By PAT MELGARES K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – A popular guide to gardening in Kansas has undergone a major makeover that one of its authors said helps to “better reflect the needs and experiences of a wide range of Kansas gardeners, especially our newest gardeners.”&nbsp;

An updated version of the Kansas Garden Guide – which in 2022 was downloaded 35,931 times, or about 100 times a day –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">will be available to order by early May from the K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.&nbsp;

The guide already is available to view online in its entirety. Viewers can print pages that relate to specific information.&nbsp;

“We are always learning new things about growing plants in Kansas and understanding the science of soils, plants, and microorganisms better,” said Rebecca McMahon, administrator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/localfoods/index.html" target="_blank">Kansas State University’s local foods systems program</a>.&nbsp;

“So,” she added, “we need to update our publications to reflect changes in practices, as well. Also, the way that people think about and approach gardening changes over time. Gardens today are usually smaller and there are many new gardeners that have started gardening over the past several years.”&nbsp;

McMahon was one of several editors of the new guide, which has expanded to 202 pages complete with full-color pictures and illustrations. The Kansas Garden Guide – originally printed in the early 1980s -- was last printed in 2010, and included 76 full color pages.&nbsp;

●Planting and maintaining a garden, including watering, fertilizing and other best practices.

●Fall gardens and extending the garden season.

●Managing insect pests and identifying plant diseases and environmental stressors.

●Taking advantage of pollinators and beneficial insects.

●Growing herbs, including a wider variety of herbs.

●Growing vegetable crops, including tips on choosing varieties, crop rotation, common concerns, and more.

●Updated planting and harvesting calendars.&nbsp;

Cheryl Boyer, a nursery crop production and marketing specialist for K-State Research and Extension, said she “wouldn’t want to tackle my home garden without this guide.”&nbsp;

“The Kansas Garden Guide is essential for successful edible gardening in Kansas,” she said. “We have excellent demonstration gardens in nearly every Kansas county, showing off what we can accomplish with the knowledge contained in the Kansas Garden Guide.”&nbsp;

Boyer added that while the guide is oriented to home gardeners, commercial growers also will benefit from the updated recommendations: “This would make an excellent resource for every nursery, garden center and hardware store to have on hand.”&nbsp;

McMahon said perhaps the most important aspect of the publication is that the guidelines are specific to Kansas’ growing conditions.&nbsp;

“Most other gardening resources that Kansas gardeners are going to find are more reflective of conditions in other parts of the country,” McMahon said. “The Kansas Garden Guide focuses on what you need to know to have success in our challenging climate.”&nbsp;

In Kansas, home gardeners produce $20 to $25 million worth of vegetables each year, according to information published in the new guide. These vegetables not only help Kansans save money on food costs, but also contribute to overall nutrition and health.&nbsp;

The direct link to the guide is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681677543182.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By PAT MELGARES K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN – A popular guide to gardening in Kansas has undergone a major makeover that one of its authors said helps to “better reflect the needs and experiences of a wide range of Kansas gardeners, especially our newest gardeners.”&nbsp;An updated version of the Kansas Garden Guide – which in 2022 was downloaded 35,931 times, or about 100 times a day –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">will be available to order by early May from the K-State Research and Extension bookstore</a>.&nbsp;The guide already is available to view online in its entirety. Viewers can print pages that relate to specific information.&nbsp;“We are always learning new things about growing plants in Kansas and understanding the science of soils, plants, and microorganisms better,” said Rebecca McMahon, administrator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/localfoods/index.html" target="_blank">Kansas State University’s local foods systems program</a>.&nbsp;“So,” she added, “we need to update our publications to reflect changes in practices, as well. Also, the way that people think about and approach gardening changes over time. Gardens today are usually smaller and there are many new gardeners that have started gardening over the past several years.”&nbsp;McMahon was one of several editors of the new guide, which has expanded to 202 pages complete with full-color pictures and illustrations. The Kansas Garden Guide – originally printed in the early 1980s -- was last printed in 2010, and included 76 full color pages.&nbsp;New or expanded content includes:&nbsp;●Starting and planning a garden.●Raised bed and container gardening.●Improving soil health and composting.●Planting and maintaining a garden, including watering, fertilizing and other best practices.●Fall gardens and extending the garden season.●Managing insect pests and identifying plant diseases and environmental stressors.●Taking advantage of pollinators and beneficial insects.●Harvesting and storing produce.●Growing herbs, including a wider variety of herbs.●Growing vegetable crops, including tips on choosing varieties, crop rotation, common concerns, and more.●Updated planting and harvesting calendars.&nbsp;Cheryl Boyer, a nursery crop production and marketing specialist for K-State Research and Extension, said she “wouldn’t want to tackle my home garden without this guide.”&nbsp;“The Kansas Garden Guide is essential for successful edible gardening in Kansas,” she said. “We have excellent demonstration gardens in nearly every Kansas county, showing off what we can accomplish with the knowledge contained in the Kansas Garden Guide.”&nbsp;Boyer added that while the guide is oriented to home gardeners, commercial growers also will benefit from the updated recommendations: “This would make an excellent resource for every nursery, garden center and hardware store to have on hand.”&nbsp;McMahon said perhaps the most important aspect of the publication is that the guidelines are specific to Kansas’ growing conditions.&nbsp;“Most other gardening resources that Kansas gardeners are going to find are more reflective of conditions in other parts of the country,” McMahon said. “The Kansas Garden Guide focuses on what you need to know to have success in our challenging climate.”&nbsp;In Kansas, home gardeners produce $20 to $25 million worth of vegetables each year, according to information published in the new guide. These vegetables not only help Kansans save money on food costs, but also contribute to overall nutrition and health.&nbsp;The direct link to the guide is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf</a>.&nbsp;

K-State unveils expanded Kansas Garden Guide

By JASON GRAVES Horticulture Extension Agent, Central Kansas District

With more and more people interested in growing their own vegetables it is common to find that many gardeners in cities have only a little backyard space to utilize and thus a raised bed is called for.&nbsp; Growing in raised beds gets the attention of gardeners not only for space saving reasons, there are actually many other advantages to this type of gardening.

Raised bed gardens offer several advantages over conventional gardening plots. Soil raised above ground level warms up more quickly&nbsp;in the spring, which allows for earlier planting dates. The beds are ﬁlled with&nbsp;high-quality soil mixtures which improves drainage and increases yield.&nbsp;Raised beds are smaller than traditional gardens making them&nbsp;easier to maintain&nbsp;and denser plantings help reduce weed infestations.

Getting started with raised bed gardening isn’t difficult.&nbsp; There are many styles of raised beds that can be easily created.&nbsp; Wood is most commonly used, but cinder blocks, landscape timbers, rock, bricks and many other materials can work just fine.

Treated lumber used to contain arsenic and chromium which was considered unsafe in food gardens, but now most lumber is treated with the wood preservative ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) which is generally considered safe to use for raised bed gardening.&nbsp; If you are uncertain about the safety of treated lumber, place a heavy plastic liner between the treated lumber and the soil used for growing plants to prevent direct contact of plant roots with the treated lumber.&nbsp; Another option is to use a naturally rot resistant wood such as cedar.

Raised bed don’t even have to have a frame at all.&nbsp;You can build unframed (mounded) raised beds by tilling the existing garden soil 6 to 9 inches deep. Then add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter to the raised bed row and till it into the soil. This will have the effect of raising that area above the surrounding soil. Add soil and organic matter as needed to create mounded beds that are 8 to 12 inches above the surrounding soil and 3 to 4 feet wide. Walkways between unframed raised beds should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow. Spread a layer of mulch such as bark or straw over the walkways to reduce weed growth and mud problems.

Another option that is becoming more popular are galvanized steel raised bed gardening kits.&nbsp; These are easy to put together and strong and make an excellent choice for home gardeners.&nbsp; They come in many different shapes and sizes.

Dimensions of raised beds can vary according to the site.&nbsp;&nbsp;Common dimensions include 4×4, 4×8, or 4×10 sized beds.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 4-foot width or a little narrower is preferred&nbsp;because it allows for an easy reach into the bed from either side to tend the plants. This keeps soil compaction from occurring because the garden soil is not walked on.

The depth of a raised bed is important.&nbsp; Regardless of the material used to build the bed there needs to be enough soil depth to accommodate the type of plants to be grown.&nbsp; For most vegetables a soil depth of 12 inches is generally sufficient but 15 to 18 inches is even better.&nbsp; If bending or stooping is a problem for the gardener, a deeper bed can be built that allows for gardening in the standing position.

Raised beds can be made wheelchair accessible by making the walls about 2 feet tall and limiting the width of the bed to about 3 feet.

The biggest advantage of raised bed gardening is the opportunity to mix and amend your own soil. Most often a 50/50 mix of good quality topsoil and organic matter such as peat moss, compost, or composted manure creates a wonderful growing media that drains well and is easy to work in. Another popular raised bed mix includes 1/3 top soil, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 drainage increasing material such as perlite, vermiculite, bark, or coarse sand.

As with any garden site, the bed should be located in full sun for best production.&nbsp; The best location also provides wind protection. Summer winds can take their toll on vegetable crops. A tree, shrub screen or border will work if it is on the south or southwest side to protect the garden.&nbsp; If possible, raised beds should be also located where there is easy access to a water source.&nbsp; Raised beds can tend to dry out more quickly than traditional gardens and should be monitored for moisture needs regularly.&nbsp;&nbsp;A drip system is an efficient and easy way to provide irrigation to raised beds.

If you haven’t tried raised bed gardening, now is a great time to get started.&nbsp; This gardening method provides great success and is a flexible way to plant, grow, and harvest your own homegrown produce.&nbsp; Check out the Raised Bed Gardening publication below for more information.

<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2134.pdf">Raised Bed Gardening</a> (pdf)

Another publication that gardeners may also want to refer to is the Vegetable Garden Planting Guide. This guide has all the basic information for planting garden crops in Kansas.

<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf315.pdf">Vegetable Garden Planting Guide</a> (pdf)

Jason Graves'&nbsp;Central Kansas Lawn &amp; Garden&nbsp;blog is republished on Salina Post with permission. For more lawn and garden information, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/">Central Kansas District Extension website</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681651294589.png" alt="Photos courtesy Jason Graves" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Jason Graves</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON GRAVES Horticulture Extension Agent, Central Kansas DistrictWith more and more people interested in growing their own vegetables it is common to find that many gardeners in cities have only a little backyard space to utilize and thus a raised bed is called for.&nbsp; Growing in raised beds gets the attention of gardeners not only for space saving reasons, there are actually many other advantages to this type of gardening.<h2>Advantages</h2>Raised bed gardens offer several advantages over conventional gardening plots. Soil raised above ground level warms up more quickly&nbsp;in the spring, which allows for earlier planting dates. The beds are ﬁlled with&nbsp;high-quality soil mixtures which improves drainage and increases yield.&nbsp;Raised beds are smaller than traditional gardens making them&nbsp;easier to maintain&nbsp;and denser plantings help reduce weed infestations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681651418325.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Getting started</h2>Getting started with raised bed gardening isn’t difficult.&nbsp; There are many styles of raised beds that can be easily created.&nbsp; Wood is most commonly used, but cinder blocks, landscape timbers, rock, bricks and many other materials can work just fine.Treated lumber used to contain arsenic and chromium which was considered unsafe in food gardens, but now most lumber is treated with the wood preservative ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) which is generally considered safe to use for raised bed gardening.&nbsp; If you are uncertain about the safety of treated lumber, place a heavy plastic liner between the treated lumber and the soil used for growing plants to prevent direct contact of plant roots with the treated lumber.&nbsp; Another option is to use a naturally rot resistant wood such as cedar.Raised bed don’t even have to have a frame at all.&nbsp;You can build unframed (mounded) raised beds by tilling the existing garden soil 6 to 9 inches deep. Then add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter to the raised bed row and till it into the soil. This will have the effect of raising that area above the surrounding soil. Add soil and organic matter as needed to create mounded beds that are 8 to 12 inches above the surrounding soil and 3 to 4 feet wide. Walkways between unframed raised beds should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow. Spread a layer of mulch such as bark or straw over the walkways to reduce weed growth and mud problems.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681651547224.png" alt="This garden contains both framed (galvanized steel) and unframed raised beds. Mulch is applied between the unframed raised beds rows to make a nice walking path." />
 <figcaption>This garden contains both framed (galvanized steel) and unframed raised beds. Mulch is applied between the unframed raised beds rows to make a nice walking path.</figcaption>
 </figure>Another option that is becoming more popular are galvanized steel raised bed gardening kits.&nbsp; These are easy to put together and strong and make an excellent choice for home gardeners.&nbsp; They come in many different shapes and sizes.Dimensions of raised beds can vary according to the site.&nbsp;&nbsp;Common dimensions include 4×4, 4×8, or 4×10 sized beds.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 4-foot width or a little narrower is preferred&nbsp;because it allows for an easy reach into the bed from either side to tend the plants. This keeps soil compaction from occurring because the garden soil is not walked on.The depth of a raised bed is important.&nbsp; Regardless of the material used to build the bed there needs to be enough soil depth to accommodate the type of plants to be grown.&nbsp; For most vegetables a soil depth of 12 inches is generally sufficient but 15 to 18 inches is even better.&nbsp; If bending or stooping is a problem for the gardener, a deeper bed can be built that allows for gardening in the standing position.Raised beds can be made wheelchair accessible by making the walls about 2 feet tall and limiting the width of the bed to about 3 feet.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681651750605.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Soil Mix</h2>The biggest advantage of raised bed gardening is the opportunity to mix and amend your own soil. Most often a 50/50 mix of good quality topsoil and organic matter such as peat moss, compost, or composted manure creates a wonderful growing media that drains well and is easy to work in. Another popular raised bed mix includes 1/3 top soil, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 drainage increasing material such as perlite, vermiculite, bark, or coarse sand.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681651918922.png" alt="Drip irrigation is a very efficient way to keep raised bed gardens growing to their potential." />
 <figcaption>Drip irrigation is a very efficient way to keep raised bed gardens growing to their potential.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Location</h2>As with any garden site, the bed should be located in full sun for best production.&nbsp; The best location also provides wind protection. Summer winds can take their toll on vegetable crops. A tree, shrub screen or border will work if it is on the south or southwest side to protect the garden.&nbsp; If possible, raised beds should be also located where there is easy access to a water source.&nbsp; Raised beds can tend to dry out more quickly than traditional gardens and should be monitored for moisture needs regularly.&nbsp;&nbsp;A drip system is an efficient and easy way to provide irrigation to raised beds.If you haven’t tried raised bed gardening, now is a great time to get started.&nbsp; This gardening method provides great success and is a flexible way to plant, grow, and harvest your own homegrown produce.&nbsp; Check out the Raised Bed Gardening publication below for more information.<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2134.pdf">Raised Bed Gardening</a> (pdf)<h2>Vegetable Garden Planting Guide</h2>Another publication that gardeners may also want to refer to is the Vegetable Garden Planting Guide. This guide has all the basic information for planting garden crops in Kansas.<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf315.pdf">Vegetable Garden Planting Guide</a> (pdf)Jason Graves'&nbsp;Central Kansas Lawn &amp; Garden&nbsp;blog is republished on Salina Post with permission. For more lawn and garden information, visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/">Central Kansas District Extension website</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

CENTRAL KANSAS L&G: Raised bed gardening is great way to grow

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

Net Positive. That’s the name of an innovative architectural studio that is helping create affordable, energy-efficient housing in communities across Kansas.&nbsp;

Last week we learned about Carolyn Dunn, president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. She recognized that lack of housing was a significant obstacle to her county’s economic growth.&nbsp;

“You can’t do anything without housing for people,” Dunn said.&nbsp;

Evidence suggested that local homebuyers needed houses closer to a $100,000 price point, rather than the $300,000 houses being built in some places.&nbsp;

“We’ve got to find a way to build housing less expensively,” Dunn said. “We looked into all sorts of things: Modular homes, kit houses…but couldn’t find just the right thing.”&nbsp;

In spring 2019, Dunn took her sons to a livestock judging event at Kansas State University. While on campus, she visited college departments regarding open Americorp positions. She learned about Michael Gibson, a faculty member who was leading an innovative housing design build project in Kansas City.&nbsp;

“Would you be interested in a&nbsp;rural&nbsp;project?” Dunn asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;The answer was yes.&nbsp;

Gibson is an associate professor in the K-State College of Architecture, Planning and Design and the founder of the Net Positive Studio. The Net Positive Studio takes its name from the principle that lessening environmental impact is not enough: Sustainable actions should have a positive social and environmental impact as well.&nbsp;

In housing, for example, the design should not just save energy; it should make a positive contribution to the homeowner’s quality of life.&nbsp;

Gibson and the K-State students at the Net Positive Studio took on the idea of improved housing in Stafford County, specifically in the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of St. John, population 1,228 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

During fall semester 2019, students researched housing needs in St. John and developed a design for a less-expensive, energy efficient home to build there in the spring. It was a pre-fab design with lots of insulation, solar panels on the roof and a large family living area.&nbsp;

Then COVID hit. Gibson and a small group of students worked with volunteers and Americorp VISTA participants to get the house up in 2020. &nbsp;

“This wouldn’t have happened without a personal commitment from Michael,” Dunn said.&nbsp;

The next year’s studio class finished the house with help from local contractors and Stafford County Economic Development. The house came in at a cost of about $140,000.&nbsp;

The project was so successful that Stafford County Economic Development acquired grants to construct an additional nine houses to meet increased demand. The Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, HUD, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Sunderland Foundation all helped.&nbsp;

“We opened these (nine homes) incrementally, one at a time,” Dunn said. “At one point, we had a waiting list of 29 potential renters.”&nbsp;

The focus in these houses is liveability, not necessarily curb appeal. “We put the emphasis on the inside of these houses,” Dunn noted.&nbsp;

In the spirit of being Net Positive, the bedrooms were smaller but the classes designed the family gathering area to be the most spacious.&nbsp;

“Having an additional 10 houses is a success. It fills a need,” Dunn said.&nbsp;

Net Positive has gone on to partner with Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, Manhattan Area Technical College, Flint Hills Job Corps, Flint Hills Renewable Energy and Efficiency Cooperative, and the Fort Riley Home Builders Institute to construct another home in Ogden.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordecodevo.com/housing" target="_blank">www.staffordecodevo.com/housing</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.netpositivestudio.org/" target="_blank">www.netpositivestudio.org</a>.&nbsp;

Net Positive. It’s a term suggesting that design should not only save energy, for example, but also make a positive contribution to those it serves.&nbsp;

We commend Carolyn Dunn of Stafford County and Michael Gibson and all the architecture students of Net Positive Studio for making a difference with innovative design and local commitment. Did this project net out good results?&nbsp;&nbsp;Of that, we can be positive.&nbsp;

And there’s more. As mentioned, Dunn is now president of the Stafford County Port Authority. What is a port authority doing in the middle of Kansas? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1623560862487.jpeg" alt="Ron Wilson" />
 <figcaption>Ron Wilson</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityNet Positive. That’s the name of an innovative architectural studio that is helping create affordable, energy-efficient housing in communities across Kansas.&nbsp;Last week we learned about Carolyn Dunn, president of the Stafford County Port Authority and past director of economic development in Stafford County. She recognized that lack of housing was a significant obstacle to her county’s economic growth.&nbsp;“You can’t do anything without housing for people,” Dunn said.&nbsp;Evidence suggested that local homebuyers needed houses closer to a $100,000 price point, rather than the $300,000 houses being built in some places.&nbsp;“We’ve got to find a way to build housing less expensively,” Dunn said. “We looked into all sorts of things: Modular homes, kit houses…but couldn’t find just the right thing.”&nbsp;In spring 2019, Dunn took her sons to a livestock judging event at Kansas State University. While on campus, she visited college departments regarding open Americorp positions. She learned about Michael Gibson, a faculty member who was leading an innovative housing design build project in Kansas City.&nbsp;“Would you be interested in a&nbsp;rural&nbsp;project?” Dunn asked.&nbsp;&nbsp;The answer was yes.&nbsp;Gibson is an associate professor in the K-State College of Architecture, Planning and Design and the founder of the Net Positive Studio. The Net Positive Studio takes its name from the principle that lessening environmental impact is not enough: Sustainable actions should have a positive social and environmental impact as well.&nbsp;In housing, for example, the design should not just save energy; it should make a positive contribution to the homeowner’s quality of life.&nbsp;Gibson and the K-State students at the Net Positive Studio took on the idea of improved housing in Stafford County, specifically in the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of St. John, population 1,228 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;During fall semester 2019, students researched housing needs in St. John and developed a design for a less-expensive, energy efficient home to build there in the spring. It was a pre-fab design with lots of insulation, solar panels on the roof and a large family living area.&nbsp;Then COVID hit. Gibson and a small group of students worked with volunteers and Americorp VISTA participants to get the house up in 2020. &nbsp;“This wouldn’t have happened without a personal commitment from Michael,” Dunn said.&nbsp;The next year’s studio class finished the house with help from local contractors and Stafford County Economic Development. The house came in at a cost of about $140,000.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681611968279.jpeg" alt="The interior of a Stafford County house. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>The interior of a Stafford County house. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>The project was so successful that Stafford County Economic Development acquired grants to construct an additional nine houses to meet increased demand. The Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, HUD, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Sunderland Foundation all helped.&nbsp;“We opened these (nine homes) incrementally, one at a time,” Dunn said. “At one point, we had a waiting list of 29 potential renters.”&nbsp;The focus in these houses is liveability, not necessarily curb appeal. “We put the emphasis on the inside of these houses,” Dunn noted.&nbsp;In the spirit of being Net Positive, the bedrooms were smaller but the classes designed the family gathering area to be the most spacious.&nbsp;“Having an additional 10 houses is a success. It fills a need,” Dunn said.&nbsp;Net Positive has gone on to partner with Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, Manhattan Area Technical College, Flint Hills Job Corps, Flint Hills Renewable Energy and Efficiency Cooperative, and the Fort Riley Home Builders Institute to construct another home in Ogden.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.staffordecodevo.com/housing" target="_blank">www.staffordecodevo.com/housing</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.netpositivestudio.org/" target="_blank">www.netpositivestudio.org</a>.&nbsp;Net Positive. It’s a term suggesting that design should not only save energy, for example, but also make a positive contribution to those it serves.&nbsp;We commend Carolyn Dunn of Stafford County and Michael Gibson and all the architecture students of Net Positive Studio for making a difference with innovative design and local commitment. Did this project net out good results?&nbsp;&nbsp;Of that, we can be positive.&nbsp;And there’s more. As mentioned, Dunn is now president of the Stafford County Port Authority. What is a port authority doing in the middle of Kansas? We’ll learn about that next week.&nbsp;Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

NOW THAT'S RURAL: Carolyn Dunn, housing

Salina has been designated as a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action City by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum, Inc.

It is the second such designation in the state, according to information from Salina Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1432. Manhattan was the first city in Kansas to receive the designation.

The POW-MIA City designation is given to cities that honor and recognize all who served in any branch of the United States military and were captured by enemies of the U.S., or are missing in action from any year and from any conflict. There is no cost to the cities for the designation.

On Monday, the Salina City Commission adopted a resolution for Salina to become a POW-MIA City. Steve Murrison, commander of VFW Post 1432, officially presented a plaque to the city in recognition of the designation. The plaque is to be displayed at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.

According to information from Veterans Affairs, 140,000 American service members were captured and served time as POWs, and more than 81,500 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts. Out of the more than 81,500 missing, 75 percent of the losses are located in the Indo-Pacific, and more than 41,000 of the missing are presumed lost at sea (i.e. ship losses, known aircraft water losses, etc.).

In the early 1970s, a black POW-MIA flag was created by the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and was officially recognized by Congress after the U.S. was concerned about the number of missing soldiers from the Vietnam War, the local VFW organization noted. 

The City of Salina flies a POW-MIA flag in front of the City-County Building.

Now that Salina has been designated as a POW-MIA City, the VFW will hold a ceremony in the near future to raise POW-MIA awareness, assist or facilitate a POW-MIA fundraiser, display a Missing Man Table at appropriate public events, and recognize National POW-MIA days throughout the year, VFW Post 1432 noted in a news release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681605035950.jpeg" alt="Vietnam veteran Jim Deister, left, joined&nbsp;Steve Murrison, commander of VFW Post 1432, right, in presenting the POW-MIA City plaque to Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock. Photo courtesy VFW Post 1432" />
 <figcaption>Vietnam veteran Jim Deister, left, joined&nbsp;Steve Murrison, commander of VFW Post 1432, right, in presenting the POW-MIA City plaque to Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock. Photo courtesy VFW Post 1432</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTSalina has been designated as a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action City by the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum, Inc.It is the second such designation in the state, according to information from Salina Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1432. Manhattan was the first city in Kansas to receive the designation.The POW-MIA City designation is given to cities that honor and recognize all who served in any branch of the United States military and were captured by enemies of the U.S., or are missing in action from any year and from any conflict. There is no cost to the cities for the designation.On Monday, the Salina City Commission adopted a resolution for Salina to become a POW-MIA City. Steve Murrison, commander of VFW Post 1432, officially presented a plaque to the city in recognition of the designation. The plaque is to be displayed at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681605770646.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to information from Veterans Affairs, 140,000 American service members were captured and served time as POWs, and more than 81,500 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts. Out of the more than 81,500 missing, 75 percent of the losses are located in the Indo-Pacific, and more than 41,000 of the missing are presumed lost at sea (i.e. ship losses, known aircraft water losses, etc.).In the early 1970s, a black POW-MIA flag was created by the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and was officially recognized by Congress after the U.S. was concerned about the number of missing soldiers from the Vietnam War, the local VFW organization noted. The City of Salina flies a POW-MIA flag in front of the City-County Building.Now that Salina has been designated as a POW-MIA City, the VFW will hold a ceremony in the near future to raise POW-MIA awareness, assist or facilitate a POW-MIA fundraiser, display a Missing Man Table at appropriate public events, and recognize National POW-MIA days throughout the year, VFW Post 1432 noted in a news release.

Salina designated POW-MIA City; second in Kansas

Today is Sunday, April 16, the 106th day of 2023. There are 259 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On April 16, 1945, a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea torpedoed and sank the MV Goya, which Germany was using to transport civilian refugees and wounded soldiers; it's estimated that up to 7,000 people died.

On this date: In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.

In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.

In 1945, In his first speech to Congress, President Harry S. Truman pledged to carry out the war and peace policies of his late predecessor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people.

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.

In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.

In 1996, Britain's Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, announced they were in the process of divorcing.

In 2003, Michael Jordan played his last NBA game with the Washington Wizards, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 107-87.

In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.

In 2010, the U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)

In 2020, the Trump administration gutted an Obama-era rule that compelled the country's coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other human health hazards.

Ten years ago: Federal agents zeroed in on how the Boston Marathon bombing the day before was carried out — with kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel — but said they didn't know yet who had done it, or why. An envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., tested positive for ricin (RY'-sin), a potentially fatal poison. (A Mississippi man later pleaded guilty to sending letters dusted with ricin to Wicker, President Barack Obama and a judge.) NFL player-turned-broadcaster Pat Summerall, 82, died in Dallas.

Five years ago: The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service for breaking the Harvey Weinstein scandal with reporting that galvanized the #MeToo movement. Rap star Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer for music, becoming the first non-classical or non-jazz artist to win the prize. American pastor Andrew Brunson went on trial in Turkey in a case that strained ties between that country and the United States; he denied accusations that he aided terror groups or spied against Turkey. (Brunson was convicted but sentenced to time served and was freed from house arrest in October to return to the United States.) Actor Harry Anderson, best known for playing an off-the-wall judge working the night shift of a Manhattan court room on the comedy series "Night Court," was found dead in his North Carolina home; he was 65.

One year ago: Russian forces accelerated scattered attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine and beyond, a sign that the entire country was still under assault despite Russia's pivot toward mounting a new offensive in the east. Nine people were shot and wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall in Columbia, South Carolina. (Three suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder and other crimes in the subsequent days.) Rosario Ibarra, whose long struggle to learn the fate of her disappeared son helped develop Mexico's human rights movement and led her to become the country's first female presidential candidate, died at age 95.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Bobby Vinton is 88. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 83. Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 76. Former Massachusetts first lady Ann Romney is 74. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 71. Rock singer (Midnight Oil) and former politician Peter Garrett is 70. Actor Ellen Barkin is 69. Actor Michel Gill is 63. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is 61. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 61. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 60. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 59. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 58. Actor Jon Cryer is 58. Actor Peter Billingsley is 52. Actor Lukas Haas is 47. Actor-singer Kelli O'Hara is 47. Actor Claire Foy (TV: "The Crown") is 39. Figure skater Mirai Nagasu is 30. Actor Sadie Sink is 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, April 16, the 106th day of 2023. There are 259 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History: On April 16, 1945, a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea torpedoed and sank the MV Goya, which Germany was using to transport civilian refugees and wounded soldiers; it's estimated that up to 7,000 people died.On this date: In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.In 1945, In his first speech to Congress, President Harry S. Truman pledged to carry out the war and peace policies of his late predecessor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt.In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people.In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.In 1996, Britain's Prince Andrew and his wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, announced they were in the process of divorcing.In 2003, Michael Jordan played his last NBA game with the Washington Wizards, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 107-87.In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.In 2010, the U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)In 2020, the Trump administration gutted an Obama-era rule that compelled the country's coal plants to cut back emissions of mercury and other human health hazards.Ten years ago: Federal agents zeroed in on how the Boston Marathon bombing the day before was carried out — with kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel — but said they didn't know yet who had done it, or why. An envelope addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., tested positive for ricin (RY'-sin), a potentially fatal poison. (A Mississippi man later pleaded guilty to sending letters dusted with ricin to Wicker, President Barack Obama and a judge.) NFL player-turned-broadcaster Pat Summerall, 82, died in Dallas.Five years ago: The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service for breaking the Harvey Weinstein scandal with reporting that galvanized the #MeToo movement. Rap star Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer for music, becoming the first non-classical or non-jazz artist to win the prize. American pastor Andrew Brunson went on trial in Turkey in a case that strained ties between that country and the United States; he denied accusations that he aided terror groups or spied against Turkey. (Brunson was convicted but sentenced to time served and was freed from house arrest in October to return to the United States.) Actor Harry Anderson, best known for playing an off-the-wall judge working the night shift of a Manhattan court room on the comedy series "Night Court," was found dead in his North Carolina home; he was 65.One year ago: Russian forces accelerated scattered attacks on Kyiv, western Ukraine and beyond, a sign that the entire country was still under assault despite Russia's pivot toward mounting a new offensive in the east. Nine people were shot and wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall in Columbia, South Carolina. (Three suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder and other crimes in the subsequent days.) Rosario Ibarra, whose long struggle to learn the fate of her disappeared son helped develop Mexico's human rights movement and led her to become the country's first female presidential candidate, died at age 95. Today's Birthdays: Singer Bobby Vinton is 88. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 83. Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 76. Former Massachusetts first lady Ann Romney is 74. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 71. Rock singer (Midnight Oil) and former politician Peter Garrett is 70. Actor Ellen Barkin is 69. Actor Michel Gill is 63. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is 61. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 61. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 60. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 59. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 58. Actor Jon Cryer is 58. Actor Peter Billingsley is 52. Actor Lukas Haas is 47. Actor-singer Kelli O'Hara is 47. Actor Claire Foy (TV: "The Crown") is 39. Figure skater Mirai Nagasu is 30. Actor Sadie Sink is 21.

Today in History - April 16

Yotefest&nbsp;returns to Kansas Wesleyan University this month with a pair of concerts.

Both concerts are scheduled for 7 p.m. in Sams Chapel on the Kansas Wesleyan campus. Both events are free and open to the public, with streaming scheduled to occur on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@kwustudentmedia" target="_blank">KWU Student Media YouTube page</a>.

Tegan Miller and Assaf Gleizner will give the first performance Monday. Miller is a multigenre soprano who has sung all over the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Vatican. As a musical theatre performer, she has toured the country and performed in several off-Broadway, regional and workshop productions.&nbsp;Miller recently created her own swing band, Tegan and the Turnarounds.

Miller’s husband, Gleizner, will accompany her on piano. As a composer, he has worked as a musical director, orchestrator and arranger in New York City, on Broadway and off-Broadway, and around the world.&nbsp;

The second concert, on Wednesday, will feature 9 Horses, an improvising chamber trio of mandolins, violin and bass.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Featuring original compositions and the genre-hopping virtuosity of Joseph Brent, Sara Caswell and Andrew Ryan, the trio at the core of 9 Horses represents their vision of a musical future with no barrier between folk art and fine art.

The trio will present a workshop the afternoon of that day. Yotefest: A Music Festival for Today features contemporary music encompassing a wide range of genres.&nbsp;

KWUYotefest&nbsp;returns to Kansas Wesleyan University this month with a pair of concerts.Both concerts are scheduled for 7 p.m. in Sams Chapel on the Kansas Wesleyan campus. Both events are free and open to the public, with streaming scheduled to occur on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@kwustudentmedia" target="_blank">KWU Student Media YouTube page</a>.Tegan Miller and Assaf Gleizner will give the first performance Monday. Miller is a multigenre soprano who has sung all over the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Vatican. As a musical theatre performer, she has toured the country and performed in several off-Broadway, regional and workshop productions.&nbsp;Miller recently created her own swing band, Tegan and the Turnarounds.Miller’s husband, Gleizner, will accompany her on piano. As a composer, he has worked as a musical director, orchestrator and arranger in New York City, on Broadway and off-Broadway, and around the world.&nbsp;The second concert, on Wednesday, will feature 9 Horses, an improvising chamber trio of mandolins, violin and bass.&nbsp;&nbsp;Featuring original compositions and the genre-hopping virtuosity of Joseph Brent, Sara Caswell and Andrew Ryan, the trio at the core of 9 Horses represents their vision of a musical future with no barrier between folk art and fine art.The trio will present a workshop the afternoon of that day. Yotefest: A Music Festival for Today features contemporary music encompassing a wide range of genres.&nbsp;

KWU music to host pair of concerts during Yotefest

K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN -&nbsp;Considering they spend most of their time underground, it may seem surprising the damage that moles do above ground&nbsp;

As they forage for food, moles are known to make travel lanes that cause meandering paths of upheaved soil in home lawns and farmsteads. Moles do not feed on plant matter, but they can still cause damage by disturbing roots and uprooting small plants.&nbsp;

Some tunnels may be abandoned soon after they’re built, while others are used for a period of time.&nbsp;

Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said homeowners have come up with many remedies – chewing gum, noisemakers, broken glass, bleaches, windmills and human hair among them – but none have provided consistent or reliable control.&nbsp;

“Poison baits also fail to work because moles feed on earthworms and grubs, not vegetable matter,” Upham said. “Even grub control products are ineffective because they do not control earthworms,” which are the primary food source for moles.&nbsp;

Grim as it may sound, traps are the best control method for moles, according to Upham.

“There are three types of traps: harpoon, choker and scissor-jawed,” he said. “Each can be effective but may take some time to master.”&nbsp;

●Because moles use some tunnels more than others, use a broomstick or similar item to poke holes in a number of runs. Check a day later to see which runs have been repaired. These are the active runs.

●Place a trap in an active run by excavating soil, placing the trap and then replacing loose soil. Secure the trap so that the recoil will not lift the trap out of the ground. Make sure the triggering mechanism is not in the center of the run.

●Push down two holes, one on each side of the trap. Moles should be caught when they try to repair the tunnel. Move the traps if no moles are caught within three days.&nbsp;

More information on preventing mole damage in home lawns or on a farm is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wildlife.k-state.edu/species/moles/index.html" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension wildlife management program</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" target="_blank">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&nbsp; <a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681599735461.jpeg" alt="Moles do not feed on plant matter, but they can still cause damage by disturbing roots and uprooting small plants.&nbsp; Photo by<a href="https://unsplash.com/@ahmad_kanbar?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">ahmad kanbar</a>&nbsp;courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/cLXoMUtGi0k?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>" />
 <figcaption>Moles do not feed on plant matter, but they can still cause damage by disturbing roots and uprooting small plants.&nbsp; Photo by<a href="https://unsplash.com/@ahmad_kanbar?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">ahmad kanbar</a>&nbsp;courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/cLXoMUtGi0k?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN -&nbsp;Considering they spend most of their time underground, it may seem surprising the damage that moles do above ground&nbsp;As they forage for food, moles are known to make travel lanes that cause meandering paths of upheaved soil in home lawns and farmsteads. Moles do not feed on plant matter, but they can still cause damage by disturbing roots and uprooting small plants.&nbsp;Some tunnels may be abandoned soon after they’re built, while others are used for a period of time.&nbsp;Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said homeowners have come up with many remedies – chewing gum, noisemakers, broken glass, bleaches, windmills and human hair among them – but none have provided consistent or reliable control.&nbsp;“Poison baits also fail to work because moles feed on earthworms and grubs, not vegetable matter,” Upham said. “Even grub control products are ineffective because they do not control earthworms,” which are the primary food source for moles.&nbsp;Grim as it may sound, traps are the best control method for moles, according to Upham. “There are three types of traps: harpoon, choker and scissor-jawed,” he said. “Each can be effective but may take some time to master.”&nbsp;He offered the following advice: ●Because moles use some tunnels more than others, use a broomstick or similar item to poke holes in a number of runs. Check a day later to see which runs have been repaired. These are the active runs.●Place a trap in an active run by excavating soil, placing the trap and then replacing loose soil. Secure the trap so that the recoil will not lift the trap out of the ground. Make sure the triggering mechanism is not in the center of the run.●Push down two holes, one on each side of the trap. Moles should be caught when they try to repair the tunnel. Move the traps if no moles are caught within three days.&nbsp;More information on preventing mole damage in home lawns or on a farm is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wildlife.k-state.edu/species/moles/index.html" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension wildlife management program</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" target="_blank">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&nbsp; <a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;

Moles on the move: Traps are most effective control method

The sometimes loud and electric thunderstorms that rolled through Kansas Friday night brought with them some much-needed rain to most of our area.

Some locations in Ellsworth, Marion, and McPherson counties saw rainfall of more than an inch. Rainfall totals ranged from 1.89 inches 9.4 miles north of Newton in Marion County to 0.03 of an inch 5 miles north-northwest of Cuba in Republic County. 

At the Salina Regional Airport, 0.80 of an inch was reported.

Following are 24-hour rainfall totals as of 7 a.m. Saturday (unless otherwise noted) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cocorahs.org/ViewData/StateDailyPrecipReports.aspx?state=KS">Community Collaborative Rain, Hail &amp; Snow Network</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Clay Center 0.4 SE, 0.89 of an inch (reported at 6:11 a.m.)

Wakefield 0.2 NW, 0.87 of an inch (reported at 6:30 a.m.)

Concordia 0.6 SW, 0.15 of an inch (reported at 6 a.m.)

Chapman 0.2 SSE, 0.85 of an inch (reported at 5 a.m.)

Abilene 1.1 NNE, 0.79 of an inch (reported at 6:30 a.m.)

Carlton 3.6 WSW, 0.43 of an inch (reported at 7:25 a.m.)

Brookville 5.5 W, 0.71 of an inch (reported at 5 a.m.)

Ellsworth 0.2 W, 0.25 of an inch (reported at 6:35 a.m.)

Galva 1.5 NE, 0.93 of an inch (reported at 6:45 a.m.)

Moundridge 4.3 WSW, 0.60 of an inch (reported at 7:58 a.m.)

Beloit 0.2 SE, 0.05 of an inch (reported at 7:30 a.m.)

Beloit 0.4 NNW, 0.05 of an inch (reported at 7:30 a.m.)

Salina 0.2 NNE, 0.10 of an inch (reported at 5:40 a.m.)

Salina 0.7 SSW, 0.66 of an inch (reported at 6:49 a.m.)

