MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;recognized a group of 11 undergraduate students who will study to be leaders in veterinary medicine through the college's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/admissions/early-admit/">Early Admission Program</a>.&nbsp;

Established in 1999, the Early Admission Scholars Program recruits the best and brightest undergraduate students who are committed to studying veterinary medicine."For the August 2023-February 2024 application cycle, K-State College of Veterinary Medicine received 75 applications for the early admission program," said Caroline Rost, assistant dean of admissions in the college.

"Although we met many talented applicants during the interviews this year, 11 applicants were accepted into the program based on academic history, experiences in the last four years, communication skills and interview outcomes. These students represent some of the brightest students in the undergraduate student body.

"The 2023 class of Early Admission Scholars:Conner Dinkel,&nbsp;Hill City; Hudson Hildebrand,&nbsp;Overland Park; Kaley Wagner,&nbsp;Smith Center; Ainsley Stiles,&nbsp;Topeka; and Bridget Johnson,&nbsp;Wichita.From out of state: Sadie Alger, Fair Oaks, California; Alyssa Chevalier,&nbsp;Chicago, Illinois; Kailee Irvin,&nbsp;Vernon Hills, Illinois; Rahul Chopra,&nbsp;Malden, Massachusetts; Aidan Anderson,&nbsp;Saint Paul, Nebraska; and Ella Robinson,&nbsp;Glenshaw, Pennsylvania.

All scholars are first-year students in animal sciences and industry except Johnson, who is studying biology.Successful candidates in the Early Admission Scholars program must maintain a 3.3 GPA during completion of the science prerequisites, and they must complete the 64 hours of prerequisites by the end of the spring semester prior to beginning the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum in the fall.

The science courses on the prerequisite list must be completed at K-State. Candidates also must strengthen their veterinary experiences, attend K-State events and participate in volunteer work.

The College of Veterinary Medicine assigns a veterinary student mentor to each Early Admit Scholar to stimulate career and academic development and to provide orientation and access to college activities. The pre-veterinary students attend regular meetings during the academic year to develop a sense of community and share their progress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695039087878.png" alt="The 2023 class of Early Admission Scholars for the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine will study to become leaders in veterinary medicine. Back row, from left: Rahul Chopra, Ella Gardner, Alyssa Chevalier, Sadie Alger, Hudson Hildebrand and Conner Dinkel. Front row, from left: Kailee Irvin, Ainsley Stiles, Kaley Wagner, Bridget Johnson and Aidan Anderson. " />
 <figcaption>The 2023 class of Early Admission Scholars for the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine will study to become leaders in veterinary medicine. Back row, from left: Rahul Chopra, Ella Gardner, Alyssa Chevalier, Sadie Alger, Hudson Hildebrand and Conner Dinkel. Front row, from left: Kailee Irvin, Ainsley Stiles, Kaley Wagner, Bridget Johnson and Aidan Anderson. </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Rylee CoyMANHATTAN — Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>&nbsp;recognized a group of 11 undergraduate students who will study to be leaders in veterinary medicine through the college's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vet.k-state.edu/admissions/early-admit/">Early Admission Program</a>.&nbsp;Established in 1999, the Early Admission Scholars Program recruits the best and brightest undergraduate students who are committed to studying veterinary medicine."For the August 2023-February 2024 application cycle, K-State College of Veterinary Medicine received 75 applications for the early admission program," said Caroline Rost, assistant dean of admissions in the college."Although we met many talented applicants during the interviews this year, 11 applicants were accepted into the program based on academic history, experiences in the last four years, communication skills and interview outcomes. These students represent some of the brightest students in the undergraduate student body."The 2023 class of Early Admission Scholars:Conner Dinkel,&nbsp;Hill City; Hudson Hildebrand,&nbsp;Overland Park; Kaley Wagner,&nbsp;Smith Center; Ainsley Stiles,&nbsp;Topeka; and Bridget Johnson,&nbsp;Wichita.From out of state: Sadie Alger, Fair Oaks, California; Alyssa Chevalier,&nbsp;Chicago, Illinois; Kailee Irvin,&nbsp;Vernon Hills, Illinois; Rahul Chopra,&nbsp;Malden, Massachusetts; Aidan Anderson,&nbsp;Saint Paul, Nebraska; and Ella Robinson,&nbsp;Glenshaw, Pennsylvania.All scholars are first-year students in animal sciences and industry except Johnson, who is studying biology.Successful candidates in the Early Admission Scholars program must maintain a 3.3 GPA during completion of the science prerequisites, and they must complete the 64 hours of prerequisites by the end of the spring semester prior to beginning the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum in the fall.The science courses on the prerequisite list must be completed at K-State. Candidates also must strengthen their veterinary experiences, attend K-State events and participate in volunteer work.The College of Veterinary Medicine assigns a veterinary student mentor to each Early Admit Scholar to stimulate career and academic development and to provide orientation and access to college activities. The pre-veterinary students attend regular meetings during the academic year to develop a sense of community and share their progress.

KSU College of Veterinary Medicine announces 2023 class of early admission scholars

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.6 of a point in August to 91.3, the 20th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98.

"Our members on Main Street, inflation is their number one concern," said Dan Murray with NFIB Kansas. "We've talked a lot about filling their job requirements. Workforce continues to be an issue, but right now, inflation has kind of overtaken as their top priority and concern."

Twenty-three percent of small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important business problem, up two points from last month.

"Certainly, input costs are going up," Murray said. "We're starting to see inflationary impacts on the price of energy and fuel. Gas is ticking up. Of course, as we talked about recently, labor costs are increasing as employers are paying more to try to attract and retain qualified employees."

With the federal government coming down to the end of its fiscal year at the end of the month, Murray sees the big picture as important to keep in mind.

"The President and many federal politicians are currently in the mode of touting the Inflation Reduction Act that was passed," Murray said. "From our perspective, that act was more of a spending bill than it actually did anything to impact inflation. Government needs to rein in spending. We have a record debt, a record deficit, and it's only growing."

It appears at the moment that the government will likely have to pass a continuing resolution right before the deadline to keep from having a shutdown, rather than getting all the appropriation bills through the process of both houses on time.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600954270300.png" alt="NFIB" />
 <figcaption>NFIB</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.6 of a point in August to 91.3, the 20th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98."Our members on Main Street, inflation is their number one concern," said Dan Murray with NFIB Kansas. "We've talked a lot about filling their job requirements. Workforce continues to be an issue, but right now, inflation has kind of overtaken as their top priority and concern."Twenty-three percent of small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important business problem, up two points from last month."Certainly, input costs are going up," Murray said. "We're starting to see inflationary impacts on the price of energy and fuel. Gas is ticking up. Of course, as we talked about recently, labor costs are increasing as employers are paying more to try to attract and retain qualified employees."With the federal government coming down to the end of its fiscal year at the end of the month, Murray sees the big picture as important to keep in mind."The President and many federal politicians are currently in the mode of touting the Inflation Reduction Act that was passed," Murray said. "From our perspective, that act was more of a spending bill than it actually did anything to impact inflation. Government needs to rein in spending. We have a record debt, a record deficit, and it's only growing."It appears at the moment that the government will likely have to pass a continuing resolution right before the deadline to keep from having a shutdown, rather than getting all the appropriation bills through the process of both houses on time.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

NFIB members still concerned about inflation

LAWRENCE — Schools and prisons share many similarities: authoritarian structure, emphasis on silence and order, schedules to follow, rules not to break.

“Teachers and administrators need to discontinue the relationship between punishment and education and begin to create environments where students can thrive in nonpunitive ways,” said Nikia Robert, assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Kansas.

Her article titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pdcnet.org/jsce/content/jsce_2023_0999_4_27_86">“An Ethic of Abolition: Becoming Educational Sanctuaries”</a>&nbsp;addresses the uncanny resemblance between the educational/industrial complex and the U.S. carceral state. Both employ policies, pedagogies and practices to respond punitively to com­munal transgressions. In response, Robert offers an abolitionist theological ethic to create educational sanctuaries. It appears in the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics.

“We use punishment to scare people into obedience," Robert said. "But what you produce are robots, not sentient beings with critical thinking who are accountable and aware of how their actions may harm others. As a professor, I’m always looking for transformative ways to build work ethic and curiosity, so students aren’t motivated to produce simply based on their fear of being punished.”

Robert also argues how students in underrepresented groups — ranging from pre-K to postsecondary institutions — become particularly vulnerable when punishment is used to “perpetuate anti-Blackness, patriarchy and other social inequities.” This in many ways mirrors the carceral system, she said.

The educator became further mindful of the similarities found in schools and prisons when teaching an Inside-Out course at a state prison.

“When you look at the yard versus a college campus, it appears very similar,” she said.

Her course was called “Prisons, Punishment and Redemption,” taught at the California Institution for Women in Chino.

