A musician/rapper from Salina is seeking encouragement and support locally, after qualifying for a national competition that&nbsp;aims to discover the 'next big musical talent.'

Payton Patterson, aka 'Trap Set' is from Salina and has made noise with his musical talent. After going viral with his hit song "Peach Crown," Patterson has been putting up averages of 1 million views a month on TikTok from his content. With Patterson's hard work and talent, this has put him in a great opportunity to become the 'next big musical talent' as he made it to the Top 5 in the "<a href="https://tophitmaker.org/">RollingStones Americas Next Top Hitmaker competition</a>."

Patterson has experienced great support from his fans around the world, but would also love to gain that support from his hometown.

"I have alot of support from all over the world, but it would mean everything to see Salina come along for the ride," said Patterson.

Patterson did not start rapping until last year, but always knew how to. He did many behind the scenes work for about 10 years, but was finally able to record his first song last year. His first release was on April 18, 2025 and hit a million each day on TikTok for the first 10 days he released the song.

He is a publisher as a member of the&nbsp;performing rights organization 'ASCAP' which is also 'PLEASEREMEMBERP8N.' Patterson is writer for ASCAP as well.

"I believe my sounds do amazing, but I have no support from my hometown," said Patterson.

Patterson was born in Salina in 1991, went to Kansas City for his junior and senior year of high school and then lived in Chicago for some time. His two kids Aiyana and&nbsp;Jaiden both attend Salina public schools.

Patterson made it to the Top 5 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://tophitmaker.org/">RollingStones Americas Next Top Hitmaker competition</a>&nbsp;and hopes people from Salina can vote him in to win the competition.&nbsp;Voting is free once daily and you can also donate to the <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/involved/donate/usa/">Global Citizen Foundation</a>, who puts together a music festival (Global Citizens Festival) in New York, headlined by artists such as Post Malone, Doja Cat, and The Weeknd.

Patterson has a chance to win and if he does, he gets the opportunity to perform at the <a href="https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/festival/">Global Citizens Festival</a>. This potential win can get Patterson into the RollingStone magazine as "America's Next Top Hitmaker" and walk away with $50,000.

Voting for finalists ends on Thursday, July 3rd and you can vote for 'Trap Set' free once a day by going to:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://tophitmaker.org/2025/trap-set">https://tophitmaker.org/2025/trap-set</a>

For 'Trap Set' music, go to:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2U5oDxlU3LsPHOHMCNt2L1?si=Xhiyb-eaSdSsPUT-zQZnLQ">https://open.spotify.com/artist/2U5oDxlU3LsPHOHMCNt2L1?si=Xhiyb-eaSdSsPUT-zQZnLQ</a>

Local rapper qualifies for national competition, seeks encouragement from the community

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📨 Sign up today for Salina Post's Noon News Update!

Looking for a new podcast to keep you informed and connected within your local community? Look no further than Eagle Media's latest podcast, "King in the Community."&nbsp;

Join Eagle Media Salina News Director Nate King as he talks with local and regional government officials, first responders, non-profit leaders and unique individuals with fascinating stories from north central Kansas and beyond. Learn about how organizations in your neighborhood leverage their partnerships to create a more interconnected community.

Available on all your favorite platforms, including&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/king-in-the-community/id1687185014">Apple podcasts,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/">Podbean</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZeCj4TK3kaOZEvgQaDlio">&nbsp;Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c78f2e2e-c714-4aaf-ad4c-4864a4038889">Amazon Audible</a>, TuneIn + Alexa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/king-in-the-community-5324914">Podchaser,</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/62430">Boomplay</a>.&nbsp;

No matter what streaming service you use, we've got you covered with engaging discussions and insightful interviews that will help you understand the issues that matter most to you.&nbsp; So why wait? Tune in to the "King in the Community" podcast today and discover a new way to stay connected.

For a full list of episodes<a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/page/2/">&nbsp;click here</a>. Thanks for listening!

🎙The latest from 'King in the Community' with Nate King

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our news tip email address. Have a breaking news story, a community event, or a feel-good story that deserves to be shared? 

Submit your news tips via email to <a href="http://newstips@salinapost.com">newstips@salinapost.com</a>

Whether you're a Salina local, a native Kansan, or have moved out of state, we want to hear from you. Your contributions help us keep our community informed and engaged. 

So, if you have a story to tell or a photo of breaking news we should know about, send it to newstips@salinapost.com.

Salina Post news tip email address

Salina Post is thrilled to announce an exciting update - we are now accepting letters to the editor from our readers. We believe that our community's voices deserve to be heard, and providing a platform for open dialogue and constructive discussions is essential to a strong free press.&nbsp;

With the new letters to the editor offering, we aim to create a space where readers can express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas on a wide range of local topics that impact their daily lives.&nbsp;

Submitting a letter to the editor is simple. Just email your letter to <a href="mailto:admin@salinapost.com">admin@salinapost.com</a>

Ensure that your letter is concise and respectful. We value thoughtful and constructive discussions, so please make sure to present your arguments in a clear and coherent manner.

While we appreciate and encourage diverse perspectives, we also have certain guidelines in place. Letters should be free from hate speech, name-calling or any form of discrimination. We believe in promoting a respectful and inclusive environment for all readers.

Our editorial team will review all submissions and select letters that align with our guidelines and contribute positively to the conversation. We may edit letters for clarity, grammar, and length, but we will strive to maintain the essence of your message.

We are excited about this new opportunity to amplify your voice and encourage you to take advantage of this platform.

So, whether you have a burning issue or an important message to share, we invite you to submit a letter to the editor. Let's come together, learn from each other, and build a stronger community through the power of words.

All letters must include the author's name. No anonymous letters to the editor will be published, but if you have a news tip or an issue you would like us to know about still reach out via email at newstips@salinapost.com

<a href="https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/direct-action/letters-to-editor/main">Information Courtesy University of Kansas Community Toolbox</a>

You feel strongly about an issue, and you want to let people know what you think. You believe you can even influence people to take some action if you speak your mind. But, you want to reach an audience larger than just your friends or your group membership. Letters to the editor can be an effective way to get the word out.

A letter to the editor is a written way of talking to a newspaper, magazine, or other regularly printed publication. Letters to the editor are generally found in the first section of the newspaper, or towards the beginning of a magazine, or in the editorial page. They can take a position for or against an issue, or simply inform, or both. They can convince readers by using emotions, or facts, or emotions and facts combined. 

Letters to the editor are usually short and tight, rarely longer than 300 words.

Using a few carefully placed letters, you can generate plenty of community discussion. You can also keep an issue going by preventing it from disappearing from the public eye. You can stimulate the interest of the news media and create more coverage for the matters you're working on. You can also send a "good news" letter to bring recognition to people who deserve it or acknowledge the success of an effort.

Salina Post accepting letters to the editor

The Salina League of Women Voters held its 2024 General Election Forum on Oct. 20 at 1:30 in the Watson Room at the Stiefel Theatre in Salina. 

Click the link above to watch the candidates answer questions from the media and the public. Candidates present at the forum included Senate District 24-John Baker, House District 69-Lori Blake, and Clarke Sanders; Saline County Commission District 2-Annie Grevas and Kathleen Malone Crouch.

Noticeably absent from the forum was State Senator J.R. Claeys, whose empty chair and name card can be seen on the far left of the table of candidates.&nbsp;

Check Salina Post for an article about the candidate's responses on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

2024 League of Women Voters General Election Candidate Forum

Due to damages from Sunday's severe weather, the bridge and road south of Wilson, Kansas will NOT be open by Memorial Day, May 27.&nbsp;

According to the Ellsworth County Highway Department, a date has not been set for the road/bridge to reopen.&nbsp;

Plan an alternate route if you plan to travel in the area.&nbsp;

READ MORE<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3969fc82-b07d-4d4e-885d-fe75a7799560">:&nbsp;🎥UPDATED: Severe weather coverage May 19 — Salina Airport reports 100 mph winds</a>

River bridge, road project south of Wilson closed indefinetly 

Cope Notes is a text message-based service that provides individuals with randomly timed messages that contain anything from psychology facts to exercises and journaling prompts. Every subscriber’s text sequence is unique so that no two users ever receive the same message at the same time. 

Each <a href="https://copenotes.com/">Cope Notes</a> text must first undergo a thorough review process by a panel of peer-support advocates and mental health professionals, in order to ensure that the messages will have a positive effect on the subscriber’s health. The ultimate goal of the service is to train the brain to disrupt negative thoughts and promote a more positive pattern of thinking.

"We believe in the importance of mental health. We want to ensure our residents have access to the resources they need to stay healthy and thriving," said Saline County Health Officer Jason Tiller. "In my own personal experience with Cope Notes, I have found that the right messages seem to come at exactly the right time. It was been an uplifting experience for me, and I am thrilled we get to continue this service to our residents."

In 2022, Saline County initially offered the service for free to 300 residents. Because of the overwhelming response and in an effort to provide the service to more Saline County residents, the program is being offered at a 50 percent discount, according to information from the county.

To sign up for Cope Notes, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001scLNLAEK27GI7j38iOkmbBLY7glKLN0Wy6uF_d-8TLam2TPUzrfQlc9LS5oNICbDRUIbIxFeAe9F9t_3cBzqfldl0v4T9wLfMfxV5qLVYcHiyw0WBSsZFYJWzG17ByUTXv2fd3MbRsZWmxNokDZI85TAvv_DybpQ8u3RGpTS-VoOBpVKw3mIuQf0KEWbdEz2&amp;c=e8h8gccDrdCcdY1GLzjAyWQ83iic1YREdFKlJQ0cHZXKLBBGRtWzSA==&amp;ch=qH131SvBWUOQqWkIzjrjNennoWrg5mcmyLAePutxO-lGfSWshstgHw==" target="_blank">this link&nbsp;</a>and enter code&nbsp;SACOHALF&nbsp;and your credit or debit card information.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Saline County continues to offer Cope Notes at 50-percent discount

Not seeing precipitation totals from your area after a rain or snow event? Consider becoming a CoCoRaHS volunteer.

"CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive website, our aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications," the organization noted on its website.

After rain, hail, or snow storms, CoCoRaHS volunteers take precipitation measurements. Those totals are then recorded on the CoCoRaHS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cocorahs.org/ViewData/StateDailyPrecipReports.aspx?state=KS">website</a>&nbsp;(Kansas reporting).

The precipitation totals are used by various organizations and individuals, including the National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, insurance adjusters, farmers and ranchers, and, of course, Salina Post.

For more information about CoCoRaHS and its March recruiting efforts or to sign up as a CoCoRaHS volunteer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cocorahs.org/marchmadness.aspx">click here</a>.

Precipitation reporting organization seeks local, area volunteers

By ROSARIO MENDEZ Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

What’s worse than a bogus charity? A bogus charity with a dishonest fundraiser. The FTC has sued and stopped dishonest charity fundraisers that&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2020/09/spot-and-stop-dishonest-charity-fundraisers">called people</a>&nbsp;to get them to donate to fake charities. Some prey on your kindness and desire to help people impacted by weather emergencies or a disaster. But when you get a call from a charity fundraiser, how do you know the caller is telling you the truth?

Ask the caller specific questions.

What is the charity’s name, phone number, or address? Write these down so you can confirm them later. Keep in mind that many charity names sound alike, and that sham charities often use names that are sound and look like names of legitimate charities.

How much of your donation will go directly to the programs you want to support?

Will your donation be tax-deductible? Not every call seeking a donation is from a charity. Some calls might be from Political Action Committees or other groups where donations are not deductible. See more questions to ask here.

Resist the pressure to donate on the spot.

After you’ve listened to the caller, hang up the phone and think about what they said. Then, go online and do your own research:

Search for the organization’s name and phone number, plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” What you find might help you decide if you want to make that donation.

Look up the organization’s name and address. Does it show up? If it doesn’t, that could be a sign the caller was lying to you.

See what these rating organizations say about the charity: BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and Candid.

If you get a donation request in the mail, do some research online before you donate. And if you spot a charity scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you get a donation request in the mail,&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/charity">do some research online</a>&nbsp;before you donate. And if you spot a charity scam, report it to the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2020/09/www.reportfraud.ftc.gov">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

FTC: How to spot and stop dishonest charity fundraisers

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The start of a new school year is an expensive time for families. If you are struggling to pay for phone and internet services, there are programs to help you stay connected.

During Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week, the Kansas Corporation Commission joins utility regulators nationwide in encouraging those in need of assistance to apply for Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program.&nbsp; Both programs help low-income individuals and families stay connected so they can access health care, attend classes, find employment, and call for help in an emergency.

Lifeline provides federal and state discounts up to $17.02 per month on phone service (wireless or residential) and broadband. Seven million Americans currently benefit from the program, including approximately 30,000 Kansans.

