KS - January 31 2025

1. No Survivors in Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac
2. Sen. Moran Prepares Investigation into Potomac Air Disaster
3. Kansas Capitol Unveils 'Rebel Women' Suffrage Mural
4. USDA Inspector General Removed After Refusing Termination
5. RFK Jr. Addresses Agriculture Issues at HHS Confirmation Hearing

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1. No Survivors in Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac

A commercial airliner from Wichita collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, producing a fiery explosion and crash that left no apparent survivors. On Thursday morning D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said authorities were “switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” adding that “we don’t believe there are any survivors.” American Airlines flight 5342 was approaching Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. All flights out of and landings into DCA were halted, and the debris of the plane and helicopter were in the Potomac River.

Article Source: Wichita Eagle

2. Sen. Moran Prepares Investigation into Potomac Air Disaster

Sen. Jerry Moran was working his phone as stood at the entrance to Terminal 1 at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, awaiting updates on the fate of the passenger plane from Wichita that had crashed in mid-air above the Potomac River. Moran, the chairman of a Senate panel that focuses on airline safety, was preparing for an investigation. He knew the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Department of Defense would investigate. But he felt Congress needed to find out what went wrong and prevent it from happening again. “The facts matter. NTSB will be the original provider of facts,” Moran said. “But I also know that our committee, our subcommittee, will be looking for other experts and other witnesses, others involved in the safety system of our air system, to try to make sure we have all the information necessary and to make sure whatever problems that are brought to our attention are remedied.” As chairman of the subcommittee, Moran will be able to do just that.

Article Source: Wichita Eagle

3. Kansas Capitol Unveils 'Rebel Women' Suffrage Mural

The Kansas Statehouse's latest mural commemorating Kansas suffragists was unveiled on Kansas Day. The 18-feet-by-8-feet oil painting's original design had been approved in fall 2023 by the Capitol Preservation Committee. It was chosen over 24 other applicants. Artist Phyllis Garibay-Coon titled the painting "Rebel Women" in appreciation of Matilda Joslyn Gage, a writer and activist for women's suffrage, abolition and Native American Rights.

Article Source: Topeka Capitol-Journal

4. USDA Inspector General Removed After Refusing Termination

Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didn’t believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.

Article Source: Reuters

5. RFK Jr. Addresses Agriculture Issues at HHS Confirmation Hearing

The Trump administration’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services was fielding questions about his stance on ag issues from the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.  Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. shared his thoughts on the state of farming in the U.S. “Agronomists now estimate if we continue doing these processes, we only have 60 harvests left before our soil is gone,” he says. “Farmers are using seeds and chemicals that over the long term are costing them and us.” He said if confirmed, he would like to work alongside the USDA. “To make sure that we don’t lose more farmers in this country,” he says.  “Though also need to offer and incentivize transitions to regenerative agriculture and to no-till agriculture.”

Article Source: Brownfield Ag News

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Sources

1. https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article299414004.html

2. https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article299509754.html

3. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/01/31/kansas-capitol-unveils-its-newest-mural-on-kansas-day/78027411007/

4. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-inspector-general-escorted-out-her-office-after-defying-white-house-2025-01-29/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202025-01-30%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:69995%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive

5. https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/kennedy-talks-ag-during-confirmation-hearing/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202025-01-30%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:69995%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive