By KIRBY ROSS Phillips County Review

PHILLIPSBURG —&nbsp;From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in Kansas in March, and on through the months of April, May and June, Phillips County dodged any real crisis.

     There was one COVID infection of a worker at a Phillipsburg industrial plant, and a couple weeks later an employee at a retail store was diagnosed with the disease.

Several weeks after that there was a case in rural Phillips County.  Three total infections in the entire county, with uncomplicated, uneventful recoveries made by all involved since then.

     With it looking like residents of Phillips County might be able to hunker down and avoid the problems other states and nations have been afflicted with, in the middle of last week the unthinkable happened.

     Not just unthinkable--almost inconceivable; the highly-contagious virus breached the safety protocols put in place at a local nursing home housing our most vulnerable citizens, swept through that facility, and began doing what it does--infecting people.  At-risk people.

     Word began spreading last Wed., July1, that the Logan Manor was having a COVID outbreak, and that four residents had been diagnosed.  That number of new cases exceeded all the prior known cases in all of Phillips County for all  of the months since the pandemic had begun.

     But that was just the beginning.  As of press time, the count was up to 17 residents--half the population of the Logan facility--and eight staff members.  

     Most of the infected residents are quarantined in their rooms.  One was in such serious condition transport to Norton Hospital was necessary, followed by airlift to Kearney.

     With the cluster still having the potential to continue growing, the direction it will take is a current unknown.

     The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is now closely involved in the situation.  To date, ten people being tested in the entire county in one week was a lot.  With the new cluster outbreak, 115 Phillips Countians have now been tested in just the        past seven day period -- with those being tested including nursing home residents, in-house nursing home staff, outside staff support, vendors, and others.  

     Broader contact tracing is also underway, with anyone who has come into close proximity also being tested.

Wednesday, July 1 4 total cases identified in Logan Manor.

     The Phillips County Health Dept. issued a statement asserting a cluster of four positive cases of COVID-19 had been identified at Logan Manor.

     “This outbreak is confined to the nursing home.  The assisted living has not been affected.  There have been four positives amongst residents confirmed at this point.  All staff and all residents are currently being tested,” reported Pete Rogers, Phillips County Public Health Officer.

Thursday, July 2 7 total cases identified in Logan Manor.

     Rogers reported three more cases had been identified.

     Said Rogers, “There have been seven positives amongst residents confirmed at this time.  All staff and all residents have been tested and are awaiting results.”

Friday, July 3 25 total cases identified in Logan Manor.

     This day saw a huge jump in numbers.  

     Reported Rogers, “Phillips County Health Department has identified another 18 positive COVID-19 individuals related to the cluster at the Logan Manor, Logan, Kansas.  

     “Eight of these cases are among staff members and there are ten additional residents who have tested positive for a total of 17 residents.  

     “All close contacts are being notified and are asked to quarantine.  No additional information will be provided on the staff or residents.  If you have been identified as a close contact, you will be notified.  

     “We continue to recommend using social distancing, wearing masks in public where social distancing is not likely, using good hygiene practices, limiting travel to essential needs, not traveling to hot spots and staying home if you are feeling ill or have a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.”

     One major point of investigation is determining how the virus breached the considerable safety measures put in place to keep it out.

     In recent weeks, no visitors to Logan Manor have been permitted in, and staff workers are required to wear masks at all times.  

     When the staff comes to work, they have their temperature taken and then enter a restricted room to change from their street clothes to their working clothes.  When they go home, the procedure is reversed.

     In addition, prior to the outbreak residents had been kept apart from one another, and had been isolating, including eating, in their rooms.  So how COVID spread from resident to resident to resident so many times when staff personnel were masked is a major question being looked into.

     COVID-19 has not been present in Phillips County in several weeks, and now with its reintroduction -- a reintroduction into the most dangerous environment possible locally -- somewhere along the line the extremely critical safety protocol chain was broken, with the hunt now on to prevent it from happening again.  

New Outbreaks Also In Norton, Graham and Ellis counties

     With Logan being geographically located in the tri-county area of Phillips/Norton/Graham counties, it also bears mentioning that diagnosed Norton County COVID-19 infections jumped from 4 to 10 over the past week, and two cases emerged in Graham County.  Graham had been free of COVID-19 for the entire duration of the pandemic until now.

     Elsewhere, Ellis County, had an almost 50 percent jump in confirmed cases -- up from 21 to 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594071502884.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KIRBY ROSS Phillips County ReviewPHILLIPSBURG —&nbsp;From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in Kansas in March, and on through the months of April, May and June, Phillips County dodged any real crisis. There was one COVID infection of a worker at a Phillipsburg industrial plant, and a couple weeks later an employee at a retail store was diagnosed with the disease.Several weeks after that there was a case in rural Phillips County. Three total infections in the entire county, with uncomplicated, uneventful recoveries made by all involved since then. With it looking like residents of Phillips County might be able to hunker down and avoid the problems other states and nations have been afflicted with, in the middle of last week the unthinkable happened. Not just unthinkable--almost inconceivable; the highly-contagious virus breached the safety protocols put in place at a local nursing home housing our most vulnerable citizens, swept through that facility, and began doing what it does--infecting people. At-risk people. Word began spreading last Wed., July1, that the Logan Manor was having a COVID outbreak, and that four residents had been diagnosed. That number of new cases exceeded all the prior known cases in all of Phillips County for all of the months since the pandemic had begun. But that was just the beginning. As of press time, the count was up to 17 residents--half the population of the Logan facility--and eight staff members. Most of the infected residents are quarantined in their rooms. One was in such serious condition transport to Norton Hospital was necessary, followed by airlift to Kearney. With the cluster still having the potential to continue growing, the direction it will take is a current unknown. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is now closely involved in the situation. To date, ten people being tested in the entire county in one week was a lot. With the new cluster outbreak, 115 Phillips Countians have now been tested in just the past seven day period -- with those being tested including nursing home residents, in-house nursing home staff, outside staff support, vendors, and others. Broader contact tracing is also underway, with anyone who has come into close proximity also being tested.<h2>Timeline</h2> Wednesday, July 1 4 total cases identified in Logan Manor. The Phillips County Health Dept. issued a statement asserting a cluster of four positive cases of COVID-19 had been identified at Logan Manor. “This outbreak is confined to the nursing home. The assisted living has not been affected.  There have been four positives amongst residents confirmed at this point. All staff and all residents are currently being tested,” reported Pete Rogers, Phillips County Public Health Officer. Thursday, July 2 7 total cases identified in Logan Manor. Rogers reported three more cases had been identified. Said Rogers, “There have been seven positives amongst residents confirmed at this time. All staff and all residents have been tested and are awaiting results.” Friday, July 3 25 total cases identified in Logan Manor. This day saw a huge jump in numbers. Reported Rogers, “Phillips County Health Department has identified another 18 positive COVID-19 individuals related to the cluster at the Logan Manor, Logan, Kansas. “Eight of these cases are among staff members and there are ten additional residents who have tested positive for a total of 17 residents. “All close contacts are being notified and are asked to quarantine. No additional information will be provided on the staff or residents. If you have been identified as a close contact, you will be notified. “We continue to recommend using social distancing, wearing masks in public where social distancing is not likely, using good hygiene practices, limiting travel to essential needs, not traveling to hot spots and staying home if you are feeling ill or have a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.”<h2>How Did It Gain Entry?</h2> One major point of investigation is determining how the virus breached the considerable safety measures put in place to keep it out. In recent weeks, no visitors to Logan Manor have been permitted in, and staff workers are required to wear masks at all times. When the staff comes to work, they have their temperature taken and then enter a restricted room to change from their street clothes to their working clothes. When they go home, the procedure is reversed. In addition, prior to the outbreak residents had been kept apart from one another, and had been isolating, including eating, in their rooms. So how COVID spread from resident to resident to resident so many times when staff personnel were masked is a major question being looked into. COVID-19 has not been present in Phillips County in several weeks, and now with its reintroduction -- a reintroduction into the most dangerous environment possible locally -- somewhere along the line the extremely critical safety protocol chain was broken, with the hunt now on to prevent it from happening again. <h2>New Outbreaks Also In Norton, Graham and Ellis counties</h2> With Logan being geographically located in the tri-county area of Phillips/Norton/Graham counties, it also bears mentioning that diagnosed Norton County COVID-19 infections jumped from 4 to 10 over the past week, and two cases emerged in Graham County. Graham had been free of COVID-19 for the entire duration of the pandemic until now. Elsewhere, Ellis County, had an almost 50 percent jump in confirmed cases -- up from 21 to 30.