“A lot of the women there were lifers,” she said. “It was a really meaningful course for them and for me. I hope to bring something like it here to Kansas — we certainly have plenty of prisons.”

Robert said that schools are not doing enough to make a distinction between a classroom and a jail cell.

“We’re here as educators wanting to create sanctuaries so that students can thrive as whole beings. We don’t want these kinds of docile, empty people who are afraid of consequences,” she said.

“We can start by looking at more equitable grading strategies. Using rubrics, using more marginal comments, allowing students to have retakes. So in other words, moving away from this rigid and punitive model and doing more to cultivate the whole student.”

As her article notes, Robert maintains a personal connection to this topic. Her daughter currently attends a K-8 private school in California.

“She’s been so deeply affected by the detention system," Robert said. "So much so that if it was cold and she didn’t have a hat or coat that conform to their uniform policy, she would risk her own health rather than violate the policy out of fear of getting detention. I could not convince her otherwise because my daughter is a rule-follower.”

Since that situation emerged, Robert has been working with the school to put an end to detention.

“Why would an educational institution have detention? That’s something you find in a prison,” she said. “Surely, we can be more creative and spend more effort to think of ways to respond to harms, other than just saying, ‘Go to detention!’”

A New York native, Robert just began her first semester at KU. She is also executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary, a “national faith-based coalition united against the moral crisis of mass incarceration and the criminalization of impoverished Black motherhood.”&nbsp;Her research focuses on ethics.

Robert continues to explore ways of replacing punishment in educational settings with something more effective and humane. Noting KU’s “rich legacy of racial integration in sports that coincides with an impactful history in the town of Lawrence and abolitionist movements,” she hopes to build a course, and possibly a conference, which connects the university with local community organizers in order to double-down on the commitment to building abolitionist sanctuaries in education.

“Punishment is just the easy way out. But to get to the root problem requires creativity. It requires community. How do we come together and think about solutions so that we can repair the harms, restore the relationships and rebuild a more just and equitable system where everyone can thrive?” she said.

“I don’t think prisons are fixable, but I hope schools are.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694450321315.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE — Schools and prisons share many similarities: authoritarian structure, emphasis on silence and order, schedules to follow, rules not to break.“Teachers and administrators need to discontinue the relationship between punishment and education and begin to create environments where students can thrive in nonpunitive ways,” said Nikia Robert, assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://news.ku.edu/sites/news.ku.edu/files/images/general/2023_news/september/Nikia%20Robert%201.png" alt="Nikia Robert" />
 <figcaption>Nikia Robert</figcaption>
 </figure>Her article titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pdcnet.org/jsce/content/jsce_2023_0999_4_27_86">“An Ethic of Abolition: Becoming Educational Sanctuaries”</a>&nbsp;addresses the uncanny resemblance between the educational/industrial complex and the U.S. carceral state. Both employ policies, pedagogies and practices to respond punitively to com­munal transgressions. In response, Robert offers an abolitionist theological ethic to create educational sanctuaries. It appears in the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics.“We use punishment to scare people into obedience," Robert said. "But what you produce are robots, not sentient beings with critical thinking who are accountable and aware of how their actions may harm others. As a professor, I’m always looking for transformative ways to build work ethic and curiosity, so students aren’t motivated to produce simply based on their fear of being punished.”Robert also argues how students in underrepresented groups — ranging from pre-K to postsecondary institutions — become particularly vulnerable when punishment is used to “perpetuate anti-Blackness, patriarchy and other social inequities.” This in many ways mirrors the carceral system, she said.The educator became further mindful of the similarities found in schools and prisons when teaching an Inside-Out course at a state prison.“When you look at the yard versus a college campus, it appears very similar,” she said.Her course was called “Prisons, Punishment and Redemption,” taught at the California Institution for Women in Chino.“A lot of the women there were lifers,” she said. “It was a really meaningful course for them and for me. I hope to bring something like it here to Kansas — we certainly have plenty of prisons.”Robert said that schools are not doing enough to make a distinction between a classroom and a jail cell.“We’re here as educators wanting to create sanctuaries so that students can thrive as whole beings. We don’t want these kinds of docile, empty people who are afraid of consequences,” she said.“We can start by looking at more equitable grading strategies. Using rubrics, using more marginal comments, allowing students to have retakes. So in other words, moving away from this rigid and punitive model and doing more to cultivate the whole student.”As her article notes, Robert maintains a personal connection to this topic. Her daughter currently attends a K-8 private school in California.“She’s been so deeply affected by the detention system," Robert said. "So much so that if it was cold and she didn’t have a hat or coat that conform to their uniform policy, she would risk her own health rather than violate the policy out of fear of getting detention. I could not convince her otherwise because my daughter is a rule-follower.”Since that situation emerged, Robert has been working with the school to put an end to detention.“Why would an educational institution have detention? That’s something you find in a prison,” she said. “Surely, we can be more creative and spend more effort to think of ways to respond to harms, other than just saying, ‘Go to detention!’”A New York native, Robert just began her first semester at KU. She is also executive director of Abolitionist Sanctuary, a “national faith-based coalition united against the moral crisis of mass incarceration and the criminalization of impoverished Black motherhood.”&nbsp;Her research focuses on ethics.Robert continues to explore ways of replacing punishment in educational settings with something more effective and humane. Noting KU’s “rich legacy of racial integration in sports that coincides with an impactful history in the town of Lawrence and abolitionist movements,” she hopes to build a course, and possibly a conference, which connects the university with local community organizers in order to double-down on the commitment to building abolitionist sanctuaries in education.“Punishment is just the easy way out. But to get to the root problem requires creativity. It requires community. How do we come together and think about solutions so that we can repair the harms, restore the relationships and rebuild a more just and equitable system where everyone can thrive?” she said.“I don’t think prisons are fixable, but I hope schools are.”

Reliance on student punishment in schools needs reconsideration, KU professor argues

TOPEKA — Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7% in August. This is unchanged from 2.7% in July and a decrease from 2.8% in August 2022, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,100 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,700 over the month, while government decreased by 1,400.

The jobless rate in Riley County is down from 3.3 percent in July to 3.1 percent in August.  Pottawatomie County is also down to just 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Wabaunsee, Geary and Ellsworth Counties are up slightly.&nbsp; The rate in Geary County is 4.4 percent.&nbsp;The rate in Dickinson County is steady at 3.3 percent.

“The household survey indicates little change in labor force estimates for Kansas in August, with the state maintaining a low unemployment rate at 2.7%,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows a small decline in jobs over the month, but compared to last August, total nonfarm job estimates have increased 1.3%.”

Since August 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 18,000. This change is due to an increase of 13,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,400 government jobs.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694790951463.png" alt="KDOL image" />
 <figcaption>KDOL image</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7% in August. This is unchanged from 2.7% in July and a decrease from 2.8% in August 2022, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Labor.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,100 from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 2,700 over the month, while government decreased by 1,400.The jobless rate in Riley County is down from 3.3 percent in July to 3.1 percent in August. Pottawatomie County is also down to just 2.7 percent.&nbsp; Wabaunsee, Geary and Ellsworth Counties are up slightly.&nbsp; The rate in Geary County is 4.4 percent.&nbsp;The rate in Dickinson County is steady at 3.3 percent.“The household survey indicates little change in labor force estimates for Kansas in August, with the state maintaining a low unemployment rate at 2.7%,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “The survey of employers shows a small decline in jobs over the month, but compared to last August, total nonfarm job estimates have increased 1.3%.”Since August 2022 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 18,000. This change is due to an increase of 13,600 private sector jobs and an increase of 4,400 government jobs.<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==">Click here for</a> the complete Kansas labor market information for August.

