BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings. 

But the risks of the variant remained largely unknown. 

Medical experts, including the World Health Organization, warned against any overreaction before the variant was better understood. 

A jittery world feared the worst nearly two years after COVID-19 emerged and triggered a pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people around the globe. 

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers that the new version may be more transmissible than the delta variant and render vaccines less effective.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings. But the risks of the variant remained largely unknown. Medical experts, including the World Health Organization, warned against any overreaction before the variant was better understood. A jittery world feared the worst nearly two years after COVID-19 emerged and triggered a pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people around the globe. British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers that the new version may be more transmissible than the delta variant and render vaccines less effective.

New virus variant emerges in Africa, stokes worldwide fears

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say speed and alcohol use are suspected to be factors in a Thanksgiving night accident that killed a man and critically injured a woman.

 KSNW-TV reports that the accident happened around 8 p.m. Thursday at 13th Street and Hillside. 

Lt. Chris Marceau says a pickup truck struck an SUV from behind at a stoplight, causing the SUV to roll over. 

A 65-year-old man died and a 67-year-old passenger is hospitalized in critical condition. 

The 37-year-old driver of the pickup truck was taken into custody. 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say speed and alcohol use are suspected to be factors in a Thanksgiving night accident that killed a man and critically injured a woman. KSNW-TV reports that the accident happened around 8 p.m. Thursday at 13th Street and Hillside. Lt. Chris Marceau says a pickup truck struck an SUV from behind at a stoplight, causing the SUV to roll over. A 65-year-old man died and a 67-year-old passenger is hospitalized in critical condition. The 37-year-old driver of the pickup truck was taken into custody. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Police suspect speed, alcohol were factors in fatal Kan. wreck

Collecting sports memorabilia has been an American pastime for 
nearly a century. Devoted fans seek out souvenir items such as jerseys, 
equipment, cards, or other items that have direct connections to famous 
players or historic games. Collectors’ enthusiasm and willingness to spend are higher than ever - and scammers have noticed.
 Legal cases in recent years have shed light on a widespread fraud 
problem threatening the sports memorabilia trade. Since many items are 
now sold online, it can be harder than ever to trust that a seller or 
product is genuine.

“Game-used” items are highly sought after. Buyers 
prize items that saw action on the court or field as valuable parts of 
sports history. Consumers should be aware that there is a significant 
difference between “game-used” and “game-issued.” For example, a 
game-issued jersey was designed for the player to wear, but it may not 
actually have been worn. There’s nothing wrong with selling that kind of
 game-issued item—unless the seller scuffs it up and tries to pass it 
off as game-used for a higher price.

Autographs are even trickier. With the use of 
autopen, manufacturers can reproduce ink signatures hundreds of times. 
Again, there’s nothing wrong with selling autopen-signed items as long 
as they’re not misrepresented as personally signed by the player and 
priced accordingly. Buyers also need to watch out for online listings 
that describe items as “hand-signed” without specifying whose hand 
signed it. That could be technically correct but still highly 
misleading.

Outright forgeries can be the hardest to spot, and 
this issue has plagued collectors for decades. If you don’t have time to
 become an autograph authentication expert, but still want to make 
purchases, here are some steps you can take.

While searching for an authentic jersey online that has the original 
team logo on it, a site comes up in the search promising great deals and
 fast shipping. It might be in the form of a social media ad or a quick 
web search.

The store name doesn't sound familiar; however, it has great photos 
and cheap prices, making it so believable that an order is placed. The 
credit card is account charged at check out and a confirmation is 
emailed. Everything seems normal, until weeks pass and the jersey never 
arrives. The anticipation of having a keepsake of a favorite team is 
suddenly dashed as the realization that neither the company nor the 
website exists when trying to connect with someone in customer service.

Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">BBB’s Scam Alert emails</a>&nbsp;for weekly updates on the latest scams.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/onlineshopping" target="_blank">online purchase scams</a> on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.

To learn more about&nbsp;scams, go to BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tips (<a href="https://send.council.bbb.org/link.cfm?r=o4rkjnbvFfHKmw8w1BSC8w~~&amp;pe=jbzCrIsjV8YYgs1yGzjKoGBSb-rj8RkEcvnC1SICvqtSZI4st5fiwo5HuHuP2nXMb0ZxRgmQZRtgVvxV5pe1ww~~" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtips</a>).To report a&nbsp;scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tracker</a>.

Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-metropolitan-new-york" target="_blank">BBB serving Metro New York</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBCollecting sports memorabilia has been an American pastime for 
nearly a century. Devoted fans seek out souvenir items such as jerseys, 
equipment, cards, or other items that have direct connections to famous 
players or historic games. Collectors’ enthusiasm and willingness to spend are higher than ever - and scammers have noticed.
 Legal cases in recent years have shed light on a widespread fraud 
problem threatening the sports memorabilia trade. Since many items are 
now sold online, it can be harder than ever to trust that a seller or 
product is genuine.“Game-used” items are highly sought after. Buyers 
prize items that saw action on the court or field as valuable parts of 
sports history. Consumers should be aware that there is a significant 
difference between “game-used” and “game-issued.” For example, a 
game-issued jersey was designed for the player to wear, but it may not 
actually have been worn. There’s nothing wrong with selling that kind of
 game-issued item—unless the seller scuffs it up and tries to pass it 
off as game-used for a higher price.Autographs are even trickier. With the use of 
autopen, manufacturers can reproduce ink signatures hundreds of times. 
Again, there’s nothing wrong with selling autopen-signed items as long 
as they’re not misrepresented as personally signed by the player and 
priced accordingly. Buyers also need to watch out for online listings 
that describe items as “hand-signed” without specifying whose hand 
signed it. That could be technically correct but still highly 
misleading.Outright forgeries can be the hardest to spot, and 
this issue has plagued collectors for decades. If you don’t have time to
 become an autograph authentication expert, but still want to make 
purchases, here are some steps you can take.<h2>How the scam works - an example</h2>While searching for an authentic jersey online that has the original 
team logo on it, a site comes up in the search promising great deals and
 fast shipping. It might be in the form of a social media ad or a quick 
web search.The store name doesn't sound familiar; however, it has great photos 
and cheap prices, making it so believable that an order is placed. The 
credit card is account charged at check out and a confirmation is 
emailed. Everything seems normal, until weeks pass and the jersey never 
arrives. The anticipation of having a keepsake of a favorite team is 
suddenly dashed as the realization that neither the company nor the 
website exists when trying to connect with someone in customer service.<h2>How to avoid sports merchandise scams:</h2><ul>
 <li>Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If 
the price of an item, collectable or not, is significantly less than 
what it is on other well-known retailers’ sites, this is a red flag that
 it might be a scam.</li><li>Research the company before you purchase. If the company is unfamiliar, check <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to see if they have a BBB Business Profile, or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 to see if anyone else has reported them as a scam. Look for contact 
information on the website such as a phone number or brick and mortar 
address as well as&nbsp; a robust social media presence to help determine if 
the company truly does exist.</li><li>Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card as payment.
 Both payment types are often requested by scammers and, once the money 
is gone, there is no way to get the money back. Instead, make online 
purchases with a credit card and only on secure (https) websites.</li><li>Double-check COAs: Certificates of authenticity 
(COAs) are the norm for memorabilia purchases, especially for costly 
items —so it’s likely that scammers will try to provide fake ones. A 
valid COA should state the qualifications and complete contact 
information of the issuer. Before you trust a COA, make sure it contains
 full and correct details on who issued it, and then make sure they’re a
 legitimate and reputable authority. If investing in a less expensive 
purchase that is not offered with a COA, the buyer should still request a
 written representation from the seller about the authenticity and 
origin of the item. It is also essential to establish and get a written 
statement about the item’s physical condition before you purchase it.</li><li>Take extra care at charity auctions:&nbsp;Some scammers 
target charities by providing “donations” of fake memorabilia. When 
considering a bid for an item at a charity auction, be extra vigilant 
and watch out for suspicious price valuations and shady authentications.
 When in doubt about an item, consider making a pure donation to the 
charity rather than an auction purchase.</li><li>Seek a money-back guarantee:&nbsp;If possible, work with
 a dealer who can guarantee a full refund of your purchase if you ever 
discover it’s a fraud. Check all terms and conditions of the sale, 
especially limitations, before buying the item.</li>
 </ul>For More InformationSubscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">BBB’s Scam Alert emails</a>&nbsp;for weekly updates on the latest scams.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/onlineshopping" target="_blank">online purchase scams</a> on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.To learn more about&nbsp;scams, go to BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tips (<a href="https://send.council.bbb.org/link.cfm?r=o4rkjnbvFfHKmw8w1BSC8w~~&amp;pe=jbzCrIsjV8YYgs1yGzjKoGBSb-rj8RkEcvnC1SICvqtSZI4st5fiwo5HuHuP2nXMb0ZxRgmQZRtgVvxV5pe1ww~~" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtips</a>).To report a&nbsp;scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tracker</a>.Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-metropolitan-new-york" target="_blank">BBB serving Metro New York</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Tips: Shopping for sports merch, collectibles can be risky

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer

U.S. health officials say Merck's experimental COVID-19 pill is effective but they raised questions about its safety during pregnancy. 

The Food and Drug Administration posted its review Friday ahead of a public meeting next week where outside experts will debate the drug's benefits and risks. 

If FDA authorizes the drug it would be the first pill for U.S. patients infected with the virus. All FDA-authorized drugs currently used against coronavirus require an IV or injection. The FDA will ask its experts whether the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health WriterU.S. health officials say Merck's experimental COVID-19 pill is effective but they raised questions about its safety during pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration posted its review Friday ahead of a public meeting next week where outside experts will debate the drug's benefits and risks. If FDA authorizes the drug it would be the first pill for U.S. patients infected with the virus. All FDA-authorized drugs currently used against coronavirus require an IV or injection. The FDA will ask its experts whether the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.

FDA: Merck COVID pill effective, experts will review safety

MANHATTAN – A series of online and in-person workshops scheduled for early 2022 will help Kansas growers sell safer produce while also opening new opportunities to sell their goods, said a Kansas State University food safety specialist.&nbsp;

Londa Nwadike, who holds a joint extension appointment with K-State and the University of Missouri, said some larger Kansas fruit, vegetable and herb growers have a regulatory requirement to attend training under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).&nbsp;

“However, any Kansas grower who is selling produce will benefit from attending these training sessions because they will be able to sell safer produce, which is in the best interest of the produce grower,” Nwadike said. “Growers will also have a chance to meet other growers and learn from each other.”&nbsp;

The workshops, she added, cover practical, risk-based assessments for growing safer produce.&nbsp;

The schedule of FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training sessions in Kansas include:

●Jan. 25 and 27 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) – online only.&nbsp;Registration is available online.

●Feb. 9 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;More information is available online.

 ●Feb. 18 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;More information is available online.&nbsp;

K-State and the University of Missouri also are offering FSMA Produce Safety annual supervisor training at the following times and locations:&nbsp;

●Jan. 18 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;Registration is available online.

●Jan. 21 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Online only.&nbsp;More information is available online.

●Feb. 17 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;More information is available online.&nbsp;

“Some produce buyers – grocery stores, distributors, schools and others – may require that the produce they purchase is certified according to Good Agricultural Practices (known as GAPs),” Nwadike said. “Therefore, if a grower wants to sell to those markets, which are usually more lucrative and stable, they will need to be GAP certified.”&nbsp;

K-State is offering online training to assist growers in getting GAP certified and to develop a food safety plan on Feb 14 from 2-4 p.m. More information and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/index.html" target="_blank">registration is available online</a>.This training costs $5. &nbsp;

All other training sessions are free. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce" target="_blank">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce</a>&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension has been providing produce safety training in Kansas since 2017. “These trainings,” Nwadike said, “have enabled produce growers to comply with federal produce safety regulations. They have also enabled Kansas growers to sell safer produce, hopefully reducing the number of foodborne illnesses caused by Kansas-grown produce.”&nbsp;

In addition, Nwadike said K-State Research and Extension continues to provide Kansas produce growers free microbial water testing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html</a>&nbsp;for details. This testing is provided by a grant from USDA. &nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are key partners in K-State’s produce safety outreach, according to Nwadike, enabling the state’s extension service to hire a full time produce safety associate who provides technical assistance and on-farm visits.&nbsp;

The Kansas Farmers Union also provides scholarships to cover the remaining costs of training. Those interested in cost-share funding for GAP certification may contact Nwadike at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnwadike@ksu.edu" target="_blank">lnwadike@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;for more information.

By K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSIONMANHATTAN – A series of online and in-person workshops scheduled for early 2022 will help Kansas growers sell safer produce while also opening new opportunities to sell their goods, said a Kansas State University food safety specialist.&nbsp;Londa Nwadike, who holds a joint extension appointment with K-State and the University of Missouri, said some larger Kansas fruit, vegetable and herb growers have a regulatory requirement to attend training under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).&nbsp;“However, any Kansas grower who is selling produce will benefit from attending these training sessions because they will be able to sell safer produce, which is in the best interest of the produce grower,” Nwadike said. “Growers will also have a chance to meet other growers and learn from each other.”&nbsp;The workshops, she added, cover practical, risk-based assessments for growing safer produce.&nbsp;The schedule of FSMA Produce Safety Grower Training sessions in Kansas include: ●Jan. 25 and 27 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) – online only.&nbsp;Registration is available online.●Feb. 9 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;More information is available online. ●Feb. 18 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;More information is available online.&nbsp;K-State and the University of Missouri also are offering FSMA Produce Safety annual supervisor training at the following times and locations:&nbsp; ●Jan. 18 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Olathe.&nbsp;Registration is available online.●Jan. 21 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Online only.&nbsp;More information is available online.●Feb. 17 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) – Wichita.&nbsp;More information is available online.&nbsp;“Some produce buyers – grocery stores, distributors, schools and others – may require that the produce they purchase is certified according to Good Agricultural Practices (known as GAPs),” Nwadike said. “Therefore, if a grower wants to sell to those markets, which are usually more lucrative and stable, they will need to be GAP certified.”&nbsp;K-State is offering online training to assist growers in getting GAP certified and to develop a food safety plan on Feb 14 from 2-4 p.m. More information and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/index.html" target="_blank">registration is available online</a>.This training costs $5. &nbsp;All other training sessions are free. More information is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce" target="_blank">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce</a>&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension has been providing produce safety training in Kansas since 2017. “These trainings,” Nwadike said, “have enabled produce growers to comply with federal produce safety regulations. They have also enabled Kansas growers to sell safer produce, hopefully reducing the number of foodborne illnesses caused by Kansas-grown produce.”&nbsp;In addition, Nwadike said K-State Research and Extension continues to provide Kansas produce growers free microbial water testing. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/produce/testing.html</a>&nbsp;for details. This testing is provided by a grant from USDA. &nbsp;The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are key partners in K-State’s produce safety outreach, according to Nwadike, enabling the state’s extension service to hire a full time produce safety associate who provides technical assistance and on-farm visits.&nbsp;The Kansas Farmers Union also provides scholarships to cover the remaining costs of training. Those interested in cost-share funding for GAP certification may contact Nwadike at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnwadike@ksu.edu" target="_blank">lnwadike@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Free training for Kansas produce growers set for early 2022

SPRING HILL, Kan. (AP) — Two people are dead after a vehicle was struck by a train in a rural area of eastern Kansas. 

The accident happened around 6 p.m. Thursday in Miami County, south of the Kansas City area. 

Police at the scene said the vehicle and part of the train erupted in fire after the impact. 

Police are trying to determine why the car was on the train track when it was struck. 

Police say it did not appear that the vehicle malfunctioned. 

Identities of the victims have not been released.

SPRING HILL, Kan. (AP) — Two people are dead after a vehicle was struck by a train in a rural area of eastern Kansas. The accident happened around 6 p.m. Thursday in Miami County, south of the Kansas City area. Police at the scene said the vehicle and part of the train erupted in fire after the impact. Both people killed were in the car. No one on the train was injured. Police are trying to determine why the car was on the train track when it was struck. Police say it did not appear that the vehicle malfunctioned. Identities of the victims have not been released.

Two dead after vehicle collides with train in eastern Kansas

GREAT BEND —&nbsp;Barton County is now home to a series of murals created with the 
purpose of interaction. Featured near main roadways in Claflin, 
Ellinwood and Hoisington, the murals share a common theme and message, 
inviting all who pass by to “Rise Above.”

Early in 2021, the 
Barton Arts Movement received a $5,000 grant from Central Kansas 
Partnership and Rise Above Central Kansas for a public art installation 
on the topic of “resiliency.”

“The positive message in these 
murals acknowledges the real challenges of everyday life, while still 
encouraging those who pass by to hope, dream, support each other, and 
persevere,” said Andrea Bauer, co-chair of the Barton Arts Movement.

“Our
 BAM action team explored numerous canvases and artistic concepts for 
these funds,” said Bauer, “but ultimately it was decided that several 
interactive installations across the county were the best way to connect
 the community with this positive and encouraging message.”

Regional artist Mindy Allen, owner of Mindy’s Mural’s, designed and 
installed the murals in late October. Despite fluctuating temperatures 
and Kansas wind, each mural took roughly two to three days to complete.

“We
 are grateful for Mindy’s talent and the work of the gracious volunteers
 and building owners that made this happen before winter set in,” said 
Bauer. “We might be headed into some cold months, but BAM is using the 
time to firm up our process and prepare for the next outdoor art 
installation season. Stay tuned!”

The goal of the Barton Arts Movement (BAM) is to create community pride through public art. BAM is a grass-roots, volunteer-driven organization operating under the umbrella of the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Join the movement as a donor, volunteer, or submit an idea at www.BartonArtsMovement.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637860885603.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy Great Bend PostGREAT BEND —&nbsp;Barton County is now home to a series of murals created with the 
purpose of interaction. Featured near main roadways in Claflin, 
Ellinwood and Hoisington, the murals share a common theme and message, 
inviting all who pass by to “Rise Above.”Early in 2021, the 
Barton Arts Movement received a $5,000 grant from Central Kansas 
Partnership and Rise Above Central Kansas for a public art installation 
on the topic of “resiliency.”“The positive message in these 
murals acknowledges the real challenges of everyday life, while still 
encouraging those who pass by to hope, dream, support each other, and 
persevere,” said Andrea Bauer, co-chair of the Barton Arts Movement.“Our
 BAM action team explored numerous canvases and artistic concepts for 
these funds,” said Bauer, “but ultimately it was decided that several 
interactive installations across the county were the best way to connect
 the community with this positive and encouraging message.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637860913999.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Regional artist Mindy Allen, owner of Mindy’s Mural’s, designed and 
installed the murals in late October. Despite fluctuating temperatures 
and Kansas wind, each mural took roughly two to three days to complete.“We
 are grateful for Mindy’s talent and the work of the gracious volunteers
 and building owners that made this happen before winter set in,” said 
Bauer. “We might be headed into some cold months, but BAM is using the 
time to firm up our process and prepare for the next outdoor art 
installation season. Stay tuned!”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637860941260.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The goal of the Barton Arts Movement (BAM) is to create community pride through public art. BAM is a grass-roots, volunteer-driven organization operating under the umbrella of the Golden Belt Community Foundation. Join the movement as a donor, volunteer, or submit an idea at www.BartonArtsMovement.com.

The art of experience: Murals invite community participation

Scoring a great deal on Black Friday is exciting. Unfortunately, con 
artists are using that same feeling of excitement to lure shoppers into 
scams. This con uses text messages and fake Black Friday surveys to steal valuable information from unsuspecting victims.

Scammers send you a text message that appears to be from a 
well-known chain store. As part of a Black Friday deal, the “store” 
offering a free product, discount, or gift card to anyone who completes a
 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/signs-of-a-fake-survey" target="_blank">short questionnaire or survey</a>. Of course, they explain, this is a limited time offer so you’ll need to act fast if you want to receive your gift.

If you click the link, you won’t go to the store’s official website. 
Instead, it will take you to a third-party website where you’ll be asked
 to fill out a form that asks you for personal information, such as your
 full name, address, email, and more. By clicking on the link, you may 
even download malware onto your device, giving scammers access to even 
more personal information. While this scam has a Black Friday twist, 
watch out for similar survey scams this entire holiday season.&nbsp;

Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online">BBB Tip: Smart shopping online</a>&nbsp;for more ways to stay safe online and visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/scamtips">BBB.org/ScamTips</a> to familiarize yourself with common tactics.

If you’ve spotted a Black Friday scam, report it to <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBScoring a great deal on Black Friday is exciting. Unfortunately, con 
artists are using that same feeling of excitement to lure shoppers into 
scams. This con uses text messages and fake Black Friday surveys to steal valuable information from unsuspecting victims.<h2>How the scam works</h2>Scammers send you a text message that appears to be from a 
well-known chain store. As part of a Black Friday deal, the “store” 
offering a free product, discount, or gift card to anyone who completes a
 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/signs-of-a-fake-survey" target="_blank">short questionnaire or survey</a>. Of course, they explain, this is a limited time offer so you’ll need to act fast if you want to receive your gift.If you click the link, you won’t go to the store’s official website. 
Instead, it will take you to a third-party website where you’ll be asked
 to fill out a form that asks you for personal information, such as your
 full name, address, email, and more. By clicking on the link, you may 
even download malware onto your device, giving scammers access to even 
more personal information. While this scam has a Black Friday twist, 
watch out for similar survey scams this entire holiday season.&nbsp;<h2>How to avoid fake survey scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Know the signs of a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-phony-text-message" target="_blank">phony text message</a>. Unsolicited
 text messages are usually not from trustworthy sources. Reputable 
businesses will get your permission to send you a text before sending 
anything to your inbox. Fake texts often contain suspicious-looking 
links and contain typos and other errors, too. </li><li>Watch out for rewards that sound too good to be true.
 Remember that legitimate businesses run surveys to understand their 
customers. They may offer a modest discount to encourage participation, 
but the reward is not the focus. If someone offers you a valuable 
product or gift card in exchange for completing a two-minute survey, 
it’s probably a scam. </li><li>Limited time offers could be a red flag. Scammers 
often use a sense of urgency to get their victims to hand over valuable 
information without thinking. If a text message says something like, “If
 you complete this survey in the next 10 minutes…,” don’t let yourself 
be pushed into action without really examining the message first. </li><li>Remember that scammers conceal their identity. Many
 scam surveys are very vague about their purpose and who is running 
them. If you can’t figure out who or where the survey is coming from, 
don’t take it. </li><li>Do some research. If you aren’t sure about a 
survey, do an internet search to find out more information. Look for 
links to the survey on a business’s official website. You can also do a 
search using the survey name and the word “scam” to see if there are any
 reports about it being a fake.</li>
 </ul><h2>For more information</h2>Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online">BBB Tip: Smart shopping online</a>&nbsp;for more ways to stay safe online and visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/scamtips">BBB.org/ScamTips</a> to familiarize yourself with common tactics.If you’ve spotted a Black Friday scam, report it to <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

Alert: Survey scam gets a Black Friday twist

By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said it’s important to let the light shine on poinsettias, often a favorite flower for the fall and winter months.&nbsp;

“Place your poinsettias in a sunny window or brightest area of the room,” Upham said, “but don’t let it touch the cold window panes.”&nbsp;

If windows become drafty at night, it is best to remove poinsettias or draw drapes to avoid cold damage.&nbsp;

For the best bloom results, Upham suggests keeping poinsettias at temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheith – 75 F during the day, and 60-65 F at night. He said blooms won’t last as long at temperatures higher than 75 F; root rot may occur at temperatures lower than 60 F.&nbsp;

Poinsettias are also quite finicky about soil moisture conditions. Upham recommends checking soil moisture daily by sticking your finger in the soil, about one-half inch deep.&nbsp;

“If it is dry to this depth, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;

Following the temperature and soil moisture guidelines should keep poinsettias in top shape during the holiday season, he said.&nbsp;

A rumor that often surfaces around times when poinsettias are at their prime is that they are poisonous. Although their milky sap may sometimes cause a mild allergic reaction in some people, there has never been a recorded case of poisoning.&nbsp;

“This rumor has been so persistent that members of the Society of American Florists have sought to dispel it by eating poinsettia leaves for the press,” Upham said.&nbsp;

According to the American Medical Association Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, poinsettias do not contain an irritant or toxin; have not been found to produce an effect orally or topically; and have not caused cases of vomiting.&nbsp;

Although consuming them is not advised, Upham said poinsettias are otherwise completely safe.&nbsp;

If you do not already have a poinsettia but are interested in purchasing one, the Kansas State University Friends of the Garden hosts an annual poinsettia sale.&nbsp;

The in-person sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the K-State Gardens’ visitor center, 1500 Denison in Manhattan. More information and prices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/gardens/events/plant-sales.html">is available online.</a>&nbsp;

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;

Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637246402294.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said it’s important to let the light shine on poinsettias, often a favorite flower for the fall and winter months.&nbsp;“Place your poinsettias in a sunny window or brightest area of the room,” Upham said, “but don’t let it touch the cold window panes.”&nbsp;If windows become drafty at night, it is best to remove poinsettias or draw drapes to avoid cold damage.&nbsp;For the best bloom results, Upham suggests keeping poinsettias at temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheith – 75 F during the day, and 60-65 F at night. He said blooms won’t last as long at temperatures higher than 75 F; root rot may occur at temperatures lower than 60 F.&nbsp;Poinsettias are also quite finicky about soil moisture conditions. Upham recommends checking soil moisture daily by sticking your finger in the soil, about one-half inch deep.&nbsp;“If it is dry to this depth, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;Following the temperature and soil moisture guidelines should keep poinsettias in top shape during the holiday season, he said.&nbsp;Are Poinsettias Poisonous?&nbsp;A rumor that often surfaces around times when poinsettias are at their prime is that they are poisonous. Although their milky sap may sometimes cause a mild allergic reaction in some people, there has never been a recorded case of poisoning.&nbsp;“This rumor has been so persistent that members of the Society of American Florists have sought to dispel it by eating poinsettia leaves for the press,” Upham said.&nbsp;According to the American Medical Association Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, poinsettias do not contain an irritant or toxin; have not been found to produce an effect orally or topically; and have not caused cases of vomiting.&nbsp;Although consuming them is not advised, Upham said poinsettias are otherwise completely safe.&nbsp;Where to Buy Poinsettias&nbsp;If you do not already have a poinsettia but are interested in purchasing one, the Kansas State University Friends of the Garden hosts an annual poinsettia sale.&nbsp;The in-person sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the K-State Gardens’ visitor center, 1500 Denison in Manhattan. More information and prices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/gardens/events/plant-sales.html">is available online.</a>&nbsp;Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office.</a>&nbsp;

Horticulture expert shares how to care for poinsettias

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A new government report suggests U.S. abortions may be inching up after a long decline. 

However, the report is incomplete and officials so far are cautious about calling it an upward trend. In 2017, national abortion statistics reached their lowest level since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions. 

But the government report released Wednesday shows small increases in the abortion rate and numbers in the next two years. 

The report is based on voluntary reporting from states and has several limitations. It doesn't include figures from three states, including California, the nation's most populous state.

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical WriterNEW YORK (AP) — A new government report suggests U.S. abortions may be inching up after a long decline. However, the report is incomplete and officials so far are cautious about calling it an upward trend. In 2017, national abortion statistics reached their lowest level since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions. But the government report released Wednesday shows small increases in the abortion rate and numbers in the next two years. The report is based on voluntary reporting from states and has several limitations. It doesn't include figures from three states, including California, the nation's most populous state.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

US abortions may be inching up after decades of decline

<a href="https://medium.com/zulie-writes/my-6-blog-posts-that-went-viral-on-medium-in-2020-ca4c271bea0e">Here is a list of stories</a> that went viral in 2020, courtesy opf Medium author Zulie Rane.&nbsp;

<a href="https://medium.com/zulie-writes/my-6-blog-posts-that-went-viral-on-medium-in-2020-ca4c271bea0e">Here is a list of stories</a> that went viral in 2020, courtesy opf Medium author Zulie Rane.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Stories that went viral in 2020 maybe not what you'd think

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has agreed to consider an appeals court decision overturning the conviction of a day care worker in the death of a 9-month-old. 

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Douglas County District Attorney's Office is seeking to have the murder conviction against Carrody Buchhorn reinstated. 

The office appealed after the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled in August that she should get a new trial because her attorney did not adequately question a coroner's ruling on how 9-month-old Oliver "Ollie" Ortiz died. He was found unresponsive at the Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home in Eudora.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has agreed to consider an appeals court decision overturning the conviction of a day care worker in the death of a 9-month-old. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Douglas County District Attorney's Office is seeking to have the murder conviction against Carrody Buchhorn reinstated. The office appealed after the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled in August that she should get a new trial because her attorney did not adequately question a coroner's ruling on how 9-month-old Oliver "Ollie" Ortiz died. He was found unresponsive at the Sunshine Kids Group Daycare Home in Eudora.

Kansas Supreme Court takes up overturned day care death case

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings are returning to stores and splurging on all types of items. 

But the big question is how much will supply shortages, higher prices and staffing issues dampen shoppers' mood this holiday season. Shoppers, already fatigued with pandemic-induced social distancing policies and other setbacks, may get grumpy if they can't find the help they need at the stores, or can't find their top choice item. 

They may also be disappointed by some of the skimpy holiday discounts. Still, don't write off the resilience of shoppers who have shown signs they want to celebrate the holidays after muted celebrations last year.

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO The Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings are returning to stores and splurging on all types of items. But the big question is how much will supply shortages, higher prices and staffing issues dampen shoppers' mood this holiday season. Shoppers, already fatigued with pandemic-induced social distancing policies and other setbacks, may get grumpy if they can't find the help they need at the stores, or can't find their top choice item. They may also be disappointed by some of the skimpy holiday discounts. Still, don't write off the resilience of shoppers who have shown signs they want to celebrate the holidays after muted celebrations last year.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Holiday season moves into high gear but challenges remain

“Meleagris Gallopavo Day” is a bit of a mouthful. Which may be why this Thanksgiving, most people will opt for the less ornithologically precise “Turkey Day.”

And just as turkey is a versatile meat – think of those leftover options! – so too is the word “turkey,” which can refer to everything from the bird itself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/turkey-2915">populous Eurasian country</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/">movie flops</a>.

As a&nbsp;<a href="https://sasn.rutgers.edu/about-us/faculty-staff/jack-lynch">scholar who studies word origins</a>, I love “talking turkey” – not only how the bird came to be named, but also how the word has evolved over time. But let’s start with what has become the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving Day dinners.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/mega/all.html">North American turkey</a>&nbsp;– the kind that many families will be carving up this Thanksgiving – was being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/taming-turkey">domesticated in Mexico some 2,000 years ago</a>.

Europeans glimpsed their first turkeys around 1500, when Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas and brought them back to the mother country. By the 1520s, turkeys were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/turkey-history-world-thanksgiving/417849/">being bred in Spain</a>, and soon the delicacy was appearing on rich people’s tables across Europe.

But what to call the new import? Europeans in the New World were overwhelmed by the new plants and animals they saw, and often used familiar names for unfamiliar species. The Spanish, for instance, thought turkeys looked like peacocks, so they used the Spanish word “<a href="https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pavo">pavos</a>.” The French called them “poules d’Indes,” or Indian chickens, later shortened to “<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dinde">dinde</a>.”

To the English, the newly discovered American birds looked like the guineafowl – a bird native to Africa but which was introduced into Europe by Arab and Turkish traders in the 14th and 15th centuries.

And it is this point in the story that the modern-day turkey gets its name.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml">Ottoman Empire</a>&nbsp;was then at its height. Ethnic Turks, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul), ran the empire that spanned the Near East, Middle East and North Africa. As a result, to many Europeans, anyone from “the East” was a “Turk.”

Because Ottomans dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean, a lot of produce coming to Europe was seen as “Turkish.” So a precious stone from Persia was named “Turkey stone,” and the French version of that name, “pierre turquoise,” gave us the word “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turquoise">turquoise</a>.”

In the same way, African guineafowl, introduced by Turkish traders, became a “turkey-cock” or “turkey-hen.” Over time, this was shortened to just “turkey.”

For as long as the New World turkeys have been in Europe, they’ve been featured in celebratory meals. The English word first appears in print in&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=aTJRAQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=Dugdale%20Origines%20Juridiciales&amp;pg=PA131#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">an account of a banquet</a>&nbsp;hosted by politician John Prideaux in 1555: The menu included 38 red deer, 43 pheasants, 50 quince pies, 63 swans, 114 pigeons, 120 rabbits, 840 larks, 325 gallons of Bordeaux wine and “Turkies 2. rated at 4s. a piece.”

History’s most famous turkey dinner, though, was&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-first-thanksgiving-dinner-actually-looked-like-85714">served in Plymouth Plantation in 1621</a>, as 50 Pilgrims who survived a year of brutal hardship joined 90 Native Americans for a three-day feast. Turkey wasn’t the only dish being served. Writing in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bradfords-manuscript-of-plimoth-plantation">History of Plymouth Plantation</a>, Governor William Bradford noted that Native Americans brought “codd, &amp; bass, &amp; other fish,” and others brought “water foule” and venison. But he was especially impressed with the “great store of wild Turkies.”

The bird has become so associated with harvest-time celebratory dinners that we’ve been calling Thanksgiving “Turkey Day” since at least 1870.

Meanwhile, the word has continued to find new uses, showing up with&nbsp;<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/hwibi6q">dozens of meanings</a>. In 1839, the Southern Literary Messenger – a magazine edited by Edgar Allen Poe – reported on a new kind of dance, called the “turkey-trot” from its jerking motions.

In 1920, New York’s Department of Health reported that “Some addicts voluntarily stop taking opiates and ‘suffer it out’ … which in their slang is called taking ‘<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/5k7gmoa">cold turkey</a>.‘”

The turkey’s reputation for stupidity prompted other meanings. The legendary gossip columnist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/walter-winchell-biographical-timeline/15619/#podcastsubscribe">Walter Winchell</a>&nbsp;told readers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/25/opinion/click-click-gobble-gobble.html">Vanity Fair in 1927</a>&nbsp;about some new showbiz slang: “‘A turkey,’” he reported, “is a third rate production.”

Since then, movies that flop with the critics or at the box office have been called turkeys.

Another disparaging sense arrived in the 1950s, when turkey became a name for “a stupid, slow, inept, or otherwise worthless person.” That, in turn, probably led to the rise of the “<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/3378674-Ohio-Players-Jive-Turkey-Part-1-Streakin-Cheek-To-Cheek">jive turkey</a>,” which first showed up in African American speech in the early 1970s, defined by slang&nbsp;<a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/24/jonathon-green-lexicographer/">lexicographer Jonathon Green</a>&nbsp;as “<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/kenrl3q#uv4asfq">an insincere, deceitful, dishonest person</a>.”

And what about “talk turkey”? Well, that can mean quite contradictory things.

One dictionary from 1859 defines it as “To talk in a silly manner, talk nonsense.” A similar meaning is attached to another turkey-related word, “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gobbledygook">gobbledygook</a>.”

Another definition found in the 1889 “Americanisms, Old &amp; New” had “<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OQY1AQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=%22when%20plain%20English%20would%22%20%22turkey%22&amp;pg=PA543#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">talking turkey</a>” meaning “To use high-sounding words, when plain English would do equally well or better.”

The most familiar meaning of “talking turkey,” in which it is a stand-in for “straight talk,” is often said to come from a once popular joke. A white man and an American Indian, the story goes, spend a day hunting together and manage to bag a turkey and a somewhat less bountiful buzzard. The devious white man proposes a “heads-I-win-tails-you-lose” division of the spoils. “I’ll take the turkey, and you the buzzard,” he says, “or, if you prefer, you take the buzzard, and I’ll take the turkey.” The frustrated American Indian replies – usually in some version of would-be comic pidgin English – “You talk all buzzard to me, and don’t talk turkey.”

Those who&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tal1.htm">study word histories</a>&nbsp;are skeptical of stories like this, since most are invented after the fact. More likely, “talk turkey” came from pleasant conversation at Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe negotiations between Native Americans and European colonists over the cost of poultry. Whatever the origin, though, when we “talk turkey,” we’re engaging in the kind of straightforward, honest speech the scheming hunter denied his hunting partner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637797713891.jpeg" alt="Not everyone is a fan of Turkey Day.&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/taminwi-1715951/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">taminwi</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">Pixabay</a>" />
 <figcaption>Not everyone is a fan of Turkey Day.&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/taminwi-1715951/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">taminwi</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">Pixabay</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By JACK LYNCH “Meleagris Gallopavo Day” is a bit of a mouthful. Which may be why this Thanksgiving, most people will opt for the less ornithologically precise “Turkey Day.”And just as turkey is a versatile meat – think of those leftover options! – so too is the word “turkey,” which can refer to everything from the bird itself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/turkey-2915">populous Eurasian country</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/">movie flops</a>.As a&nbsp;<a href="https://sasn.rutgers.edu/about-us/faculty-staff/jack-lynch">scholar who studies word origins</a>, I love “talking turkey” – not only how the bird came to be named, but also how the word has evolved over time. But let’s start with what has become the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving Day dinners.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/mega/all.html">North American turkey</a>&nbsp;– the kind that many families will be carving up this Thanksgiving – was being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/taming-turkey">domesticated in Mexico some 2,000 years ago</a>.Europeans glimpsed their first turkeys around 1500, when Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas and brought them back to the mother country. By the 1520s, turkeys were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/turkey-history-world-thanksgiving/417849/">being bred in Spain</a>, and soon the delicacy was appearing on rich people’s tables across Europe.<h2>Oh, dinde!</h2>But what to call the new import? Europeans in the New World were overwhelmed by the new plants and animals they saw, and often used familiar names for unfamiliar species. The Spanish, for instance, thought turkeys looked like peacocks, so they used the Spanish word “<a href="https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pavo">pavos</a>.” The French called them “poules d’Indes,” or Indian chickens, later shortened to “<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dinde">dinde</a>.”To the English, the newly discovered American birds looked like the guineafowl – a bird native to Africa but which was introduced into Europe by Arab and Turkish traders in the 14th and 15th centuries.And it is this point in the story that the modern-day turkey gets its name.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml">Ottoman Empire</a>&nbsp;was then at its height. Ethnic Turks, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul), ran the empire that spanned the Near East, Middle East and North Africa. As a result, to many Europeans, anyone from “the East” was a “Turk.”Because Ottomans dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean, a lot of produce coming to Europe was seen as “Turkish.” So a precious stone from Persia was named “Turkey stone,” and the French version of that name, “pierre turquoise,” gave us the word “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turquoise">turquoise</a>.”In the same way, African guineafowl, introduced by Turkish traders, became a “turkey-cock” or “turkey-hen.” Over time, this was shortened to just “turkey.”<h2>Now that’s a feast!</h2>For as long as the New World turkeys have been in Europe, they’ve been featured in celebratory meals. The English word first appears in print in&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=aTJRAQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=Dugdale%20Origines%20Juridiciales&amp;pg=PA131#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">an account of a banquet</a>&nbsp;hosted by politician John Prideaux in 1555: The menu included 38 red deer, 43 pheasants, 50 quince pies, 63 swans, 114 pigeons, 120 rabbits, 840 larks, 325 gallons of Bordeaux wine and “Turkies 2. rated at 4s. a piece.”History’s most famous turkey dinner, though, was&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-first-thanksgiving-dinner-actually-looked-like-85714">served in Plymouth Plantation in 1621</a>, as 50 Pilgrims who survived a year of brutal hardship joined 90 Native Americans for a three-day feast. Turkey wasn’t the only dish being served. Writing in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bradfords-manuscript-of-plimoth-plantation">History of Plymouth Plantation</a>, Governor William Bradford noted that Native Americans brought “codd, &amp; bass, &amp; other fish,” and others brought “water foule” and venison. But he was especially impressed with the “great store of wild Turkies.”The bird has become so associated with harvest-time celebratory dinners that we’ve been calling Thanksgiving “Turkey Day” since at least 1870.Meanwhile, the word has continued to find new uses, showing up with&nbsp;<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/hwibi6q">dozens of meanings</a>. In 1839, the Southern Literary Messenger – a magazine edited by Edgar Allen Poe – reported on a new kind of dance, called the “turkey-trot” from its jerking motions.In 1920, New York’s Department of Health reported that “Some addicts voluntarily stop taking opiates and ‘suffer it out’ … which in their slang is called taking ‘<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/5k7gmoa">cold turkey</a>.‘”The turkey’s reputation for stupidity prompted other meanings. The legendary gossip columnist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/walter-winchell-biographical-timeline/15619/#podcastsubscribe">Walter Winchell</a>&nbsp;told readers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/25/opinion/click-click-gobble-gobble.html">Vanity Fair in 1927</a>&nbsp;about some new showbiz slang: “‘A turkey,’” he reported, “is a third rate production.”Since then, movies that flop with the critics or at the box office have been called turkeys.Another disparaging sense arrived in the 1950s, when turkey became a name for “a stupid, slow, inept, or otherwise worthless person.” That, in turn, probably led to the rise of the “<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/3378674-Ohio-Players-Jive-Turkey-Part-1-Streakin-Cheek-To-Cheek">jive turkey</a>,” which first showed up in African American speech in the early 1970s, defined by slang&nbsp;<a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/24/jonathon-green-lexicographer/">lexicographer Jonathon Green</a>&nbsp;as “<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/kenrl3q#uv4asfq">an insincere, deceitful, dishonest person</a>.”<h2>Jive or straight talking?</h2>And what about “talk turkey”? Well, that can mean quite contradictory things.One dictionary from 1859 defines it as “To talk in a silly manner, talk nonsense.” A similar meaning is attached to another turkey-related word, “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gobbledygook">gobbledygook</a>.”Another definition found in the 1889 “Americanisms, Old &amp; New” had “<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OQY1AQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=%22when%20plain%20English%20would%22%20%22turkey%22&amp;pg=PA543#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">talking turkey</a>” meaning “To use high-sounding words, when plain English would do equally well or better.”The most familiar meaning of “talking turkey,” in which it is a stand-in for “straight talk,” is often said to come from a once popular joke. A white man and an American Indian, the story goes, spend a day hunting together and manage to bag a turkey and a somewhat less bountiful buzzard. The devious white man proposes a “heads-I-win-tails-you-lose” division of the spoils. “I’ll take the turkey, and you the buzzard,” he says, “or, if you prefer, you take the buzzard, and I’ll take the turkey.” The frustrated American Indian replies – usually in some version of would-be comic pidgin English – “You talk all buzzard to me, and don’t talk turkey.”Those who&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tal1.htm">study word histories</a>&nbsp;are skeptical of stories like this, since most are invented after the fact. More likely, “talk turkey” came from pleasant conversation at Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe negotiations between Native Americans and European colonists over the cost of poultry. Whatever the origin, though, when we “talk turkey,” we’re engaging in the kind of straightforward, honest speech the scheming hunter denied his hunting partner.<div><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171925/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important" />
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jack-lynch-1290992">Jack Lynch</a>, Professor of English, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rutgers-university-newark-1985">Rutgers University - Newark </a>