Two dozen diagnosed with virus at Phillips Co. nursing home

MANHATTAN –&nbsp;&nbsp;If you’ve ever heard the saying, ‘Your eyes were bigger than your stomach,’ you probably know it usually refers to an overindulgence on food, ending up with a bellyache.

Like humans, cattle can unknowingly overeat such grasses as alfalfa and clover and may end up with a serious condition impacting their digestive system — legume&nbsp;bloat.

On a recent podcast from Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute, beef cattle experts talked about cattle&nbsp;bloat, defined as excess gas in the rumen (the largest of the four chambers of the cattle stomach).

“When cattle graze on high quality forages such as legumes, the plants have characteristics that promote frothing. A cow’s saliva is thick and oily, which can usually break down the froth,” said K-State veterinarian Bob Larson. “If there is too much froth production, the rumen fills with gas, putting pressure on the lungs so that the cattle can’t breathe, causing them to die if there is no intervention.”

Larson likened legume&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;to froth on the top of a root beer with many tiny bubbles, which is different than the type of&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;that happens when cattle overeat on grain.

“We typically think of&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;as an acidosis, or free gas&nbsp;bloat, in which the gas can be released with an esophageal tube. But with legume&nbsp;bloat, because it has tiny bubbles of gas, it has to be managed differently,” said Brad White, K-State veterinarian and BCI director.

To prevent this type of&nbsp;bloat, management of the grazing plan is the biggest step. Additional tools are to provide access to a&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;guard block containing poloxalene (a feed additive) that they can lick, or fed a ration containing monensin (an ionophore), said White.&nbsp;

“Cattle will sometimes selectively graze, eating only the leaves instead of the full stem, and that can lead to legume&nbsp;bloat. We can manage that by following an intensive grazing management plan,” Larson said.

One strategy is to group the cattle in narrow strips of pasture where they are required to eat the stems and not just the leaves before they are moved to the next section, Larson said.

Another option is to limit the time the cattle are exposed to the pasture.

It is important to introduce the cattle to the pasture slowly, Weaber said. “To keep&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;from happening, make sure that the cattle aren’t really hungry when you first turn them out because that leads them to want to overeat.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Providing dry hay or abundant standing forage before turning the cattle in on a field with a lot of alfalfa or clover.

“Then let the cattle graze from mid-morning to mid-afternoon and then pull them off the field,” said Bob Weaber, K-State Research and Extension beef cattle specialist. “The cattle should be allowed to eat hay overnight before putting them back on the pastures the next day.”

To hear the full discussion about legume&nbsp;bloat, tune into the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/06/12/dustin-questions-listener-question-legume-bloat-top-ways-to-prevent-and-manage-legume-bloat-price-risk-management/" target="_blank">BCI Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593997676483.jpeg" alt="Cattle grazing legumes such as alfalfa need to be managed carefully to reduce the risk of bloat. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Cattle grazing legumes such as alfalfa need to be managed carefully to reduce the risk of bloat. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN –&nbsp;&nbsp;If you’ve ever heard the saying, ‘Your eyes were bigger than your stomach,’ you probably know it usually refers to an overindulgence on food, ending up with a bellyache.Like humans, cattle can unknowingly overeat such grasses as alfalfa and clover and may end up with a serious condition impacting their digestive system — legume&nbsp;bloat.On a recent podcast from Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute, beef cattle experts talked about cattle&nbsp;bloat, defined as excess gas in the rumen (the largest of the four chambers of the cattle stomach).“When cattle graze on high quality forages such as legumes, the plants have characteristics that promote frothing. A cow’s saliva is thick and oily, which can usually break down the froth,” said K-State veterinarian Bob Larson. “If there is too much froth production, the rumen fills with gas, putting pressure on the lungs so that the cattle can’t breathe, causing them to die if there is no intervention.”Recognizing&nbsp;BloatLarson likened legume&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;to froth on the top of a root beer with many tiny bubbles, which is different than the type of&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;that happens when cattle overeat on grain.“We typically think of&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;as an acidosis, or free gas&nbsp;bloat, in which the gas can be released with an esophageal tube. But with legume&nbsp;bloat, because it has tiny bubbles of gas, it has to be managed differently,” said Brad White, K-State veterinarian and BCI director.To prevent this type of&nbsp;bloat, management of the grazing plan is the biggest step. Additional tools are to provide access to a&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;guard block containing poloxalene (a feed additive) that they can lick, or fed a ration containing monensin (an ionophore), said White.&nbsp;“Cattle will sometimes selectively graze, eating only the leaves instead of the full stem, and that can lead to legume&nbsp;bloat. We can manage that by following an intensive grazing management plan,” Larson said.Grazing ManagementOne strategy is to group the cattle in narrow strips of pasture where they are required to eat the stems and not just the leaves before they are moved to the next section, Larson said.Another option is to limit the time the cattle are exposed to the pasture.It is important to introduce the cattle to the pasture slowly, Weaber said. “To keep&nbsp;bloat&nbsp;from happening, make sure that the cattle aren’t really hungry when you first turn them out because that leads them to want to overeat.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Providing dry hay or abundant standing forage before turning the cattle in on a field with a lot of alfalfa or clover.“Then let the cattle graze from mid-morning to mid-afternoon and then pull them off the field,” said Bob Weaber, K-State Research and Extension beef cattle specialist. “The cattle should be allowed to eat hay overnight before putting them back on the pastures the next day.”To hear the full discussion about legume&nbsp;bloat, tune into the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/06/12/dustin-questions-listener-question-legume-bloat-top-ways-to-prevent-and-manage-legume-bloat-price-risk-management/" target="_blank">BCI Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast.

