KS - November 11 2024

1. Feds Backs K-State with $50M for Eco-Friendly Ag Yield Research
2. A Map of Kansas Trump Country - County by County
3. Kansas Psychiatric Hospitals Request $60M to Address Ongoing Nursing Shortage
4. Top Contenders for USDA Secretary
5. Kansas Roots: The Story Behind Veterans Day’s Creation
6. Restaurant Review: Hutchinson Airport Steakhouse, Hutchinson, KS
7. Sports

1. Feds Backs K-State with $50M for Eco-Friendly Ag Yield Research

The U.S. Agency for International Development pledged up to $50 million over the next five years for research led by Kansas State University to raise agricultural productivity while moderating environmental tradeoffs. The infusion of USAID funding guaranteed continuation of Kansas State’s work in the field of “sustainable intensification,” which calls on researchers to develop methods and technologies of increasing crop yield without cultivating more land. A challenge for scholars is to advance production on an international scale while making farming more resilient to climate change and extreme weather in regions of the planet with distinct management practices.

Article Source: KS Reflector

2. A Map of Kansas Trump Country - County by County

Article Source: KC Star

3. Kansas Psychiatric Hospitals Request $60M to Address Ongoing Nursing Shortage

The staffing shortage at Kansas’ psychiatric hospitals in Larned and Osawatomie prompted budget requests of more than $60 million to continue filling the health-care gap with private contract nurses. The state’s inability to hire a sustainable workforce of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse aides and patient care support staff at the two state hospitals has generated bipartisan frustration in the Kansas Legislature. The challenge has been most acute at Larned State Hospital, which would need $43 million annually to continue receiving the services of about 200 contract staff. The Osawatomie State Hospital requested $23 million for the same purpose.

Article Source: KS Reflector

4. Top Contenders for USDA Secretary

Who will be the new USDA Secretary? That parlor game has returned with a host of possibilities which include: 

* Abel Maldonado, said to be at or near the top of possibilities, was former California Lt. Gov. from April 27, 2010, to Jan. 10, 2011. 

* Zippy Duval, American Farm Bureau President, serving in that role since January 2016. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia with deep roots in agriculture. 

* Kip Tom, Indiana farmer who transformed his family’s farm, Tom Farms, into one of the largest farming operations in Indiana. 

* Former House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway, now a private consultant. He is the only person out there, not in office, who’s negotiated a farm bill 

* Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, serving in this role since January 2015. Miller has recently been sounding the alarm about water shortages in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. 

* Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). He is a rebel House conservative that most consider a long shot choice. 

* Ray Starling: A prominent figure in American agriculture policy and law with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.  

* Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.  

* North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who ran briefly for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump before campaigning for him.   

Editors note: I support Zippy Duval based only on the name

Article Source: Ag Web

5. Kansas Roots: The Story Behind Veterans Day’s Creation

Today is Veterans Day in America, a day set aside each year to recognize those who have served in America’s Armed Forces. The day’s origins date back to the end of World War I, but it would not have truly become Veterans Day were it not for Kansas. Although the “war to end all wars” officially ended on June 28, 1919, the actual fighting ended on Nov. 11, 1918. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, killing an estimated 30 million people worldwide. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation naming Nov. 11 “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day didn’t become a federal holiday until 1938. It would take over a decade and another world war before it would become Veterans Day. In 1953, a man in Emporia had an idea. Alvin J. King thought, why not make Armistice Day a day to honor all veterans who had served their country in all wars and conflicts? That year, Emporia celebrated its first Veterans Day. The following year, Ed Rees, who represented Emporia in Congress, introduced House Resolution 7786 to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day officially. On June 1, 1954, fellow Kansan and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the resolution into law as Congressman Rees watched.

Article Source: KSN

6. Restaurant Review: Hutchinson Airport Steakhouse, Hutchinson, KS

The Hutchinson Airport Steakhouse is a 30-minute drive from McPherson on K61, so please plan ahead accordingly to avoid pre-meal hanger. But the drive is worth it. The restaurant is located inside the Hutchinson Airport FBO, where we were greeted by the tail of an airplane over the entrance. Inside, expansive windows showcased the Kansas dusk slowly swallowing the tarmac outside. The restaurant featured stone walls, was notably clean, and had a large, well-stocked bar. We were seated in a booth just outside a private dining room that could accommodate over 50 guests, and by an additional, larger dining area at the back of the restaurant. This meal took place the day after the notorious annual pheasant hunt, and Dad inexplicably skipped his usual beer and opted for water instead. I ordered the 14 oz ribeye with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a house salad. Dad had chicken with a generous Cobb salad, and Mom chose the salmon with pasta. The food was excellent, and when it was time for dessert, we were too full to partake. We returned to McPherson in our vehicle, while the diner at the next table left via his airplane.

7. Sports

Chiefs beats Denver 16-14 With Remarkable Last-minute Blocked Kick  

link

Kansas upsets No. 17 Iowa State to keep bowl hopes alive  

By Clark Goble  

It’s too late for Kansas football to compete for a Big 12 championship, but the Jayhawks looked the part of Big 12 contender on Saturday, taking down Iowa State 45-36 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Jayhawks showed why preseason expectations were high, gashing the Cyclones for 532 yards and not turning the ball over. A 38-13 lead was cut to 10, reminding fans about the problems that Kansas has had in the fourth quarter this season. Mello Dotson’s pick-six sealed the game. The Jayhawks will look to play spoiler against undefeated BYU in Provo, Utah next weekend.   

@M_Vernon: 

Kansas has now led thru 3 quarters in 8/9 games this year. Its record is 2-6. Its scoring margin is now +85 thru 3.     

KSU football #20 in AP poll after bye   

KU (1) beats North Carolina (9) 92-89  

KU basketball stays at #1 in AP poll after UNC win

Article Source: X, AP

Sources

1. https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/11/kansas-state-university-lands-usaid-grant-for-research-on-sustainably-boosting-crop-yield/

2. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article295391594.html

3. https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/11/kansas-lawmakers-anxious-about-costly-nursing-shortage-at-psychiatric-hospitals/

4. https://www.agweb.com/news/policy/politics/who-will-be-next-u-s-secretary-agriculture?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202024-11-08%20Agriculture%20Dive%20%5Bissue:67677%5D&utm_term=Agriculture%20Dive

5. https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/the-kansas-origin-of-veterans-day/

7. https://x.com/M_Vernon/status/1855388780364288001
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll-7048e05617eeaaa311e289d17d81c6b8