This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/talking-turkey-how-the-thanksgiving-bird-got-its-name-and-then-lent-it-to-film-flops-171925">original article</a>.</div>

Talking turkey! How Thanksgiving bird got name, then lent it to film flops

Investments in agriculture have paid off at the grocery store, boost local economies&nbsp;

MANHATTAN - At a glance, it would seem the work that Guorong Zhang is doing in a western Kansas farm field is far removed from the holiday meals that many families will soon be enjoying around the dinner table.&nbsp;

Zhang, a wheat breeder with K-State Research and Extension’s Agricultural Research Center in Hays, is developing hard red and hard white winter wheat varieties suited to the growing conditions in the western part of the state.&nbsp;

“Our work,” he says, “will reduce the cost of wheat production and increase farmers’ income.”&nbsp;

What’s not always immediately evident is how agricultural research like that being done near Hays and all around the United States eventually affects the price of food, though there’s evidence that supports a positive relationship.&nbsp;

The American Farm Bureau reported in 2020 that the average cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 10 is $46.90, or less than $5 per person.&nbsp;That organization's report for 2021 is not yet out, but an official with AFB estimated recently that costs would likely be about 5% higher -- but still less than $5 per person.

“U.S. agriculture is highly productive and efficient, leading to food that has become more affordable over time,” said K-State agricultural economist Andrew Barkley.&nbsp;

Barkley’s research measures how wheat breeding conducted through the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station – or, the research arm of K-State Research and Extension – increases wheat yields over time. He has evidence to support the fact that research increases wheat yields and makes the crop more plentiful and affordable for consumers.&nbsp;

“Agricultural research leads to more output for the same level of resources, such as land, labor and machinery,” Barkley said. “This lowers the cost of food production. Historically, this has resulted in a huge success for U.S. agriculture; food is more affordable, which allows consumers to spend their income on other items such as cell phones, clothing, entertainment and more.”&nbsp;

In May, 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teconomypartners.com/" target="_blank">TEConomy Partners</a>&nbsp;– a leader in providing research, analysis and strategy for economic development – reported that for every $1 invested in agricultural research at Kansas State University, $17 is returned to the state’s economy.&nbsp;

Ernie Minton, dean of K-State’s College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, said past efforts to fund research at the university have led to major returns.&nbsp;

For example, he notes that in 2019 K-State wheat varieties and blends returned an estimated $337.8 million to the state’s economy, and K-State’s grazing management recommendations for beef cattle have made an annual impact between $20.1 and $23.4 million.&nbsp;

Those success stories are similar across the United States, whether it relates to such holiday foods as turkeys in Minnesota, potatoes in Idaho, cranberries in Massachusetts or pumpkins in Illinois.&nbsp;

“Agricultural research is one of the best public investments a nation can make to help its citizens,” Barkley said. “The success of public investments in food in the United States has led to enormous improvements in income levels and economic growth. Farmers benefit from higher returns, but the big winners are consumers, who pay less for food than they would if we didn’t have these research programs.”&nbsp;

In Hays, Zhang is working with a hard white wheat named Joe that was released in 2015 and became the No. 1 white wheat variety in the state in 2018. According to Zhang, Joe has increased farmers’ income by nearly $37 million due to improved yields, and because it has strong resistance to stripe and leaf rusts, “it could have saved farmers millions of (additional) dollars on the cost of spraying pesticides.”&nbsp;

“With improved varieties and other technologies in farming, American agriculture is becoming more and more efficient,” Zhang said. “Farmers are producing abundant food with less and less cost and, therefore, the price of food will become more affordable.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637861004062.jpeg" alt="Agricultural research at U.S. universities is a key factor in helping to keep food available and affordable in this country. (File photo, K-State Research and Extension)" />
 <figcaption>Agricultural research at U.S. universities is a key factor in helping to keep food available and affordable in this country. (File photo, K-State Research and Extension)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Investments in agriculture have paid off at the grocery store, boost local economies&nbsp;</h2>By K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSIONMANHATTAN - At a glance, it would seem the work that Guorong Zhang is doing in a western Kansas farm field is far removed from the holiday meals that many families will soon be enjoying around the dinner table.&nbsp;Zhang, a wheat breeder with K-State Research and Extension’s Agricultural Research Center in Hays, is developing hard red and hard white winter wheat varieties suited to the growing conditions in the western part of the state.&nbsp;“Our work,” he says, “will reduce the cost of wheat production and increase farmers’ income.”&nbsp;What’s not always immediately evident is how agricultural research like that being done near Hays and all around the United States eventually affects the price of food, though there’s evidence that supports a positive relationship.&nbsp;The American Farm Bureau reported in 2020 that the average cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 10 is $46.90, or less than $5 per person.&nbsp;That organization's report for 2021 is not yet out, but an official with AFB estimated recently that costs would likely be about 5% higher -- but still less than $5 per person.“U.S. agriculture is highly productive and efficient, leading to food that has become more affordable over time,” said K-State agricultural economist Andrew Barkley.&nbsp;Barkley’s research measures how wheat breeding conducted through the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station – or, the research arm of K-State Research and Extension – increases wheat yields over time. He has evidence to support the fact that research increases wheat yields and makes the crop more plentiful and affordable for consumers.&nbsp;“Agricultural research leads to more output for the same level of resources, such as land, labor and machinery,” Barkley said. “This lowers the cost of food production. Historically, this has resulted in a huge success for U.S. agriculture; food is more affordable, which allows consumers to spend their income on other items such as cell phones, clothing, entertainment and more.”&nbsp;In May, 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teconomypartners.com/" target="_blank">TEConomy Partners</a>&nbsp;– a leader in providing research, analysis and strategy for economic development – reported that for every $1 invested in agricultural research at Kansas State University, $17 is returned to the state’s economy.&nbsp;Ernie Minton, dean of K-State’s College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, said past efforts to fund research at the university have led to major returns.&nbsp;For example, he notes that in 2019 K-State wheat varieties and blends returned an estimated $337.8 million to the state’s economy, and K-State’s grazing management recommendations for beef cattle have made an annual impact between $20.1 and $23.4 million.&nbsp;Those success stories are similar across the United States, whether it relates to such holiday foods as turkeys in Minnesota, potatoes in Idaho, cranberries in Massachusetts or pumpkins in Illinois.&nbsp;“Agricultural research is one of the best public investments a nation can make to help its citizens,” Barkley said. “The success of public investments in food in the United States has led to enormous improvements in income levels and economic growth. Farmers benefit from higher returns, but the big winners are consumers, who pay less for food than they would if we didn’t have these research programs.”&nbsp;In Hays, Zhang is working with a hard white wheat named Joe that was released in 2015 and became the No. 1 white wheat variety in the state in 2018. According to Zhang, Joe has increased farmers’ income by nearly $37 million due to improved yields, and because it has strong resistance to stripe and leaf rusts, “it could have saved farmers millions of (additional) dollars on the cost of spraying pesticides.”&nbsp;“With improved varieties and other technologies in farming, American agriculture is becoming more and more efficient,” Zhang said. “Farmers are producing abundant food with less and less cost and, therefore, the price of food will become more affordable.”&nbsp;

Research helps to keep holiday meal costs down

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a popular secretary at a Kansas City high school. 