Jobless rate up slightly in Geary County 

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Lamiya Nave, (Juvenile), Failure to appear, arrested 9/12

Ronald Voeghtly, Failure to appear, arrested 9/13

Travis Salts, Driving while suspended, arrested 9/14

Christian Marc Farrow, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 9/15

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694798718936.jpeg" alt="Matthew Rogel, Possesion of Opiate, Opium, Narcotic or stimulant,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Criminal use of Weapons, arrested 9/13" />
 <figcaption>Matthew Rogel, Possesion of Opiate, Opium, Narcotic or stimulant,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Criminal use of Weapons, arrested 9/13</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694798866784.jpeg" alt="Ahmir Buckhannon, Robbery,&nbsp;Interference with LEO, Traffic contraband into correctional facility, arrested 9/13" />
 <figcaption>Ahmir Buckhannon, Robbery,&nbsp;Interference with LEO, Traffic contraband into correctional facility, arrested 9/13</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694798988080.jpeg" alt="Sabine Morgan,&nbsp;Theft; Lost or Mislaid; &gt; $1,000 &lt; $25,000 Motor Vehicle Theft, arrested 9/13" />
 <figcaption>Sabine Morgan,&nbsp;Theft; Lost or Mislaid; &gt; $1,000 &lt; $25,000 Motor Vehicle Theft, arrested 9/13</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Lamiya Nave, (Juvenile), Failure to appear, arrested 9/12Ronald Voeghtly, Failure to appear, arrested 9/13Travis Salts, Driving while suspended, arrested 9/14Christian Marc Farrow, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 9/15Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Sept. 13-14

Juan Velasquez, Criminal damage to property; without consent value $1,000 to $25,000, arrested 9/8

David Schatte, Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 9/9

Osvaldo Guiterrez, No registration; illegal or expired tags/DUI-Liquor/Drugs (1st offense), arrested 9/9

Chance Morrison, Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor/transporting an open container, improper passing on right, arrested9/9

Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 9/9

Denis Lemuz Valdivia, Endangering a child, Transporting open container alcohol/DUI-Liquor/Drugs (1st offense), arrested 9/9

Steven Jiminez Rodriguez, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/10

Anna Fuentes, Unlawful damage to property, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/10

James Carpenter, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/11

Solomon Scott, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11

Bryce Dacuougna, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11

Jason Carlson, DUI, Improper driving on roadway/following too closely, arrested 9/11

Alexandra Stanton, Improper lighting equipment, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694793857941.jpeg" alt="Bailey Collier, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11" />
 <figcaption>Bailey Collier, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694793952740.jpeg" alt="Bard Ditto, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11" />
 <figcaption>Bard Ditto, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694794047209.jpeg" alt="Kolby Hughston, Criminal threat, unlawful damage to property, theft, arrested 9/11" />
 <figcaption>Kolby Hughston, Criminal threat, unlawful damage to property, theft, arrested 9/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694794220698.jpeg" alt="Danielle Cannefax, ID theft, Criminal use of financial card, Theft, arrested 9/12" />
 <figcaption>Danielle Cannefax, ID theft, Criminal use of financial card, Theft, arrested 9/12</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694794394949.jpeg" alt="Gordon Kinney, Violate protection order, Extended stalking/sexual assault/human trafficking order, Burglary, arrested 9/12" />
 <figcaption>Gordon Kinney, Violate protection order, Extended stalking/sexual assault/human trafficking order, Burglary, arrested 9/12</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694794581568.jpeg" alt="Janese Duncan,&nbsp;Possession of controlled substance,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 9/12" />
 <figcaption>Janese Duncan,&nbsp;Possession of controlled substance,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, arrested 9/12</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Juan Velasquez, Criminal damage to property; without consent value $1,000 to $25,000, arrested 9/8David Schatte, Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or drugs, arrested 9/9Osvaldo Guiterrez, No registration; illegal or expired tags/DUI-Liquor/Drugs (1st offense), arrested 9/9Chance Morrison, Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor/transporting an open container, improper passing on right, arrested9/9Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 9/9Denis Lemuz Valdivia, Endangering a child, Transporting open container alcohol/DUI-Liquor/Drugs (1st offense), arrested 9/9Steven Jiminez Rodriguez, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/10Anna Fuentes, Unlawful damage to property, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/10James Carpenter, Domestic Battery, arrested 9/11Solomon Scott, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11Bryce Dacuougna, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11Jason Carlson, DUI, Improper driving on roadway/following too closely, arrested 9/11Alexandra Stanton, Improper lighting equipment, Failure to appear, arrested 9/11Charles Barrett, DUI, arrested 9/12Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Sept. 9-12

PRATT&nbsp;– Beginning this fall, Kansas will have&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.JlaZjlK4gFUMf1kSeMNjAlTr9wgj9pegEBhe-LER_o0/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">no fall turkey hunting season</a>&nbsp;due to declining populations at state and regional levels. The difficult decision was arrived at by members of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission after hearing compelling recommendations from staff over the course of four public meetings.

“We’ve documented consistent declines in turkey populations over the last 15 years largely due to reduced production levels,” said Kent Fricke, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks small game biologist. “These trends are not unique to Kansas. States across the Midwest and Southeast have experienced similar patterns in turkey populations.”

Though far fewer turkey hunters participate in the fall season than in the spring in Kansas, wildlife biologists said it remained an important component of overall harvest.

“The estimated statewide fall harvest of turkey was less than 500 birds in 2022,” said Fricke. “While this is a small proportion of the statewide population, fall harvest is an additive source of mortality for turkeys, especially when hens are harvested.”

Over the past several years, Commissioners have approved other preventative recommendations to reduce the impact of the fall season on turkey populations. In 2017, Commissioners voted to reduce the statewide bag limit from four birds to one bird. In 2019, fall turkey season dates were reduced from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31 (123 days) to Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 (41 days).

But not all is lost. Staff continue working diligently to obtain as much data as possible in hopes of one day reversing declining population trends. One such example is a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.6o9JcoR4Qngcg2RBaCZVjA6LWlNYxSohH0bezKOBsA8/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">new research project set to begin in Kansas in January 2024</a>&nbsp;to examine wild turkey populations and ecology to inform state harvest and habitat management (more&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.NKHr08bPi4F16Td02-54_-kIzc23pD_MQBHUVDffpg4/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>).

To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.OCMjgO_JkQpVC6wlp-LsJe8AidyXHiD3zcVHcdk_yGk/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">turkey hunting</a>&nbsp;in Kansas – including&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvNy03LTIzLUthbnNhcy1XaWxkbGlmZS1hbmQtUGFya3MtQ29tbWlzc2lvbi1BcHByb3Zlcy1Mb3R0ZXJ5LURyYXctZm9yLU5vbi1yZXNpZGVudC1UdXJrZXktUGVybWl0cy9LYW5zYXMtV2lsZGxpZmUtYW5kLVBhcmtzLUNvbW1pc3Npb24tQXBwcm92ZXMtTG90dGVyeS1EcmF3LWZvci1Ob24tcmVzaWRlbnQtVHVya2V5LVBlcm1pdHMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwOTE1LjgyNjQzMjMxIn0.L8tU9Hl8aO3hLlxSx1v6n7cxxfsYhH-AajqEr5k3dcs/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">Kansas’ all-new lottery draw for non-resident turkey permits</a>&nbsp;and other regulation changes aimed at population conservation – visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting then select “Turkey.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575681380900.jpeg" alt="Photo KDW&amp;P" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDW&amp;P</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT&nbsp;– Beginning this fall, Kansas will have&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.JlaZjlK4gFUMf1kSeMNjAlTr9wgj9pegEBhe-LER_o0/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">no fall turkey hunting season</a>&nbsp;due to declining populations at state and regional levels. The difficult decision was arrived at by members of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission after hearing compelling recommendations from staff over the course of four public meetings.“We’ve documented consistent declines in turkey populations over the last 15 years largely due to reduced production levels,” said Kent Fricke, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks small game biologist. “These trends are not unique to Kansas. States across the Midwest and Southeast have experienced similar patterns in turkey populations.”Though far fewer turkey hunters participate in the fall season than in the spring in Kansas, wildlife biologists said it remained an important component of overall harvest.“The estimated statewide fall harvest of turkey was less than 500 birds in 2022,” said Fricke. “While this is a small proportion of the statewide population, fall harvest is an additive source of mortality for turkeys, especially when hens are harvested.”Over the past several years, Commissioners have approved other preventative recommendations to reduce the impact of the fall season on turkey populations. In 2017, Commissioners voted to reduce the statewide bag limit from four birds to one bird. In 2019, fall turkey season dates were reduced from Oct. 1 through Jan. 31 (123 days) to Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 (41 days).But not all is lost. Staff continue working diligently to obtain as much data as possible in hopes of one day reversing declining population trends. One such example is a&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.6o9JcoR4Qngcg2RBaCZVjA6LWlNYxSohH0bezKOBsA8/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">new research project set to begin in Kansas in January 2024</a>&nbsp;to examine wild turkey populations and ecology to inform state harvest and habitat management (more&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvOC0zLTIzLUtEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5L0tEV1AtTmF0aW9uYWwtV2lsZC1UdXJrZXktRmVkZXJhdGlvbi10by1GdW5kLVdpbGQtVHVya2V5LVJlc2VhcmNoLWF0LUthbnNhcy1TdGF0ZS1Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.NKHr08bPi4F16Td02-54_-kIzc23pD_MQBHUVDffpg4/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>).To learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vSHVudGluZy9XaGF0LXRvLUh1bnQvVHVya2V5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDkxNS44MjY0MzIzMSJ9.OCMjgO_JkQpVC6wlp-LsJe8AidyXHiD3zcVHcdk_yGk/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">turkey hunting</a>&nbsp;in Kansas – including&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8va3NvdXRkb29ycy5jb20vS0RXUC1JbmZvL05ld3MvV2Vla2x5LU5ld3MvNy03LTIzLUthbnNhcy1XaWxkbGlmZS1hbmQtUGFya3MtQ29tbWlzc2lvbi1BcHByb3Zlcy1Mb3R0ZXJ5LURyYXctZm9yLU5vbi1yZXNpZGVudC1UdXJrZXktUGVybWl0cy9LYW5zYXMtV2lsZGxpZmUtYW5kLVBhcmtzLUNvbW1pc3Npb24tQXBwcm92ZXMtTG90dGVyeS1EcmF3LWZvci1Ob24tcmVzaWRlbnQtVHVya2V5LVBlcm1pdHMiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwOTE1LjgyNjQzMjMxIn0.L8tU9Hl8aO3hLlxSx1v6n7cxxfsYhH-AajqEr5k3dcs/s/1303160919/br/225996849904-l" target="_blank">Kansas’ all-new lottery draw for non-resident turkey permits</a>&nbsp;and other regulation changes aimed at population conservation – visit ksoutdoors.com/Hunting then select “Turkey.”