By SALINA POSTThe sometimes loud and electric thunderstorms that rolled through Kansas Friday night brought with them some much-needed rain to most of our area.Some locations in Ellsworth, Marion, and McPherson counties saw rainfall of more than an inch. Rainfall totals ranged from 1.89 inches 9.4 miles north of Newton in Marion County to 0.03 of an inch 5 miles north-northwest of Cuba in Republic County. At the Salina Regional Airport, 0.80 of an inch was reported.Following are 24-hour rainfall totals as of 7 a.m. Saturday (unless otherwise noted) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cocorahs.org/ViewData/StateDailyPrecipReports.aspx?state=KS">Community Collaborative Rain, Hail &amp; Snow Network</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>Clay County</h2>Clay Center 0.4 SE, 0.89 of an inch (reported at 6:11 a.m.)Wakefield 0.2 NW, 0.87 of an inch (reported at 6:30 a.m.)Clay Center 12.4 NNE, 0.89 of an inchClay Center 6.7 WNW, 0.67 of an inchMorganville 3.2 SW, 0.64 of an inchLongford 5.5 E, 0.98 of an inch<h2>Cloud County</h2>Concordia 0.6 SW, 0.15 of an inch (reported at 6 a.m.)Jamestown 2.4 NW, 0.04 of an inchConcordia 9.3 SSW, 0.16 of an inchConcordia 1.8 S, 0.14 of an inch<h2>Dickinson County</h2>Chapman 0.2 SSE, 0.85 of an inch (reported at 5 a.m.)Abilene 1.1 NNE, 0.79 of an inch (reported at 6:30 a.m.)Enterprise 0.3 NW, 0.6 of an inchChapman 6.0 NNE, 0.88 of an inchHope 0.3 S, 0.65 of an inchAbilene 5.4 E, 0.82 of an inchAbilene 5.9 NNW, 0.80 of an inchCarlton 2.1 NNW, 0.60 of an inchHope 7.5 NNW, 0.49 of an inchAbilene 0.7 W, 0.71 of an inchEnterprise 2.1 SW, 0.70 of an inchAbilene 10.9 S, 0.50 of an inchAbilene 9.4 S, 0.50 of an inchCarlton 3.6 WSW, 0.43 of an inch (reported at 7:25 a.m.)<h2>Ellsworth County</h2>Brookville 5.5 W, 0.71 of an inch (reported at 5 a.m.)Ellsworth 0.2 W, 0.25 of an inch (reported at 6:35 a.m.)Geneseo 4.1 N, 1.23 inchesEllsworth 0.3 E, 0.29 of an inchLorraine 1.4 S, 0.12 of an inchHolyrood 6.2 NNW, 0.18 of an inchKanopolis 4.5 NE, 0.27 of an inchKanopolis 0.4 SSE, 0.32 of an inchEllsworth 0.9 SE, 0.30 of an inch<h2>Jewell County</h2>Formoso 0.3 W, 0.10 of an inch<h2>Lincoln County</h2>Beverly 4.6 S, 0.16 of an inch<h2>Marion County</h2>Tampa 3.2 ESE, 0.55 of an inchMarion 5.0 NNE, 0.74 of an inchHillsboro 8.5 SW, 1.55 inchesNewton 9.4 N, 1.89 inchesGoessel 0.4 NE, 1.59 inches<h2>McPherson County</h2>Galva 1.5 NE, 0.93 of an inch (reported at 6:45 a.m.)McPherson 6.6 WSW, 1.05 inchesLindsborg 5.6 W, 0.73 of an inchInman 0.8 WSW, 0.65 of an inchMoundridge 5.3 WSW, 0.50 of an inchMarquette 3.0 WSW, 0.61 of an inchMoundridge 1.0 N, 0.84 of an inchGalva 1.4 N, 0.94 of an inchGalva 9.5 N, 0.54 of an inchMoundridge 4.8 W, 0.52 of an inchMcPherson 0.9 NE, 0.88 of an inchGalva 1.1 WSW, 1.12 inchesGalva 2.6 SSE, 0.97 of an inchMarquette 3.2 NNE, 0.76 of an inchMcPherson 1.1 NW, 1.06 inchesMcPherson 0.8 SW, 1.04 inchesMarquette 2.1 NNE, 0.78 of an inchInman 2.5 SSW, 0.56 of an inchLindsborg 5.5 SSW, 0.71 of an inchCanton 3.2 S, 1.32 inchesMcPherson 1.5 N, 0.96 of an inchLindsborg 0.4 NW, 0.88 of an inchGalva 8.0 S, 1.15 inchesMoundridge 4.3 WSW, 0.60 of an inch (reported at 7:58 a.m.)<h2>Mitchell County</h2>Scottsville 4.6 SSW, 0.04 of an inchBeloit 9.9 SSW, 0.10 of an inchBeloit 6.9 NE, 0.12 of an inchBeloit 0.2 SE, 0.05 of an inch (reported at 7:30 a.m.)Beloit 0.4 NNW, 0.05 of an inch (reported at 7:30 a.m.)<h2>Ottawa County</h2>Ada 7.0 NNW, 0.38 of an inchMinneapolis 0.4 NE, 0.25 of an inchCulver 3.6 ENE, 0.63 of an inchBennington 0.1 WNW, 0.52 of an inchMinneapolis 3.4 WSW, 0.20 of an inchMinneapolis 7.2 W, 0.68 of an inch<h2>Republic County</h2>Belleville 4.2 N, 0.12 of an inchBelleville 0.5 S, 0.08 of an inchRepublic 1.0 NNW, 0.26 of an inchScandia 1.1 N, 0.09 of an inchCuba 5.0 NNW, 0.03 of an inchBelleville 0.6 SSE, 0.06 of an inch<h2>Saline County</h2>Salina 0.2 NNE, 0.10 of an inch (reported at 5:40 a.m.)Salina 0.7 SSW, 0.66 of an inch (reported at 6:49 a.m.)Salina 6.2 ENE, 0.62 of an inch (reported at 6:52 a.m.)Brookville 5.9 NNW, 0.66 of an inchSalina 5.7 NNW, 0.83 of an inchGypsum 1.1 NE, 0.63 of an inchAssaria 3.5 NE, 0.65 of an inchSalina 2.9 ENE, 0.57 of an inchNew Cambria 2.1 NW, 0.58 of an inchFalun 3.2 SW, 0.74 of an inchSalina 6.0 WNW, 0.89 of an inchSalina 0.4 SE, 0.66 of an inchNew Cambria 4.5 NE, 0.66 of an inchSalina 2.4 ENE, 0.61 of an inchCulver 1.8 SE, 0.72 of an inch (reported at 7:16 a.m.)

Most of our area gets a much-needed soaking from loud, flashy storms

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-500&amp;fbclid=IwAR1rK3gVLgpcUfRNDRSR4ajG0ZsHqQz-vf3rRLXxDUZPyRu-Q1nreA-AGO0" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-500</a> ***

There are 14 new audiobooks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-500&amp;fbclid=IwAR1rK3gVLgpcUfRNDRSR4ajG0ZsHqQz-vf3rRLXxDUZPyRu-Q1nreA-AGO0" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-500</a> ***There are 14 new audiobooks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681573881254.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at Salina Public Library

It’s that time again. Each spring Central Kansas gardeners and homeowners notice the small purple flowering weed called henbit.  This common lawn and garden weed often gets people wondering what to do.  Is it necessary to use a herbicide to control it or is there more to consider?  Learning more about henbit may help.

Henbit is a plant in the mint family, which means like other mints, it has a square stem.&nbsp; This is one of the identification features.&nbsp; The flower is small, pink to purple, lipped, and tubular.

Henbit is classified as a winter annual, which means much of it actually germinated last fall and has been&nbsp; hanging out at about ground level all winter just waiting for spring to arrive.&nbsp; If you go out and look, you can find it at ground level beneath lawn grasses or even on bare soil in gardens in late fall and winter.&nbsp; If you find it on a protected south side of a home it will have already grown large by now.&nbsp; Flowering will often begin in March and flowers are most abundant during the month of April. The plant will grow four to six inches tall as it matures.&nbsp; Once temperatures warm up in June, the plant will have finished its annual life cycle, produced seed, and died off.

Although henbit is certainly an unwanted invader in many yards and gardens, it does have some benefits that should be considered before deciding to eradicate it completely.

Henbit is such an early bloomer that it is actually an important early spring food source for many pollinators.&nbsp; The small purple flowers of henbit provide both a pollen and nectar source for long tongued bees such as honeybees and bumble bees during the flowering period in March and April.

With this in mind, learning to tolerate henbit can certainly be a help to our local pollinators and is encouraged. Henbit is also quite attractive when a ‘stand’ is in full bloom.

If getting rid of henbit is a must for your situation remember that&nbsp;it should be controlled earlier rather than later.&nbsp;&nbsp;The optimum time to control it in a lawn is in the early fall with a pre-emergent to prevent it from successfully germinating.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Central Kansas, a pre-emergent should be applied in late August or early September (assuming no lawn overseeding is planned)&nbsp;to help stop many winter annual weeds including henbit.&nbsp;&nbsp; Barricade (prodiamine) is a common pre-emergent labeled for henbit that is often used since it has a long soil residual. Other preemergent products labeled for henbit include Dimension (dithiopyr) Gallery (isoxaben), Halts (pendimethalin) and others.

Henbit can also be controlled later in the fall (late October and well into November) after it has germinated with many broadleaf weeds spray products (there are many labeled for henbit).&nbsp;&nbsp; Be sure to follow label direction on any herbicide that is applied. Remember that henbit can continue to sporadically germinate through late fall and even winter and so some later germinating plants may be missed by a herbicide application in October or November.

Spring applied broadleaf weed herbicides can also be effective if applied early enough to stop the flowering and seed production of the plant.&nbsp; Caution is always encouraged, be sure to only spray on a calm day to avoid any unwanted spray drift which can damage other nearby plants that may be breaking dormancy.

It is important to remember that henbit is rarely a big problem in a healthy lawn that is managed well.&nbsp; Henbit is not very competitive in a dense lawn. A thick and healthy turf is ultimately the best long term weed control in any situation.

Jason Graves' Central Kansas Lawn &amp; Garden blog is republished on Salina Post with permission. For more lawn and garden information, visit the <a href="https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/">Central Kansas District Extension website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681572517245.png" alt="Henbit. Photos courtesy Jason Graves" />
 <figcaption>Henbit. Photos courtesy Jason Graves</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON GRAVES Horticulture Extension Agent, Central Kansas DistrictIt’s that time again. Each spring Central Kansas gardeners and homeowners notice the small purple flowering weed called henbit. This common lawn and garden weed often gets people wondering what to do. Is it necessary to use a herbicide to control it or is there more to consider? Learning more about henbit may help.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681572625524.png" alt="Tubular flowers of henbit that can be accessed by long tongued bees." />
 <figcaption>Tubular flowers of henbit that can be accessed by long tongued bees.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Biology</h2>Henbit is a plant in the mint family, which means like other mints, it has a square stem.&nbsp; This is one of the identification features.&nbsp; The flower is small, pink to purple, lipped, and tubular.Henbit is classified as a winter annual, which means much of it actually germinated last fall and has been&nbsp; hanging out at about ground level all winter just waiting for spring to arrive.&nbsp; If you go out and look, you can find it at ground level beneath lawn grasses or even on bare soil in gardens in late fall and winter.&nbsp; If you find it on a protected south side of a home it will have already grown large by now.&nbsp; Flowering will often begin in March and flowers are most abundant during the month of April. The plant will grow four to six inches tall as it matures.&nbsp; Once temperatures warm up in June, the plant will have finished its annual life cycle, produced seed, and died off.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681572706524.png" alt="Bee visiting henbit. Photo by Kat Lawrence" />
 <figcaption>Bee visiting henbit. Photo by Kat Lawrence</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Benefits for pollinators</h2>Although henbit is certainly an unwanted invader in many yards and gardens, it does have some benefits that should be considered before deciding to eradicate it completely.Henbit is such an early bloomer that it is actually an important early spring food source for many pollinators.&nbsp; The small purple flowers of henbit provide both a pollen and nectar source for long tongued bees such as honeybees and bumble bees during the flowering period in March and April.With this in mind, learning to tolerate henbit can certainly be a help to our local pollinators and is encouraged. Henbit is also quite attractive when a ‘stand’ is in full bloom.<h2>Control</h2>If getting rid of henbit is a must for your situation remember that&nbsp;it should be controlled earlier rather than later.&nbsp;&nbsp;The optimum time to control it in a lawn is in the early fall with a pre-emergent to prevent it from successfully germinating.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Central Kansas, a pre-emergent should be applied in late August or early September (assuming no lawn overseeding is planned)&nbsp;to help stop many winter annual weeds including henbit.&nbsp;&nbsp; Barricade (prodiamine) is a common pre-emergent labeled for henbit that is often used since it has a long soil residual. Other preemergent products labeled for henbit include Dimension (dithiopyr) Gallery (isoxaben), Halts (pendimethalin) and others.Henbit can also be controlled later in the fall (late October and well into November) after it has germinated with many broadleaf weeds spray products (there are many labeled for henbit).&nbsp;&nbsp; Be sure to follow label direction on any herbicide that is applied. Remember that henbit can continue to sporadically germinate through late fall and even winter and so some later germinating plants may be missed by a herbicide application in October or November.Spring applied broadleaf weed herbicides can also be effective if applied early enough to stop the flowering and seed production of the plant.&nbsp; Caution is always encouraged, be sure to only spray on a calm day to avoid any unwanted spray drift which can damage other nearby plants that may be breaking dormancy.<h2>Healthy turf is the best weed control</h2>It is important to remember that henbit is rarely a big problem in a healthy lawn that is managed well.&nbsp; Henbit is not very competitive in a dense lawn. A thick and healthy turf is ultimately the best long term weed control in any situation.Jason Graves' Central Kansas Lawn &amp; Garden blog is republished on Salina Post with permission. For more lawn and garden information, visit the <a href="https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/">Central Kansas District Extension website</a>.

CENTRAL KANSAS L&G: Henbit, a weed with benefits

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The Salina Symphony will close its season with Passion.&nbsp;

The concert is scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 7 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

From the soaring melodies in Massenet’s Méditation from Thaïs to the timeless tunes from Bizet’s Carmen, this concert will celebrate powerful female voices. The season will conclude with the story of the brilliant woman who changed history in Rimsky-Korsakov’s colorful Scheherazade.

The finale will conclude the first mainstage season under Music Director Yaniv Segal’s artistic leadership of the symphony. 

“This concert provides something for everyone, with classic favorites combined with a co-commission by Jennifer Higdon,” Segal said. “I'm looking forward to ending the season with stories about powerful women and the soaring and colorful melodies of Scheherazade!”

Salina Symphony Concertmaster Denise Blehm will be the featured soloist for the season finale. A Salina native, Blehm has performed as a member of the Salina Symphony for more than 25 years, serving the last 20 seasons as the orchestra’s Concertmaster. She attended Wichita State University and spent 13 years as a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Blehm’s performance experience has been welcomed in orchestras across the state, where she has been a featured soloist and frequently performs as a section member.

Tickets start at $29 and may be purchased at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office, by calling 785-827-1998 or online at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.

Join us for a pre-concert talk with Segal at 3 p.m. in the Stiefel Theatre Watson Room. Please enter through the main theatre doors. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681561980024.jpeg" alt="Salina Symphony Concertmaster Denise Blehm will be the guest soloist for the symphony's final concert of the season. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony" />
 <figcaption>Salina Symphony Concertmaster Denise Blehm will be the guest soloist for the symphony's final concert of the season. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina SymphonyThe Salina Symphony will close its season with Passion.&nbsp;The concert is scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 7 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.From the soaring melodies in Massenet’s Méditation from Thaïs to the timeless tunes from Bizet’s Carmen, this concert will celebrate powerful female voices. The season will conclude with the story of the brilliant woman who changed history in Rimsky-Korsakov’s colorful Scheherazade.The finale will conclude the first mainstage season under Music Director Yaniv Segal’s artistic leadership of the symphony. “This concert provides something for everyone, with classic favorites combined with a co-commission by Jennifer Higdon,” Segal said. “I'm looking forward to ending the season with stories about powerful women and the soaring and colorful melodies of Scheherazade!”Featured artistSalina Symphony Concertmaster Denise Blehm will be the featured soloist for the season finale. A Salina native, Blehm has performed as a member of the Salina Symphony for more than 25 years, serving the last 20 seasons as the orchestra’s Concertmaster. She attended Wichita State University and spent 13 years as a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Blehm’s performance experience has been welcomed in orchestras across the state, where she has been a featured soloist and frequently performs as a section member.Tickets on sale nowTickets start at $29 and may be purchased at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office, by calling 785-827-1998 or online at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.Pre-Concert talkJoin us for a pre-concert talk with Segal at 3 p.m. in the Stiefel Theatre Watson Room. Please enter through the main theatre doors. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

Salina Symphony to close season May 7 with 'Passion'

Today is Saturday, April 15, the 105th day of 2023. There are 260 days left in the year.

On April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic foundered in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland more than 2 1/2 hours after hitting an iceberg; 1,514 people died, while less than half as many survived.

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died nine hours after being shot the night before by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington; Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president.

In 1892, General Electric Co., formed by the merger of the Edison Electric Light Co. and other firms, was incorporated in Schenectady, New York.

In 1945, during World War II, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who died on April 12, was buried at the Roosevelt family home in Hyde Park, New York.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball's first Black major league player of the modern era, made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field. (The Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, 5-3.)

In 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

In 1974, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army held up a branch of the Hibernia Bank in San Francisco; a member of the group was SLA kidnap victim Patricia Hearst, who by this time was going by the name "Tania" (Hearst later said she'd been forced to participate).

In 1989, 96 people died in a crush of soccer fans at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. Students in Beijing launched a series of pro-democracy protests; the demonstrations culminated in a government crackdown at Tiananmen Square.

In 1998, Pol Pot, the notorious leader of the Khmer Rouge, died at age 72, evading prosecution for the deaths of 2 million Cambodians.

In 2009, whipped up by conservative commentators and bloggers, tens of thousands of protesters staged "tea parties" around the country to tap into the collective angst stirred up by a bad economy, government spending and bailouts.

In 2013, two bombs made from pressure cookers exploded at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing two women and an 8-year-old boy and injuring more than 260. Suspected bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev (TAM'-ehr-luhn tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) died in a shootout with police; his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv), was tried, convicted and sentenced to death.

In 2019, fire swept across the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral as the soaring Paris landmark underwent renovations; the blaze collapsed the cathedral's spire and spread to one of its landmark rectangular towers, but fire officials said the church's structure had been saved.

In 2020, the government reported that the nation's industrial output in March registered its biggest decline since the U.S. demobilized at the end of World War II as factories shut down amid the coronavirus epidemic.

Ten years ago: Venezuela's electoral council quickly certified the razor-thin presidential victory of Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro. North Koreans celebrated the birthday of their first leader, Kim Il Sung, by dancing in plazas and snacking on peanuts. The Denver Post won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado, while The New York Times captured awards for reporting on a harrowing avalanche, the rise of a new aristocracy in China and the business practices of Apple and Wal-Mart. Adam Johnson's "The Orphan Master's Son" won the Pulitzer for fiction, while Ayad Akhtar's "Disgraced" won the drama prize.

Five years ago: A seven-hour battle over territory and money broke out among inmates armed with homemade knives at the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina, leaving seven inmates dead and 22 injured in the worst U.S. prison riot in a quarter-century. At the Academy of Country Music Awards, held in Las Vegas six months after the deadly shooting at a country music festival there, Jason Aldean paid tribute to the 58 people killed; he spoke after he was named entertainer of the year for the third consecutive time. (Aldean had been performing at the Las Vegas festival when the shooting began.)

One year ago: It was revealed that more than 900 civilian bodies had been discovered in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital following the withdrawal of Russian forces. Police said many were "simply executed." Mississippi announced it was ditching a state song that was based on the campaign tune of a former governor who pledged to preserve segregation. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visited Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on their first joint visit to the U.K. since they gave up formal royal roles and moved to the U.S. more than two years earlier. Liz Sheridan, who played doting mom to Jerry Seinfeld on his hit sitcom, died at age 93.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Claudia Cardinale is 85. Author and politician Jeffrey Archer is 83. Rock singer-guitarist Dave Edmunds is 80. Actor Michael Tucci is 77. Actor Lois Chiles is 76. Writer-producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is 76. Actor Amy Wright is 73. Actor Sam McMurray is 71. Actor-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 64. Bluegrass musician Jeff Parker is 62. Singer Samantha Fox is 57. Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal swimmer Dara Torres is 56. Rock musician Ed O'Brien (Radiohead) is 55. Actor Flex Alexander is 53. Actor Danny Pino is 49. Actor Douglas Spain is 49. Country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is 45. Actor Luke Evans is 44. Rock musician Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) is 43. Rock musician Zach Carothers (Portugal. The Man) is 42. Actor-writer Seth Rogen is 41. Actor Alice Braga is 40. Americana singer-songwriter Margo Price is 40. Rock musician De'Mar Hamilton (Plain White T's) is 39. Actor Samira Wiley is 36. Actor Leonie Elliott is 35. Actor Emma Watson is 33. Actor Maisie Williams is 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Saturday, April 15, the 105th day of 2023. There are 260 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic foundered in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland more than 2 1/2 hours after hitting an iceberg; 1,514 people died, while less than half as many survived.On this date:In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died nine hours after being shot the night before by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in Washington; Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president.In 1892, General Electric Co., formed by the merger of the Edison Electric Light Co. and other firms, was incorporated in Schenectady, New York.In 1945, during World War II, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who died on April 12, was buried at the Roosevelt family home in Hyde Park, New York.In 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball's first Black major league player of the modern era, made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field. (The Dodgers defeated the Boston Braves, 5-3.)In 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.In 1974, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army held up a branch of the Hibernia Bank in San Francisco; a member of the group was SLA kidnap victim Patricia Hearst, who by this time was going by the name "Tania" (Hearst later said she'd been forced to participate).In 1989, 96 people died in a crush of soccer fans at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. Students in Beijing launched a series of pro-democracy protests; the demonstrations culminated in a government crackdown at Tiananmen Square.In 1998, Pol Pot, the notorious leader of the Khmer Rouge, died at age 72, evading prosecution for the deaths of 2 million Cambodians.In 2009, whipped up by conservative commentators and bloggers, tens of thousands of protesters staged "tea parties" around the country to tap into the collective angst stirred up by a bad economy, government spending and bailouts.In 2013, two bombs made from pressure cookers exploded at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing two women and an 8-year-old boy and injuring more than 260. Suspected bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev (TAM'-ehr-luhn tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) died in a shootout with police; his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv), was tried, convicted and sentenced to death.In 2019, fire swept across the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral as the soaring Paris landmark underwent renovations; the blaze collapsed the cathedral's spire and spread to one of its landmark rectangular towers, but fire officials said the church's structure had been saved.In 2020, the government reported that the nation's industrial output in March registered its biggest decline since the U.S. demobilized at the end of World War II as factories shut down amid the coronavirus epidemic.Ten years ago: Venezuela's electoral council quickly certified the razor-thin presidential victory of Hugo Chavez's hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro. North Koreans celebrated the birthday of their first leader, Kim Il Sung, by dancing in plazas and snacking on peanuts. The Denver Post won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado, while The New York Times captured awards for reporting on a harrowing avalanche, the rise of a new aristocracy in China and the business practices of Apple and Wal-Mart. Adam Johnson's "The Orphan Master's Son" won the Pulitzer for fiction, while Ayad Akhtar's "Disgraced" won the drama prize.Five years ago: A seven-hour battle over territory and money broke out among inmates armed with homemade knives at the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina, leaving seven inmates dead and 22 injured in the worst U.S. prison riot in a quarter-century. At the Academy of Country Music Awards, held in Las Vegas six months after the deadly shooting at a country music festival there, Jason Aldean paid tribute to the 58 people killed; he spoke after he was named entertainer of the year for the third consecutive time. (Aldean had been performing at the Las Vegas festival when the shooting began.)One year ago: It was revealed that more than 900 civilian bodies had been discovered in the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital following the withdrawal of Russian forces. Police said many were "simply executed." Mississippi announced it was ditching a state song that was based on the campaign tune of a former governor who pledged to preserve segregation. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visited Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on their first joint visit to the U.K. since they gave up formal royal roles and moved to the U.S. more than two years earlier. Liz Sheridan, who played doting mom to Jerry Seinfeld on his hit sitcom, died at age 93.Today's Birthdays: Actor Claudia Cardinale is 85. Author and politician Jeffrey Archer is 83. Rock singer-guitarist Dave Edmunds is 80. Actor Michael Tucci is 77. Actor Lois Chiles is 76. Writer-producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is 76. Actor Amy Wright is 73. Actor Sam McMurray is 71. Actor-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 64. Bluegrass musician Jeff Parker is 62. Singer Samantha Fox is 57. Olympic gold, silver and bronze medal swimmer Dara Torres is 56. Rock musician Ed O'Brien (Radiohead) is 55. Actor Flex Alexander is 53. Actor Danny Pino is 49. Actor Douglas Spain is 49. Country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton is 45. Actor Luke Evans is 44. Rock musician Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) is 43. Rock musician Zach Carothers (Portugal. The Man) is 42. Actor-writer Seth Rogen is 41. Actor Alice Braga is 40. Americana singer-songwriter Margo Price is 40. Rock musician De'Mar Hamilton (Plain White T's) is 39. Actor Samira Wiley is 36. Actor Leonie Elliott is 35. Actor Emma Watson is 33. Actor Maisie Williams is 26.

Today in History - April 15

DICKINSON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Friday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Equinox driven by&nbsp; Kelsey Dawn Fountain, 29, Hill City, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Solomon in the right lane.

DICKINSON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Friday in Dickinson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Equinox driven by&nbsp; Kelsey Dawn Fountain, 29, Hill City, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Solomon in the right lane.The Chevy moved to the left lane in front of a 2020 Subaru Forester driven by Bethany Nicole&nbsp;Pettit, 26, Holgate, Ohio.The Subaru entered the median. The driver overcorrected to the right and then overcorrected to the left. The Subaru entered the median again and struck the guard rail.A private vehicle transported a passenger in the Subaru&nbsp; Breeanne&nbsp;Barrentine, 21, Tallahassee, Florida to Abilene Memorial Hospital. Fountain, Pettit and a passenger in the Chevy were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

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