The Federal Communication Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Plan&nbsp; provides a monthly internet service discount of up to $30 and a one-time device discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer or tablet. According to FCC data, more than 20 million U.S. households are currently enrolled, including approximately 120,000 in Kansas.

Eligibility&nbsp;is based on income&nbsp;(at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for Lifeline and at or below 200% for Affordable Connectivity Plan)&nbsp;or participation in certain assistance programs&nbsp;such as:

•&nbsp;&nbsp;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) •&nbsp; Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) •&nbsp; Federal Public Housing Assistance (FHPA) •&nbsp; Veterans Pensions &amp; Survivors Pension Benefit •&nbsp; Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance •&nbsp; Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families •&nbsp; Head Start Tribal Programs (income based) •&nbsp; Food Distribution Program on Tribal Lands&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anyone who qualifies for Lifeline is automatically eligible to participate in Affordable Connectivity Plan. Others may still qualify for the plan if they meet any of the following criteria:

• Are approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including the&nbsp;USDA Community Eligibility Provision.&nbsp; • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year.&nbsp; • Meet the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.&nbsp;

Due to higher income maximums, Affordable Connectivity Plan  also has the potential to help families that may not qualify for other types of assistance. The maximum income for a family of four to qualify for the&nbsp; program is&nbsp;$60,000 per year compared to $40,500 for Lifeline. Both Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Plan offer additional discounts for subscribers living on tribal lands.

More information on income eligibility, participating providers, and the enrollment process is available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtjYy5rcy5nb3YvdGVsZWNvbW11bmljYXRpb25zL2xpZmVsaW5lP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA5MTEuODIzOTEwMjEifQ.SgutPMf7jc8B89ZmFqxVxA5ZBkjKYdszBMiWwbYC7oo/s/1510803030/br/225606126077-l" target="_blank">KCC’s website</a>.

Plans available to help Kansans unable to pay for phone, internet services stay connected

This is day 8 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While yields and protein levels remain generally average, Kansas wheat farmers are facing significant challenges this year, including the widespread impact of wheat streak mosaic virus and related diseases, drought during the growing season and scattered rainfall during harvest.&nbsp;

Mike McClellan, who farms in Rooks County with his nephew Cade Beesley, started harvest about five days ago. Their crew includes hired hand Dave and Cade’s son, Coy. With about two-thirds left to cut, they’re making steady progress.

Yields have been above average compared to the past three years and are landing around average overall. Protein levels are ranging from 11.5 to 15.5 percent, and test weights on their better fields, those not hit by wheat streak mosaic virus, have been coming in at 58 to 60 pounds per bushel.

McClellan said their biggest challenges this year have been drought and wheat streak mosaic virus. The virus hit hard in the spring, with large pockets showing up across fields, more widespread than usual. The impact has been noticeable, with lower yields, reduced plant height, and lighter test weights in affected areas. Scattered rain showers during harvest have added to the test weight struggles.

Jackson Hoelker with Skyland Grain in Kingman County says harvest is nearly a month in, with cutting beginning the first week of June. Yields are coming in between 50 and 55 bushels per acre. Protein levels range from 10.5 to 11.5 percent, and test weights, which began around 60 to 63 pounds, have dropped slightly and are now closer to 58.

Hoelker estimates harvest is 85 to 90 percent complete. For the most part, everything that can be cut has been, but growers will need fields to finish drying out before they can finish the rest. While they haven’t seen much sprouting in the area, the biggest challenge this year has simply been how long the harvest is taking to complete.

Jason Ochs, who farms in Hamilton County, reported that harvest began on June 20, but some of the wheat has had several rain showers since it has been ripe. Other areas have received very little rain the past three years. Wheat in the area is short and hard to get it all in the header. The moisture came a little too late, but they did have perfect grainfill weather, cool and rainy. Yields are ranging based on conditions, but test weights have been decent, ranging from 59 to 61 pounds per bushel. He mentioned some wheat streak mosaic virus in the area. Ochs has seen some wind shatter from 40 mile per hour winds. While the wheat is short, the residue out there “makes a huge difference for the next crop,” he said. “It retains moisture and protects from sun and wind.”

The 2025 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates on social media, use #wheatharvest25. Tag at @kansaswheat to share your harvest story and photos.

Day 8: Kansas Wheat Harvest report

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fireandiron27/">Fire and Iron Station 27</a>,&nbsp;a nonprofit organization has announced a fundraiser for the support of two people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

"Ride For Hope" is a fundraiser set up by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fireandiron27/">Fire and Iron Station 27</a>&nbsp;for the support of Karlie Miller and 2-year old, Macie Heller who have been battling cancer. This fundraiser is a two day event that will start at the Blind Pig (2501 Market Pl. #A) on Friday, July 11th and&nbsp;will continue at the Tumblweed event facility on Saturday, July 12th.

Janet Beemer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fireandiron27/">Fire and Iron Station 27</a>,&nbsp;describes that part of the proceeds from the Blind Pig and Tumblweed will go towards the Tammy Walker Cancer Center, Fire and Iron Station 27 (to continue the benefactor events) and for Miller/Heller.&nbsp;

Beemer stated that Fire and Iron Station 27 have been holding these fundraisers for individuals battling cancer since 2010.

On Friday, proceeds will be collected from a taco bar at the Blind Pig starting at 6:00 pm. On Saturday, proceeds will be collected from raffle tickets, a live auction and 'a game of chance.'&nbsp;

"We do this because we want to help families who are battling cancer with their loved ones," said Beemer. "Whether we help them make a house payment or pay bills, this is our way to give back to the community."

Those wanting to participate in the fundraiser can do so by registering their vehicles for a bike/car route at Tumblweed for the Saturday event. Vehicle registration starts at 9:00 am and the route starts at 11:00 am. The route starts from Tumblweed then towards, Brookville, Bennington, Solomon, Speakeasy (Salina) and ending back at Tumblweed at around 4:00 pm.

Afterwards, the benefit auction will occur at Tumblweed.

"This is such a great event and it is really special," said Jenni Jones of Tumblweed.

Miller is currently battling colon cancer and Heller is battling acute lymphoblastic cancer.

"This is very emotional and tears are shed throughout these event," said Beemer. "We are very happy, knowing that we are able to help families during their time of this low moment."

Fire and Iron Station 27 is a motorcycle club full of Firefighters and EMS members mostly from the Salina area.

Nonprofit holding fundraiser event for the support of two locals battling cancer

The Salina Fire Department (SFD) has conducted safety tips and helpful information for this upcoming 4th of July weekend.&nbsp;

Salina Fire Department Fire Inspector/Investigators, Matt Rittel, Chad Scoville and Kansas Fire Marshal Joe Kvacik, put together helpful information over national statistics, safety tips and local city ordinances.

According to Rittel, Scoville and Kvacik, they discovered information from the 'United States Consumer Product Safety Commission'&nbsp;website regarding the past 2024 season. According to their research, there were 14,700 people reported to have been treated in the ER for firework injuries,&nbsp;11 reported deaths for fireworks across the U.S. Another statistic was that 37% of the reported injuries were burns, 36% of those burns were on the hands and fingers and 22% were on the face.

After their conducted research, SFD accumulated recommended safety tips which include:

Salina Fire Department provides safety tips and helpful information for 4th of July weekend

As audiences race to the box office for this summer's blockbuster "F1," many might be wondering what it really feels like to be behind the wheels of the high-octane, precision-engineered Formula One cars featured in the movie. Most will never know. Kansas State University students, however, have the opportunity to design and drive a Formula-style vehicle through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.k-state.edu/powercatmotorsports/">Powercat Motorsports Formula SAE team</a>, which just placed in the top five of an international competition.

Formula SAE is the world's largest and most prestigious design competition, with 13 international competitions and more than 700 active teams. Powercat Motorsports has proudly represented K-State at competition every year since 1997. The premise of the design series is to design, manufacture, test, race and present a fully functional, open-wheel, open-cockpit racecar.

K-State's team continued its streak of strong finishes at the group's largest national competition of the season, cracking the top five in the overall standings for the first time in club history.

Powercat Motorsports took fourth place out of 107 teams competing at Formula SAE Michigan and finished just 26 points out of third place, marking the group's best performance at this competition in more than 25 years of racing while continuing the team's ascendance into a perennial contender on the national stage. K-State also finished first among nine competing Big 12 teams at Michigan International Speedway this year.

"Although I have only been on the team for two years, I have seen the team take strides in both vehicle development and documentation to set us up for success in future years," said incoming club president Tyler Carlgren, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Overland Park. "Twenty-eight years of development have all come together to create the team we are now, and I can't wait to see what we do in the future."