Kansas suspends fall turkey hunting season

Junction City Chief of Police John Lamb talks to me about a variety of issues, activities and special events including community policing, the annual JCPD Block Party, the Citizen's Police Academy, the holiday season "Shop with a Cop" program for less fortunate children, his background in law enforcement and much more.

By Jerry BrecheisenJunction City Chief of Police John Lamb talks to me about a variety of issues, activities and special events including community policing, the annual JCPD Block Party, the Citizen's Police Academy, the holiday season "Shop with a Cop" program for less fortunate children, his background in law enforcement and much more.<div><iframe title="Episode 13: JCPD Police Chief John Lamb" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=kaxqs-14a6d50-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><figure>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694712668917.jpeg" alt="" />
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🎙: "Coffee Talk" - JCPD Police Chief John Lamb

Join Catie and Becky as they host Hannah, Melissa and Bethany from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manhattan and talk about all things B&amp;G Club and Little Apple Duck Dash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693546131292.png" alt="Season 1, Episode 2: A Plate Full of Afternoon Snacks" />
 <figcaption>Season 1, Episode 2: A Plate Full of Afternoon Snacks</figcaption>
 </figure>Join Catie and Becky as they host Hannah, Melissa and Bethany from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Manhattan and talk about all things B&amp;G Club and Little Apple Duck Dash.<div><iframe title="Episode 2- A Plate Full of Afternoon Snacks" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=s4vim-14a7e16-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2baf9e" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎙: Little Apple Bites: Plate Full of Afternoon Snacks

By&nbsp;Heather Hagedorn,&nbsp;Executive Director/Curator

It’s 1923 and the speakeasy at the museum is packed for the birthday party of Al Spumoni, the world-famous bootlegger. A waiter dims the lights for Al to blow out the candles on his cake. When the lights come back up, Al toasts the crowd, takes one sip of his special drink, then chokes and dies. Who poisoned Al’s bathtub gin while the lights were out? Was it one of the gangsters in the room? A high kicking flapper? A visiting silent film star?

Solve the mystery at “Death by Bathtub Gin,” a murder mystery fundraiser hosted by the Geary County Historical Society on Saturday, October 14th at 6:30 p.m. Tickets include the password to enter the museum speakeasy and join the murder mystery experience, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and one ticket for a signature cocktail at the bar, plus the chance to win prizes for best costume and for the table that successfully solves the murder. Seats are limited and tickets are $40 each or $200 for a table of 6. Tickets go on sale September 16th&nbsp;at the Museum’s annual Ice Cream Social.

Death by Bathtub Gin is sponsored by D.E.L. Motors and Subway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694778413810.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Heather Hagedorn,&nbsp;Executive Director/CuratorIt’s 1923 and the speakeasy at the museum is packed for the birthday party of Al Spumoni, the world-famous bootlegger. A waiter dims the lights for Al to blow out the candles on his cake. When the lights come back up, Al toasts the crowd, takes one sip of his special drink, then chokes and dies. Who poisoned Al’s bathtub gin while the lights were out? Was it one of the gangsters in the room? A high kicking flapper? A visiting silent film star?Solve the mystery at “Death by Bathtub Gin,” a murder mystery fundraiser hosted by the Geary County Historical Society on Saturday, October 14th at 6:30 p.m. Tickets include the password to enter the museum speakeasy and join the murder mystery experience, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and one ticket for a signature cocktail at the bar, plus the chance to win prizes for best costume and for the table that successfully solves the murder. Seats are limited and tickets are $40 each or $200 for a table of 6. Tickets go on sale September 16th&nbsp;at the Museum’s annual Ice Cream Social.Death by Bathtub Gin is sponsored by D.E.L. Motors and Subway.

Murder Mystery coming to the museum October 14th

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans sidetracked debate on the massive Defense spending bill at the last minute on Wednesday, removing it from the daily schedule just as the chamber gaveled into session.

The decision follows public opposition from especially conservative Republicans to advancing any government funding measure in the absence of a written commitment from House GOP leaders to cut spending below what was in the bipartisan debt limit agreement.

The move further sets back efforts to pass the dozen annual government funding bills, as members of Congress scramble to avert a partial government shutdown before the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.

Virginia Rep. Bob Good, a Freedom Caucus member, said Wednesday morning before the schedule change that he would oppose the rule for the Defense spending bill amid frustration that Republican leaders have not detailed a clear plan to get all 12 spending bills to total $1.471 trillion.

“I think there’s a lot of my conservative colleagues who share that view that we want to see how the entire puzzle fits together,” Good said. “And what the commitment is to make sure that the other bills that we bring to the floor are going to get us there.”

In the U.S. House, a rule must be adopted by the chamber before lawmakers can begin debate on major legislation and take a vote. It is uncommon for the House not to adopt a rule.

House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-conservatives-balk-short-term-funding-patch-would-avert-shutdown">indicated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;the group would block the Defense spending bill from moving forward.

House Rules Chair Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican and senior appropriator, encouraged his colleagues to support the rule for the Defense spending bill during a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning in the basement of the U.S. Capitol.

“I’ve heard no complaints about the bill,” Cole told reporters. “It’s all about something else that’s unrelated to the bill. Why don’t we just deal with everything in front of us — the rule and the bill?”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules118.house.gov/files/RuleHR1435HR4365_0.pdf">rule</a>&nbsp;for the Defense appropriations bill approved 184 amendments for floor debate and votes.

President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year in the debt limit agreement, and Congress approved those numbers following bipartisan votes in each chamber.

But conservatives pressed the House Appropriations Committee to draft its spending bills to much lower funding levels, eliciting objections from Democrats who argue the GOP is violating the spending agreement.

The House passed the Military Construction-VA spending bill before leaving for its August recess, but had to pull the Agriculture funding measure from the floor schedule amid conservative objections to the overall spending plan and funding totals they say aren’t low enough.

The Senate began debating a broadly bipartisan three-bill spending package this week that includes the Agriculture, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending bills.

Neither the Senate nor the House will be able to wrap up work on all 12 of the annual government funding bills before the end-of-September deadline.

That makes a short-term stopgap spending bill necessary if Congress is going to avoid a partial government shutdown. But, conservative Republicans in the House and a couple from the Senate seem in favor of shutting down the government as a way to press for their proposed cuts to some federal spending.

Cole said a shutdown isn’t likely to achieve anything, especially given that a substantial number of lawmakers don’t want a funding lapse.

“I understand the frustrations of people that are arguing for a shutdown,” Cole said. “What I can’t see is how it gets them to the goal that they’re concerned about.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694711045817.png" alt="An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper fires a missile over the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base on Aug. 30, 2023 (Air Force Airman 1st Class Victoria Nuzzi/Department of Defense)." />
 <figcaption>An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper fires a missile over the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base on Aug. 30, 2023 (Air Force Airman 1st Class Victoria Nuzzi/Department of Defense).</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans sidetracked debate on the massive Defense spending bill at the last minute on Wednesday, removing it from the daily schedule just as the chamber gaveled into session.The decision follows public opposition from especially conservative Republicans to advancing any government funding measure in the absence of a written commitment from House GOP leaders to cut spending below what was in the bipartisan debt limit agreement.The move further sets back efforts to pass the dozen annual government funding bills, as members of Congress scramble to avert a partial government shutdown before the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.Virginia Rep. Bob Good, a Freedom Caucus member, said Wednesday morning before the schedule change that he would oppose the rule for the Defense spending bill amid frustration that Republican leaders have not detailed a clear plan to get all 12 spending bills to total $1.471 trillion.“I think there’s a lot of my conservative colleagues who share that view that we want to see how the entire puzzle fits together,” Good said. “And what the commitment is to make sure that the other bills that we bring to the floor are going to get us there.”In the U.S. House, a rule must be adopted by the chamber before lawmakers can begin debate on major legislation and take a vote. It is uncommon for the House not to adopt a rule.House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-conservatives-balk-short-term-funding-patch-would-avert-shutdown">indicated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;the group would block the Defense spending bill from moving forward.House Rules Chair Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican and senior appropriator, encouraged his colleagues to support the rule for the Defense spending bill during a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning in the basement of the U.S. Capitol.“I’ve heard no complaints about the bill,” Cole told reporters. “It’s all about something else that’s unrelated to the bill. Why don’t we just deal with everything in front of us — the rule and the bill?”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://rules.house.gov/sites/republicans.rules118.house.gov/files/RuleHR1435HR4365_0.pdf">rule</a>&nbsp;for the Defense appropriations bill approved 184 amendments for floor debate and votes.President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year in the debt limit agreement, and Congress approved those numbers following bipartisan votes in each chamber.But conservatives pressed the House Appropriations Committee to draft its spending bills to much lower funding levels, eliciting objections from Democrats who argue the GOP is violating the spending agreement.The House passed the Military Construction-VA spending bill before leaving for its August recess, but had to pull the Agriculture funding measure from the floor schedule amid conservative objections to the overall spending plan and funding totals they say aren’t low enough.The Senate began debating a broadly bipartisan three-bill spending package this week that includes the Agriculture, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending bills.Neither the Senate nor the House will be able to wrap up work on all 12 of the annual government funding bills before the end-of-September deadline.That makes a short-term stopgap spending bill necessary if Congress is going to avoid a partial government shutdown. But, conservative Republicans in the House and a couple from the Senate seem in favor of shutting down the government as a way to press for their proposed cuts to some federal spending.Cole said a shutdown isn’t likely to achieve anything, especially given that a substantial number of lawmakers don’t want a funding lapse.“I understand the frustrations of people that are arguing for a shutdown,” Cole said. “What I can’t see is how it gets them to the goal that they’re concerned about.”

Amid spending fight, U.S. House GOP punts debate on defense bill

The Junction City Blue Jay football team will travel to McPherson for their week three matchup.&nbsp;

The Blue Jays are currently 1-1 on the season, after defeating the Dodge City Red Demons last Friday, 52-35. As for McPherson, the Bullpups are also 1-1. They lost in week one to Great Bend, but defeated Augusta last Friday, 57-10.&nbsp;

Junction City head football coach Randall Zimmerman had high praise for McPherson when previewing the matchup. "We've got our hands full with them," Zimmerman said. "They are a good, good football team. They felt like they let one slip away in week one against Great Bend, but they beat a good Augusta team last week."&nbsp;

You can listen to the game on 107.9 FM/1420 KJCK. The pregame broadcast starts at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff at 7:00.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Blue Jay football team will travel to McPherson for their week three matchup.&nbsp;The Blue Jays are currently 1-1 on the season, after defeating the Dodge City Red Demons last Friday, 52-35. As for McPherson, the Bullpups are also 1-1. They lost in week one to Great Bend, but defeated Augusta last Friday, 57-10.&nbsp;Junction City head football coach Randall Zimmerman had high praise for McPherson when previewing the matchup. "We've got our hands full with them," Zimmerman said. "They are a good, good football team. They felt like they let one slip away in week one against Great Bend, but they beat a good Augusta team last week."&nbsp;You can listen to the game on 107.9 FM/1420 KJCK. The pregame broadcast starts at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff at 7:00.&nbsp;

Junction City Blue Jay football team to play at McPherson on Friday night

First Infantry Division and Fort Riley News Release

KANSAS CITY, Kansas - 1st Infantry Division Soldiers participated in a joint service enlistment and reenlistment ceremony at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 10, 2023.

The Soldiers of the Big Red One received public recognition for their unwavering service and dedication to defending the nation.

“Representing the Big Red One at the Kansas Speedway allowed me to share my Army experiences with those in attendance,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Angelica R. Gonzalez, a satellite communications systems operator assigned to Signal, Intelligence and Sustainment Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Artillery, 1st Inf. Div. “Seeing the continuous outpouring of appreciation towards our service members is heartening.”

Local communities interacted with Soldiers and experienced hands-on learning as crowds gathered around the Buffalo (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicle and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

“I think the military presence is always great,” said Dirk Huston, a former media operator for the Kansas Speedway. “Having the service members come out to Kansas City shows how much they care about the community.”

After the recruiting event ended, the service members participating in the enlistment and reenlistment ceremony made their way into the stadium. The service members marched onto the field as the crowd cheered their arrival.

“I have never experienced a public reenlistment before, much less in the pit of&nbsp;NASCAR,” Gonzalez said. “It is something unique to stand beside my brothers and sisters in arms to share a moment like this.”

As the clapping subsided, the military personnel raised their right hands. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave F. Knell, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Deputy Commanding General of Support, led them in reciting the Oath of Enlistment, marking the beginning of the next phase of their careers. After the ceremony, service members gathered their friends and family to watch the race.

The event highlights the 1st Infantry Division's commitment to developing exemplary leadership by recognizing exceptional performance.

First Infantry Division and Fort Riley News Release--<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694715304753.jpeg" alt="U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division gather for a group photo with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave F. Knell, the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley Deputy Commanding General of Support, at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on Sept. 10, 2023. The Kansas Speedway invited service members to be publicly recognized for their commitment to service. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dawson Smith)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division gather for a group photo with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave F. Knell, the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley Deputy Commanding General of Support, at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on Sept. 10, 2023. The Kansas Speedway invited service members to be publicly recognized for their commitment to service. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dawson Smith)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kansas - 1st Infantry Division Soldiers participated in a joint service enlistment and reenlistment ceremony at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 10, 2023.The Soldiers of the Big Red One received public recognition for their unwavering service and dedication to defending the nation.“Representing the Big Red One at the Kansas Speedway allowed me to share my Army experiences with those in attendance,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Angelica R. Gonzalez, a satellite communications systems operator assigned to Signal, Intelligence and Sustainment Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Artillery, 1st Inf. Div. “Seeing the continuous outpouring of appreciation towards our service members is heartening.”Local communities interacted with Soldiers and experienced hands-on learning as crowds gathered around the Buffalo (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicle and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.“I think the military presence is always great,” said Dirk Huston, a former media operator for the Kansas Speedway. “Having the service members come out to Kansas City shows how much they care about the community.”After the recruiting event ended, the service members participating in the enlistment and reenlistment ceremony made their way into the stadium. The service members marched onto the field as the crowd cheered their arrival.“I have never experienced a public reenlistment before, much less in the pit of&nbsp;NASCAR,” Gonzalez said. “It is something unique to stand beside my brothers and sisters in arms to share a moment like this.”As the clapping subsided, the military personnel raised their right hands. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Niave F. Knell, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Deputy Commanding General of Support, led them in reciting the Oath of Enlistment, marking the beginning of the next phase of their careers. After the ceremony, service members gathered their friends and family to watch the race.The event highlights the 1st Infantry Division's commitment to developing exemplary leadership by recognizing exceptional performance.

First Infantry Division Participates in NASCAR Joint Service Reenlistment

There is a water main break&nbsp;on Jackson Street at Elm Street and at the 200 block of East 1st Street. Public crews are currently on the scene and working to repair the issue.&nbsp;

There will be little to no water in these areas until repairs are complete.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThere is a water main break&nbsp;on Jackson Street at Elm Street and at the 200 block of East 1st Street. Public crews are currently on the scene and working to repair the issue.&nbsp;There will be little to no water in these areas until repairs are complete.&nbsp;

Water main break on Jackson Street at Elm Street and at the 200 block of E 1st Street

You’ve probably heard the news — federal student loan repayments are starting again in October. But scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayment, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven&nbsp;—&nbsp;for a price. Here’s how to spot and avoid these scams.

The most important thing to know is this: the best source of information on your federal student loans is&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">Federal Student Aid</a>. Also, you don’t need to pay to sign up for any programs to lower your payments or get forgiveness&nbsp;—&nbsp;it’s all free at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/repay">StudentAid.gov/repay</a>. And you can do it yourself. (Again: for free.)

Worried about repaying your loans? The calls and texts that offer "help" might be tempting. But before you act, know how to spot the scams:

● Don’t give away your FSA ID login information.&nbsp;Anyone who says they need it to help you is a scammer. If you share it, the scammer can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.

● Don’t trust anyone who contacts you promising debt relief or loan forgiveness, even if they say they're affiliated with the Department of Education.&nbsp;Scammers try to look real, with official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans or forgiveness options — which don’t exist. If you’re tempted, slow down, hang up, and log into your student loan account to review your options.

As you get&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/prepare-payments-restart">ready for repayment</a>, here are some steps to take:

● Update your contact information with&nbsp;FSA&nbsp;and your&nbsp;loan servicers.&nbsp;This way, you’ll get timely updates about your repayment plans.. Enroll in a&nbsp;repayment plan.&nbsp;

● Use FSA’s&nbsp;Loan Simulator&nbsp;to estimate your monthly payments and compare your repayment options. If you’ve defaulted on your loans, look into the&nbsp;Fresh Start program.

