over a blizzard of sex-abuse lawsuits might mean for an organization already grappling with a steep decline in membership.

“It’s really sad. I’m afraid that people are going to be more skeptical than they were once about the organization and will be more inclined to look for other alternatives to Scouting,” said Ruth-Heffelbower, who grew up in Kansas. “Theses days there are so many things pulling at kids.”

With its finances and its vaunted reputation for moral rectitude damaged by scandal, the Scouts resorted to Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday in hopes of pulling through the crisis by setting up a victims’ compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as boys by Scout leaders over the decades.

Boy Scout uniforms displayed in the retail store at the headquarters for the French Creek Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Summit Township, Erie County, Pa. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP)

The fund could top $1 billion, but to raise the money, the national organization could be forced to sell some of its real estate holdings, which include its headquarters in Irving, Texas, and a huge campground in New Mexico.

The bankruptcy case began Wednesday with a court hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, where attorneys for victims made clear they will also go after campsites and other properties owned by the Boy Scouts’ 261 local councils, and will also demand access to internal files containing abusers’ names.

“Here is where we get the story, the dark history of the Boy Scouts. Will those be in the database?” asked plaintiffs’ attorney James Stang, a veteran of several Roman Catholic diocese bankruptcies.

While some of the files on abusers have been released as the result of previous litigation, victims‘ attorney Michael Finnegan said thousands of names have still not been disclosed.

“Those names should be made public” so that communities are informed and children made safe, Finnegan said.

The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for local troops, were not included in the bankruptcy filing and are considered by the Boy Scouts of America to be legally separate entities.

Paul Mones, a Los Angeles attorney representing several alleged victims, predicted a “huge fight” over the locally held assets, adding that their value easily exceeds $100 million.

“That independence is on paper only,” Mones said of the local councils, adding that the Boy Scouts of America is a “vertically integrated corporation” that exercises considerable influence over the local councils.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein did not immediately rule on access to the files or how the property of the local councils will be treated.

Another battle is taking shape over what deadline the court will set for victims to file claims for compensation. Victims’ attorneys chafed at the notion of an 80-day deadline, saying men who have suffered need more time.

Stang said the victims have experienced “conscience-shaking” trauma and would be forced to revisit painful memories from childhood in documenting their claims.

“These are not 60-year-old men filling out their claim forms,” he said. “These are 8-year-old children filling out the claim forms.”

Paul Mones, attorney for those claiming molestation by scoutmasters or other scout leaders decades ago, discusses the filing for bankruptcy by the Boy Scouts of America during for an interview. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Mones called 80 days “wholly insufficient” and said that since the bankruptcy filing lawyers have been fielding calls from “confused, upset and angry men.”

Boy Scouts officials insist that nothing will change for young Scouts and their families, assuring them that local councils are “legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.” The organization also provided a recommended script for parents trying to explain to their children what’s happening.

The bottom line: “There’s nothing to be worried about. A Scout is always prepared, and the BSA is well-prepared.”

George Kain III, a longtime scoutmaster in York, Pennsylvania, said he doesn’t think bankruptcy will have a huge effect on local Scouting organizations. Kain, a retired lawyer who has been with the Scouts for 60 years, said plaintiffs’ lawyers would have to show a connection between the alleged abuse and a local council’s assets.

“There may well be situations where that’s the case, but at the moment we’re not there yet,” Kain said. “I think that Scouting as the rank-and-file Scouts know it will continue.”

For a variety of reasons, the number of youths taking part in Scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from a peak of more than 4 million during the 1970s.

Gal Witmer of York, Pennsylvania, who has two children in Scouting — her 12-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter — said she is optimistic the organization will survive bankruptcy and applauded it for “taking accountability.”

“It’s something they had to do to make things right,” Witmer said.

Even with the Scouts recently raising the annual membership fee by more than 80% to $66, Witmer said Scouting’s costs are quite reasonable compared with those of sports and other activities. Witmer, who was a den leader for her son and is now doing the same for her daughter, said leaders are vetted and trained thoroughly in abuse prevention.

“The training is excellent. To me, it feels very safe. If anything were to happen, they are so on top of it,” Witmer said. “It’s drilled into everyone, never be alone with a child.”

John Milton Peterson III, a researcher and self-defense instructor who credits his adult success to the lessons he learned as a Boy Scout in Kentucky decades ago, said it upsets him that attorneys are targeting the organization rather than the “perverted” abusers.