During the past three years of competition, Powercat Motorsports has rapidly improved its finishes in the standings at SAE Michigan, taking 14th place in 2023 and cracking the top 10 for the first time last year. Fueling this year's strong finish was a 13th place in the skidpad competition and a 10th place in autocross that qualified the team for a great start to the endurance race. The team took care of business on the track, finishing in third place with a clean run by the team’s drivers, with no penalties for hitting cones or going off course.

Additionally, the team's rise in the standings can be attributed to strong finishes in the static events that occur off the track, including cost evaluation, business presentation and design. The business presentation subteam took third overall in its event after not previously making the finals in past years.

"I have been with the team since I started at K-State," said former club president and business lead Anish Srivastava, 2025 graduate in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Olathe. "I have watched our team grow and improve every year, from not finishing in 2021 to placing fourth overall in the Michigan International this year. The placement feels unreal even a month later. This was not just the work of the current team, but the accumulation of knowledge, work and dedication of all alumni before us."

Powercat Motorsports celebrated 25 years of competition last year. One of the larger design teams in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://engg.k-state.edu/">Carl R. Ice College of Engineering</a>, Powercat Motorsports is one of just many ways the college provides students with impactful experiences outside of the classroom, preparing them for life beyond K-State.

Hosein Baboly, teaching associate professor, and Kevin Wanklyn, teaching associate professor, both from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mne.k-state.edu/">Alan Levin Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering</a>, serve as faculty advisors to the team.In addition to Carlgren and Srivastava, competing members of the 2025 Powercat Motorsports team at Michigan International Speedway include:

Mason Ouellette, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Belle Plaine; Lawson Hall, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Fort Scott; Reese Hirschler, freshman in mechanical engineering, and PJ Migliazzo, sophomore in mechanical engineering, both from&nbsp;Leawood; Madi Horton, junior in news and sports media,&nbsp;Newton;&nbsp;Thomas Harp, senior in biochemistry,&nbsp;Osawatomie; Payton Lee, graduate student in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Ottawa; Spencer Strahm, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Sabetha; Will Fulkerson, senior in electrical engineering, Emma Shulda, senior in industrial engineering, Charlie Slothower, junior in mechanical engineering, and Mary Stevens, sophomore in interior architecture, all from&nbsp;Salina; Alayna Dill, junior in biology,&nbsp;Shawnee; Carter Cygan, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Spring Hill; Wyatt Haug, 2025 graduate in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Topeka; and Louis Evans, junior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Wichita.

From out of state: Joey Carter, sophomore in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Longmont, Colorado; Tyler Weber, senior in mechanical engineering,&nbsp;Kansas City, Missouri.

K-State students design race Formula-style vehicle in international competition, Salina student included

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Edmundson, William Michael

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs Unknown severity

NAME:&nbsp;Henderson, Michael Anthony

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct

NAME:&nbsp;Longoria, Michael James

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Assault of LEO; Properly identified on duty; Battery on LEO; Physical contact with county or city officer on duty; Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor; Interfere. w/ LEO; unknown circ.; misd.

NAME:&nbsp;Palmer, Simone Christine

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation (2 requested charges); Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Toney, Ryan Logan Jasper

Saline County Jail Bookings, July 2

This is day 7 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvest progress continues across Kansas, with some areas moving slowly due to wet conditions while others have managed to dodge the rain and are preparing to wrap up harvest. Farmers and custom harvesters are adapting to challenges to keep things moving.

Shane Eck with the Pawnee County Coop Association in Larned reports that harvest is 75% to 85% complete in their region. Harvest conditions have been mostly favorable as they have missed most of the heavy rain events but had some scattered rains.

Yields are ranging from 20 to 60 bushels per acre, which is, for the most part, an improvement over the drought-stricken crops of the past two years. They have already exceeded their take of wheat from last year and are above their five-year average. Test weights were averaging 58 pounds with some lower numbers in rainfall areas. Test weights and yields have been impacted by wheat streak mosaic virus and other associated viral diseases which have become more common in the region over the past three years. Proteins are averaging around 12%.

Paul Penner, a farmer in Marion County, has been harvesting on and off due to repeated rain delays. Wet conditions have made progress slow, and Penner estimates he has about three to four days left to go. He’s working to balance wrapping up harvest while also getting soybeans in the ground without damaging fields.

Test weights started around 60 pounds but have since dipped, now ranging closer to 56 to 59 pounds following the recent rains. The wet fields have been one of the biggest challenges this season. Penner planted KS Providence, AG Radical and AP Prolific, all of which are performing well so far.

Custom harvester Jacob Hermesch is cutting wheat near Kinsley, Kansas, where recent rains have made fields difficult to access without specialized equipment. Hermesch said tracks have made the difference this season, allowing his crew to keep working while others are sidelined by the mud.

“I got my combine stuck four times in one day,” Hermesch said. “But the tracked machine just walks right through it, no problem.”

Despite good wheat in the area, the wet conditions are slowing progress and putting extra stress on equipment. Hermesch estimates yields are ranging from 30 to 70 bushels per acre, depending on how well the crop was managed. He noted that demand for help is high in the Kinsley area, especially from farmers short on equipment. Even with the challenges he has faced, Hermesch is open to picking up more acres, especially closer to home along Highway 36.

Day 7: Kansas Wheat Harvest report

On Tuesday morning, the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and Fort Hays State University (FHSU) demonstrated techniques that allow law enforcement officers to respond effectively during traffic stops. 

During a simulated traffic stop at the KHP Training Academy in Salina, KHP Lt. Gregory Etris along with Chair &amp; Professor of the Criminal Justice Program at FHSU, Dr. Tamara Lynn conducted a mock traffic stop scenario that displayed how officers should respond to certain people, depending on their personality/behavior. The technique falls under the&nbsp;<a href="https://discinsights.com/pages/disc-theory#:~:text=DISC%20theory%20is%20a%20model,leadership%20development%2C%20and%20hiring%20practices.">DISC Esoterica® model</a>, that is used to decipher different personality/behavior styles.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://discinsights.com/pages/disc-theory#:~:text=DISC%20theory%20is%20a%20model,leadership%20development%2C%20and%20hiring%20practices.">DISC Esoterica® model</a>&nbsp;falls under the umbrella of the <a href="https://ndtccenter.com/">National De-escalation Training Center (NDTC) program</a> that is known to be 'the most comprehensive, innovative and evidence-based experiential program available for law enforcement professionals, around the country. NDTC training teaches officers to identify personality characteristic and traits quickly, in order to adjust their approach and maximize effective communication and interaction with an individual.

According to Fort Hays State University, the NDTC model helps trainees learn to:

Recognize individuals experiencing a mental and/or physical crisis.

Apply behavior modeling to resolve potential conflicts.

Recognize and respond to active and passive emotional states.

According to Dr. Lynn, FHSU offers the de-escalation training through its criminal justice program. Dr. Lynn describes that skills developed through the training at FHSU, will help students before they enter law enforcement as opposed to developing those skills through experiences as a professional officer.

"The troopers are trained to recognize a personality within seconds and start making those observations, even before they start walking up to the car," said Dr. Lynn. "This is the skill set we want the new cadets to get much earlier in their career."

KHP Public Resource Officer, Todd Hileman gave his comments on what he thinks about the training.

"Lt. Etris and I were talking about how for the first part of our career we had to learn this through experience, but now this is great that they (students) can get this experience in the classroom before going out into the field," said Hileman.

Lt. Etris trains new cadets in the KHP academy to conduct these scenarios,&nbsp; before they experience it in the real world. He describes what they teach throughout these sessions.

"We teach that being patient and allowing that energy to be used up by the individual prior to us making contact, works to our advantage because now that person has had a chance to vent out that emotion and now we can be able to have a normal conversation," said Lt. Etris. "The officer is going to want to acknowledge that emotion, because that acknowledgement helps open up that communication."

The model also helps reduce the stigma of decreasing the 'fear' that may arise within an individual, when law enforcement officers approach them during a traffic stop. Lt. Etris commented on what law enforcement professionals have discussed to reduce that stigma.

"We asked ourselves, what can we do to change the mindset of society when they do encounter law enforcement," said Lt. Etris. "This skill set allows you to better understand people and the better we can do that, I think we are able to resolve things more peacefully."

"It's all about how you approach, speak and treat them," said officer Hileman.

FHSU facilitates NDTC's four training modalities, including 8-hour de-escalation fundamentals (online or in person), 16-hour de-escalation and a 32-hour 'train the trainer program.' the FHSU criminal justice program and University Police facilitate the Central Region Training Center of the National de-escalation Training Center. Dr. Lynn coordinates with regions across the U.S. to facilitate training sessions to agencies from other areas.

For more information on FHSU's criminal justice program, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/">https://www.fhsu.edu/criminaljustice/</a>

NDTC training is approved by the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST).

For more information about NDTC, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://ndtccenter.com/about">https://ndtccenter.com/about</a>

KHP demonstrates technique that allows officers to respond effectively during traffic stops

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division was requested to assist with a fatality fire in the 200 block of West 6th&nbsp;Street, Solomon, on Tuesday.

KSFM Special Agents were requested by local authorities after they responded to a house fire with a fatality.&nbsp; Three Special Agents/Certified Fire Investigators were sent to assist with this fire event, according to a media release from the State Fire Marshal's office.

According to the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, they were notified at 4:44 a.m. of the fire. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies assisted a man from the residence through a window. Two adults and a juvenile were able to make it out of the burning structure safely. They notified firefighters and deputies that there was teen still trapped inside. Deputies attempted to gain entry through a doorway and a window, but were not able to gain entry due to the intense heat and smoke.

After the fire was brought under control by firefighters, the female victim, Elizabeth Lillian Ohl, 17, was located inside the residence by firefighters.

The fire incident is classified as undetermined, with multiple potential causes that could not be ruled out.&nbsp;

DICKINSON COUNTY— Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Dickinson County.

&nbsp;Just after 4:30a.m. Tuesday the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a house fire in the 200 block of West 6th Street in Solomon, according to a statement from the Dickinson County Sheriff's office.

 The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies assisted a man from the residence through a window. Two adults and a juvenile were able to make it out of the burning structure safely. They notified firefighters and deputies that there was another person still trapped inside. Deputies attempted to gain entry through a doorway and a window, but were unable to gain entry due to the intense heat and smoke.

After the fire was brought under control, firefighters found the victim was inside of the home. The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation. The sheriff's office has not released the name of the victim or additional details.

Fire Marshal: 17-year-old died in Kansas house fire

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents boosted salaries of state university presidents and the chancellor an average of 6.4%, despite the Legislature’s decision to provide no more than 2.5% raises to campus employees lagging the farthest behind market rates.

The Legislature earmarked $36.2 million to address state employee pay disparities in the new fiscal year starting July 1. These targeted increases would bring state workers up to 10% below market rate or enact raises of 2.5%, whichever was greater.

The Board of Regents universities received state funding equivalent to a 2.5% merit pool. Lawmakers left it to university administrators to fill other compensation gaps, but the reality was some campus employees won’t get a raise.

The Board of Regents awarded University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod a 12% surge of $105,000 to place his total compensation from state government and private endowment sources at $1 million per year.

After meeting in executive session, the Board of Regents also voted Friday without dissent to authorize a 7% increase for Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason to take her annual package to $355,000. Kansas State University President Richard Linton, who received a 10.2% raise last year, was provided a 5% increase this year to elevate his compensation to $750,000.

The low end of the scale were 4% adjustments for Wichita State University President Rick Muma and Emporia State University President Ken Hush. Muma’s annual compensation climbed to $635,000, while Hush’s was bumped to $370,000. The Board of Regents recently hired a new president for Pittsburg State University, so no raise was adopted for PSU.

“Some of the most important actions we take concern our CEOs,” said Carl Ice, chairman of the Board of Regents. “Leaders matter. Leaders set a vision — visions that are compelling.”

Becky Pottebaum, director of finance and administration with the Board of Regents, said the annual review of compensation for university leaders was designed to make certain salaries were based on performance and competitive with peer institutions.

The latest salary adjustments reflected the Board of Regents’ adoption of new principles regarding CEO compensation.

“Strong leadership is essential to the continued success of our institutions and the broader mission of advancing higher education in Kansas,” she said.

For more than six months, state university leaders expressed alarm about converging financial challenges that included general operational inflation, softness in student enrollment, loss of federal research funding and new financial obligations to college athletes.

In response, the Board of Regents approved tuition increases averaging 3.9% for in-state undergraduate university students. University administrators have moved to impose cost-cutting measures to deal with anticipated budget deficits.

Girod said the “challenges largely are due to external factors such as disruptions to federal funding, the lack of new state funding, rising costs associated with facilities construction and operations, and the projected nationwide decline in college enrollment.”

He said without decisive action KU’s Lawrence campus could wind up with a $4 million shortfall by the end of the fiscal year.

“The reality is higher education is at a crossroads, and universities must develop new financial models for the new world we are in,” Girod said.

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