If you spot a scam, the FTC wants to hear about it: &nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694706686281.png" alt="student_loan_debt_relief_blog_graphic_1200x630_en_2.png" />
 <figcaption>student_loan_debt_relief_blog_graphic_1200x630_en_2.png</figcaption>
 </figure>FTCYou’ve probably heard the news — federal student loan repayments are starting again in October. But scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayment, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven&nbsp;—&nbsp;for a price. Here’s how to spot and avoid these scams.The most important thing to know is this: the best source of information on your federal student loans is&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">Federal Student Aid</a>. Also, you don’t need to pay to sign up for any programs to lower your payments or get forgiveness&nbsp;—&nbsp;it’s all free at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/repay">StudentAid.gov/repay</a>. And you can do it yourself. (Again: for free.)Worried about repaying your loans? The calls and texts that offer "help" might be tempting. But before you act, know how to spot the scams:● Don’t give away your FSA ID login information.&nbsp;Anyone who says they need it to help you is a scammer. If you share it, the scammer can cut off contact between you and your servicer — and even steal your identity.● Don’t trust anyone who contacts you promising debt relief or loan forgiveness, even if they say they're affiliated with the Department of Education.&nbsp;Scammers try to look real, with official-looking names, seals, and logos. They promise special access to repayment plans or forgiveness options — which don’t exist. If you’re tempted, slow down, hang up, and log into your student loan account to review your options.As you get&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/prepare-payments-restart">ready for repayment</a>, here are some steps to take:● Update your contact information with&nbsp;FSA&nbsp;and your&nbsp;loan servicers.&nbsp;This way, you’ll get timely updates about your repayment plans.. Enroll in a&nbsp;repayment plan.&nbsp;● Use FSA’s&nbsp;Loan Simulator&nbsp;to estimate your monthly payments and compare your repayment options. If you’ve defaulted on your loans, look into the&nbsp;Fresh Start program.If you spot a scam, the FTC wants to hear about it: &nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC: Pay your student loans — not scammers

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported theft and asking for help to locate a missing kayak.

Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 500 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

&nbsp;A 26-year-old man reported his orange Wilderness Systems kayak was stolen from his backyard. 

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $700. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported theft and asking for help to locate a missing kayak.Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 500 block of Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp;A 26-year-old man reported his orange Wilderness Systems kayak was stolen from his backyard. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $700. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: Kayak stolen from backyard

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attack on corrections officers in Manhattan.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police accused 21-year-old Nicholas Chavez, 21, of Manhattan, who was already in custody, for interference with law enforcement and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The accusations, contained in a warrant, are from an incident on July 29, where it was reported Chavez kicked two RCPD officers and interfered with them as they were detaining him. 

Chavez was issued a bond of $5,000 for this warrant and remains confined.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attack on corrections officers in Manhattan.Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police accused 21-year-old Nicholas Chavez, 21, of Manhattan, who was already in custody, for interference with law enforcement and battery on a law enforcement officer, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.The accusations, contained in a warrant, are from an incident on July 29, where it was reported Chavez kicked two RCPD officers and interfered with them as they were detaining him. Chavez was issued a bond of $5,000 for this warrant and remains confined.

RCPD: Manhattan man accused of attack on jail officers

The Junction City Fire Department was on the scene of a garage fire this morning. The fire was near 14th and Jackson Street.&nbsp;

There has been no information provided on the cause of the fire.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699776951.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the Junction City Fire Department Facebook Page" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the Junction City Fire Department Facebook Page</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Fire Department was on the scene of a garage fire this morning. The fire was near 14th and Jackson Street.&nbsp;There has been no information provided on the cause of the fire.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694700237104.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the Junction City Fire Department Facebook Page" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the Junction City Fire Department Facebook Page</figcaption>
 </figure>

Garage Fire on Thursday morning near 14th and Jackson 

The Lady Jay Tennis team traveled to Topeka on Wednesday and earned a runner up finish at the Topeka High Varsity Tennis Invite.  All singles and doubles entries finished in the top four places.  Eight schools participated in the tournament. 

 The Lady Jays were led by the #2 doubles team of Rebecca Monroe and Sarah Chang and #1 singles player, Hannah Micheel.  Both finished in 2nd place of their division, losing only in the championship matches.  Julia Cho competed in the #2 singles division and went 3-1 on the day to capture 3rd place, while Stephanie Stanislow and Ohemaa Sarpong went 2-2 to earn a 4th place finish. 

 The Lady Jays next travel to Olathe Northwest for a quadrangular on Thursday.  Matches will be held at the CBAC and begin at 3 pm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694692872610.jpeg" alt="Junction City Lady Jays tennis team finishes 2nd at Topeka High Varsity Invite on Wednesday.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Junction City Lady Jays tennis team finishes 2nd at Topeka High Varsity Invite on Wednesday.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City High School athletics--The Lady Jay Tennis team traveled to Topeka on Wednesday and earned a runner up finish at the Topeka High Varsity Tennis Invite. All singles and doubles entries finished in the top four places. Eight schools participated in the tournament. The Lady Jays were led by the #2 doubles team of Rebecca Monroe and Sarah Chang and #1 singles player, Hannah Micheel. Both finished in 2nd place of their division, losing only in the championship matches. Julia Cho competed in the #2 singles division and went 3-1 on the day to capture 3rd place, while Stephanie Stanislow and Ohemaa Sarpong went 2-2 to earn a 4th place finish. The Lady Jays next travel to Olathe Northwest for a quadrangular on Thursday. Matches will be held at the CBAC and begin at 3 pm.

Lady Jays tennis team places 2nd at Topeka High Varsity Invite

MANHATTAN — Personality tests are a popular job candidate selection tool; however, they often rely on self-reported measures, which can be biased, inaccurate or fake. A collaborative research team that includes a Kansas State University psychologist found that artificial intelligence could help with this task.

Tianjun Sun, assistant professor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/psych/">psychological sciences</a>&nbsp;in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/">College of Arts and Sciences</a>, is part of the research team that conducted a study with more than 1,500 undergraduate students to determine whether a person's conversation with an AI chatbot could extract personality-related information.

The study, "<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001082">How well can an AI chatbot infer personality?: Examining psychometric properties of machine-inferred personality scores</a>," was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.Sun is a co-leading author with researchers from Auburn University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and the United States Air Force Academy.

The American Psychological Association also designated the article as a high-impact article.To examine the properties of the AI personality scores, the researchers had each participant engage in a conversation with an AI chatbot for 20-30 minutes and complete self-reported personality assessments for comparison. 

Grade point average and peer-rated college adjustment were used to measure personality outcomes. Researchers also used participants' chat responses to train the AI to predict the self-reported personality scores.The researchers found that the AI personality scores satisfied many of the standards that help researchers evaluate the quality of a psychological test. 

The scores were consistent and similar to the self-reported personality measures. In some analyses, like when measuring the ability of extroversion to predict GPA and college adjustment, AI scores had predictive power that extended beyond self-reported personality scores."Our study provides promising support for the future of machine learning techniques in personality assessment," said Sun. "As these techniques become more common in employee selection, organizations should be aware that this might help them save time and still accurately measure personality. 

More research is needed to learn whether it is fair to minority groups or susceptible to faking and its legal and ethical implications."Sun is an expert in industrial-organizational psychology and studies personnel selection, individual differences and quantitative methods. She is passionate about the responsible use of psychometric tools and advanced technology to improve psychological sciences and solve organizational problems.

K-State's psychological sciences department seeks to better understand the diversity of human experience that drives behavior and the mind's mechanisms underlying behavior. The faculty and students conduct research in industrial/organizational and social/personality psychology, behavioral neuroscience/animal learning, and cognitive/human factors. 