Bovine bellyaches: Tips for preventing bloat in cows

Today is Tuesday, July 7, the 189th day of 2020. There are 177 days left in the year. 

On July 7, 1865, four people were hanged in Washington, D.C. for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln: Lewis Powell (aka Lewis Payne), David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government. 

In 1846, U.S. annexation of California was proclaimed at Monterey after the surrender of a Mexican garrison. 

In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii. 

In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted into full-scale conflict as Imperial Japanese forces attacked the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing. 

In 1941, U.S. forces took up positions in Iceland, Trinidad and British Guiana to forestall any Nazi invasion, even though the United States had not yet entered the Second World War. 

In 1948, six female U.S. Navy reservists became the first women to be sworn in to the regular Navy. 

In 1954, Elvis Presley made his radio debut as Memphis, Tennessee, station WHBQ played his first recording for Sun Records, "That's All Right." 

In 1963, a Navy jet fighter from Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania crashed into a picnic area, killing seven people; the pilot, who ejected, survived. 

In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford and the first lady hosted a White House dinner for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The United States Military Academy at West Point included female cadets for the first time as 119 women joined the Class of 1980. 

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. 

In 1983, 11-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, left for a visit to the Soviet Union at the personal invitation of Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov (ahn-DROH'-pawf). 

In 2005, terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and a double-decker bus killed 52 victims and four bombers in the worst attack on London since World War II. 

In 2009, some 20,000 people gathered inside Staples Center in Los Angeles for a memorial service honoring the late Michael Jackson, who was tearfully described by his 11-year-old daughter, Paris-Michael, as "the best father you could ever imagine." 

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate and appointed Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid. In Philadelphia, a disabled sightseeing "duck boat" adrift in the Delaware River was struck by a barge and capsized; two Hungarian tourists died. Los Angeles police charged Lonnie Franklin Jr. in the city's "Grim Sleeper" serial killings. (Franklin, who was sentenced to death for the killings of nine women and a teenage girl, died in prison in March 2020 at the age of 67.)

Five years ago: President Barack Obama met at the White House with the head of Vietnam's Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, as the U.S. pressed ahead to conclude talks on a groundbreaking Asia-Pacific economic pact. Subway said it had mutually agreed with Jared Fogle to suspend their relationship after the home of the sandwich chain's longtime pitchman was raided by federal and state investigators. (Fogle later pleaded guilty to one count each of distributing and receiving child porn and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a child, and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.)

One year ago: The Navy announced that Adm. William Moran, the four-star admiral who'd been set to become the Navy's top officer, would instead retire, a move prompted by what Navy Secretary Richard Spencer described as poor judgment regarding a professional relationship. The U.S. women's soccer team won its fourth Women's World Cup title, beating the Netherlands 2-0; Megan Rapinoe converted a tiebreaking penalty kick and Rose Lavelle added a goal. Leaked diplomatic cables published in Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper revealed that Britain's ambassador to the United States had called the Trump administration "dysfunctional" and "inept."

Today's Birthdays: Musician-conductor Doc Severinsen is 93. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough is 87. Rock star Ringo Starr is 80. Comedian Bill Oddie is 79. Singer-musician Warren Entner (The Grass Roots) is 77. Actor Joe Spano is 74. Pop singer David Hodo (The Village People) is 73. Country singer Linda Williams is 73. Actress Shelley Duvall is 71. Actress Roz Ryan is 69. Actor Billy Campbell is 61. Actor Robert Taylor is 60. Rock musician Mark White (Spin Doctors) is 58. Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 57. Actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan is 54. Rhythm-and-blues musician Ricky Kinchen (Mint Condition) is 54. Actress Amy Carlson is 52. Actress Jorja Fox is 52. Actress Cree Summer is 51. Actress Robin Weigert is 51. Actress Kirsten Vangsness is 48. Actor Troy Garity is 47. Actress Berenice Bejo is 44. Actor Hamish Linklater is 44. Olympic silver and bronze medal figure skater Michelle Kwan is 40. Rapper Cassidy is 38. Country singer Gabbie Nolen is 38. Actor Ross Malinger is 36. Actor-comedian Luke Null (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 30. Pop singer Ally Hernandez (Fifth Harmony) (TV: "The X Factor") is 27. Pop musician Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds to Summer) is 26. Country singer Maddie Marlow (Maddie and Tae) is 25.

<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 Tuesday, July 7, the 189th day of 2020. There are 177 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On July 7, 1865, four people were hanged in Washington, D.C. for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln: Lewis Powell (aka Lewis Payne), David Herold, George Atzerodt and Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the federal government. On this date: In 1846, U.S. annexation of California was proclaimed at Monterey after the surrender of a Mexican garrison. In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii. In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted into full-scale conflict as Imperial Japanese forces attacked the Marco Polo Bridge in Beijing. In 1941, U.S. forces took up positions in Iceland, Trinidad and British Guiana to forestall any Nazi invasion, even though the United States had not yet entered the Second World War. In 1948, six female U.S. Navy reservists became the first women to be sworn in to the regular Navy. In 1954, Elvis Presley made his radio debut as Memphis, Tennessee, station WHBQ played his first recording for Sun Records, "That's All Right." In 1963, a Navy jet fighter from Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania crashed into a picnic area, killing seven people; the pilot, who ejected, survived. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford and the first lady hosted a White House dinner for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The United States Military Academy at West Point included female cadets for the first time as 119 women joined the Class of 1980. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1983, 11-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, left for a visit to the Soviet Union at the personal invitation of Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov (ahn-DROH'-pawf). In 2005, terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and a double-decker bus killed 52 victims and four bombers in the worst attack on London since World War II. In 2009, some 20,000 people gathered inside Staples Center in Los Angeles for a memorial service honoring the late Michael Jackson, who was tearfully described by his 11-year-old daughter, Paris-Michael, as "the best father you could ever imagine." Ten years ago: President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate and appointed Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid. In Philadelphia, a disabled sightseeing "duck boat" adrift in the Delaware River was struck by a barge and capsized; two Hungarian tourists died. Los Angeles police charged Lonnie Franklin Jr. in the city's "Grim Sleeper" serial killings. (Franklin, who was sentenced to death for the killings of nine women and a teenage girl, died in prison in March 2020 at the age of 67.) Five years ago: President Barack Obama met at the White House with the head of Vietnam's Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, as the U.S. pressed ahead to conclude talks on a groundbreaking Asia-Pacific economic pact. Subway said it had mutually agreed with Jared Fogle to suspend their relationship after the home of the sandwich chain's longtime pitchman was raided by federal and state investigators. (Fogle later pleaded guilty to one count each of distributing and receiving child porn and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a child, and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.) One year ago: The Navy announced that Adm. William Moran, the four-star admiral who'd been set to become the Navy's top officer, would instead retire, a move prompted by what Navy Secretary Richard Spencer described as poor judgment regarding a professional relationship. The U.S. women's soccer team won its fourth Women's World Cup title, beating the Netherlands 2-0; Megan Rapinoe converted a tiebreaking penalty kick and Rose Lavelle added a goal. Leaked diplomatic cables published in Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper revealed that Britain's ambassador to the United States had called the Trump administration "dysfunctional" and "inept." Today's Birthdays: Musician-conductor Doc Severinsen is 93. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough is 87. Rock star Ringo Starr is 80. Comedian Bill Oddie is 79. Singer-musician Warren Entner (The Grass Roots) is 77. Actor Joe Spano is 74. Pop singer David Hodo (The Village People) is 73. Country singer Linda Williams is 73. Actress Shelley Duvall is 71. Actress Roz Ryan is 69. Actor Billy Campbell is 61. Actor Robert Taylor is 60. Rock musician Mark White (Spin Doctors) is 58. Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard is 57. Actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan is 54. Rhythm-and-blues musician Ricky Kinchen (Mint Condition) is 54. Actress Amy Carlson is 52. Actress Jorja Fox is 52. Actress Cree Summer is 51. Actress Robin Weigert is 51. Actress Kirsten Vangsness is 48. Actor Troy Garity is 47. Actress Berenice Bejo is 44. Actor Hamish Linklater is 44. Olympic silver and bronze medal figure skater Michelle Kwan is 40. Rapper Cassidy is 38. Country singer Gabbie Nolen is 38. Actor Ross Malinger is 36. Actor-comedian Luke Null (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 30. Pop singer Ally Hernandez (Fifth Harmony) (TV: "The X Factor") is 27. Pop musician Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds to Summer) is 26. Country singer Maddie Marlow (Maddie and Tae) is 25.