“It’s like sinking a battleship just to fix a broken part,” Peterson said. “We can all see that really people are just out to destroy it. ... This is a benevolent organization that helped me a lot. It’s a sad thing to see agenda-driven and greedy people twisting this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582382362870.png" alt="The Quivira Council&nbsp; Scout offices in Wichita google image" />
 <figcaption>The Quivira Council&nbsp; Scout offices in Wichita google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Like millions of other Americans in the 1950s and ’60s, Duane Ruth-Heffelbower spent his formative years learning to tie knots, build campfires and pitch tents with the Boy Scouts, whose wholesome, God-fearing reputation was burnished by Normal Rockwell’s magazine-cover paintings of fresh-faced Scouts, brave, courteous and cheerful.Read the Quivira Scout Council's statement on the National Council <a href="https://311whx2ma3db342y603efdm0-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2020/02/Information-Regarding-National-Council-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy.pdf">Chapter 11 Bankruptcy here</a>Though he’s no longer involved in Scouting, the 70-year-old Mennonite minister from Fresno, California, has followed the slow deterioration of the Boy Scouts of America from afar and cringes to think what this week’s bankruptcy filing over a blizzard of sex-abuse lawsuits might mean for an organization already grappling with a steep decline in membership.“It’s really sad. I’m afraid that people are going to be more skeptical than they were once about the organization and will be more inclined to look for other alternatives to Scouting,” said Ruth-Heffelbower, who grew up in Kansas. “Theses days there are so many things pulling at kids.”With its finances and its vaunted reputation for moral rectitude damaged by scandal, the Scouts resorted to Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday in hopes of pulling through the crisis by setting up a victims’ compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as boys by Scout leaders over the decades.Boy Scout uniforms displayed in the retail store at the headquarters for the French Creek Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Summit Township, Erie County, Pa. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP)The fund could top $1 billion, but to raise the money, the national organization could be forced to sell some of its real estate holdings, which include its headquarters in Irving, Texas, and a huge campground in New Mexico.The bankruptcy case began Wednesday with a court hearing in Wilmington, Delaware, where attorneys for victims made clear they will also go after campsites and other properties owned by the Boy Scouts’ 261 local councils, and will also demand access to internal files containing abusers’ names.“Here is where we get the story, the dark history of the Boy Scouts. Will those be in the database?” asked plaintiffs’ attorney James Stang, a veteran of several Roman Catholic diocese bankruptcies.While some of the files on abusers have been released as the result of previous litigation, victims‘ attorney Michael Finnegan said thousands of names have still not been disclosed.“Those names should be made public” so that communities are informed and children made safe, Finnegan said.The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for local troops, were not included in the bankruptcy filing and are considered by the Boy Scouts of America to be legally separate entities.Paul Mones, a Los Angeles attorney representing several alleged victims, predicted a “huge fight” over the locally held assets, adding that their value easily exceeds $100 million.“That independence is on paper only,” Mones said of the local councils, adding that the Boy Scouts of America is a “vertically integrated corporation” that exercises considerable influence over the local councils.U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein did not immediately rule on access to the files or how the property of the local councils will be treated.Another battle is taking shape over what deadline the court will set for victims to file claims for compensation. Victims’ attorneys chafed at the notion of an 80-day deadline, saying men who have suffered need more time.Stang said the victims have experienced “conscience-shaking” trauma and would be forced to revisit painful memories from childhood in documenting their claims.“These are not 60-year-old men filling out their claim forms,” he said. “These are 8-year-old children filling out the claim forms.”Paul Mones, attorney for those claiming molestation by scoutmasters or other scout leaders decades ago, discusses the filing for bankruptcy by the Boy Scouts of America during for an interview. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)Mones called 80 days “wholly insufficient” and said that since the bankruptcy filing lawyers have been fielding calls from “confused, upset and angry men.”Boy Scouts officials insist that nothing will change for young Scouts and their families, assuring them that local councils are “legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.” The organization also provided a recommended script for parents trying to explain to their children what’s happening.The bottom line: “There’s nothing to be worried about. A Scout is always prepared, and the BSA is well-prepared.”George Kain III, a longtime scoutmaster in York, Pennsylvania, said he doesn’t think bankruptcy will have a huge effect on local Scouting organizations. Kain, a retired lawyer who has been with the Scouts for 60 years, said plaintiffs’ lawyers would have to show a connection between the alleged abuse and a local council’s assets.“There may well be situations where that’s the case, but at the moment we’re not there yet,” Kain said. “I think that Scouting as the rank-and-file Scouts know it will continue.”For a variety of reasons, the number of youths taking part in Scouting has dropped below 2 million, down from a peak of more than 4 million during the 1970s.Gal Witmer of York, Pennsylvania, who has two children in Scouting — her 12-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter — said she is optimistic the organization will survive bankruptcy and applauded it for “taking accountability.”“It’s something they had to do to make things right,” Witmer said.Even with the Scouts recently raising the annual membership fee by more than 80% to $66, Witmer said Scouting’s costs are quite reasonable compared with those of sports and other activities. Witmer, who was a den leader for her son and is now doing the same for her daughter, said leaders are vetted and trained thoroughly in abuse prevention.“The training is excellent. To me, it feels very safe. If anything were to happen, they are so on top of it,” Witmer said. “It’s drilled into everyone, never be alone with a child.”John Milton Peterson III, a researcher and self-defense instructor who credits his adult success to the lessons he learned as a Boy Scout in Kentucky decades ago, said it upsets him that attorneys are targeting the organization rather than the “perverted” abusers.“It’s like sinking a battleship just to fix a broken part,” Peterson said. “We can all see that really people are just out to destroy it. ... This is a benevolent organization that helped me a lot. It’s a sad thing to see agenda-driven and greedy people twisting this.”___