The department's Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Approaches to Plasticity, which is supported by $21.8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, focuses on plasticity, or how organisms respond to change.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694692014777.png" alt="Tianjun Sun is a co-leading author of a high-impact study to determine whether a person’s conversation with an AI chatbot could be used to extract personality-related information.-photo KSU" />
 <figcaption>Tianjun Sun is a co-leading author of a high-impact study to determine whether a person’s conversation with an AI chatbot could be used to extract personality-related information.-photo KSU</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Marcia LockeMANHATTAN — Personality tests are a popular job candidate selection tool; however, they often rely on self-reported measures, which can be biased, inaccurate or fake. A collaborative research team that includes a Kansas State University psychologist found that artificial intelligence could help with this task.Tianjun Sun, assistant professor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/psych/">psychological sciences</a>&nbsp;in K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://artsci.k-state.edu/">College of Arts and Sciences</a>, is part of the research team that conducted a study with more than 1,500 undergraduate students to determine whether a person's conversation with an AI chatbot could extract personality-related information.The study, "<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001082">How well can an AI chatbot infer personality?: Examining psychometric properties of machine-inferred personality scores</a>," was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.Sun is a co-leading author with researchers from Auburn University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and the United States Air Force Academy. The American Psychological Association also designated the article as a high-impact article.To examine the properties of the AI personality scores, the researchers had each participant engage in a conversation with an AI chatbot for 20-30 minutes and complete self-reported personality assessments for comparison. Grade point average and peer-rated college adjustment were used to measure personality outcomes. Researchers also used participants' chat responses to train the AI to predict the self-reported personality scores.The researchers found that the AI personality scores satisfied many of the standards that help researchers evaluate the quality of a psychological test. The scores were consistent and similar to the self-reported personality measures. In some analyses, like when measuring the ability of extroversion to predict GPA and college adjustment, AI scores had predictive power that extended beyond self-reported personality scores."Our study provides promising support for the future of machine learning techniques in personality assessment," said Sun. "As these techniques become more common in employee selection, organizations should be aware that this might help them save time and still accurately measure personality. More research is needed to learn whether it is fair to minority groups or susceptible to faking and its legal and ethical implications."Sun is an expert in industrial-organizational psychology and studies personnel selection, individual differences and quantitative methods. She is passionate about the responsible use of psychometric tools and advanced technology to improve psychological sciences and solve organizational problems.K-State's psychological sciences department seeks to better understand the diversity of human experience that drives behavior and the mind's mechanisms underlying behavior. The faculty and students conduct research in industrial/organizational and social/personality psychology, behavioral neuroscience/animal learning, and cognitive/human factors. The department's Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Approaches to Plasticity, which is supported by $21.8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, focuses on plasticity, or how organisms respond to change.

KSU collaborative psychology research: AI chatbot can infer someone's personality

Geary County District Court will be closed to the public on Friday, September 15, 2023 for 8th&nbsp;Judicial District annual staff development day.

Geary County release&nbsp;--Geary County District Court will be closed to the public on Friday, September 15, 2023 for 8th&nbsp;Judicial District annual staff development day.

Geary County Courthouse closed on Friday

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced legislation to protect rural veterans’ access to quality, lifesaving emergency medical care and transport, according to a media release from the Senator's office.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/FF4D27DE-7010-42D1-87DD-E0866947776D" target="_blank">VA Emergency Transportation Access Act</a>&nbsp;would bar the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from reducing rates of pay and reimbursement for special mode transportation providers, including ground and air ambulances, unless VA meets certain requirements that ensure rate changes will not reduce veterans’ access to this essential service. Uninformed reductions in rates to levels below the actual cost of these emergency transports, without proper safeguards in place, would have catastrophic impacts if providers are forced to reduce services and even close access points due to an inability to absorb those costs.

“It is critical that VA continues to provide fair reimbursements for emergency transportation services so veterans, particularly those in rural areas, have no barriers standing between them and the health care they need,”&nbsp;said Moran. “VA’s recent rule making threatens to upend access to care for veterans and all Americans by disrupting the air and ground ambulance industry from coast to coast.&nbsp;This legislation would put&nbsp;a&nbsp;stop to that by establishing commonsense parameters for VA to follow when setting air ambulance reimbursement rates to make certain veterans across the nation receive lifesaving care when they need it most.” &nbsp;

“In rural states like Montana, emergency ground and air transportation is a lifeline for veterans who can easily find themselves a long way from a hospital when a medical emergency happens,”&nbsp;said Tester.&nbsp;“Our bipartisan bill will ensure veterans can continue to access the timely, lifesaving emergency services they have earned, and that local emergency transportation providers are fairly reimbursed for their service to these heroes.”

“As someone who has served in the military and now has the honor of providing care for other Veterans, this bipartisan legislation is a crucial step forward in preserving access to lifesaving air medical flights,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;B.J. Tyner, former Black Hawk Army pilot, Kansan, and current area manager for LifeSave Transport, which has 4 air medical bases in Kansas. “Rural-based veterans face many obstacles when it comes to healthcare, and we must ensure they continue to have access to critical care in their time of need. I want to thank Senator Moran for standing up for the approximately 200,000 Kansas veterans.”

Veterans living in rural or hard-to-reach areas rely on emergency medical care and transports to access urgent, lifesaving medical care.

In&nbsp;February, VA finalized a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/2/sens-moran-tester-urge-va-secretary-denis-mcdonough-to-delay-proposed-air-ambulance-rule-change" target="_blank">proposed rule change</a>&nbsp;for special mode transportation service rates that would bring rates far below the actual costs of these services that would go into effect February 2024, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/2/sens-moran-tester-urge-va-secretary-denis-mcdonough-to-delay-proposed-air-ambulance-rule-change" target="_blank">significant opposition from Congress</a>, providers, and veteran service organizations.

Rate reductions could cause emergency transportation providers to severely reduce services, close bases, or even bill veterans for the remainder of their costs in order to shoulder the financial impacts of this change. The department’s plan to reduce this negative impact through contracted rates above the base rates proposed in the rule is months behind and many aspects of the contracting plans are still not confirmed.

The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;would require VA to complete the following requirements before pursuing a change that would reduce reimbursement rates for Special Modes of Transportation:

• Conduct a thorough review of the impact a change in rates would have on veterans’ access to care;&nbsp;• Consult industry experts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, appropriate VA subject matter experts, and Veterans Service Organizations when conducting the review;&nbsp;• Develop a formal process of updating the rates that protects or expands veterans’ current access to emergency transportation; and&nbsp;• Ensure the new rates reflect the actual costs of transportation.&nbsp;

“Having access to VA’s Special Mode of Transportation is the only way many veterans can safely get to their VA and authorized non-VA medical appointments,”&nbsp;said Heather Ansley, chief policy officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;helps ensure reimbursement rates for this program remain strong by preventing VA from changing them until a review of their impact on veterans’ access to care, the actual cost of transportation and other variables is conducted.”

“The American Legion and our 1.6 million members applaud the swift bipartisan leadership of Senators Tester and Moran in introducing the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act,”&nbsp;said Chanin Nuntavong, executive director of The American Legion.&nbsp;“This timely proposal rightfully institutes accountability from the Department of Veterans Affairs and continuity for our nation’s veterans to receive the emergency care they need, when they need it most – without arbitrary reimbursement rate changes that leave veterans footing outrageous emergency transportation service bills and diminished access to emergency services. The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;is a step toward a more transparent, more veteran-focused VA healthcare system.”

“The VFW supports the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act which would limit the Secretary of VA from modifying the rate of payment or reimbursement for transportation of veterans or other individuals via special modes of transportation under the laws administered by the Secretary,”&nbsp;said VFW Associate Director Meggan Thomas.&nbsp;“The VFW does not support the reduction of transportation rates, especially when rising costs make it challenging for veterans to access services. We believe there must be a more effective way of handling transportation issues. We thank Senators Tester and Moran for introducing this bill, and we look forward to getting this legislation passed into law.”

“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;by Senators Tester, Moran, Murray and Boozman will help ensure that veterans as well as communities continue to have access to often lifesaving emergency 9-1-1 ambulance services,”&nbsp;said Randy Strozyk, president of the American Ambulance Association.

“I thank Senators Tester, Moran, Murray, and Boozman for introducing this important legislation,”&nbsp;said Fire Chief John S. Butler, president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.&nbsp;“By holding VA accountable to develop fair and reasonable rates, the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;will ensure that our nation’s veterans continue to receive the quality emergency care that they deserve. In addition, local fire and EMS departments will continue to be reimbursed for this important service to the heroes of their community.”

“Life Flight Network provides lifesaving emergency medical care and transport to veterans every day, across Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho,”&nbsp;said Ben Clayton, CEO of Life Flight Network.&nbsp;“We are often the only lifeline to specialty healthcare for veterans living in our rural communities. As a veteran myself, I understand how important this legislation is to ensuring veterans, particularly in rural areas, continue to have access to high quality, lifesaving emergency care. We celebrate Senators Tester and Moran for their efforts in addressing this critical issue and urge Congress to pass the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Our members share stories every day of how impactful specialty transport is to patients in their time of need. Supporting veterans’ access to this vital safety net service remains a top priority for us,”&nbsp;said Jana Williams, president and CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).&nbsp;“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;introduces a thoughtful approach to protecting emergency transport access for veterans and we applaud Senators Tester, Moran, Murray, and Boozman for their efforts.&nbsp; We remain committed to partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Members of Congress, and veterans’ organizations to find a solution that improves access and guarantees care for all our nation’s veterans.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced legislation to protect rural veterans’ access to quality, lifesaving emergency medical care and transport, according to a media release from the Senator's office.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/FF4D27DE-7010-42D1-87DD-E0866947776D" target="_blank">VA Emergency Transportation Access Act</a>&nbsp;would bar the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from reducing rates of pay and reimbursement for special mode transportation providers, including ground and air ambulances, unless VA meets certain requirements that ensure rate changes will not reduce veterans’ access to this essential service. Uninformed reductions in rates to levels below the actual cost of these emergency transports, without proper safeguards in place, would have catastrophic impacts if providers are forced to reduce services and even close access points due to an inability to absorb those costs.“It is critical that VA continues to provide fair reimbursements for emergency transportation services so veterans, particularly those in rural areas, have no barriers standing between them and the health care they need,”&nbsp;said Moran. “VA’s recent rule making threatens to upend access to care for veterans and all Americans by disrupting the air and ground ambulance industry from coast to coast.&nbsp;This legislation would put&nbsp;a&nbsp;stop to that by establishing commonsense parameters for VA to follow when setting air ambulance reimbursement rates to make certain veterans across the nation receive lifesaving care when they need it most.” &nbsp;“In rural states like Montana, emergency ground and air transportation is a lifeline for veterans who can easily find themselves a long way from a hospital when a medical emergency happens,”&nbsp;said Tester.&nbsp;“Our bipartisan bill will ensure veterans can continue to access the timely, lifesaving emergency services they have earned, and that local emergency transportation providers are fairly reimbursed for their service to these heroes.”“As someone who has served in the military and now has the honor of providing care for other Veterans, this bipartisan legislation is a crucial step forward in preserving access to lifesaving air medical flights,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;B.J. Tyner, former Black Hawk Army pilot, Kansan, and current area manager for LifeSave Transport, which has 4 air medical bases in Kansas. “Rural-based veterans face many obstacles when it comes to healthcare, and we must ensure they continue to have access to critical care in their time of need. I want to thank Senator Moran for standing up for the approximately 200,000 Kansas veterans.”Veterans living in rural or hard-to-reach areas rely on emergency medical care and transports to access urgent, lifesaving medical care.In&nbsp;February, VA finalized a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/2/sens-moran-tester-urge-va-secretary-denis-mcdonough-to-delay-proposed-air-ambulance-rule-change" target="_blank">proposed rule change</a>&nbsp;for special mode transportation service rates that would bring rates far below the actual costs of these services that would go into effect February 2024, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/2/sens-moran-tester-urge-va-secretary-denis-mcdonough-to-delay-proposed-air-ambulance-rule-change" target="_blank">significant opposition from Congress</a>, providers, and veteran service organizations.Rate reductions could cause emergency transportation providers to severely reduce services, close bases, or even bill veterans for the remainder of their costs in order to shoulder the financial impacts of this change. The department’s plan to reduce this negative impact through contracted rates above the base rates proposed in the rule is months behind and many aspects of the contracting plans are still not confirmed.The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;would require VA to complete the following requirements before pursuing a change that would reduce reimbursement rates for Special Modes of Transportation:• Conduct a thorough review of the impact a change in rates would have on veterans’ access to care;&nbsp;• Consult industry experts, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, appropriate VA subject matter experts, and Veterans Service Organizations when conducting the review;&nbsp;• Develop a formal process of updating the rates that protects or expands veterans’ current access to emergency transportation; and&nbsp;• Ensure the new rates reflect the actual costs of transportation.&nbsp;“Having access to VA’s Special Mode of Transportation is the only way many veterans can safely get to their VA and authorized non-VA medical appointments,”&nbsp;said Heather Ansley, chief policy officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;helps ensure reimbursement rates for this program remain strong by preventing VA from changing them until a review of their impact on veterans’ access to care, the actual cost of transportation and other variables is conducted.”“The American Legion and our 1.6 million members applaud the swift bipartisan leadership of Senators Tester and Moran in introducing the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act,”&nbsp;said Chanin Nuntavong, executive director of The American Legion.&nbsp;“This timely proposal rightfully institutes accountability from the Department of Veterans Affairs and continuity for our nation’s veterans to receive the emergency care they need, when they need it most – without arbitrary reimbursement rate changes that leave veterans footing outrageous emergency transportation service bills and diminished access to emergency services. The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;is a step toward a more transparent, more veteran-focused VA healthcare system.”“The VFW supports the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act which would limit the Secretary of VA from modifying the rate of payment or reimbursement for transportation of veterans or other individuals via special modes of transportation under the laws administered by the Secretary,”&nbsp;said VFW Associate Director Meggan Thomas.&nbsp;“The VFW does not support the reduction of transportation rates, especially when rising costs make it challenging for veterans to access services. We believe there must be a more effective way of handling transportation issues. We thank Senators Tester and Moran for introducing this bill, and we look forward to getting this legislation passed into law.”“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;by Senators Tester, Moran, Murray and Boozman will help ensure that veterans as well as communities continue to have access to often lifesaving emergency 9-1-1 ambulance services,”&nbsp;said Randy Strozyk, president of the American Ambulance Association.“I thank Senators Tester, Moran, Murray, and Boozman for introducing this important legislation,”&nbsp;said Fire Chief John S. Butler, president and board chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.&nbsp;“By holding VA accountable to develop fair and reasonable rates, the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;will ensure that our nation’s veterans continue to receive the quality emergency care that they deserve. In addition, local fire and EMS departments will continue to be reimbursed for this important service to the heroes of their community.”“Life Flight Network provides lifesaving emergency medical care and transport to veterans every day, across Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho,”&nbsp;said Ben Clayton, CEO of Life Flight Network.&nbsp;“We are often the only lifeline to specialty healthcare for veterans living in our rural communities. As a veteran myself, I understand how important this legislation is to ensuring veterans, particularly in rural areas, continue to have access to high quality, lifesaving emergency care. We celebrate Senators Tester and Moran for their efforts in addressing this critical issue and urge Congress to pass the&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Our members share stories every day of how impactful specialty transport is to patients in their time of need. Supporting veterans’ access to this vital safety net service remains a top priority for us,”&nbsp;said Jana Williams, president and CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).&nbsp;“The&nbsp;VA Emergency Transportation Access Act&nbsp;introduces a thoughtful approach to protecting emergency transport access for veterans and we applaud Senators Tester, Moran, Murray, and Boozman for their efforts.&nbsp; We remain committed to partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Members of Congress, and veterans’ organizations to find a solution that improves access and guarantees care for all our nation’s veterans.”

Moran works to protect veterans' emergency medical transportation

The JC Optimist Breakfast Club met on Wednesday morning where they hosted three guest speakers. The guests were Matt Hoover, Business Director at Geary County Rehab, Dr. Doug Jardine, Kansas District Optimist Club Governor, and Ethan Moneypenny&nbsp; the JC Community Band's Jack Moore Scholarship recipient.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694628140472.jpeg" alt="JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting for Wednesday, September 13. Pictured is: Matt Hoover (far left), Business Director at Geary County Rehab, Nita Miller, President of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club, Dr. Doug Jardine, Kansas District Optimist Club Governor, and Ethan Moneypenny (far right), the JC Community Band's Jack Moore Scholarship recipient. " />
 <figcaption>JC Breakfast Optimist Club meeting for Wednesday, September 13. Pictured is: Matt Hoover (far left), Business Director at Geary County Rehab, Nita Miller, President of the JC Breakfast Optimist Club, Dr. Doug Jardine, Kansas District Optimist Club Governor, and Ethan Moneypenny (far right), the JC Community Band's Jack Moore Scholarship recipient. </figcaption>
 </figure>JC Breakfast Optimist Club release--The JC Optimist Breakfast Club met on Wednesday morning where they hosted three guest speakers. The guests were Matt Hoover, Business Director at Geary County Rehab, Dr. Doug Jardine, Kansas District Optimist Club Governor, and Ethan Moneypenny&nbsp; the JC Community Band's Jack Moore Scholarship recipient.Kansas District Governor, Dr. Jardine, awarded JC Breakfast Optimist Club member, Dana Wiegand, a pin for recruiting five new members. Dana was unable to attend and will receive her pin later. Ethan Moneypenny, shared about his learning experience at Fort Hays State University Band Camp this summer. He stated that he has made significant progress as a musician from having attended the camp. Ethan is a junior at Junction City High School. He plays the tuba in the JC Community Band and also plays in the high school band. After graduation, Ethan plans to study music in college.Matt Hoover, Business Director at the Geary Rehab Center, is working with his father, Justin, and a 15-member committee in planning Oktorberfest which is to be held on October 6th and 7th in downtown Junction City. He told the Optimists that there will be 80 vendors selling food, crafts, and beer. "This is intended to be a fun family community event including entertainment for all ages," Hoover said. "Last year there were approximately 17,000 people who attended. We hope to have 20,000 people this year.” Matt also stated that there will be polka bands from the area and one from Kansas City. The First Infantry Division Band will also perform. Other events will include performances by Clarabel’s Bavarian Dance group, JC GymTastics, Elite Academy of Martial Arts Demonstration, JCHS J-Steppers, and several contests.Contests will include Best Dressed, a yodeling contest, stein holding contest, Hammerschlagen contest and a Cornhole Tournament. On October 7th there will be 5k and a 13k Volksmarch. More information may be found online at JunctionCityOktoberfest.com.