Today in History -- July 7

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Autumn Adams of Wakefield was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. 

Adams was initiated at Emporia State University.

Adams is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Autumn Adams of Wakefield was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Adams was initiated at Emporia State University.Adams is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

Adams initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at Emporia State

The Salina City Commission tonight approved an ordinance requiring people within the city limits to wear face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/30d694d9-a11f-4f46-9c4a-909077f6dadd">Here's the City of Salina's face covering ordinance</a>

The ordinance will go into effect as soon as it is publicly published.

We have asked the city for a copy of the ordinance and will publish it on Salina Post as soon as possible.

The Salina City Commission tonight approved an ordinance requiring people within the city limits to wear face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/30d694d9-a11f-4f46-9c4a-909077f6dadd">Here's the City of Salina's face covering ordinance</a>The ordinance will go into effect as soon as it is publicly published.We have asked the city for a copy of the ordinance and will publish it on Salina Post as soon as possible.

Salina City Commission OKs face mask ordinance

JEWELL COUNTY –One person was injured in a small plane crash in Jewell County.

Just before 8a.m. Monday, a Mankato, Kansas resident flying his experimental aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties just after taking off, according to the Jewell County Sheriff's office.

The pilot attempted to turn the plane around but lost control and crashed onto the east side of the runway.

EMS transported the pilot to the Jewell County Hospital and then he was airlifted to a Wichita hospital for treatment of critical injuries, according to the sheriff's department.

Authorities have not released the pilot's name.

JEWELL COUNTY –One person was injured in a small plane crash in Jewell County.Just before 8a.m. Monday, a Mankato, Kansas resident flying his experimental aircraft experienced mechanical difficulties just after taking off, according to the Jewell County Sheriff's office.The pilot attempted to turn the plane around but lost control and crashed onto the east side of the runway.EMS transported the pilot to the Jewell County Hospital and then he was airlifted to a Wichita hospital for treatment of critical injuries, according to the sheriff's department.Authorities have not released the pilot's name.

Sheriff: Kansas pilot critically injured after small plane crash

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department this afternoon reported an 84th confirmed case of COVID-19.

The most recently confirmed case is a male in his 30s with unknown exposure and is recovering at home, according to the health department.

Despite reporting another confirmed case of COVID-19, the health department also reported some good news: 76 of the 84 confirmed cases have met Kansas Department of Health and Environment recovery guidelines. That's an increase of 24 cases meeting the guidelines, since Sunday's report. Additionally, the health department also noted that no confirmed cases are hospitalized and the county has recorded no COVID-19 deaths.

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department this afternoon reported an 84th confirmed case of COVID-19.The most recently confirmed case is a male in his 30s with unknown exposure and is recovering at home, according to the health department.Despite reporting another confirmed case of COVID-19, the health department also reported some good news: 76 of the 84 confirmed cases have met Kansas Department of Health and Environment recovery guidelines. That's an increase of 24 cases meeting the guidelines, since Sunday's report. Additionally, the health department also noted that no confirmed cases are hospitalized and the county has recorded no COVID-19 deaths.

McPherson County: 84 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 76 recovered

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.

There are 29 new positive COVID-19 cases in Saline County that have been identified since the Friday, July 3 report. The total for the county is now 173, with 101 cases that are actively being monitored by the Health Department and 70 that have recovered. *KDHE is reporting 151 positives for Saline County, which is incorrect. The total for Saline County is 173.

According to the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment, there are now 16,901 cases and 280 deaths statewide. This information can be found at <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a>.

Saline County Board of County Commissioners would like to thank the public for the overwhelming interest that was received through expression of interest forms with citizens interested in serving on the Coronavirus Relieve Fund Advisory Committee. The Commissioners will appoint members to that committee at their meeting tomorrow.

Health Officer, Jason Tiller wants to remind citizens that masks are a good idea and asks for citizens to make the right choice and wear a mask in public settings, continue to practice social distancing, avoid socializing in large groups, and wash your hands frequently. “All of us have the choice to do what is right, please mask up.”

Every individual has a responsibility and a choice to do what they feel is right. Here is what you can do to help us to stop the spread:

•Stay home if you’re sick

•Wear masks in public settings

•Maximize physical distance (6 feet or more) in public settings

•Avoid socializing with large groups

•High-risk individuals should only leave the house for essential needs

•Wash your hands frequently

Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594073252105.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.There are 29 new positive COVID-19 cases in Saline County that have been identified since the Friday, July 3 report. The total for the county is now 173, with 101 cases that are actively being monitored by the Health Department and 70 that have recovered. *KDHE is reporting 151 positives for Saline County, which is incorrect. The total for Saline County is 173.According to the Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment, there are now 16,901 cases and 280 deaths statewide. This information can be found at <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a>.Saline County Board of County Commissioners would like to thank the public for the overwhelming interest that was received through expression of interest forms with citizens interested in serving on the Coronavirus Relieve Fund Advisory Committee. The Commissioners will appoint members to that committee at their meeting tomorrow.Health Officer, Jason Tiller wants to remind citizens that masks are a good idea and asks for citizens to make the right choice and wear a mask in public settings, continue to practice social distancing, avoid socializing in large groups, and wash your hands frequently. “All of us have the choice to do what is right, please mask up.”Every individual has a responsibility and a choice to do what they feel is right. Here is what you can do to help us to stop the spread:•Stay home if you’re sick•Wear masks in public settings•Maximize physical distance (6 feet or more) in public settings•Avoid socializing with large groups•High-risk individuals should only leave the house for essential needs•Wash your hands frequentlyOnly follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Saline County: 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since Friday 

Heartland Early Education Center received confirmation today that a second staff person who&nbsp;has&nbsp;not&nbsp;been working with students&nbsp;tested positive for COVID-19, Salina USD 305 reported this afternoon. 

This individual was directly connected to the case announced last week. The Saline County Health Department is in the process of contacting anyone who needs to be notified.

Ensuring the health and safety of children at Heartland Early Education Programs is foremost. The building has enhanced measures including deep cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Masks and social distancing are a part of how the district staff operate. Employees and families are expected to self-screen before coming to work and school. It is critical that anyone who is not feeling well not come to school.

Salina USD 305 continues to communicate regularly with and follow the guidance of the Saline County Health Department. In addition, the Saline County Health Department is working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for additional guidance. The district's goal is to provide safe learning environments for our students and ensure the well-being of both students and staff.

Heartland Early Education is a multi-county program that serves eligible children birth to five and their families.

Heartland Early Education Center received confirmation today that a second staff person who&nbsp;has&nbsp;not&nbsp;been working with students&nbsp;tested positive for COVID-19, Salina USD 305 reported this afternoon. This individual was directly connected to the case announced last week. The Saline County Health Department is in the process of contacting anyone who needs to be notified.Ensuring the health and safety of children at Heartland Early Education Programs is foremost. The building has enhanced measures including deep cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Masks and social distancing are a part of how the district staff operate. Employees and families are expected to self-screen before coming to work and school. It is critical that anyone who is not feeling well not come to school.Salina USD 305 continues to communicate regularly with and follow the guidance of the Saline County Health Department. In addition, the Saline County Health Department is working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for additional guidance. The district's goal is to provide safe learning environments for our students and ensure the well-being of both students and staff.Heartland Early Education is a multi-county program that serves eligible children birth to five and their families.

Second Heartland employee reported positive for COVID-19

COVID-19 budget reductions, an executive session concerning the expo center lease, and a follow-up discussion concerning the law enforcement and community and race relations forum are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.

Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a study session at 2:30 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street. The agenda for the study session is as follows.

2:30 p.m. – Budget: outside agencies, CIP/Sub-CIP, comprehensive fee schedule 

The regular city commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building.

Near the beginning of the meeting, Bob Hamilton with the Kansas Department of Transportation is scheduled to present the Salina Police Department with the AAA Community Traffic Safety Award.

Other items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.

•Resolution No. 20-7839 authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to provide Owner’s Representative Services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project.

•Consider contract addendums that cease work on previously approved contracts in furtherance of Covid-19 budget reductions.

•Consider bids for Simpson Road Storm Pipe, Project No. 200017

•Law Enforcement and Community &amp; Race Relations Forum Follow-up Discussion.

Additionally, commissioners are scheduled to meet in executive session "to discuss with legal counsel the subject of the legal considerations relating to specific points of negotiation raised by Saline County upon review of the draft Expo Center lease," according to the meeting packet information.

To see the entire Salina City Commission meeting packet (127 pages), <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=177362&amp;&amp;dbid=0&amp;cr=1">click here</a>.

COVID-19 budget reductions, an executive session concerning the expo center lease, and a follow-up discussion concerning the law enforcement and community and race relations forum are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a study session at 2:30 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street. The agenda for the study session is as follows.2:30 p.m. – Budget: outside agencies, CIP/Sub-CIP, comprehensive fee schedule 3:45 p.m. – Citizens forumThe regular city commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in room 107 of the City-County Building.Near the beginning of the meeting, Bob Hamilton with the Kansas Department of Transportation is scheduled to present the Salina Police Department with the AAA Community Traffic Safety Award.Other items on the city commission agenda for Monday include the following.•Resolution No. 20-7839 authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to provide Owner’s Representative Services for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project.•May 31, 2020 Financial Update.•Consider contract addendums that cease work on previously approved contracts in furtherance of Covid-19 budget reductions.•Consider bids for Simpson Road Storm Pipe, Project No. 200017•Law Enforcement and Community &amp; Race Relations Forum Follow-up Discussion.Additionally, commissioners are scheduled to meet in executive session "to discuss with legal counsel the subject of the legal considerations relating to specific points of negotiation raised by Saline County upon review of the draft Expo Center lease," according to the meeting packet information.To see the entire Salina City Commission meeting packet (127 pages), <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=177362&amp;&amp;dbid=0&amp;cr=1">click here</a>.

COVID-19 budget reductions, expo center executive session on city agenda

The Saline County Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of a kayak that was found drifiting down the Smoky Hill River.

Deputies were called to the 2300 block of East North Street at 4:55 p.m. Sunday after a man fishing near the Smoky Hill River bridge retrieved a personless kayak from the river, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. Soldan said the man swam out to the kayak and pulled it onto the riverbank.

According to Soldan, deputies checked along the riverbank, but found nothing to provide them with information concerning the owner of the kayak. He said the kayak was a Viper 10.4.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594050015366.jpeg" alt="The kayak found drifting on the Smoky Hill River. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The kayak found drifting on the Smoky Hill River. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>The Saline County Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of a kayak that was found drifiting down the Smoky Hill River.Deputies were called to the 2300 block of East North Street at 4:55 p.m. Sunday after a man fishing near the Smoky Hill River bridge retrieved a personless kayak from the river, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. Soldan said the man swam out to the kayak and pulled it onto the riverbank.According to Soldan, deputies checked along the riverbank, but found nothing to provide them with information concerning the owner of the kayak. He said the kayak was a Viper 10.4.

Fisherman finds, retrieves kayak from Smoky Hill River

A rural Saline County man was arrested Sunday afternoon after an alleged incident involving the firing of a gun.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies were called to the 400 block of East Water Well Road at 3:47 p.m. Sunday for the report of a subject firing a wepon. Timothy Rickman, 50, of rural Saline County, allegedly was upset with neighbors who were shooting fireworks and after a verbal altercation, went back to his home, retrieved a 9mm handgun, and threatened to kill the neighbors, Soldan said. Rickman then allegedly fired a shot, he added.

Additionally, when deputies arrived, Rickman allegedly was uncooperative, Soldan said.

Rickman was arrested on the following requested charges, Soldan said.

Obstruction/interference with a law enforcement officer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594047794413.jpeg" alt="Timothy Rickman. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Timothy Rickman. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>A rural Saline County man was arrested Sunday afternoon after an alleged incident involving the firing of a gun.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies were called to the 400 block of East Water Well Road at 3:47 p.m. Sunday for the report of a subject firing a wepon. Timothy Rickman, 50, of rural Saline County, allegedly was upset with neighbors who were shooting fireworks and after a verbal altercation, went back to his home, retrieved a 9mm handgun, and threatened to kill the neighbors, Soldan said. Rickman then allegedly fired a shot, he added.Additionally, when deputies arrived, Rickman allegedly was uncooperative, Soldan said.Rickman was arrested on the following requested charges, Soldan said.Obstruction/interference with a law enforcement officerAggravated assaultCriminal threat

Saline County man arrested after alleged gun-firing incident

UPDATE: Firefighters have completed their volunteer task of trimming the median along Belmont. From the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SalinaFirefighters/">Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782</a>&nbsp;Facebook page

A group of volunteers is doing what many have only complained about.

Volunteers from Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782 are trimming the median along Belmont Boulevard today. 

With the City of Salina reducing staff hours in an effort to counter budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic, city rights of way have not been as meticulously kept as in the past.

Members of&nbsp;Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782 decided to step up and take care of the median along Belmont Boulevard.

UPDATE: Firefighters have completed their volunteer task of trimming the median along Belmont. From the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SalinaFirefighters/">Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782</a>&nbsp;Facebook page<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSalinaFirefighters%2Fposts%2F3504627289570706&width=500" width="500" height="707" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>A group of volunteers is doing what many have only complained about.Volunteers from Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782 are trimming the median along Belmont Boulevard today. With the City of Salina reducing staff hours in an effort to counter budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic, city rights of way have not been as meticulously kept as in the past.Members of&nbsp;Salina Professional Firefighters Local #782 decided to step up and take care of the median along Belmont Boulevard.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSalinaFirefighters%2Fposts%2F3504354919597943&width=500" width="500" height="192" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

UPDATE: Firefighters step up, trim median along Belmont

Police are investigating a burglary at a north Salina collision repair shop this past weekend.

Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus reported this morning that sometime between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, someone broke into Bennett-Warta Collision Repair, 333 North Ohio Street, via a vent into the building. Damage to the vent system was estimated at $500, he noted.

While a comprehensive list of missing items is being compiled, items known to be missing at this time include the following, Hanus explained.

•An Imperial Metric Wrench set valued at $300

•Two spray paint guns with a combined value of $675

Police are investigating a burglary at a north Salina collision repair shop this past weekend.Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus reported this morning that sometime between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, someone broke into Bennett-Warta Collision Repair, 333 North Ohio Street, via a vent into the building. Damage to the vent system was estimated at $500, he noted.While a comprehensive list of missing items is being compiled, items known to be missing at this time include the following, Hanus explained.•A socket set valued at $300•An Imperial Metric Wrench set valued at $300•Two spray paint guns with a combined value of $675The investigation is ongoing, he added.

Police investigating burglary at collision repair shop

TOPEKA -- Washburn University has announced its spring 2020 Dean's List honorees. 

To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 to 3.99.

Almost 900 students qualified for the Dean's List.&nbsp;Congratulations&nbsp;to all of these students, Washburn University is proud of their hard work and commitment to their education.

TOPEKA -- Washburn University has announced its spring 2020 Dean's List honorees. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 to 3.99.Almost 900 students qualified for the Dean's List.&nbsp;Congratulations&nbsp;to all of these students, Washburn University is proud of their hard work and commitment to their education.Dean's List honorees include:Dylan Babcock of LincolnGrace Colaw of McPhersonBethany Craig of ConcordiaReagan Dalke of ChapmanJulia Eilert of McPhersonHalli Henry of AbileneErika Hess of MarionSydney Hocker of AbileneAlec Hoover of AbileneNatalie Howie of AbileneAdara James of AbileneRachel Janzen of McPhersonAustin Jensen of SalinaLindsey Moore of McphersonNoah Morgan of SalinaKeetan Munsell of SalinaTaylon Peters of SalinaKatie Pfanz of ConcordiaMonique Resco of ClydeBreckyn Rowley of SalinaBraydon Schmidt of ChapmanMichaela Stover of AbileneRaven Stroda of SalinaHalle Warren of AbileneMichaela Wederski of AbileneDelani White of SalinaHannah Willey of AbileneKatie Zimmer of Beloit

Washburn University announces spring 2020 Dean's List

If we choose to believe that the earth is flat, we will never launch rockets into space.

Refuse to accept that living organisms undergo natural selection over time and patients will die of newly-resistant bacterial agents.

Reject vaccinations as ineffective and harmful and we would still have smallpox and polio rampant among us every year, along with far more measles, whooping cough, etc.

Denounce chlorination and fluoridation of water and we will return to a variety of water-borne illnesses and an epidemic of tooth decay.

And reject our constantly increasing scientific understanding of this new coronavirus and we will see massive deaths.&nbsp; &nbsp;

This distortion of “science” to fit a political or social perspective is Lysenkoism. Trofim Lysenko was an opponent of the new science of genetics being developed in the West, following the rediscovery of Gregor Mendel’s work in 1900. The new science of genetics traced characteristics that were passed down, generation to generation by heredity.&nbsp; The Soviets had overthrown a Czarist system where the Czar was an inherited position. In the new worker’s society, a young couple who worked in the factory or farm field and built strong muscles should be able to have a baby who would be born stronger. Genetics did not match the politics. Russian geneticists died in gulags. The Russian population followed Lysenko not because they understood the science involved, but because it fit with their politics or world view. Russian agriculture from 1928 to the mid-1960s was devastated. Huge numbers died in famines.

Lysenkoism has now come to America. “Science denial” or “anti-science bias” is rampant. Citizens are refusing to accept the death rates, its easy aerial transmission, or the protection measures necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus. This is not because they closely examined the scientific evidence. It is because of “motivational reasoning.”

Even when a person is more educated, their sense of who they are is closely tied to their group identity—often their family and neighbors—and that identity group’s political beliefs. Thus there is a tendency toward “confirmation bias” where we prefer “experts” we agree with and deny other “experts.” The United States population ranks lowest in science literacy among developed countries. We also suffer from an anti-expert attitude that prefers a “common sense” based on simple-minded social media communication and disdains true experts they portray as elitists. Lysenko lives on. &nbsp;

Political persuasion now supercedes science. Many go to great effort to rationalize why any “facts” that contradict their interpretation of the world must somehow be wrong.

Science however is universal. The same chart of chemical elements hangs in science labs worldwide. And the “proof” that a science concept is correct does not depend on a political position but on whether the science concept matches the real physical and biological world. The real world, including this coronavirus, is not partisan. In science there are no “alternative facts.”

The late Nobel physicist Richard P. Feynman was asked to join the team to investigate why the first space shuttle disaster occurred. As he interviewed NASA scientists, he discovered that they had fooled themselves into believing that it would be safe to launch the Challenger in colder weather where the O-rings had never been tested. They had gone beyond the limits of evidence. Behind their motivation was the public relations and eagerness to launch.

Feynman’s famous conclusion: “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.”

Fooling ourselves by denying the growing science of this coronavirus means more deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp;

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKIf we choose to believe that the earth is flat, we will never launch rockets into space. Refuse to accept that living organisms undergo natural selection over time and patients will die of newly-resistant bacterial agents. Reject vaccinations as ineffective and harmful and we would still have smallpox and polio rampant among us every year, along with far more measles, whooping cough, etc. Denounce chlorination and fluoridation of water and we will return to a variety of water-borne illnesses and an epidemic of tooth decay. And reject our constantly increasing scientific understanding of this new coronavirus and we will see massive deaths.&nbsp; &nbsp; This distortion of “science” to fit a political or social perspective is Lysenkoism. Trofim Lysenko was an opponent of the new science of genetics being developed in the West, following the rediscovery of Gregor Mendel’s work in 1900. The new science of genetics traced characteristics that were passed down, generation to generation by heredity.&nbsp; The Soviets had overthrown a Czarist system where the Czar was an inherited position. In the new worker’s society, a young couple who worked in the factory or farm field and built strong muscles should be able to have a baby who would be born stronger. Genetics did not match the politics. Russian geneticists died in gulags. The Russian population followed Lysenko not because they understood the science involved, but because it fit with their politics or world view. Russian agriculture from 1928 to the mid-1960s was devastated. Huge numbers died in famines. Lysenkoism has now come to America. “Science denial” or “anti-science bias” is rampant. Citizens are refusing to accept the death rates, its easy aerial transmission, or the protection measures necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus. This is not because they closely examined the scientific evidence. It is because of “motivational reasoning.” Even when a person is more educated, their sense of who they are is closely tied to their group identity—often their family and neighbors—and that identity group’s political beliefs. Thus there is a tendency toward “confirmation bias” where we prefer “experts” we agree with and deny other “experts.” The United States population ranks lowest in science literacy among developed countries. We also suffer from an anti-expert attitude that prefers a “common sense” based on simple-minded social media communication and disdains true experts they portray as elitists. Lysenko lives on. &nbsp; Political persuasion now supercedes science. Many go to great effort to rationalize why any “facts” that contradict their interpretation of the world must somehow be wrong. Science however is universal. The same chart of chemical elements hangs in science labs worldwide. And the “proof” that a science concept is correct does not depend on a political position but on whether the science concept matches the real physical and biological world. The real world, including this coronavirus, is not partisan. In science there are no “alternative facts.” The late Nobel physicist Richard P. Feynman was asked to join the team to investigate why the first space shuttle disaster occurred. As he interviewed NASA scientists, he discovered that they had fooled themselves into believing that it would be safe to launch the Challenger in colder weather where the O-rings had never been tested. They had gone beyond the limits of evidence. Behind their motivation was the public relations and eagerness to launch. Feynman’s famous conclusion: “For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” Fooling ourselves by denying the growing science of this coronavirus means more deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

Education Frontlines: Science denial

ABILENE -- The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is scheduled to meet on July 14, at noon, at Memorial Hospital in Conference Room B.

Sharon Phillips, RDN, LD, the dietitian at Memorial Health System, invites anyone with diabetes and/or their family members to join the group. The topic will be Getting Outside and Staying Healthy in the Heat.

Participants are encouraged to wear their own mask, or a mask will be provided. “We will be social distancing, and wearing masks,” Phillips said.

The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is open to anyone with diabetes and family members of those with diabetes.

The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is affiliated with the American Diabetes Association, Memorial Health System, and K-State Research and Extension, Dickinson County. For more information, call Sharon Phillips, RDN, LD, Memorial Health System, 785-263-6676 or K-State Research and Extension, Dickinson County, at 785-263-2001.

ABILENE -- The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is scheduled to meet on July 14, at noon, at Memorial Hospital in Conference Room B.Sharon Phillips, RDN, LD, the dietitian at Memorial Health System, invites anyone with diabetes and/or their family members to join the group. The topic will be Getting Outside and Staying Healthy in the Heat.Participants are encouraged to wear their own mask, or a mask will be provided. “We will be social distancing, and wearing masks,” Phillips said.The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is open to anyone with diabetes and family members of those with diabetes.The Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group is affiliated with the American Diabetes Association, Memorial Health System, and K-State Research and Extension, Dickinson County. For more information, call Sharon Phillips, RDN, LD, Memorial Health System, 785-263-6676 or K-State Research and Extension, Dickinson County, at 785-263-2001.

Dickinson County Diabetes Support Group meeting set for July 14

MANHATTAN – The USDA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nifa.usda.gov/" target="_blank">National Institute for Food and Agriculture</a>&nbsp;has selected Kansas State University to serve as a center for efforts to improve U.S. winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties.

The university received $1 million to establish the&nbsp;<a href="https://iwyp.org/" target="_blank">International&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Yield Partnership’s</a>&nbsp;(IWYP) Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Breeding Innovation Hub. K-State will lead the effort to evaluate research findings from several IWYP projects that contribute to “significantly improved”&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;yields, according to officials.

Hub partners will seek ways to stack – or combine -- desirable traits from those projects into elite winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties for U.S. growers. Desirable traits may include genetic improvements that make winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;more resistant to pests, disease or drought, thus improving its yield potential.

Eduard Akhunov, a K-State&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;geneticist and the project’s principal investigator, said that stacking desirable traits (called trait packages) in&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties helps researchers “deliver key yield traits to U.S. growers as quickly as possible to reverse the declining trend of winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;acreage, and add significant economic value to the U.S. and global&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;industries.”

Akhunov said the hub is a public-private partnership between national and international&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;breeding programs, government organizations and industry.

“This partnership is established to maximize the value of research investments for the benefit of global agriculture by translating research findings into commercial breeding products,” he said.

It is estimated that the world’s&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;production must double by the year 2050 in order to meet the needs of a population expected to surpass 9 billion people. Akhunov said researchers around the world already are working on that challenge, having discovered many valuable agronomic traits that pave the way for future&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;improvements.

“To fully implement these advances in breeding programs, we must put together a systematic effort to transfer traits to elite lines that are relevant to regional breeding programs,” he said. “Grain yields are critical for global food security. State&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;growers and commodity groups consider increasing grain yield at the farm level as one of the main priorities for the industry.”

Akhunov said members of the new hub will test findings from IWYP projects to build trait packages for higher-yielding winter&nbsp;wheat, which refers to varieties that are planted in the fall and harvested in late spring or early summer. Another IWYP Hub at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cimmyt.org/" target="_blank">International Maize and&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Improvement Center</a>&nbsp;(CIMMYT) in Mexico leads a project to translate research and validate improvements for spring&nbsp;wheat, or those varieties planted in the spring and harvested in the fall.

Akhunov believes K-State is the right place to work on winter&nbsp;wheat, noting the university has one of the most productive winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;breeding programs in the United States. Since the early 1990s, K-State has released more than 40 winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties.

The university has greenhouse space, growth chamber facilities, and research fields for screening preliminary and advanced lines, he said.

“The combined expertise, capabilities, infrastructure and germplasm to conduct this type of work already exists here,” Akhunov said, noting the university’s close work with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and the Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Innovation Center, both located in Manhattan.

“This is an important time for&nbsp;wheat, and the timing of this project coincides perfectly with the investment Kansas farmers are making into&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;at the Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Innovation Center and K-State,” said Justin Gilpin, the chief executive officer with&nbsp;<a href="http://kswheat.com/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat</a>.