The Kansas City Star reports that Arnold King II was charged Monday with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with a motor vehicle in the Sept. 17 death of 31-year-old Valeria Villa-Alvarado. 

According to court documents, Kansas City police officers were waiting for a check to be completed on a vehicle that was spotted in an area known for prostitution and drugs when the driver sped off. A dispatcher then told officers that the SUV was stolen from Overland Park, Kansas. The crash happened minutes later.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a popular secretary at a Kansas City high school. The Kansas City Star reports that Arnold King II was charged Monday with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and tampering with a motor vehicle in the Sept. 17 death of 31-year-old Valeria Villa-Alvarado. According to court documents, Kansas City police officers were waiting for a check to be completed on a vehicle that was spotted in an area known for prostitution and drugs when the driver sped off. A dispatcher then told officers that the SUV was stolen from Overland Park, Kansas. The crash happened minutes later.

Man charged in hit-and-run that killed school secretary

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Sedgwick County judge has sentenced a Wichita woman to life in prison for murdering her ex-stepfather during a plot designed to get back at him for allegedly molesting her as a child.

 Twenty-seven-year-old Micaela L. Spencer was sentenced Tuesday to at least 50 years for murder along with a total of 51 months on other charges connected to the killing of 50-year-old William "Billy" G. Callison in 2019. 

 Authorities say Spencer and her then-boyfriend, 28-year-old Royce A. Thomas, lured Callison to his death by promising him sex in exchange for $45 and some marijuana on May 12, 2019. They stabbed him repeatedly with pocket knives after meeting him at his camper.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Sedgwick County judge has sentenced a Wichita woman to life in prison for murdering her ex-stepfather during a plot designed to get back at him for allegedly molesting her as a child. Twenty-seven-year-old Micaela L. Spencer was sentenced Tuesday to at least 50 years for murder along with a total of 51 months on other charges connected to the killing of 50-year-old William "Billy" G. Callison in 2019. Authorities say Spencer and her then-boyfriend, 28-year-old Royce A. Thomas, lured Callison to his death by promising him sex in exchange for $45 and some marijuana on May 12, 2019. They stabbed him repeatedly with pocket knives after meeting him at his camper.

Judge sends Kan. woman to prison for ex-stepdad's murder

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka teacher has died after he was found unresponsive in his classroom. WIBW reports that emergency responders were called to Topeka High School just before 8 a.m. Tuesday. 

They rushed 40-year-old John Keller to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. In an email sent to parents, Principal Rebecca Morrisey confirmed the situation and said the family had requested privacy. 

The district indicated a mental health team would be available to students in need once they return from holiday break.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka teacher has died after he was found unresponsive in his classroom. WIBW reports that emergency responders were called to Topeka High School just before 8 a.m. Tuesday. They rushed 40-year-old John Keller to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. In an email sent to parents, Principal Rebecca Morrisey confirmed the situation and said the family had requested privacy. The district indicated a mental health team would be available to students in need once they return from holiday break.

Kan. school district mourns loss of teacher found unresponsive

By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension news writer&nbsp;

MANHATTAN — Kansas 4-H youth development specialist Beth Hinshaw knows how important meaningful family time is during the holidays, and how it may be a challenge to come up with ideas on how to spend that precious time together. &nbsp;

That’s one of the very reasons why the national 4-H program has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays" target="_blank">holiday activity guide</a>.&nbsp;

“[The Holiday Activity Guide] has great ways to spend quality time with people, and we can learn so much from our family when we see them at the holidays,” Hinshaw said. “And to be able to have these learning experiences with them – that'll make a memory for us as well.”&nbsp;

The holiday guide, she said, contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes.&nbsp;

“One of the things I think about, in my own experience, is the things I learned in the kitchen, during the holidays from my grandmothers,” Hinshaw said.&nbsp;

Within the Holiday Guide is a “cookie book” - listing more than 20 sweet holiday recipes to make together. One of Hinshaw’s favorites is the no-bake cookies, a recipe from a Kansas 4-H member.&nbsp;

“In the holiday guide, there are several activities that are STEM and math-focused, but as you read through and think about it, they’re fun as well,” Hinshaw said. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on in 4-H -- to have those experiential, fun learning activities.”&nbsp;

Food and STEM are both project areas 4-Hers may already be involved in, and the activity guide includes an additional area important during the holidays: service.&nbsp;

“It shares how you might put together a winter coat drive for your community,” Hinshaw said. “Or how you might make fleece scarves by hand for the homeless.”&nbsp;

To begin one of the many fun and educational projects offered by 4-H, go&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;to find the complete Holiday Activity Guide.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637791510334.png" alt="The holiday guide contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>The holiday guide contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension news writer&nbsp;MANHATTAN — Kansas 4-H youth development specialist Beth Hinshaw knows how important meaningful family time is during the holidays, and how it may be a challenge to come up with ideas on how to spend that precious time together. &nbsp;That’s one of the very reasons why the national 4-H program has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays" target="_blank">holiday activity guide</a>.&nbsp;“[The Holiday Activity Guide] has great ways to spend quality time with people, and we can learn so much from our family when we see them at the holidays,” Hinshaw said. “And to be able to have these learning experiences with them – that'll make a memory for us as well.”&nbsp;The holiday guide, she said, contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes.&nbsp;“One of the things I think about, in my own experience, is the things I learned in the kitchen, during the holidays from my grandmothers,” Hinshaw said.&nbsp;Within the Holiday Guide is a “cookie book” - listing more than 20 sweet holiday recipes to make together. One of Hinshaw’s favorites is the no-bake cookies, a recipe from a Kansas 4-H member.&nbsp;“In the holiday guide, there are several activities that are STEM and math-focused, but as you read through and think about it, they’re fun as well,” Hinshaw said. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on in 4-H -- to have those experiential, fun learning activities.”&nbsp;Food and STEM are both project areas 4-Hers may already be involved in, and the activity guide includes an additional area important during the holidays: service.&nbsp;“It shares how you might put together a winter coat drive for your community,” Hinshaw said. “Or how you might make fleece scarves by hand for the homeless.”&nbsp;To begin one of the many fun and educational projects offered by 4-H, go&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;to find the complete Holiday Activity Guide.&nbsp;

4-H holiday guide: Many fun, educational activities for the season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Federal regulators have cleared a path to consider Canadian Pacific's $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad. 

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board decided that Canadian Pacific's merger application is complete, dismissing concerns from other railroads. The board also laid out a schedule for its review of the deal that will stretch at least through next July but could be extended. 

Kansas City Southern shareholders will be set to get paid once investors of both railroads vote on the deal next month and Mexican regulators sign off on it. But the STB will have the final say on whether the deal can be completed once it finishes its review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637765846459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Federal regulators have cleared a path to consider Canadian Pacific's $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board decided that Canadian Pacific's merger application is complete, dismissing concerns from other railroads. The board also laid out a schedule for its review of the deal that will stretch at least through next July but could be extended. Kansas City Southern shareholders will be set to get paid once investors of both railroads vote on the deal next month and Mexican regulators sign off on it. But the STB will have the final say on whether the deal can be completed once it finishes its review.