Plaintiffs' attorneys take aim at Boy Scouts' `dark history'

LAS VEGAS (AP) —Bernie Sanders scored a resounding victory in Nevada’s presidential caucuses on Saturday, cementing his status as the Democrats' national front-runner amid escalating tensions over whether he’s too liberal to defeat President Donald Trump.

While Sanders scored a strong victory, a cluster of candidates fought for a distant second place — and any momentum that may come with it heading into next-up South Carolina and then Super Tuesday on March 3. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were trailing far behind Sanders.

The 78-year-old Vermont senator won by rallying his fiercely loyal base and tapping into support from Nevada’s large Latino community as the Democratic contest moved for the first time into a state with a significant minority population.

In a show of confidence, Sanders left Nevada for Texas, which offers one of the biggest delegate troves in just 10 days on Super Tuesday.

“We are bringing our people together," he declared. “In Nevada we have just brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, it’s going to sweep this country.”

Saturday's win built on Sanders’ win earlier this month in the New Hampshire primary. He essentially tied for first place in the Iowa caucuses with Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., who has sought to position himself as an ideological counter to Sanders’ unabashedly progressive politics.

The victory, while encouraging for Sanders supporters, only deepened concern among establishment-minded Democratic leaders who fear that the self-described democratic socialist is too extreme to defeat Trump. Sanders for decades has been calling for transformative policies to address inequities in politics and the economy, none bigger than his signature “Medicare for All” health care plan that would replace the private insurance system with a government-run universal system.

Trump gloated on social media, continuing his weeks-long push to sow discord between Sanders and his Democratic rivals.

“Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden &amp; the rest look weak,” Trump tweeted. “Congratulations Bernie, &amp; don’t let them take it away from you!”

Buttigieg congratulated Sanders, too, but then launched an aggressive verbal assault on the senator as too divisive.

“Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let’s take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with so much to lose," he said. “Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.”

Biden also took aim at the Vermont senator as he claimed a success — but not a victory — in Nevada that would trigger a comeback.

Without naming names, he took a swipe at Sanders and billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wasn't on the Nevada ballot but has emerged as a threat to Biden in contests that begin next month.

"I ain’t a socialist. I’m not a plutocrat. I’m a Democrat,” Biden declared.

Also in the fight: Warren, who desperately needed a spark to revive her stalled bid; billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent more than $12 million on Nevada television and Klobuchar, who hoped to prove her strong New Hampshire finish was no fluke.

Klobuchar said she plans to carry on, even as she trailed far behind several rivals in Nevada.

The Minnesota senator returned to her home state Saturday following a morning event in Las Vegas. Speaking to volunteers Klobuchar said that "a lot of people didn’t even think I would still be standing at this point."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582426910863.png" alt="Senator Bernie Sanders celebrated with supporters Saturday night -image courtesy Sanders campaign for President." />
 <figcaption>Senator Bernie Sanders celebrated with supporters Saturday night -image courtesy Sanders campaign for President.</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) —Bernie Sanders scored a resounding victory in Nevada’s presidential caucuses on Saturday, cementing his status as the Democrats' national front-runner amid escalating tensions over whether he’s too liberal to defeat President Donald Trump.While Sanders scored a strong victory, a cluster of candidates fought for a distant second place — and any momentum that may come with it heading into next-up South Carolina and then Super Tuesday on March 3. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar were trailing far behind Sanders.The 78-year-old Vermont senator won by rallying his fiercely loyal base and tapping into support from Nevada’s large Latino community as the Democratic contest moved for the first time into a state with a significant minority population.In a show of confidence, Sanders left Nevada for Texas, which offers one of the biggest delegate troves in just 10 days on Super Tuesday.“We are bringing our people together," he declared. “In Nevada we have just brought together a multigenerational, multiracial coalition which is not only going to win in Nevada, it’s going to sweep this country.”Saturday's win built on Sanders’ win earlier this month in the New Hampshire primary. He essentially tied for first place in the Iowa caucuses with Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., who has sought to position himself as an ideological counter to Sanders’ unabashedly progressive politics.The victory, while encouraging for Sanders supporters, only deepened concern among establishment-minded Democratic leaders who fear that the self-described democratic socialist is too extreme to defeat Trump. Sanders for decades has been calling for transformative policies to address inequities in politics and the economy, none bigger than his signature “Medicare for All” health care plan that would replace the private insurance system with a government-run universal system.Trump gloated on social media, continuing his weeks-long push to sow discord between Sanders and his Democratic rivals.“Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden &amp; the rest look weak,” Trump tweeted. “Congratulations Bernie, &amp; don’t let them take it away from you!”Buttigieg congratulated Sanders, too, but then launched an aggressive verbal assault on the senator as too divisive.“Before we rush to nominate Senator Sanders in our one shot to take on this president, let’s take a sober look at what is at stake for our party, for our values and for those with so much to lose," he said. “Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.”Biden also took aim at the Vermont senator as he claimed a success — but not a victory — in Nevada that would trigger a comeback.Without naming names, he took a swipe at Sanders and billionaire former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wasn't on the Nevada ballot but has emerged as a threat to Biden in contests that begin next month."I ain’t a socialist. I’m not a plutocrat. I’m a Democrat,” Biden declared.Also in the fight: Warren, who desperately needed a spark to revive her stalled bid; billionaire Tom Steyer, who spent more than $12 million on Nevada television and Klobuchar, who hoped to prove her strong New Hampshire finish was no fluke.Klobuchar said she plans to carry on, even as she trailed far behind several rivals in Nevada.The Minnesota senator returned to her home state Saturday following a morning event in Las Vegas. Speaking to volunteers Klobuchar said that "a lot of people didn’t even think I would still be standing at this point."Klobuchar finished in fifth place in the kickoff Iowa caucuses before a strong debate performance helped lift her to third place in New Hampshire.She will campaign Sunday in Fargo, before holding events in Arkansas and Oklahoma, both states that will vote on Super Tuesday. On Monday she will be in South Carolina, which holds its primary Saturday and where she will participate in a Tuesday debate.Bloomberg, who dominated the political conversation this week after a poor debate-stage debut, wasn't on the ballot. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month.After the chaos of Iowa's caucuses, there were concerns about Nevada's similar setup. But no major problems showed up.At noon, under sunny skies, dozens of uniformed housekeepers and casino workers cast ballots in the Bellagio, one of seven casino-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip among 200 locations statewide that hosted caucuses.Nevada was the third contest on a 2020 election calendar marked by chaos and uncertainty after the opening votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, overwhelmingly white, rural states.The first presidential contest in the West tested the candidates' strength with black and Latino voters for the first time in 2020. Nevada’s population aligns more with the U.S. as a whole, compared with Iowa and New Hampshire: 29 percent Latino, 10 percent black and 9 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander.The Nevada verdict represented the third in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, ending only at the party’s national convention in July. But with two more rounds of voting scheduled over the next 10 days — including Super Tuesday’s massive delegate haul — the party may identify a consensus candidate long before the convention.The stakes were high for Nevada Democrats to avoid a repeat of the chaos in Iowa, and it appeared Saturday’s caucuses were largely successful.Unlike state primaries and the November election, which are run by government officials, caucuses are overseen by state parties.Nevada Democrats sought to minimize problems by creating multiple redundancies in their reporting system, relying on results called in by phone, a paper worksheet filled out by caucus organizers, a photo of that worksheet sent in by text message and electronic results captured with a Google form.In addition, it appeared Nevada Democrats were able to successfully navigate a complicated process for adding early voting to the caucus process. Nearly 75,000 people cast early ballots over a four-day period, and the party was able to process those in time for Saturday so they could be integrated into the in-person vote.At the Bellagio caucus site, 41-year-old Christian Nielsen, a scuba diver for the Cirque du Soleil show “O,” said he backed Sanders because he believes the country needs a “major change in the White House.”“We need somebody in the White House who has been on the right side of history for their entire career, somebody who stands with the working class, and will make things more fair for everybody,” Nielsen said.The Democrats' 2020 nomination fight shifted beyond Nevada even before the final results were known.Only Biden, Buttigieg and Steyer were still in the state when news of Sanders’ victory was announced.

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