K-State’s&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Genetics Resources Center and Integrated Genomics Facility, and the ARS’s Hard Red Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Quality Lab and Hard Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Genotyping Lab, are among the partners that make this work possible in Manhattan, according to Akhunov.

“These partnerships allow for rapid, genomics-assisted trait transfer and stacking in elite germplasm using high-throughput diagnostic and genome-wide markers, speed breeding and field-based trait evaluation,” he said.

The new IWYP Hub includes many other public and private partners including the&nbsp;<a href="http://kswheat.com/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Commission</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Agriculture</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kswheatalliance.org/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Alliance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandinnovations.com/" target="_blank">Heartland Plant Innovations</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coloradowheat.org/" target="_blank">Colorado&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Administrative Committee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskawheat.com/" target="_blank">Nebraska&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Board</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okwheat.org/" target="_blank">Oklahoma&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Commission</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://texaswheat.org/" target="_blank">Texas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Producers Board</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wheatworld.org/" target="_blank">National Association of&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Growers,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basf.com/us/en.html" target="_blank">BASF</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.syngenta.com/" target="_blank">Syngenta</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corteva.us/" target="_blank">Corteva Agriscience</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kws.com/us/en/" target="_blank">KWS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.limagrain.com/?lang=en" target="_blank">Limagrain</a>&nbsp;and representatives of the U.S. winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;public-breeding programs.

Some of the public and private partners are also providing contributions beyond the $1 million K-State has received from NIFA.

In addition to Akhunov, the co-principal investigators for the project include K-State faculty members Allan Fritz; Jessica Rupp; Romulo Lollato and Jesse Poland; ARS research geneticist Mary Guttieri; and IWYP program director Jeff Gwyn, who is at&nbsp;<a href="https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/" target="_blank">Texas A&amp;M AgriLife.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593998109562.jpeg" alt="Wheat photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Wheat photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – The USDA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nifa.usda.gov/" target="_blank">National Institute for Food and Agriculture</a>&nbsp;has selected Kansas State University to serve as a center for efforts to improve U.S. winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties.The university received $1 million to establish the&nbsp;<a href="https://iwyp.org/" target="_blank">International&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Yield Partnership’s</a>&nbsp;(IWYP) Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Breeding Innovation Hub. K-State will lead the effort to evaluate research findings from several IWYP projects that contribute to “significantly improved”&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;yields, according to officials.Hub partners will seek ways to stack – or combine -- desirable traits from those projects into elite winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties for U.S. growers. Desirable traits may include genetic improvements that make winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;more resistant to pests, disease or drought, thus improving its yield potential.Eduard Akhunov, a K-State&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;geneticist and the project’s principal investigator, said that stacking desirable traits (called trait packages) in&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties helps researchers “deliver key yield traits to U.S. growers as quickly as possible to reverse the declining trend of winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;acreage, and add significant economic value to the U.S. and global&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;industries.”Akhunov said the hub is a public-private partnership between national and international&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;breeding programs, government organizations and industry.“This partnership is established to maximize the value of research investments for the benefit of global agriculture by translating research findings into commercial breeding products,” he said.It is estimated that the world’s&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;production must double by the year 2050 in order to meet the needs of a population expected to surpass 9 billion people. Akhunov said researchers around the world already are working on that challenge, having discovered many valuable agronomic traits that pave the way for future&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;improvements.“To fully implement these advances in breeding programs, we must put together a systematic effort to transfer traits to elite lines that are relevant to regional breeding programs,” he said. “Grain yields are critical for global food security. State&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;growers and commodity groups consider increasing grain yield at the farm level as one of the main priorities for the industry.”Akhunov said members of the new hub will test findings from IWYP projects to build trait packages for higher-yielding winter&nbsp;wheat, which refers to varieties that are planted in the fall and harvested in late spring or early summer. Another IWYP Hub at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cimmyt.org/" target="_blank">International Maize and&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Improvement Center</a>&nbsp;(CIMMYT) in Mexico leads a project to translate research and validate improvements for spring&nbsp;wheat, or those varieties planted in the spring and harvested in the fall.Akhunov believes K-State is the right place to work on winter&nbsp;wheat, noting the university has one of the most productive winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;breeding programs in the United States. Since the early 1990s, K-State has released more than 40 winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;varieties.The university has greenhouse space, growth chamber facilities, and research fields for screening preliminary and advanced lines, he said.“The combined expertise, capabilities, infrastructure and germplasm to conduct this type of work already exists here,” Akhunov said, noting the university’s close work with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and the Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Innovation Center, both located in Manhattan.“This is an important time for&nbsp;wheat, and the timing of this project coincides perfectly with the investment Kansas farmers are making into&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;at the Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Innovation Center and K-State,” said Justin Gilpin, the chief executive officer with&nbsp;<a href="http://kswheat.com/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat</a>.K-State’s&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Genetics Resources Center and Integrated Genomics Facility, and the ARS’s Hard Red Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Quality Lab and Hard Winter&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Genotyping Lab, are among the partners that make this work possible in Manhattan, according to Akhunov.“These partnerships allow for rapid, genomics-assisted trait transfer and stacking in elite germplasm using high-throughput diagnostic and genome-wide markers, speed breeding and field-based trait evaluation,” he said.The new IWYP Hub includes many other public and private partners including the&nbsp;<a href="http://kswheat.com/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Commission</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Agriculture</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kswheatalliance.org/" target="_blank">Kansas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Alliance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandinnovations.com/" target="_blank">Heartland Plant Innovations</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coloradowheat.org/" target="_blank">Colorado&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Administrative Committee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskawheat.com/" target="_blank">Nebraska&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Board</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okwheat.org/" target="_blank">Oklahoma&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Commission</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://texaswheat.org/" target="_blank">Texas&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Producers Board</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wheatworld.org/" target="_blank">National Association of&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Growers,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basf.com/us/en.html" target="_blank">BASF</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.syngenta.com/" target="_blank">Syngenta</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corteva.us/" target="_blank">Corteva Agriscience</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kws.com/us/en/" target="_blank">KWS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.limagrain.com/?lang=en" target="_blank">Limagrain</a>&nbsp;and representatives of the U.S. winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;public-breeding programs.Some of the public and private partners are also providing contributions beyond the $1 million K-State has received from NIFA.In addition to Akhunov, the co-principal investigators for the project include K-State faculty members Allan Fritz; Jessica Rupp; Romulo Lollato and Jesse Poland; ARS research geneticist Mary Guttieri; and IWYP program director Jeff Gwyn, who is at&nbsp;<a href="https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/" target="_blank">Texas A&amp;M AgriLife.</a>“Collaborations of public and private expertise and resources are what it will take to get&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;genetics to the next level,” Gilpin said. “Having the hub of this initiative centrally located in Manhattan with the involvement of&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;growers, university and USDA scientists, and&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;breeders is exciting to see for the&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;industry.”More information about the&nbsp;<a href="https://iwyp.org/" target="_blank">International&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Yield Partnership is available online</a>.