Canadian Pacific's $31B rail deal moves on down the line

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com">Little Apple Post</a>

MANHATTAN, Kan. — For several years, the City of Manhattan has undertaken a&nbsp;number of 
surveys&nbsp;and studies&nbsp;to formulate some modicum of an organized vision for
 the Aggieville District.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In&nbsp;each&nbsp;of those surveys, the condition and utilization of the&nbsp;District’s&nbsp;alleyways&nbsp;has&nbsp;been a top&nbsp;priority for respondents.&nbsp;

Despite the overwhelming demand for&nbsp;improvements, very little action has actually&nbsp;occurred.&nbsp;

During Tuesday’s work session, Manhattan city commissioners discussed&nbsp;the possibility of rather large action.&nbsp;

In&nbsp;May, the City contracted with&nbsp;MSW&nbsp;Consultants&nbsp;of Orlando, Florida&nbsp;to look at the issue and make recommendations.&nbsp;

After its analysis, MSW&nbsp;found&nbsp;two options for the&nbsp;City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://littleapplepost.com">Little Apple Post</a>MANHATTAN, Kan. — For several years, the City of Manhattan has undertaken a&nbsp;number of 
surveys&nbsp;and studies&nbsp;to formulate some modicum of an organized vision for
 the Aggieville District.&nbsp;&nbsp;In&nbsp;each&nbsp;of those surveys, the condition and utilization of the&nbsp;District’s&nbsp;alleyways&nbsp;has&nbsp;been a top&nbsp;priority for respondents.&nbsp;Despite the overwhelming demand for&nbsp;improvements, very little action has actually&nbsp;occurred.&nbsp;During Tuesday’s work session, Manhattan city commissioners discussed&nbsp;the possibility of rather large action.&nbsp;In&nbsp;May, the City contracted with&nbsp;MSW&nbsp;Consultants&nbsp;of Orlando, Florida&nbsp;to look at the issue and make recommendations.&nbsp;After its analysis, MSW&nbsp;found&nbsp;two options for the&nbsp;City.&nbsp;&nbsp;John
 Culbertson, MSW principal consultant, outlined the pros and cons of a 
plan for the City to take&nbsp;over responsibility for waste management in 
the district by establishing&nbsp;an&nbsp;exclusive waste service provision. 
Culbertson also outlined ways to&nbsp;leave the district as non-exclusive but
 develop ordinances and regulations to guide waste management 
requirements within the district.&nbsp;Culbertson and MSW believe an 
exclusive waste cartage deal would benefit the City, but acknowledged 
the&nbsp;complexity of the initial set up would be daunting.&nbsp;He told 
commissioners that having non-exclusive cartage is&nbsp;less efficient 
and&nbsp;makes it&nbsp;harder to manage container types and locations.&nbsp;He also 
reminded commissioners about the impacts of multiple&nbsp;heavy trucks on the
 pavement and&nbsp;air quality in the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;To maintain the 
non-exclusive situation but still improve the&nbsp;District’s&nbsp;sanitation, 
Culbertson said the&nbsp;City&nbsp;could beef up requirements for licensure and 
permitting, nuancing the language to ensure compliance and 
minimum&nbsp;standards, as well as designing a configuration of containers 
and haulers that will safely and effectively serve the Aggieville 
district.&nbsp;An exclusive agreement would mean the City would take 
over responsibility for waste hauling in the&nbsp;District, likely 
contracting the service out, but&nbsp;forcing businesses within 
the&nbsp;district&nbsp;to pay for the service. Fewer, more centralized containers 
with&nbsp;larger&nbsp;capacity would replace 
the&nbsp;current&nbsp;scattered,&nbsp;arbitrarily&nbsp;placed receptacles.&nbsp;Many of the problems with the&nbsp;District’s&nbsp;alleyways are a matter of simple logistics.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trash
 containers and service entrances for most businesses are in the 
alleys.&nbsp;Currently, waste cartage for the 100 businesses&nbsp;and more than 80
 trash containers&nbsp;in the Aggieville District&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;independent 
decision.&nbsp;That means seven different waste hauling companies send trucks
 into the&nbsp;District&nbsp;multiple times every day, increasing the already 
congested traffic and often blocking alleyways completely.&nbsp;Other 
issues, however, are a matter of aesthetics and&nbsp;public appeal. 
Major&nbsp;complaints&nbsp;have been lodged regarding&nbsp;how&nbsp;overflowing trash, 
leaky&nbsp;receptacles, and&nbsp;slimy&nbsp;grease spills in the&nbsp;District&nbsp;have a 
massive negative effect on commerce and tourism.&nbsp;Commissioner 
Linda Morse&nbsp;said that leaving cleanup and adequate&nbsp;maintenance&nbsp;of the 
alleys up to businesses is&nbsp;unreliable.&nbsp;Simple requests don’t do the 
trick, according to Morse, and the&nbsp;City&nbsp;should do more to compel some 
level of compliance.&nbsp;“I think there’s a role for our ordinances,”
 Morse said.&nbsp;“We&nbsp;can't&nbsp;achieve&nbsp;this&nbsp;by asking.&nbsp;If we’re going to fix up 
alleys we have to insist on these things.”&nbsp;Mayor&nbsp;Wynn Butler said
 he is against government having a big hand in trash operations. He said
 he can support the commission investigating ordinances, adopting new 
code language, and encouraging businesses to consolidate waste service 
privately,&nbsp;but he is utterly opposed to the&nbsp;City&nbsp;taking any operational 
role.&nbsp;“I don’t want&nbsp;to see the city get into the trash business,”
 Butler said.&nbsp;“Government gets involved and&nbsp;we’ll do nothing but 
make&nbsp;it&nbsp;worse.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We’re not getting into the trash business if I have anything to do with it.”&nbsp;Some
 owners proposed stricter ordinances and enclosures to hide the trash 
containers. Most everyone acknowledged the lack of enforcement would 
make any new system ineffective.&nbsp;Some business owners objected to
 the plan because of safety concerns. They fear sending employees out to
 throw away trash&nbsp;in a centralized container far away from their 
location in the dark.&nbsp;“How am I going to send a hundred-pound 
girl out into the dark to a trash can two blocks away?” Dennis Cook of 
the Aggieville Business Association&nbsp;asked.&nbsp;Cook&nbsp;told 
commissioners that business owners he has spoken with recognize 
that&nbsp;they&nbsp;need to be cleaner better, but he thinks adjusting pickup 
schedules to allow access for regular street sweeper&nbsp;cleanup is a less 
intrusive plan.&nbsp;Charles,&nbsp;owner of&nbsp;Tanners&nbsp;Bar and&nbsp;Grill,&nbsp;said 
that the logistics of&nbsp;a&nbsp;centralized&nbsp;operation could be impossible during
 uber-busy&nbsp;times&nbsp;like&nbsp;Game Days and graduation.&nbsp;“We just get 
slammed,” he told commissioners. “Logistically&nbsp;we&nbsp;don’t have the staff 
to run trash two&nbsp;or&nbsp;three&nbsp;blocks&nbsp;away,&nbsp;two&nbsp;or&nbsp;three times a day.”&nbsp;Jason
 Hilgers, deputy city&nbsp;manager, said the alleys will have&nbsp;be&nbsp;dealt with 
soon. The most recent survey, echoing numerous others, suggested that a 
vast majority of respondents are in favor of transforming the alleys 
into pedestrian and public spaces. The&nbsp;City&nbsp;plans to spend&nbsp;hundreds&nbsp;of 
thousands, if not millions of dollars&nbsp;improving the district, and 
business&nbsp;may&nbsp;have to accept&nbsp;changes.&nbsp;“I respect the businesses' 
perspectives,” Hilgers said, “but&nbsp;thousands&nbsp;of people walk those alleys 
to access businesses and they are&nbsp;unsightly and unkept. They need our 
attention.”&nbsp;Commissioner Usha Reddi&nbsp;noted&nbsp;how the&nbsp;City&nbsp;and tax 
dollars support&nbsp;businesses’&nbsp;efforts, and they must sometimes 
make&nbsp;concessions&nbsp;for the good of the community that pays for the 
infrastructure surrounding them.&nbsp;“Leaving it the way it is&nbsp;is&nbsp;not
 an option for me,” Reddi said.&nbsp;“These businesses need to understand 
that everything around them is public tax dollars.&nbsp;We’re making 
improvements but&nbsp;if&nbsp;things&nbsp;continue like this those&nbsp;improvements&nbsp;won’t 
last long.”&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay